Luxury cruise lines - which is your favorite?

[CuriousByNature]

Good morning!

I'm thinking of a post-pandemic travel splurge, and wondering which cruise lines readers might recommend for more of a luxury experience?  I'm aware of Seabourn, Silversea, Regent, Viking (ocean cruises), Azamara, Ponant and also Paul Gaugin in the South Pacific.

What are the pros and cons of each?  The food experience is very important to me, and less so the need for things like a personal butler, etc.  I also don't want an experience that is too formal, or hierarchical - which is why I have never cruised with Cunard, since they still seem to employ a class-based, segregated system.

Thanks!

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

Ritz-Carlton has great new ships.  I sailed with them earlier this year and have another one booked with a client next month.

Viking:  Skews older, but superb service and inclusions.  Comfortable rooms.  GREAT spa.

Azamara:  Used to be great, but they got bought out during COVID and haven't bounced back.

Ponant:  Beautiful ships, but terrible service and a general feeling of being unorganized.

Explora: MSC's luxury line just started sailing.  They need a year to shakedown, but the ships themselves look beautiful.

Four Seasons Yacht:  Just announced with renderings, but ships aren't yet on the water.

Paul Gaugin is really looking long in the tooth.  They need to drydock, but don't have plans anytime soon.

[Guest]

I've never been super crazy about the idea of cruises 🚢 even though I've spent many months over the years on a sailboat... all throughout central, and South America. I've sailed from Ecuador to the Galapagos to the Marquesas to the Tuamotu's and ultimately to French Polynesia 🇵🇫 ( almost every island that makes up French Polynesia ) HOWEVER, next month I'm going on a Oceania Cruise with a client for 3 weeks and I'm very excited. I don't have anything to compare it to other than a ketch 44' that had me fishing 🎣 and consuming more rum 🍹 and cokes than I'd like to admit. I'll report back mid November 😜

Edited September 30, 2023 by Vin_Marco

[MikeThomas]

My experience is limited to the Queen Mary 2 for transatlantic crossings and one Ritz Carlton cruise in the Caribbean.  I completed an Atlas Ocean Voyages cruise in the Mediterranean last spring and will be on another Atlas Ocean "cruise" in the Antarctic in January (not sure about the Polar Plunge!)  Ritz Carlton and Atlas are very similar.  New ships, less than 200 passengers.  Beautiful interiors, very luxurious and very good restaurants.  The QM2 is a fun way to cross the Atlantic.  But it is a BIG ship and a bit dated.  Have made some great friends over the years.  The LGBTQIA+ cocktail parties are interesting (they used to call them Friends of Dorothy, but per the current climate that became politically incorrect.)

 

[CuriousByNature]

1 hour ago, MikeThomas said:

My experience is limited to the Queen Mary 2 for transatlantic crossings and one Ritz Carlton cruise in the Caribbean.  I completed an Atlas Ocean Voyages cruise in the Mediterranean last spring and will be on another Atlas Ocean "cruise" in the Antarctic in January (not sure about the Polar Plunge!)  Ritz Carlton and Atlas are very similar.  New ships, less than 200 passengers.  Beautiful interiors, very luxurious and very good restaurants.  The QM2 is a fun way to cross the Atlantic.  But it is a BIG ship and a bit dated.  Have made some great friends over the years.  The LGBTQIA+ cocktail parties are interesting (they used to call them Friends of Dorothy, but per the current climate that became politically incorrect.)

 

On my 2nd or 3rd cruise I noticed gatherings for Friends of Dorothy and Bill W but never thought much about it.  Then the next cruise I noticed that both Bill and Dorothy were on the same cruise as me again.  Who were these people stalking me?  Lol.

I  saw in the daily bulletin that Dorothy's friends were getting together in one of the small lounges, in a quiet and less frequented part of this very big ship, so I decided to investigate.  

When I arrived I peeked in.  There were several pairs of people mingling around, and a few who were solo.  Suddenly two middle-aged women came in behind me and one grabbed my shoulder and said, 'C'mon in with us Sweetie and have a drink!'

I froze. I was caught crashing a gathering for someone I had never met.  As I turned to escape all I could blurt out was "Uh, thanks, but I shouldn't be here - I was just wondering who Dorothy was because we always seem to be on the same ship."

Their laughter followed me as I slinked back down the hallway... later in the cruise a crew member explained who Dorothy and Bill actually were.  🤯

[Marc in Calif]

4 hours ago, CuriousByNature said:

On my 2nd or 3rd cruise I noticed gatherings for Friends of Dorothy and Bill W but never thought much about it.  Then the next cruise I noticed that both Bill and Dorothy were on the same cruise as me again.  Who were these people stalking me?  Lol.

I  saw in the daily bulletin that Dorothy's friends were getting together in one of the small lounges, in a quiet and less frequented part of this very big ship, so I decided to investigate.  

