The “Suite Life” while at sea can be a thrilling getaway for families, providing endless activities for kids of all ages, dynamic dining option, exciting ports of call and priceless views. LuxeGetaways was able to chat with Heidi M. Allison, President of CruiseCompete, about the opportunities available now from many cruise lines, which have larger suites ideal for families of all sizes. Depending on the cruise line and particular ship of choice, there are still standard cabins (both inside, and ocean view), as well as various levels of suites to meet almost any budget. However, if you are ready to splurge on an unforgettable cruise experience that will have your kids talking for months about their once-in-a-lifetime adventures, Allison and the team at CruiseCompete have put together an impressive collection of plush suites to consider when exploring luxury cruise line family suites.
“The cruise industry has really endeavored to make family cruising accessible at all levels,” said Heidi M. Allison, President of CruiseCompete. “There are provisions for families all the way from a simple and inexpensive stateroom, up to and including the top suites on ultra-luxury lines. The options are absolutely endless and impressive at all levels.”
If intellectual and thought-provoking activities are what you desire from a family vacation, these cruise lines provide many outstanding choices. In addition to offering the very best in family accommodations, these lines also present the best in cultured and mind-expanding activities and programs. Like CruiseCompete, LuxeGetaways agrees that these unique experiences, suites and destinations are ideal for so many families wanting to see the world while residing in some of the poshest suites on the seas today.
Imagine taking your child to a ballet in Russia or the opera in Italy, or introducing them to charitable shore excursions and cultural immersions in foreign lands. They can hear from acclaimed presenters that include foreign dignitaries, lauded chefs, or celebrated performers… or experience programs like Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Club Mariner youth program, which works in conjunction with respected scientists and daring explorers to provide a new perspective on our environment, unique locations on our planet, and even destinations beyond Earth!
“After researching, we loved these Ultra Luxury choices, but there are so many more; each and every one of these lines offers a variety of fantastic choices for families,” added Allison.
[dropcap size=small]A[/dropcap]Azamara Club Cruises:The Club World Owner’s Suite is the largest suite aboard Azamara’s ships, and features a living from with a separate bedroom. Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors lead to a private veranda, and the marble bathroom has a whirlpool tub. Guest will enjoy butler service, 235 minutes of complimentary internet per guest, a free bag of laundry service, complimentary seating in specialty restaurants, plus a complimentary Insider Access℠ or Nights & Cool Places℠ Land Discoveries® excursion.
Enrichment activities onboard Azamara Club Cruises include: Seminars and lectures by Azamara’s own onboard experts, Land Discoveries® seminars to discuss particular excursions, wine tastings hosted by the sommelier, culinary demonstrations and computer classes in Excel, PowerPoint and Photoshop.
Pricing is $7,899 per person, double occupancy, for the 7-night Greek Isles and Turkey cruise, July 5-July 12, 2017, onboard the Azamara Quest.
Click here to learn more about Azamara Club Cruises. To see Azamara Club Cruises specials, click here.
[dropcap size=small]C[/dropcap] Crystal Cruises:The Crystal Penthouse Suite with Verandah aboard Crystal Symphony is 982 square feet. The master bath features a heated floor, a spa flotation tub and a shower with a customized shower director and heated bench. The master bedroom has a queen-sized bed and a walk-in closet.
Amenities include 24-hour-a-day butler service, a complimentary welcome bottle of Cristal champagne upon arrival, complimentary soft drinks, beer and bottled water in the stock refrigerator; free Wi-Fi, fresh flowers and unlimited specialty restaurant dining.
Crystal offers a variety of enrichment programs. Be it film production, magic, bridge, golf or photography, you can choose a voyage that suits your interests. The Crystal Penthouse Suite with Verandah starts at $6,489 per person, double occupancy, per night for a 12-night British Isles cruise aboard the Crystal Symphony.
Click here to learn more about Crystal Cruises. To see Crystal Cruises specials, click here.
[dropcap size=small]C[/dropcap] Cunard Line Ltd:The Grand Duplexes allows your family can live like royalty aboard Cunard Line. The Grand Duplexes aboard the Queen Mary 2 are 2,249 square feet and feature an extensive balcony, a fully stocked bar and a dining area that seats eight. The master bedroom includes private exercise equipment, two dressing rooms with connecting bathrooms and a separate whirlpool bath. Amenities include personal butler service, complimentary bar set up with your choice of spirits or wine and soft drinks, access to the grills lounge and access to the Queens Grill restaurant.
Cunard offers some thought provoking and valuable learning opportunities on board its ships. One such program is CUNARD INSIGHTS ®, where writers, actors, film-makers, politicians, explorers, scientists, historians and even the occasional astronaut have been invited to inform and entertain.
Pricing for the Grand Duplex Suite starts at $18,549. This is for M625N leaving Southampton for 7 nights, November 5-12, 2016, onboard Queen Mary 2.
Click here to learn more about Cunard Line Ltd. To see Cunard Line Ltd specials, click here.
[dropcap size=small]O[/dropcap] Oceania Cruises:The Owner’s Suite is more than 2,000 square feet. Amenities include exclusive access to the Executive Lounge, 24-hour butler service, complimentary in-suite bar setup with six full-size bottles of premium spirits and wines, unlimited access to Canyon Ranch SpaClub® private Spa Terrace, free unlimited internet, and a refrigerated mini-bar with free and unlimited soft drinks and bottled water replenished daily.
Oceania Cruises offers voyages that investigate culinary, wine, music, health & wellness themes. Guests can experience seminars, hands-on classes, concerts, wine tastings and more. On some voyages, Chef Jacques Pépin, up-and-coming jazz musicians and noted editors may be special guests.
