Couples 50+

Luxury Lines Compared: What the Extra Spend Buys

Updated 29 October 2026 · 5 min read · Cruise Questions Canada editorial team

Quick answerLuxury lines bundle drinks, gratuities, wifi and often excursions or flights into the fare, and sail much smaller ships with more crew per guest. Even after adding mainstream extras back in, luxury usually costs around two to three times as much per night, so the question is how much space and service matter to you.

Hand-drawn sketch of a cruise ship, wine, a bow tie and cash and coins, illustrating Luxury Lines Compared: What the Extra Spend Buys

The extra money on a luxury cruise buys three things: a fare that includes almost everything, a much smaller ship, and more staff per guest. Whether that's worth two or three times the price depends on how much you value quiet, space and never signing a bar bill.

What luxury fares actually include

Mainstream lines advertise a low fare and charge for drinks, gratuities, wifi, specialty dining and excursions. Luxury lines fold most of that in. That's why the sticker price looks so much higher and why the real gap is smaller than it seems.

The main luxury and upper-premium lines compared

Inclusions change often and vary by fare type, so treat this as a guide and confirm current details for your sailing.

Line	Guests per ship (roughly)	Typically included	Feel
Regent Seven Seas	490–750	Drinks, gratuities, wifi, all dining, unlimited shore excursions, often flights	The most inclusive, spacious suites
Silversea	100–730	Drinks, gratuities, wifi, butler in every suite, flights on some fares	Refined, strong expedition fleet
Seabourn	260–600	Drinks, gratuities, wifi, most dining	Relaxed and social, expedition ships too
Explora Journeys	about 900	Drinks, gratuities, wifi, most dining	Contemporary, resort-style
Viking (ocean)	930–1,000	One tour per port, beer and wine with meals, wifi, specialty dining	Adults only, no casino, destination-focused
Oceania	670–1,250	Specialty restaurants, with drinks and excursions often in a bundle	Food-first, more traditional

Viking and Oceania are often called upper premium rather than full luxury, but many couples cross-shop them. For smaller names, see quiet luxury: small-ship lines Canadians overlook.

The real cost difference

At roughly 1.37, that luxury fare is around C$8,200–9,600 per person. Many luxury lines price in US dollars, so check whether a Canadian-dollar fare is available, and pay with a card that has no foreign-transaction fee.

Flights from Canada

Where flights are included, check which Canadian airports qualify, whether you can choose your airline, and whether business class costs extra. Included flights can save C$1,000–3,000 per couple on a European cruise, but only if the routing works for you.

What you notice on board

No lines. Embarkation takes minutes, there are no buffet queues, and tenders run smoothly.
Service that remembers. Crew ratios are often close to one crew member per guest, against roughly one per two or three guests on big ships.
Specialty-level food everywhere, without reservation fees. Some ships add hands-on cooking classes.
Space. Most cabins are suites, often with a walk-in closet and a real bathtub.
Smaller ports. Small ships can dock in town centres and visit harbours big ships can't, which also means fewer crowds ashore.

Who it suits, and who it doesn't

Luxury suits couples celebrating a big milestone, travellers who've done several mainstream cruises and want a calmer pace, and anyone who hates adding up extras. It's a strong choice if you don't like crowds.

It suits people less if you want waterslides, Broadway shows and a lively nightlife, if you're travelling with young children, or if you drink little and rarely book excursions, since you'd be paying for inclusions you won't use.

Common mistakes when comparing

Comparing headline fares instead of totals with extras added back.
Assuming every ship in a fleet is the same. Expedition and classic ships within one line can feel very different.
Forgetting that included flights may not leave from your nearest airport.
Booking a luxury line for one feature, like a butler, without checking the rest suits your style.

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Is luxury worth it for your trip?

Price the same itinerary on a mainstream line with all the extras you'd actually buy, then compare it with a luxury fare. If the difference feels worth it for the space, food and calm, book luxury for a trip that matters, such as one of the ideas in romantic cruise ideas for a big anniversary.

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Frequently asked questions

What's included in a luxury cruise fare that isn't on mainstream lines?

Usually drinks including wine and spirits, gratuities, wifi and all restaurants. Depending on the line and fare, you may also get shore excursions, flights from Canada, a pre-cruise hotel night or a butler, so compare inclusions line by line.

Are luxury cruise ships much smaller than mainstream ships?

Yes. Most luxury ships carry roughly 250–1,000 guests, compared with 3,000–6,000 or more on big mainstream ships. That means no lineups, a quieter pace and crew who learn your name within a day or two.

Which luxury cruise line is the most all-inclusive?

Regent Seven Seas is usually seen as the most inclusive, with unlimited shore excursions as well as drinks, gratuities, wifi and dining, and flights on many fares. Inclusions change, so check the current fare details for your sailing.