Luxury Cruise Lines Compared: Which One to Choose

In my experience, have sailed on six different cruise lines across four oceans, and the differences between them are far larger than most people realize. A cruise on Regent Seven Seas is a fundamentally different experience from a cruise on Celebrity, and both are different from a cruise on Seabourn. The choice between them depends on your priorities: budget, itinerary, ship size, dining, and the kind of atmosphere you prefer. The comparisons below are based on my own experiences and on conversations with fellow passengers who have sailed on multiple lines.

Regent Seven Seas: The All-Inclusive Leader

Regent Seven Seas is widely considered the most inclusive luxury cruise line. The fare includes all meals (in all restaurants, with no extra charges for specialty venues), all beverages (including alcohol, with no limit on brands), unlimited shore excursions, pre-paid gratuities, WiFi, and even a business-class airfare option on select voyages. When you board a Regent ship, you do not need to open your wallet for anything except spa treatments, casino play, and personal shopping.

Personally, sailed on the Seven Seas Explorer on a 10-night Mediterranean itinerary from Barcelona to Rome, with stops in Marseille, Monte Carlo, Florence, Portofino, and Amalfi. The fare was about 8,500 dollars per person for a deluxe veranda suite, which sounds expensive until you calculate what is included. A comparable itinerary on a non-inclusive line, after adding specialty dining, beverages, shore excursions, gratuities, and WiFi, would cost roughly 6,000 to 7,000 dollars per person, so the premium for Regent is about 1,500 to 2,500 dollars for a significantly higher level of service and inclusion.

The dining on Regent is the best I have experienced at sea. The ship has four restaurants: Compass Rose (the main dining room), Chartreuse (French), Pacific Rim (Asian fusion), and Prime 7 (steakhouse). All are included in the fare, and there are no cover charges or supplementary fees. The food quality is comparable to a good land-based restaurant: the steaks at Prime 7 are USDA Prime, the seafood is fresh, and the wine list includes bottles that would cost 50 to 100 dollars at a restaurant. The ship carries about 750 passengers, which gives it an intimate feel without being so small that it lacks amenities.

Seabourn: Intimate and Refined

Seabourn operates smaller ships (450 to 600 passengers) that offer a more intimate experience than Regent or Celebrity. The fare includes all meals, all beverages (including alcohol), and gratuities, but shore excursions cost extra. Seabourn's ships are known for their understated elegance: the decor is contemporary and muted, the service is attentive without being intrusive, and the atmosphere is more relaxed than the formal luxury of Regent.

From my perspective, sailed on the Seabourn Ovation on a 14-day voyage from Singapore to Hong Kong, with stops in Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The fare was about 7,200 dollars per person for a veranda suite, plus about 800 dollars in shore excursions. The total of about 8,000 dollars was comparable to the Regent fare on a per-day basis, but the experience was different in character. Seabourn felt more like a small boutique hotel at sea, while Regent felt more like a large resort.

The dining on Seabourn is excellent, with three main restaurants (The Restaurant, The Grill by Thomas Keller, and Earth & Ocean) and a casual poolside venue. The Grill by Thomas Keller, which serves a French-style steakhouse menu, is the standout. The food quality is high, though the variety is more limited than on Regent because the ship is smaller and carries fewer kitchen staff. The wine list is well-curated and included in the fare, with a good selection of wines from the regions the ship visits.

Celebrity Cruises: Premium, Not Ultra-Luxury

Celebrity Cruises occupies the space between mainstream cruise lines (like Royal Caribbean and Norwegian) and true luxury lines (like Regent and Seabourn). The fare includes main dining room meals and basic beverages (coffee, tea, juice), but specialty restaurants, alcohol, shore excursions, gratuities, and WiFi all cost extra. The total cost of a Celebrity cruise, after adding these extras, is typically 30 to 50 percent below the cost of a comparable luxury cruise.

I sailed on the Celebrity Edge on a seven-night Caribbean itinerary from Fort Lauderdale. The fare was about 1,800 dollars per person for an infinite veranda stateroom, plus about 600 dollars in extras (specialty dining package, beverage package, WiFi, gratuities, and two shore excursions). The total of about 2,400 dollars per person is significantly less than a luxury cruise, and the experience, while not at the same level of refinement, was enjoyable and well-organized.

