10 Best Luxury Cruise Lines for the Trip of a Lifetime
Updated: April 18, 2024
AAA Travel Editor, SMS
For those looking for an elevated experience filled with relaxation, gorgeous scenery and attentive service, luxury cruise lines can fulfill your every need. Although these cruises come with a higher price tag, the best luxury cruise lines are worth it for the upscale dining, fine wines and champagnes, and suite features while on the open sea.
There are many cruises to choose from, but we put together a list of the best luxury cruises. Whether you’re looking for a couples trip, a family cruise or an adventure for singles, we have them all. Each one travels to beautiful destinations and is sure to offer you the experience of a lifetime.
1. Cunard Line
Best for: British elegance
Price: $619+ per person
Popular ports of call: New York, Fort Lauderdale, San Francisco and Vancouver
Kid-friendly: Kids allowed but not recommended
AAA member benefit: Up to $300 per stateroom onboard spending credit based on category and length of sailing, during the following quarterly booking windows, and reduced cruise deposit of 50% off the standard deposit per stateroom.
AAA Vacations® benefit*:
- Britannia accommodations (Ocean View to Balcony): $100 per stateroom onboard spending credit on 7-17 night voyages or $200 per stateroom onboard spending credit on 18 night or longer voyages.
- Princess and Queens Grill Suites: $400 per stateroom onboard spending credit on 7-17 night voyages. $800 per stateroom onboard spending credit on 18 night or longer voyages.
- Enhanced afternoon Tea Service (includes a glass of champagne)
- Complimentary dining for two in Kings Court or Lido alternative restaurants (first two guests in stateroom)
*AAA Vacations® benefit valid for sailings through April 2025 only and for sailings 7 nights or longer.
Since 1840, the Cunard Line has been known for its British elegance by offering passengers an experience of peak sophistication. While you don’t have to be British royalty to book your voyage, members of the royal family like Princess Diana and the Queen Mother have traveled on ships in the Cunard Line’s fleet.
Be sure to bring your best attire for the Black and White ball, but you can dress more casually while grabbing a pint at the pub or trying your luck in the ship’s casino. The Cunard’s dining experience is tiered with the Queen’s Grill designated for passengers with the largest suites, and those with smaller suites can eat at the Princess Grill.
2. Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Best for: Maximum luxury
Price: $3,599+ per person
Popular ports of call: New York, Montreal, Barcelona and London
Kid-friendly: Yes
AAA member benefit: Up to $200 per suite, onboard spending credit on selected promotional voyages.
AAA Vacations® benefit: Up to $500 per suite onboard spending credit on select sailings.
The Regent Seven Seas cruise lines have over 25 years of experience giving passengers one of the best luxury experiences on the sea. With cruises that travel all over the world, you’re able to visit a variety of beautiful destinations while receiving top-tier services. These cruises have one of the higher price tags, but they offer guests a customizable butler service, galleries with fine art and a Broadway-style theater.
Regent has a wide range of ships with different experiences. This is not only one of the best luxury cruise lines for families, but you can also have a more romantic trip on one of their couple's cruises. Whether it’s helicopter rides during a cruise in Alaska, visiting the Temple of Poseidon in Athens or exploring Zaragoza while in Madrid, you’ll be sure to enjoy your trip.
3. Seabourn Cruise Line
Best for: Intimate experience
Price: $2,974+
Popular ports of call: Seattle, Miami, Tokyo and Sydney
Kid-friendly: Kids allowed but not recommended
AAA member benefit: $300 per suite (double occupancy) onboard spending credit on select departures. Singles receive $150 per suite.
If you’re looking for a more private, less crowded luxury cruise, Seabourn cruises are just what you’re looking for. Each of the Seabourn’s cruise ships carries a maximum of 600 passengers, making them one of the best small luxury cruise lines. Seabourn was founded in 1989 and offers all of the luxury amenities and stunning destinations you could hope for.
