Seven Seas Mariner World Cruise

Seven Seas Mariner (46,000 gross tonnage) Radisson Seven Seas Cruises sails a 108-night world cruise from Los Angeles to Ft. Lauderdale, January 21, 2003. From Los Angeles she circles the globe while calling at ports in French Polynesia, the Pacific Islands, New Zealand, Australia, Solomon Islands, Papau New Guinea, Guam, Japan, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, India, Seychelles, Kenya, South Africa, Brazil, Caribbean, Ft. Lauderdale USA (May 9, 2003).

The Seven Seas Mariner is the world's first all-suite, all-balconied ship. Every single guest will be treated to an unprecedented level of expansive personal luxury.

QE2 World Cruise

Cunard's legendary QE2 (70,000 gross tonage) set sails for a 106-night world cruise from New York on January 5, 2003. She sails from New York to Ft. Lauderdale, through the Panama Canal to Valparaiso, Chile; trans Pacific calling at Easter Island, Pitcairn Island, Papeete, Moorea, Rarotaonga, Auckland, Bay of Islands, Melbourne, Sydney, Bristane, Yorkey's Knob and Darwin; on to ports in Japan, China Honk Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Kenya, South Africa, Namibia, The Canary Islands, Madeira, Southampton, England before crossing the Atlantic to New York (April 23). The world cruise is available in segments.

Deutschland World Cruise

Deutschland (22,000 gross tonnage) Deilmann Cruises, sails a 136-night world cruise from Las Palmas, Canary Islands December 18, 2002. This state-of-the-art ship sails across the Atlantic to South America, around Cape Horn to Valparaiso, Chile then heads across the Pacific to French Polynesia, Tonga, Fiji and New Caledonia. Sailing west, Deutschland then calls at the Solomon Islands, Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan and China. From Hong Kong she sails back to Europe visiting Vietnam, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, India, Dubai, Egypt, Crete and Venice. Eight segments are available. The world cruise ends in Venice May 4, 2003.

Crystal Symphony World Cruise

Crystal Symphony (50,000 gross tonnage), Crystal Cruises, sails from Fort Lauderdale January 19, 2003 on a 104-night voyage called "From Antarctica to the Tropics". She sails through the Caribbean to South America, around Cape Horn and Antarctica, across the South Pacific to Australia, through the Hawaiian Islands to Los Angeles before a Panama Canal cruise ends in Ft. Lauderdale. The world cruise calls at 37 ports in 15 countries and is available in segments.

Crystal Cruises operates the Crystal Symphony, which is one of the most spacious and luxurious cruise ships at sea. She accomodates 940 guests who will be spoiled by grand lounges, a full-service fitness facility, a Caesars Palace at Sea casino, a lavish spa, expansive decks, two pools, award-winning cuisine and entertainment. During the world cruise, guests will live in exquisitely-appointed staterooms, more than half of which offer private verandahs.

Amsterdam World Cruise

On a world cruise guests enjoy the romance and excitement of circling the globe and the extraordinary service provided by Holland America Line.

The Amsterdam offers five-star dining and do not repeat a meal during the 100 days! The freshest ingredients and highest quality food products available are gathered in the local markets, and the cusine reflects the flair and flavors of the ports visited.

Entertainers are flown in to entertain guests and spectacular production shows are presented during the world cruise. Themed activities and performances focus on entertainment with local flavor.

Best luxury ships

Luxury cruise lines are for everyone!In looking at today's top luxury cruise lines, we've picked favorites that span an entire range of travel styles. While all fit the key "luxury" criteria -- outstanding cuisine and top-notch personal service -- some boast more sumptuous interiors, and some are more all-inclusive than others.

What's different these days about luxury cruise lines is that they come in all shapes and sizes, fitting a far wider range of passengers. Luxury can be experienced in the guise of sailing yacht-style vessels, or formal, near-mega ship traditional experiences.

Top luxury cruise lines,

In looking at today's top luxury cruise lines, we've picked favorites that span an entire range of travel styles. While all fit the key "luxury" criteria -- outstanding cuisine and top-notch personal service -- some boast more sumptuous interiors, and some are more all-inclusive than others.

What's different these days about luxury cruise lines is that they come in all shapes and sizes, fitting a far wider range of passengers. Luxury can be experienced in the guise of sailing yacht-style vessels, or formal, near-mega ship traditional experiences.

If You Want All-Around Glamour ...
Try: Silversea Cruises' Silver Wind or Silver Cloud

Anchors away the "creme de la creme" of the seas, these 296-passenger twin sister ships provide flawless service, authentic gourmet cuisine, free-flowing wines, open bars, spacious suite-like staterooms (stocked with Frette terry robes), decks of balconied staterooms, friendly crew and gorgeous interiors.

If You Want Lots of Choices and Plenty of Mind-Bending Activities ...
Try: Crystal's Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity

These luxury liners redefine elegance with the company's "never say no" motto: extravagant butler-manned penthouse suites, gorgeous staterooms, irreproachable service, lavishly staged production shows and a floating Caesar's Palace casino. The ships' facilities are amazing, from a Feng Shui-inspired spa to the most exclusive collection of boutique restaurants (Prego by Valentino, Nobu Matsuhisu's Silk Road) at sea.

If You Want Your Own (Almost) Private Yacht ...
Try: SeaDream Yacht Club's SeaDream I and SeaDream II

Aimed at active, luxury-loving travelers of any age, sailing these 110-passenger yachts is the next best thing to having your own! Cuisine is superb, service is also superb, and the yachts' interiors are un-ostentatiously elegant. Each ship has a small but incredibly lovely Asian-influenced spa. There are no private verandahs (most yachts, after all, don't need 'em) but cabins are outfitted with sumptuous amenities, such as DVD players, cotton duvets and lovely bathrooms with showers for two. Another plus: This is one of the industry's most all-inclusive options. Everything from cocktails to gratuities to watersports fun off its platform is included in the price -- even the caviar, available around the clock.

If You Want Tropical Elegance ...
Try: Regent Seven Seas Cruises' Paul Gauguin

The 304-passenger ship, which sails year-round itineraries in French Polynesia, offers casual, laid-back luxury, romantic ambiance, fabulous food, big, beautiful staterooms (many with verandahs), great service and amenities. What's particularly special about Paul Gauguin is that its interior was designed for French Polynesia -- and so the onboard art and ambiance very elegantly reflects the itinerary.

If You Want Hip, Funky and Trendy ...
Try: Regent Seven Seas Cruises' Seven Seas Voyager

Seven Seas Voyager is a bit like a fabulous boutique hotel at sea. It's got theatrical -- and memorable -- restaurants, such as the oh-so-French Signatures, and the whimsical Latitudes. Stateroom accommodations are roomy -- there's a plethora of suites, which all come with butler service.

If You Want Casual Elegance ...
Try: Windstar's Wind Spirit, Wind Star or Wind Surf

This spiffy, "casually relaxed" sailing fleet of two identical 148-passenger, four-masted computer-operated sisters (the 312-passenger Wind Surf joined the line in 1998) is popular with a preppy, sporty, Docksiders-wearing crowd that wants to travel to out-of-the-way ports without sacrificing comfort and style.

If You Want Traditional Luxury ...
Try: Seabourn's Seabourn Pride, Seabourn Spirit and Seabourn Legend

While verandahs would greatly enhance the appeal (note that some cabins have French windows that open out but you cannot actually venture onto them), this polished fleet of 204-passenger luxury liners compensate for the lack of balconies with flawless service, dreamy cuisine with complimentary wine, plush staterooms, fascinating ports, and a farewell beach party drenched with caviar and champagne to complete the experience.