When I arrived I peeked in.  There were several pairs of people mingling around, and a few who were solo.  Suddenly two middle-aged women came in behind me and one grabbed my shoulder and said, 'C'mon in with us Sweetie and have a drink!'

I froze. I was caught crashing a gathering for someone I had never met.  As I turned to escape all I could blurt out was "Uh, thanks, but I shouldn't be here - I was just wondering who Dorothy was because we always seem to be on the same ship."

Their laughter followed me as I slinked back down the hallway... later in the cruise a crew member explained who Dorothy and Bill actually were.  🤯

This sounds like something that would happen to Rose on "Golden Girls"! 

Well, I am a friend of Dorothy. And Blanche. And Sophia, too!

Edited October 1, 2023 by Marc in Calif

[CuriousByNature]

2 minutes ago, Marc in Calif said:

This sounds like something that would happen to Rose on "Golden Girls"! 

Well, I am a friend of Dorothy. And Blanche. And Sophia, too!

Yeah, and when the crew member told me what the Friends of Dorothy is about, I wondered which Dorothy it pertained to - Dorothy Gale or Dorothy Zbornak. 🤣

[borgerback]

On 9/30/2023 at 11:54 AM, BenjaminNicholas said:

Ritz-Carlton has great new ships.  I sailed with them earlier this year and have another one booked with a client next month.

Viking:  Skews older, but superb service and inclusions.  Comfortable rooms.  GREAT spa.

Azamara:  Used to be great, but they got bought out during COVID and haven't bounced back.

Ponant:  Beautiful ships, but terrible service and a general feeling of being unorganized.

Explora: MSC's luxury line just started sailing.  They need a year to shakedown, but the ships themselves look beautiful.

Four Seasons Yacht:  Just announced with renderings, but ships aren't yet on the water.

Paul Gaugin is really looking long in the tooth.  They need to drydock, but don't have plans anytime soon.

Basically quoting so I can easily refind.  

[jeezifonly]

Find me one cruise line that has returned to port without an infectious disease on board over the past year. 
 
That’s the one. 

[uclablueyes]

I’m going on a MSC Cruise this summer. It’s the Euribia and going through Europe so a non gay cruise but I’m sure there are plenty of gay guys looking to get frisky on board. Any advice re: cruising on the ship (no pun intended)? 

[56harrisond]

9 hours ago, uclablueyes said:

I’m going on a MSC Cruise this summer. It’s the Euribia and going through Europe so a non gay cruise but I’m sure there are plenty of gay guys looking to get frisky on board. Any advice re: cruising on the ship (no pun intended)? 

There's a seamen joke here too, but I'll spare you.

Start at the 2:20 mark

 

[corndog]

9 hours ago, uclablueyes said:

 Any advice re: cruising on the ship (no pun intended)? 

Be aware that even if you purchase the ship's internet service, location-based apps like Grindr or Scruff don't really work at sea. Your phone (and the phones of other cruisers) can't reliably determine your location. You may have some luck using the apps while in port and then continuing your conversations once out to sea, but that depends on whether other cruisers do the same.

The ships will often organize LGBT+ gatherings (sometimes listed as "Friends of Dorothy") but, depending on the demographics of the voyage, you may find that most people are traveling as couples or with families.

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

1 hour ago, corndog said:

The ships will often organize LGBT+ gatherings (sometimes listed as "Friends of Dorothy") but, depending on the demographics of the voyage, you may find that most people are traveling as couples or with families.

For this reason, I now almost exclusively cruise on gay chartered ships, or with an organized gay small group on a ship.

On 9/30/2023 at 8:19 AM, CuriousByNature said:

...wondering which cruise lines readers might recommend for more of a luxury experience?

I am really fond of OUTbound travel.  I've sailed with them once on a river cruise, and have two upcoming cruises booked with them for their full charter of Azamara Quest.

When I sailed with them on a River Cruise, the changes they implemented with the cruise line really made the entire trip more relaxing, upscale, and worth the extra price.

iamOUTbound – LGBTQ+ Vacation Adventures

IAMOUTBOUND.COM

---

It’s true… an LGBTQ+ cruise that’s NOT a Circuit Party! ABOUT Welcome to a world that is all our own. Each...

 

 

 

 

[Luv2play]

On 7/27/2025 at 1:10 PM, 56harrisond said:

There's a seamen joke here too, but I'll spare you.

Start at the 2:20 mark

 

He talks of being sick from the time he left port but doesn’t specify his illness. At the end he says he doesn’t get sea sick but it’s his first cruise (3 days). Maybe he is sea sick as he talks about the motion of the ship. 

[Luv2play]

On 7/27/2025 at 1:10 PM, corndog said:

Be aware that even if you purchase the ship's internet service, location-based apps like Grindr or Scruff don't really work at sea. Your phone (and the phones of other cruisers) can't reliably determine your location. You may have some luck using the apps while in port and then continuing your conversations once out to sea, but that depends on whether other cruisers do the same.