These award-winning cruises are all-inclusive and have fine-dining menus from renowned chef Thomas Kellar. For wine aficionados, the ships have premium wine programs as well as spa services for a relaxing stay. You’ll see incredible, exotic destinations while traveling on one of Seabourn’s upscale ships.
4. Silversea Cruises
Best for: Crew-to-guest ratio
Price: $2,200+
Popular ports of call: Vancouver, Alaska, Venice and Copenhagen
Kid-friendly: Kids allowed but not recommended
AAA member benefit: Up to $300 per person onboard credit on selected sailings
Silversea Cruises was founded in 1994, so they have decades of experience providing luxurious travel for passengers. These cruises offer an intimate setting with ships that accommodate anywhere from 100 to 600 people. In addition to being one of the best small luxury cruise lines, they also have one of the best crew-to-guest ratios to ensure passengers receive the attention they deserve.
The Silversea cruises travel throughout all seven continents to over 900 locations. Their all-inclusive cruises also have 24-hour gourmet dining along with onboard entertainment and a butler service. When you reach different locations, Silversea also offers complimentary shore excursions.
5. Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Best for: Couples and families
Price: $3,199+
Popular ports of call: Brussels, Amsterdam, Budapest and Milan
Kid-friendly: Yes, but Uniworld states that certain excursions may not be suitable for children.
AAA member benefit: $250 per couple savings on cruises up to 13 days and $500 per couple savings on cruises of 14 days or more
AAA Vacations® benefit: $300 per couple onboard spending credit available on select sailings.
Uniworld offers guests a luxury experience on rivers throughout the world. Not only do they have a fleet of luxurious riverboats, but they pride themselves on providing passengers with impeccable service. They also have over 40 years of experience doing so.
Uniworld’s ports are all outside of the United States and visit some of the world’s most marvelous rivers. They have a variety of options as well. You can take an eight-day trip on the Rhine River with stops in France and Germany, or you can go for longer on their 14-day voyage visiting Milan, Venice and the Swiss Alps.
6. Viking Ocean + Expedition Cruises
Best for: Adventurous travelers
Price: $5,995+ per person
Popular ports of call: Fort Lauderdale, New York City and Buenos Aires
Kid-friendly: No
AAA member benefit: $100 per person shipboard credit for all cruises 8-11 days and $200 per person shipboard credit for all cruises 12 days or longer
Viking cruise ships have modern Scandinavian designs with luxurious features for passengers. Their ship sizes and cruise options offer a wide variety to suit your specific types of interests. They have a 378-guest expedition ship, the Polar Class Viking Octanis, as well as larger ocean ships like the Viking Star, which can host 930 passengers.
The Viking cruises are perfect for adventurous travelers. You can voyage under the sea in a six-person submarine and kayak through incredible iceberg-filled regions. They offer shorter, 13-day cruises or much longer trips that range from 30 to 70 days.
7. Azamara Cruises
Best for: Traveling the globe
Price: $1,039+ per person
Popular ports of call: San Francisco, Barcelona, Venice and Rio de Janeiro
Kid-friendly: Kids allowed but not recommended
AAA member benefit: $150 per stateroom onboard spending credit on select sailings in a Club Ocean View stateroom or above.
AAA Vacations® benefit: $200 per stateroom onboard spending credit
Azamara has cruises throughout the world that allow guests to visit over 150 destinations. In addition to their wealth of destinations, they also have World Cruises that are 155 days long. The World Cruises visit 37 countries around the globe, stopping at destinations like Honolulu, Sydney, Bangkok and Venice.
For those looking for shorter trips, Azamara has a variety of cruises ranging from seven to 17 days. You can take their Wine and Culture Voyage throughout Northern and Western Europe, a trip through Viking regions in Norway or travel along the Mediterranean Rivieras.