Pricing for Owner Suite starts at $24,998 for the 12-night Caribbean Charisma Cruise roundtrip from Miami for November 17, 2016-November 29, 2016, onboard the Oceania Regatta.
Click here to learn more about Oceania Cruises. To see Oceania Cruises specials, click here.
[dropcap size=small]R[/dropcap] Regent Seven Seas Cruises:The Regent Suite is 2,917 square feet with a 958 square-foot balcony. It features two bedrooms, a living room, an in-suite spa, wraparound balcony, a private vista garden and two and a half marble- and-stone-detailed bathrooms. Also included: butler service, free first-class air for domestic flights and free business-class air for international flights, free private transfers, a personal car to explore ashore, free unlimited spa services, free one-night pre-cruise hotel stay, free unlimited laundry, free Wi-Fi, discounts on wine, liquor and shore excursions, complimentary mini-bar with sodas, beer and bottled water.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Spotlight Series voyages focus on a particular subject that allows their guests to experience the music and dance of world-renowned entertainers, learn the fine art of pairing wine with food, or gain insight into world affairs at the hand of former ambassadors, politicians and other dignitaries.
The Regent Suite starts at $88,998 per person, double occupancy, or $8,899.80 per night per person, double occupancy, for a 10-night Greek Revival Cruise from Athens to Venice aboard the Seven Seas Explorer departing October 12, 2016.
Click here to learn more about Regent Seven Seas Cruises. To see Regent Seven Seas Cruises specials, click here.
[dropcap size=small]S[/dropcap] Seabourn:The Wintergarden Suite features a personal suite stewardess, a dining area that seats six, two bathrooms and a glass enclosed solarium with tub and daybed. Amenities include complimentary internet, an in-suite bar featuring water, soft drinks, beer and your requested wines or spirits.
Seabourn invites individuals of particular interest and accomplishment in their fields to join their guests on board. Seabourn says, “Daring explorers, heralded chefs, learned scholars, celebrated performers and renowned experts from every arena of the arts, sciences, politics and the humanities share your journey” on their intimate ships.
Pricing for the Seabourn Winter Garden Suite is $12,998 per person, double occupancy, or $1,856.86 per person, double occupancy, per night, for a 7-Day Greece and Dalmation Delights from Athens to Venice departing September 3, 2016, aboard the Seabourn Odyssey.
Click here to learn more about Seabourn. To see Seabourn specials, click here.
[dropcap size=small]S[/dropcap] SeaDream Yacht Club:The SeaDream’s Commodore Suite sleeps up to five passengers and is 390 square feet. The suite features two full baths, a spacious seating area and plenty of storage.
SeaDream’s twin, luxury mega-yachts SeaDream I and SeaDream II feature teak decks, inviting seating and lounging areas with plenty of room to stroll or simply relax and watch the world go by. From the moment you are welcomed aboard by the Captain, it feels as if you are being welcomed onto your own private luxury yacht. Seadream offers a variety of guest lecturers as part of their enrichment program.
Fares start at $21,800 per person, double occupancy, or $2,422.22 per person, double occupancy, per night, for a 9-day Mediterranean cruise roundtrip from Athens departing June 18, 2016, aboard the SeaDream II.
Click here to learn more about SeaDream Yacht Club. To see SeaDream Yacht Club specials, click here.
[dropcap size=small]S[/dropcap] Silversea:The Two-Bedroom Owner’s Suite is 1,264 square feet including the veranda. It features a living room, two bedrooms, a separate dining area, two bathrooms, a walk-in closet, a refrigerator and bar stocked with your preferences, free Wi-Fi and dinner for two in Le Champagne.
Silversea offers the Silver Perspectives® Enrichment Program that offers lectures by their highly qualified Expedition team and guest speakers onboard their cruises, as well as shoreside activities and an interactive epicurean program aboard their Culinary and Wine Voyages.
The two-bedroom Owner’s Suite starts at $24,150 per person, double occupancy, or $1,420.59 per person, double occupancy, per night, for a 17-day South America cruise from Valparaiso, Chile, to Buenos Aires, Argentina, departing October 31, 2017, aboard the Silver Muse.
Click here to learn more about Silversea.
[dropcap size=small]W[/dropcap] Windstar Cruises:The Owner’s Suite is found aboard the Star Pride, Star Breeze and Star Legend. This 575-square-foot Owner’s Suite offers a separate living room and dining area, full master bath and a separate powder room.
Windstar Cruises is now offering themed cruise dates in partnership with the esteemed James Beard Foundation. Every James Beard Foundation Collection Cruise will feature a JBF host chef who will work in an interactive way with guests, providing local market tours, curated meals and tapas, culinary demonstrations and more.
Pricing for the Owner’s Suite starts at $7,599 per person, double occupancy. This is for Glitter and Glam of the Rivieras cruise for 7 days from Barcelona to Rome, August 20, 2016, to August 27, 2016, aboard the Star Breeze
Click here to learn more about Windstar Cruises.
About CruiseCompete: It’s interesting as CruiseCompete.com does not sell travel; it is a free and anonymous service that helps cruisers find the best values for their cruise vacation. Consumers simply submit a ship name and sail date with a few other pieces of relevant information. Top travel agencies then craft custom responses to meet the specific needs of the consumer. Cruisers are notified by e-mail when new quotes are available, so they can view these quotes and contact the agencies directly to book their trips. Thanks to CruiseCompete for working with LuxeGetaways on this profile of several of the most exclusive suites available for families looking for their next cruise getaway.
