Like fine European hotels or the fanciest boutique properties, the ships of the best luxury cruise lines are designed to appeal to people who seek — and can afford — an elegant style of travel.
Champagne flows. You can snack on caviar. Exquisite cuisine is prepared a la minute and accompanied by pours of fine wines. Onboard lounges are wonderfully intimate, with no mass-market anything. When you rest your head, it’s on a luxury mattress topped with the finest linens.
The byword is exclusivity. Perks that come with the cruise fare may include beverages, Wi-Fi, fresh flowers, extraordinary pampering and, in some cases, butler service.
The price to get on board could be $1,000 per person, per day. For top suites, it could be much, much more.
Catering to adventurous luxury cruise travelers with money to spend, the relatively new cruise line Atlas Ocean Voyages —which debuted in 2021—offers upscale experiences on small ships that carry only 196 passengers.
The brand’s three vessels (World Navigator, World Traveller and World Voyager) carry their own landing craft, Jet Skis, kayaks and paddleboards, all of which can be used by passengers wishing for some adventure while exploring the world on itineraries that include the Mediterranean, Portugal and the British Isles, as well as more remote locales like the Arctic and Antarctica.
Although the onboard dress code is casual, the ships are anything but, featuring elegant, retro-chic decor and marble floors.
In addition to including Wi-Fi, crew gratuities, alcohol and some shore excursions in its fares, Atlas provides all passengers with emergency medical evacuation insurance to handle unexpected illness or injury in the remote locations its ships sail.
Overall, Atlas has found a way to seamlessly meld swank and leisure, making it one of our favorite luxury cruise lines.
Soucer: The Points Guy
Atlas Ocean Voyages and Mystic Cruises enhance the onboard experience with new interactive touchscreens at Paula’s Pantry. These intuitive displays let guests explore the daily program, routes, shore excursions, dining and wellness, creating a smoother, more personalised and connected journey.
Mystic Cruises strengthens its commitment to ethical and sustainable practices by joining the UN Global Compact. Across its ocean expeditions, it promotes human rights, fair work, environmental protection and anti-corruption, ensuring responsible tourism that creates positive impact for communities and marine ecosystems.
Mystic Cruises is set to launch a new Antarctica expedition season, running from November 2025 to March 2026. This is the period when the company’s ships explore the White Continent, offering expedition voyages focused on discovery, science, and responsible nature observation.