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Luxury Cruises

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Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

The Best Luxury Cruise Lines

The Best Luxury Cruises and cruise lines in the world offer several different types of cruise categories. Ocean world cruise can be one of the most exquisite experiences of your lifetime. There are so many ways you can be searching for your own purposes, such as Best luxury cruise lines for couples, Best Luxury families cruises, Best cruise lines for value, Best Romantic ocean cruise vacation, and so much more. In making this more straightforward for you to grasp, we’ve simplified and broken up our site for the following cruise types:

Ocean Cruises
River Cruises
Yacht Cruises
Expedition Cruises

Visit the world’s most transparent and clear waters and perhaps the most dramatic coastlines with NorthStar Luxury Cruises. Cruise the jungle-clad islets of Halong Bay, sail through the far-flung islands of Komodo or Flores, then witness the skyline of Hong Kong from Victoria Harbour, our NorthStar advisors help their clients experience the best of cruises around the globe, including Asia, Caribbean, Hawaii, Europe, or Africa.

Why take a River Cruise?

Did you know more than 28.5 million passengers go on cruise vacations annually? That is a much faster growth rate than the pace of global travel!

A popular reason behind the admiration of an ocean world cruise is the ease, convenience, and hassle-free arrangement. It allows you to focus on the most important thing – YOURSELF!

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“Wow” Cruise Trips

Journeys that take your breath away

After a year of staycationing and close-to-home getaways, you may be ready to plan for Cruise “the big one” – a dream cruise trip that is filled with exclamation-point moments. However, it is important that before you plan your first river cruise vacation, you must contact a few travel agents to get river cruise quotes. You might want to get the best river cruise deals from a river cruise travel agent to ensure that your trip is well within your budget. Also, make sure to check the river cruise reviews of the previous clients, so that you get a better understanding of the experience you could expect. What is the best river cruise company, you might ask? Call us for answers!

Also, count on your Northstar Virtuoso travel advisor to add special touches and exclusive extras while keeping you informed of the latest restrictions and health and safety protocols.

Virtuoso expedition cruises

Like: Get a glimpse of Iceland’s spectacular waterfalls on a voyage with Lindblad Expeditions or Seabourn. Circumnavigate Iceland. Cross the Seventh Continent off your list. Explore unspoiled islands off the coast of Brazil. Sail all-inclusive from Bali to Bangkok. Even when you are planning your river cruise honeymoon you can count on our expedient services aimed at giving you wonderful experiences.
With us, you can get a clear-cut idea about which river cruise ship cabins to avoid or understand various other safety measures while on a river cruise.

  • Quark Expeditions | Our expedition cruises to antarctica aims at giving you a once in a lifetime experience. Save up to 35% when you book your late-2021 Antarctic adventure by March 31.
  • Hurtigruten | Save up to 30% on 2022/2023 voyages to Antarctica
  • Silversea | Hello friendly penguins and giant icebergs; Get ready to experience the utter beauty of our polar expedition cruises. You can save 20% on Antarctica cruises
  • Oceania Cruises | Get set for a memorable vacation in one of the best river cruise lines in Europe. Sensational savings + free airfare on 2022 summer sailings in Northern Europe.
  • Lindblad Expeditions | Get a hold of the most deserving expedition cruises Iceland. Be a part of exhilarating expeditions to Iceland, South America, and Antarctica.
  • Regent Seven Seas Cruises | Join us for the best expedition cruise experience. Enjoy free pre- and post-cruise land programs on exotic winter sailings
  • Seabourn | Sail to Norway, Greenland, and beyond on the ultra-luxury expedition ship, Seabourn Venture.
Harmony of the Seas
Harmony of the Seas

The Mega ships ocean liners (aka ocean cruiser) accommodate thousands of passengers – all geared to entertain you while serving you 5-star meals and treating you as their most influential people on board. They host river cruises for families because multi-generational family groups benefit from enormous experiences for all ages on mega-ship ocean liners. Learn more about The World’s Largest Cruise Ship here! In short, a River Cruise is a leisure trip that takes you along inland waterways while stopping at several ports throughout each passage for seven or more days.

River cruise vs Ocean Cruise

A River cruise is a vessel smaller than ocean liners, allowing them to dock in city and town centers of inland waterways. As you journey into the center of iconic cities and towns in your intimate and smaller cruise ship, you indulge in 5-star cuisines and accommodations. Some luxury river ships have libraries, boutiques, pools/or sun decks, and most crafts have restaurants, lounges, bars, and even offer free Wi-Fi. Learn about 5 ways to explore the last frontier in style with Crystal Cruises here!

Crystal River Cruises - Crystal Bach
Crystal River Cruises – Crystal Bach

Looking for the best river cruise for families, in 2022, or an upcoming romantic river cruise honeymoon? Want to learn all about river cruise lines in Europe for 2023? Find out more about our favorite ways to set sail this year in 2023 as well as 2023. Be sure to also check out the luxury cruise lines that participate in our Virtuoso Voyages Program here as we have the scoop on all river cruise reviews.

Review our blog on Trending Era of
Sumptuous River Cruise Vacations
Silver Galapagos expedition cruises of Silversea Cruises
Silver Galapagos Silversea Cruises

Expedition cruises deliver intimate small-ship adventurous itineraries, creating experiences with shallow drafts that anchor in smaller ports. Such cruise types reach much closer to those less-visited, out-of-the-way ports or scenic wonders, or with their reinforced hulls can sail into the icy waters.


