Not Your Mother’s Cruise Line – Unique Cruise Experiences

Every cruise line has their own personality and many cruisers are familiar with the major cruise lines such as Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, or Princess as examples.  There are many other lines that offer different and unique experiences.  Do you want a yacht experience (with marina), a cruise with heavy destination focus, or maybe cruise a smaller ship to visit ports of call the large ships cannot reach.  We have highlighted three great experiences you might not have ever considered!

SeaDream Yacht Club

“It’s yachting, not cruising” Enjoy the difference. SeaDream Yacht Club is different from big ship cruising. Their philosophy of casual perfection runs through everything they do. With only 56 couples being pampered by an award-winning crew of 95, the level of attention and service they pay to each of our guests makes yachting aboard either one of their mega-yachts feel as if you are on your own private yacht. Be as active or as relaxed as you like and take in the ultimate in luxury, privacy and pampering.

SeaDream’s award-winning 5-star service is second to none. From the moment you are welcomed aboard by the Captain it feels as if you are being welcomed onto your own private luxury yacht. The service aboard either of SeaDream’s twin mega-yachts is comfortably transparent, like the way the bartender knows your name and what you would like to drink, or how the waiter knows how to surprise you with your favorite dessert.

What would yachting be without the proper toys! SeaDream I and SeaDream II feature a large retractable water sports Marina providing a variety of water sports activities. Play with the glass bottom kayaks, try a SUP (stand-up paddle board), go water skiing, ride the banana boat, go tubing or boarding, go snorkeling, test your sailing skills on a Laser sailboat®, go for a swim or kick back and lounge on the floating island.  All with the assistance of the yacht’s Marina staff. The Marina also has personal watercraft available when local regulations allow.

Azamara Club Cruises

Because Azamara specializes in what they call Destination Immersion...meaning longer stays, more overnights and night touring in ports of call. No other cruise line spends as much time in port—allowing Azamara guests a richer stay in the destinations they visit, enjoying things like live music, theater and restaurants, and clubs that light up after dark.

At Azamara Club Cruises are big fans of Destination Immersion, in-depth travel experiences made possible with longer stays, more overnights and even night touring. With AzAmazing Evenings, they take that concept a step further. Each private, bespoke AzAmazing Evenings event offers guests an opportunity to experience the best of local culture in a unique way.  Best of all, one is included with on all except transatlantic crossings and voyages that are less than 7 nights long.

The feeling that you’ve engaged with the real character of a place makes travel deeply satisfying. Imagine a romantic evening on a hillside in Tuscany, with a live performance by three tenors, or getting the red carpet treatment before a ballet at the Mikhailovsky Theater in St. Petersburg, or spending an evening onboard under a blanket of stars while savoring local delicacies. There may be a moment during your AzAmazing Evenings event when you forget you’re actually on a voyage. Have fun and savor the moment—that’s what AzAmazing Evenings are all about.

Each year, thousands of travelers from all over the world choose Azamara Club Cruises. It could be their two boutique ships that are just the right size, so you'll never feel lost in a crowd in our bars and restaurants, or by the pool, or in the spa or fitness centre. It could also be because of a bartender who remembers your favorite drink or a senior officer who joins you for breakfast. It could very well be the simple fact that there's just one person they are thinking about satisfying: You.

Windstar Cruises

The moment you board Windstar’s beautiful small ships, you feel like you stepped aboard your own private yacht. The perfect combination of luxury, relaxation, VIP service, and surprising discoveries await you.   With fewer than 300 guests, everything about Windstar’s style of small ship cruising – from how and where you take your meals, to where and what you do on shore – is all about you. The service is welcoming and intuitive, with the same casual elegance you feel throughout the yacht.

Remember each meal with pleasure.  When the mood strikes, choose where you'll eat and with whom. It will be spectacular, but not stuffy – whether it’s breakfast in bed, lunch alfresco at the Veranda or dinner in the exquisite AmphorA Restaurant.   Fill each moment with magic.   The thrill of Windstar's signature Sail Away -- the exuberance of the Yacht Deck Barbeque, arguable the best party on the seas. From dancing under the stars to a decadent nap on a sun-drenched deck, the magic never ends.

Make a splash.  Dive from the Watersports Platform. . . enjoy board sailing . . . water-ski . . . try snorkeling . . . grab a pedal boat . . . or take a closer look at the shore while kayaking. You're on the water, so don't miss out!  Find yourself at home.   Discover a cozy corner and curl up with a novel. Lose yourself in the solitary serenity of the expansive deck at dawn. Discuss the day's adventures with new-found friends in the Lounge. Wherever you go, you'll find the service warm, welcoming, and heartfelt.