8. Oceania Cruise Line
Best for: Romantic getaways
Price: $1,299+ per person
Popular ports of call: Miami, Seattle, Barcelona and Athens
Kid-friendly: Kids allowed but not recommended
AAA member benefit: $100 per person onboard spending credit.
AAA Vacations® benefit: Free pre-paid gratuities (for first two guests in stateroom)
Passengers will receive the full luxury experience while traveling on one of Oceania Cruise Line’s 10 vessels. While on the ship, you’ll have access to the serenity of spa treatments and delicious cuisines from gourmet chefs. Oceania also has onboard activities like cultural lectures and cooking classes, which make for a great couple’s activity.
Each of the small, luxurious ships give every passenger a personalized experience as you travel to beautiful locations across the globe. These cruises are perfect for romantic getaways with food and wine tours in Italy and France as well as wellness tours in New Zealand and Thailand. And for adventurous couples, there are volcano tours in the Canary Islands and hikes along the cliffs of Malaga, Spain.
9. Celebrity Cruises
Best for: Affordable family cruises
Price: $246+ per person
Popular ports of call: Miami, Venice and Vancouver
Kid-friendly: Yes
AAA member benefit: Onboard credit per stateroom based on category booked:
- $25 (outside)
- $50 (balcony)
- $75 (Concierge Class and above)
Valid for all departures 3 nights or longer with the exception of Galapagos products.
AAA Vacations® benefit: Onboard spending credit per stateroom based on category booked:
- $25 (outside)
- $75 (balcony)
- $100 (Concierge Class and above)
Offer not valid on Galapagos products.
Celebrity Cruises has a wide range of options as well as prices. This award-winning cruise line has affordable cruises as low as $312 while also offering a high-end experience. Celebrity Cruises is also one of the best luxury cruises for families. They have over 500 itineraries specifically designed for families and even have the Camp at Sea, a customizable camp for kids and teens on the ship.
On a Celebrity Cruise ship, you can expect open-air dining experiences along with adventure and relaxation. For the grown-ups, you can take advantage of the lounges, bars and all-inclusive drink package. These cruises are also worldwide with over 300 ports that travel throughout North America, Europe, the Caribbean and more.
10. WindStar Cruises
Best for: An intimate experience
Price: $2,099+
Popular ports of call: Vancouver, Venice and Reykjavik
Kid-friendly: Kids eight and older allowed but not recommended
WindStar Cruises give guests an intimate experience with their small, luxurious yachts that accommodate 148 to 342 guests. They have different cruise options that cater to various types of travelers. WindStar has cruises that range from the romantic to the adventurous. For the foodies, WindStar works with the James Beard foundation and serves meals created by celebrity chefs like Maxime Bilet and Jose Mendin.
The suites come with fully stocked mini bars, soft linens and fresh fruit. Onboard, guests can enjoy outdoor dining, spa services and the Yacht Club Cafe. WindStar Cruises visit many beautiful locations around the world with voyages through Canada and New England, Greece, Italy and more.
What Is a Luxury Cruise?
Luxury cruises differ from standard cruises by providing passengers with service-oriented experience. Many, but not all, of the top luxury cruises are on smaller ships to provide guests with more intimacy while traveling. While some luxury cruises have family-oriented services and activities, the majority of cruises cater to adults and are great for couples.
In addition to a service-oriented cruise, you can also expect fine dining, elevated amenities and activities for those who appreciate artwork, historic landmarks and unique experiences. One of the additional benefits of the best small luxury cruises is that they can reach destinations that larger ships can’t.
The main differences that separate luxury cruises compared to standard cruises are:
- Better service
- Smaller ship sizes
- Higher-quality meals
- A quieter setting
- Caters to adults
Plan Your Luxury Cruise With AAA
If you’re looking for a luxurious experience when booking your next cruise, plan your trip through AAA. With a AAA membership, you receive exclusive benefits when you book one of the best luxury cruises, which includes discounts and onboard spending credits.