The Celebrity Edge is a newer ship (launched in 2018) with innovative design features, including the "Magic Carpet," a movable platform on the side of the ship that serves as an extension of the deck at sea level and as a tender platform in port. The ship carries about 2,900 passengers, which means it feels more crowded than Regent or Seabourn. The main dining room is good but not exceptional; the specialty restaurants (particularly the Tuscan restaurant and the raw bar) are better. The "Edge Class" ships are the best in the Celebrity fleet and are worth choosing over the older "Solstice Class" ships.

Viking Ocean: Destination-Focused

Viking Ocean operates a fleet of small ships (930 passengers) that are designed for destination-intensive itineraries. The fare includes all meals, all beverages (including alcohol and specialty coffee), shore excursions in every port, gratuities, and WiFi. The pricing is competitive with Seabourn and lower than Regent, making Viking one of the best-value options in the luxury cruise segment.

I sailed on the Viking Star on a 12-day itinerary in the Norwegian fjords, from Bergen to Tromso. The fare was about 5,500 dollars per person for a veranda stateroom, with no additional charges for dining, drinks, or excursions. The value was exceptional: the itinerary included stops in 10 ports, with a guided excursion included in each one. The excursions were well-organized and informative, ranging from guided hikes to museum visits to a lobster dinner on a small island.

Viking's ships are more understated than Regent's. There is no casino, no formal nights, no kids' club, and no umbrella drinks by the pool. The atmosphere is calm and intellectual, with a focus on the destinations rather than the ship itself. The dining is good but not at the level of Regent or Seabourn: the main restaurant (The Restaurant) serves competent but unremarkable food, while the specialty restaurant (Manfredi's, Italian) and the Chef's Table (a tasting menu experience) are better. The included wine list is adequate but not as extensive as Regent's.

Oceania Cruises: The Food-Focused Choice

Oceania Cruises has built its reputation on food. The line operates mid-size ships (670 to 1,250 passengers) with a dining program that includes four specialty restaurants at no extra charge: Toscana (Italian), Polo Grill (steakhouse), Jacques (French bistro), and Red Ginger (Asian fusion). The main dining room and the buffet are also good, but the specialty restaurants are the reason to choose Oceania.

I sailed on the Riviera on a 10-day Mediterranean itinerary from Athens to Barcelona. The fare was about 3,800 dollars per person for a veranda stateroom, plus about 500 dollars in extras (beverage package, WiFi, gratuities, and two shore excursions). The total of about 4,300 dollars per person was less than half the cost of a comparable Regent cruise, and the food quality was close to Regent's level in the specialty restaurants. The main dining room was a step below, and the buffet was average.

Oceania's ships are older than Viking's or Celebrity Edge's, and the decor reflects their age. The Riviera launched in 2012 and has been maintained well, but it does not have the modern design features of newer ships. The cabins are comfortable but smaller than Regent's or Seabourn's. The service is professional but less personalized than on the smaller luxury lines. Oceania is the best choice for food-focused travelers who want specialty dining without paying ultra-luxury prices.

How to Choose Between Them

The decision between cruise lines comes down to three factors: budget, ship size, and what you value most. If budget is not a constraint and you want the most inclusive experience, Regent Seven Seas is the best choice. If you prefer a smaller, more intimate ship and are willing to pay extra for excursions, Seabourn is the best choice. If you want the best value in the luxury segment and prioritize destinations over shipboard luxury, Viking Ocean is the best choice. If food is your priority and you want to keep costs below the ultra-luxury level, Oceania is the best choice. If you want a modern ship with innovative design at a lower price point, Celebrity Edge-class ships are the best choice.

Ship size matters more than most travelers realize. Ships under 600 passengers (Seabourn, Silversea) offer an intimate, quiet atmosphere with personalized service and easy access to ports that large ships cannot visit. Ships of 900 to 1,200 passengers (Viking, Oceania's smaller ships) offer a good balance of amenities and intimacy. Ships over 2,500 passengers (Celebrity, Royal Caribbean) offer the most amenities (multiple pools, Broadway shows, large spas) but feel crowded and impersonal. I prefer ships under 1,000 passengers, because the difference in atmosphere is dramatic.

Itinerary is the final consideration. Some cruise lines excel in specific regions. Regent and Oceania have strong Mediterranean and Caribbean programs. Viking excels in Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, and expedition-style itineraries in Antarctica and the Arctic. Seabourn has excellent itineraries in Asia, the South Pacific, and the Caribbean. When choosing a cruise, start with the destination you want to visit and then compare the cruise lines that offer the best itineraries in that region.