The ships will often organize LGBT+ gatherings (sometimes listed as "Friends of Dorothy") but, depending on the demographics of the voyage, you may find that most people are traveling as couples or with families.

The guy above on a three day cruise said his Grindr worked fine. Even though he was too sick to partake. 

Edited Saturday at 07:24 AM by Luv2play

[uclablueyes]

Thanks everybody. I’m boarding tomorrow. I’ll keep everybody posted on how things go. 🤞🤞🤞

[uclablueyes]

So far, no luck on board the MSC Euribia. It’s packed with families and very few visible gay travelers. The only other gay guests I’ve noticed are older couples. There’s definitely some good eye candy—plenty of 20-somethings with amazing bodies lounging by the pool—but most are with their families, so it’s hard to tell who’s who.

There aren’t any LGBTQ+ meetups listed in the daily program, so the only real chance to connect seems to be at the disco parties. Apps aren’t much help either—Sniffies and Grindr are technically working, but no one shows up nearby.

What is noticeable, though, is how many crew members seem to be gay. Some of the dancers in the evening shows have absolutely insane bodies—Greek god level. I can only imagine what goes on below deck with all those guys stuck on a ship for weeks… That said, I assume hooking up with guests is off-limits, so I haven’t pushed my luck.

Heading to the spa later—will report back if anything interesting happens. And if anyone has tips or knows the secret code on these cruises, I’m all ears.

Edited Wednesday at 11:14 AM by uclablueyes

[CuriousByNature]

1 hour ago, uclablueyes said:

So far, no luck on board the MSC Euribia. It’s packed with families and very few visible gay travelers. The only other gay guests I’ve noticed are older couples. There’s definitely some good eye candy—plenty of 20-somethings with amazing bodies lounging by the pool—but most are with their families, so it’s hard to tell who’s who.

There aren’t any LGBTQ+ meetups listed in the daily program, so the only real chance to connect seems to be at the disco parties. Apps aren’t much help either—Sniffies and Grindr are technically working, but no one shows up nearby.

What is noticeable, though, is how many crew members seem to be gay. Some of the dancers in the evening shows have absolutely insane bodies—Greek god level. I can only imagine what goes on below deck with all those guys stuck on a ship for weeks… That said, I assume hooking up with guests is off-limits, so I haven’t pushed my luck.

Heading to the spa later—will report back if anything interesting happens. And if anyone has tips or knows the secret code on these cruises, I’m all ears.

I haven't tried MSC yet - how's the food?  

[uclablueyes]

2 hours ago, CuriousByNature said:

I haven't tried MSC yet - how's the food?  

Food is ok. Nothing extraordinary. Pizza is excellent which is rare I heard on cruises. And ice cream is top notch. Apart from that, very average. Good food but nothing extraordinary. 

[CuriousByNature]

3 hours ago, uclablueyes said:

Food is ok. Nothing extraordinary. Pizza is excellent which is rare I heard on cruises. And ice cream is top notch. Apart from that, very average. Good food but nothing extraordinary. 

Thanks! Would you mind taking a photo of a menu from the dining room and posting it here? If it isn't too awkward or difficult...

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

8 hours ago, uclablueyes said:

That said, I assume hooking up with guests is off-limits, so I haven’t pushed my luck.

It depends on job description of the staff.  Housekeepers, servers, and maintenance workers are probably not allowed to hookup with guests.  But almost anyone in the show is an "officer", because in an emergency they are needed to speak English to command the passengers.  You can invite an officer to join you for dinner or even join you in your room.

I've lucked out by meeting the singers and dancers from the cruise ship shows in the sauna, and then invited them to my table for dinner and also my cabin for fun.  I've also met one performer when I turned on my Grindr in port, and he wanted to come meet me in my cabin back in the ship.  So it happens.  (These have been on Holland America and Celebrity).

[uclablueyes]

19 hours ago, Vegas_Millennial said:

It depends on job description of the staff.  Housekeepers, servers, and maintenance workers are probably not allowed to hookup with guests.  But almost anyone in the show is an "officer", because in an emergency they are needed to speak English to command the passengers.  You can invite an officer to join you for dinner or even join you in your room.

I've lucked out by meeting the singers and dancers from the cruise ship shows in the sauna, and then invited them to my table for dinner and also my cabin for fun.  I've also met one performer when I turned on my Grindr in port, and he wanted to come meet me in my cabin back in the ship.  So it happens.  (These have been on Holland America and Celebrity).

Thanks for the feedback. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[uclablueyes]

20 hours ago, CuriousByNature said:

Thanks! Would you mind taking a photo of a menu from the dining room and posting it here? If it isn't too awkward or difficult...

Here you go!