Why Ultra-Luxury Cruising Continues to Grow

I recently returned from an incredible cruise aboard Regent Seven Seas Cruises newest ship, the Seven Seas Grandeur, and it reminded me once again why ultra-luxury cruising has become one of the fastest growing segments in travel.

Over the last several years, I’ve had the privilege of helping countless clients experience ultra-luxury cruise vacations aboard amazing cruise lines like Silversea Cruises, Explora Journeys, Seabourn Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas, and more. And every year, more travelers discover that luxury cruising is about far more than fancy suites or expensive ships. It’s about comfort, ease, personalized service, immersive destinations, and a level of relaxation that is genuinely difficult to describe until you experience it yourself.

Regent Seven Seas Grandeur was a perfect example of what I often describe as “The Good Life at Sea.”

The Most Inclusive Experience at Sea

Every cruise line offers different levels of inclusions and packages. Some include drinks. Others include Wi-Fi. Some include gratuities or specialty dining.

But Regent Seven Seas can safely make the claim of being one of — if not the — most inclusive luxury cruise experiences in the world.

Honestly, you can bring your wallet onboard, but you really only need it for souvenirs, casino gambling, shopping, or perhaps a spa treatment if you choose one beyond the included experiences.

We’re talking about:

• Unlimited beverages

• Specialty dining

• Gratuities

• Wi-Fi

• Room service

• Fitness classes

• Access to the thermal spa

• Stocked minibar

• Premium spirits and wines

• Even Gatorades in the fitness center… or so I’ve heard.

It creates a truly relaxing experience because you’re never constantly thinking about extra charges, drink packages, or what is and isn’t included. You simply enjoy your vacation.

And when Regent runs one of their excellent promotions — which they frequently do — the overall value becomes even more impressive.

The Luxury Touches You Don’t Think About Until You Experience Them

One of the things that separates ultra-luxury cruising from premium cruising isn’t always the big flashy features. It’s often the smaller details that quietly change the entire experience.

Laundry Changes Everything

I know this sounds ridiculous, but laundry may honestly be my favorite inclusion on Regent.

Having wrinkled clothes pressed after unpacking and having your laundry cleaned throughout the cruise completely changes how you pack, plan, and travel. Not only do you return home with mostly clean clothes in your suitcase, but you realize halfway through the trip that you didn’t need to overpack in the first place.

It sounds small until you experience it. Then you never want to cruise without it again.

The Space and Service Ratio

This is true across most ultra-luxury small ship cruise lines, but the atmosphere onboard feels entirely different because of the ship size and crew-to-guest ratio.

On our sailing, there were roughly 750 guests and about 550 crew members. Most of the time, the ship genuinely felt empty — in the best possible way.

No crowded elevators. No waiting forever at bars. No fighting for seating. No giant buffet chaos.

Instead, there was space. Quiet. Calm. Personalized attention.

At times, it honestly felt like there were more crew members than guests onboard.

That translates into incredible service, but it also creates a unique sense of relaxation that’s hard to replicate on larger ships.

The Thermal Spa Was a Surprise Highlight

Many ultra-luxury cruise lines include access to their thermal spa areas, but this was something I fully appreciated on this sailing.

The thermal spa onboard Seven Seas Grandeur was outstanding. Three jetted hot tubs overlooking the ship’s wake, saunas, steam rooms, heated loungers, an ice room, experience showers — it became one of my favorite places onboard.

You leave feeling as relaxed as you would after an actual spa treatment.

Ironically, I barely used this inclusion on my previous Regent sailing because I stayed so busy. This time, I made it a priority, and I’m glad I did.

Elevated Experiences at Every Turn

The Food Was on Another Level

I’ve had a lot of great meals at sea over the years.

This was different.

The quality, creativity, and flexibility of the dining experience onboard Regent was genuinely exceptional. You can essentially order almost anything you want.

I have never consumed so much lobster in my life, and I regret absolutely nothing.

One of our new friends onboard mentioned craving authentic Paella prepared by the executive chef from Spain. Less than 24 hours later, it appeared at dinner.

That level of personalization says everything.

One of my favorite dining experiences was at Compass Rose, Regent’s signature restaurant. Half the menu felt like dining in a Michelin-starred restaurant, while the other half allowed you to fully customize your meal with your choice of proteins, sauces, vegetables, sides, and preparations.

Healthy. Indulgent. Simple. Elevated. You could truly create exactly what you wanted every night.

The Beverage Program Was Outstanding

While I’m not much of a big drinker anymore, I still appreciated the incredible variety of bars and lounges onboard.

Each venue had its own personality and unique cocktail menu. Honestly, it would have been impossible to try every specialty drink onboard during one cruise.

A personal favorite was the Meridian Lounge, where they served everything from classic cocktails to many of the trendy drinks currently all over social media.

It became one of those places you naturally gravitated toward in the evenings.

Service That Truly Felt Personal

The service onboard Regent was simply next level.

Because there are so many crew members and relatively few guests, the crew has the opportunity to genuinely get to know you.

They remembered preferences. They joked around with us. They greeted us by name. They proactively noticed things before we even had to ask.

Whether it was grabbing umbrellas before rain arrived, running to another lounge to get a specific drink, or simply checking in to ensure everything was perfect, the crew consistently made guests feel like the most important people onboard.

That level of personalized attention is difficult to describe, but it fundamentally changes the overall vacation experience.

Why I Love Helping Clients Experience Ultra-Luxury Cruising

One of the things I enjoy most about my job is helping clients discover the type of travel experience that best fits them — and for many travelers, ultra-luxury cruising becomes something they immediately fall in love with.

Regent Seven Seas often offers excellent promotions that, when combined with their extensive inclusions, create tremendous overall value.

Additionally, because we work so closely with Regent and sell a significant amount of their cruises, I often have access to exclusive rates and special focused itineraries that cannot even be publicly advertised.

In many cases, I’m also able to offer up to $400 in additional shipboard credit per suite.

And perhaps most importantly, when you book with The Good Life Travel Company, you’re working with knowledgeable, experienced, and connected full-time travel professionals who can guide you through every step of the process — from selecting the right itinerary and suite to ensuring a seamless travel experience before, during, and after your cruise.

Ultra-luxury cruising isn’t just about seeing the world. It’s about slowing down, relaxing, being cared for, and truly experiencing The Good Life at sea.

Let’s connect and start planning your next ultra-luxury cruise experience.

Email Michael at mroemmele@tgltravelco.com

Call/Text Michael at 419-508-8031