Five reasons to choose luxury Caribbean Cruises

The perks associated with luxury Caribbean cruises are ones that will be appreciated by adults 50 years and over.

There are many reasons why luxury cruise lines (like Seabourn Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas, Oceania Cruises, Crystal Cruises and others) are particularly appealing to travelers who are 50 years of age and over.

I recently penned a feature for the popular cruise review and information site, CruiseCritic.com, entitled Luxury Caribbean Cruise Tips. Writing the article sparked my thinking about some of the compelling reasons why older cruisers (boomers and beyond) opt for luxury cruises over more standard (mainstream) cruise ships that sail the Caribbean.

These reasons include:

1) Fewer kids

After raising children of our own, some of us become less tolerant of other people’s children, especially those that aren’t related to us. Luxury cruise lines are less likely to have children and teens as passengers (although their numbers increase during summer and school vacations).

2) Smaller ships

Luxury cruise ships tend to be smaller in size, perhaps carrying hundreds of passengers vs. thousands. Thus, these ships are better able to navigate smaller, more intimate Caribbean ports that can’t be reached by larger ships. These ports are also less congested because thousands of cruise passengers aren’t disembarking at the same time.

3) More bespoke excursions

Caribbean cruises tend to be port-intensive (with fewer sea days) so passengers wind up spending more time on land as opposed to on the ship. Because fewer passengers disembark at once on smaller luxury ships, there are less likely to be waits and long lines at disembarkation. Group sizes for tours, water sports, tastings, etc. also tend to be smaller. In addition, luxury cruise lines offer more opportunities to customize shore excursions. So when passengers spend time on shore, their experiences tend to feel more authentic.

4) Luxury amenities

While smaller luxury ships can’t possibly offer the same number and range of entertainment and dining options as mainstream ones, what they do offer tends to be more upscale. Think: cabin décor and amenities; specialty restaurant options and menus; design of public spaces; and personalized service (including concierges and butlers).

5) More inclusive pricing

Luxury lines tend to offer more inclusive pricing. For example, many fares include the costs of specialty restaurants, top-shelf liquors, soft drinks, minibars, rooms service, specialty coffees, etc. Some even include airfare. Thus, these cruises are more likely to appeal to those who want to know upfront what their vacations will cost—without being constantly being nickeled and dimed.

Planning a cruise to the Caribbean? Read my article on CruiseCritic.com, Luxury Caribbean Cruise Tips, that discusses the allures of luxury Caribbean cruises, the types of itineraries available, the special luxury enclaves available on mainstream lines, and some of the over-the-top shore excursions available on Caribbean sailings.

Also be sure to read the extensive information on CruiseCritic.com about different Caribbean Cruises—including ship and itinerary reviews.