Oceanwide expedition cruises are not for everyone. If you would like to experience this type of travel, your NorthStar Advisor can help you reach the best cruising regions on specific vessels and expeditions companies that suit your particular requirements. Read about Four Cruise Expedition Leaders on Why They Love Their Jobs here!

Yacht vs Cruise Ship Size

Le Ponant Ship of PONANT Yacht Cruises & Expeditions
PONANT Yacht Cruises & Expeditions – Le Ponant

Yacht cruises are intimate sailing experiences, with only about 100 to 300 passengers onboard seeking to discover many parts of the world. Clearly, due to their smaller size, yachts can reach much, much, smaller ports and can afford to be more destination-focused.
As the demand for mega-ships ocean cruisers has declined, a significantly growing number of companies offer yacht cruises. Yachts provide exclusive sailing experiences at a fraction of the cost of private charters.

Getaway from the crowds today and examine a journey on one of the growing numbers of yacht cruises coming to the marketplace for yourself. Immerse yourself in the scintillating yacht tours and experience the luxury of a yacht cruise ship to spoil yourself a little more.

Ready to take your next cruise?

With more than 1,000 excursions in almost 50 Caribbean countries, our shore excursions is just what the doctor ordered! The Caribbean cruise season is soon on its way, and you’ll highly benefit from our lower-priced, higher-quality excursions.

Your next cruise and exciting shore excursions are around the corner!

Yacht
Expedition
River
Ocean

Expedition Cruises

Abercrombie & Kent USA, LLC
American Queen Steamboat Company

Aqua Expeditions
Atlas Ocean Voyages
Aurora Expeditions
Australis
Celebrity Cruises
Hurtigruten
Intrepid Group Cruises
Lindblad Expeditions
PONANT Yacht Cruises & Expeditions
Quark Expeditions
Seabourn Cruises
Silversea Cruises
UnCruise Adventures

Viking Cruises

Yacht

Aqua Expeditions
Atlas Ocean Voyages
Intrepid Group Cruises
SeaDream Yacht Club
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

PONANT Yacht Cruises & Expeditions

River

AmaWaterways
American Queen Steamboat Company
Avalon Waterways
Belmond Cruises
Tauck River Cruising
UnCruise Adventures
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Coll
Viking Cruises

Ocean

Azamara Club Cruises
Celebrity Cruises
Cunard Line

Explora Journeys
Holland America Line
Intrepid Group Cruises
Lindblad Expeditions
Norwegian Cruise Line®
Oceania Cruises
Paul Gauguin Cruises
Princess Cruises
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Royal Caribbean International
Seabourn Cruises
SeaDream Yacht Club
Silversea Cruises
Star Clippers Americas
Viking Cruises
Virgin Voyages
Windstar Cruises

Yacht
Expedition
River
Ocean

Find out more about our favorite ways to set sail in 2022 and the luxury cruise lines that participate in our Virtuoso Voyages program here.

Crystal Esprit Cruise Ship - couple on jet ski
Crystal Esprit Cruise Ship – couple on jet ski

Virtuoso Voyages is a collection of the best cruise experiences in the world, available through NorthStar Virtuoso travel advisers.

Virtuoso Voyages offers exclusive cruise benefits, insider access, and excellent value. Take advantage of our river cruise deals 2022, which includes:

Virtuoso Voyages Travel
  1. Private car and driver in port
  2. Behind-the-scenes tours
  3. Specialty dining options
  4. Shipboard and spa treatment credits
  5. Custom and private shore tours

The Best World Luxury Cruises


Now, More Than Ever, You Need a NorthStar Virtuoso Travel Advisor! Whether you are ready to travel now or in the future, we are here to help.

Still wondering, what is the best river cruise? The Best Luxury Cruise Lines in the world offer several different types of cruise categories that include Ocean Cruises, River Cruises, Yacht Cruises, and Expedition Cruises


Viking Cruises - Enchanting Crossroads

For the fourth year in a row, Viking was named the #1 Ocean Cruise Line* by Travel + Leisure readers in the World’s Best Awards 2020

Continue Reading Viking Cruises

SEABOURN - FOR SALE AUGUST 19

Seabourn Ultra-Luxury Cruises at times offers special Promotions. Find the New Seabourn Promotions on this page and visit often for updates.

Continue Reading Seabourn Promotions

Crystal River Cruise Line - Voted#1

Era of Sumptuous River Cruise Vacations is open again to explore the wonderful destinations of the world on a remarkable river cruise tour.

Continue Reading River Cruise Vacations

ISRAEL - Ramon Crater

Israel vacation offers more than meets the eye, a spiritual mecca, Mediterranean beaches, and more if you have not visited Israel yet

Continue Reading Israel Vacation

Explora Journeys - newest luxury cruise ships

Meet Explora Journeys: the first of four newest luxury cruise ships for Ocean Travel, starting in 2023, with fabulous itineraries and renowned destinations.

Continue Reading Explora Journeys

Crystal Cruises 2021-2022 Theme Cruises

Reviews for crystal cruises All-inclusive value has been at the forefront of luxury cruise travel, earning the most of World’s Best awards.

Continue Reading Crystal Cruises Line

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Best Excursions, Best Prices.

Guaranteed.

Are you interested in an authentic, non-mass market shore excursion that better reflects the location and connects you to local experts?

NorthStar Advisors can connect you with the local experiences you desire and book you on the small, unique shore excursions. Contact us today and learn more about our shore excursion programs!

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