| A luxury cruise vacation is something most of us | | | | well-known for providing luxury on cruise vacations. |
| dream about. Sailing the ocean under sunny skies, our | | | | Crystal's luxury liner the Crystal Serenity can |
| every want and need anticipated by attentive staff, | | | | accommodate 1,080 guests and typically sails in |
| food and wine everywhere we look, not a worry in | | | | Europe and the South Pacific. However, she's |
| the world. Well, what's keeping you? | | | | scheduled for an around-the-world tour departing |
| Three-quarters of the earth is covered by water. | | | | from Los Angeles in January of 2008 and arriving in |
| What better way to explore our planet than in style | | | | Southampton, England, 110 days later. |
| on a cruise ship? Today's luxury cruises run the | | | | Cunard Cruise Line was founded in Britain in 1838 and |
| gamut from small vessels that carry 8 or 10 | | | | has been sailing successfully since then. They are |
| passengers to giant ocean liners with every amenity | | | | well-known for both safety and luxury. Currently, the |
| you could imagine, and a few you couldn't. | | | | Cunard Line sails three luxury liners, the |
| If you want a smaller, more intimate luxury cruise, | | | | world-renowned Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2), the Queen |
| look into small-ship luxury cruises. These all feature | | | | Victoria, and the Queen Mary 2. |
| the service you would expect at a 5-star resort. | | | | The immortal QE2 is 963 feet in length and can cruise |
| You'll use fine china for dining, eat outstanding cuisine | | | | with up to 1,778 guests aboard. She has logged 5.5 |
| prepared by highly-trained chefs, and enjoy a | | | | million nautical miles, carried over 2 million guests, and |
| selection of activities and destinations. | | | | is still the fastest merchant ship in operation. |
| The smallest luxury cruises are actually aboard | | | | Definitely one of a kind! |
| chartered yachts, and you can have the ship all to | | | | The Queen Mary 2 is one of the most magnificent |
| yourself--or your group. Ships that sleep 34, 42, up | | | | ocean liners of all time. At 1,132 feet she can sail with |
| to 80 can be chartered to travel at your whim. | | | | up to 3,056 passengers in full luxury. Billed as "your |
| However, there are several cruise lines that specialize | | | | sanctuary at sea", the accommodations and dining |
| in small-ship luxury cruises. Regent Seven Seas | | | | are first-rate. A luxurious ballroom, planetarium, and |
| features four different luxury ships: the Seven Seas | | | | sports decks will all keep you occupied. The spa will |
| Voyager, Seven Seas Mariner, Seven Seas Navigator | | | | relax you when you're all done. |
| and the Paul Gauguin. The Seven Seas Mariner was | | | | Launching in December 2007, Cunard's Queen Victoria |
| the first all-suite, all-balcony cruise ship in the world | | | | will sail her maiden voyage to New York. At 964.5 |
| and was such a hit she was quickly followed by the | | | | feet, she'll accommodate 1,980 passengers on 12 |
| Voyager. Both the Voyager and the Mariner sleep up | | | | decks with typical Cunard service and cuisine. |
| to 700 guests, while the Navigator can accommodate | | | | There are many, many choices for luxury cruise |
| up to 490 travelers and the Paul Gauguin can travel | | | | vacations, but no matter which ship, line, or |
| with 330 guests. | | | | destination you choose, you'll remember that cruise |
| Crystal and Cunard are two other cruise lines | | | | for the rest of your life. |