Premium Ocean Cruises: Refined, Relaxed, Well-Crafted Journeys

Ocean Cruise Scenario

Premium ocean cruises are where I send travelers who want something more refined than the big, theme-park-at-sea experience, but don’t necessarily need ultra-luxury or butlers. This is the sweet spot of relaxed elegance: thoughtfully designed ships, excellent dining, rich destination experiences, and a calmer onboard vibe where you can actually hear the ocean and enjoy unhurried conversations. When you work with River and Vine Travel, I help you sort through these well-crafted journeys—matching you with the right ship, itinerary, and stateroom—so your time at sea feels easy, comfortable, and quietly special from embarkation to return home.

Premium Ocean Cruise Lines I Recommend

Azamara

Azamara Ship photo

Azamara is where I send travelers who care more about time in port than time on waterslides—those who want to linger late in a café, wander quiet streets after dark, or join a small‑group tour that really digs into the local culture. Its smaller ships feel like a relaxed boutique hotel at sea, with friendly service, good food, and itineraries that prioritize late stays and hidden‑gem ports over crowded, checklist cruising. When you book Azamara with River and Vine Travel, I help you choose the right ship and journey for your style, then pair it with tailored flights, hotels, and shore experiences so every late‑night sail‑away and softly lit harbor feels like it was chosen just for you.

Celebrity

Celebrity Cruises is where I send travelers who want that sweet spot of modern style and premium comfort—sleek ships, contemporary design, and a strong focus on food, wine, and wellness instead of constant noise and gimmicks. Think spaces like the Edge‑class ships’ airy lounges, grown‑up pool decks, and inventive dining that feels more like a chic city restaurant than a traditional cruise dining room.

When you book Celebrity with River and Vine Travel, I help you choose the right ship, stateroom, and itinerary—whether you are dreaming of the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, or somewhere farther afield—then layer in flights, hotels, and special touches so your cruise feels polished, easy, and distinctly “modern luxury” from embarkation to final sea day.

Emerald Yacht

Photo of Emerald Azzura Yacht.

Emerald’s luxury yachts are where I send travelers who want to feel like they’re on a sleek private yacht without the stress or price tag of chartering one themselves—around 100 guests on board, plenty of space to unwind, and a design that puts you right up close to the sea. With their small size, these yachts can slip into the kinds of harbors and old towns the big ships sail past, so your days might look like swimming off the marina platform in the morning and strolling a cobblestoned waterfront by afternoon.

When you book an Emerald luxury yacht cruise with River and Vine Travel, I help you choose the itinerary that fits your style—whether that’s the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Caribbean, Seychelles, or beyond—and then layer in flights, hotels, and shore experiences so your time at sea feels effortless, intimate, and delightfully “yacht chic” from port to port.

Holland America Line

Photo of a Holland America Line Ship.

Holland America Line is where I send travelers who love a more classic style of cruising—graceful, mid-sized ships, fresh and varied dining, and evenings filled with live music, theater, and relaxed conversation instead of non-stop adrenaline. It has a quietly elegant feel that really suits couples, multigenerational families, and seasoned cruisers who appreciate good service, thoughtful itineraries, and time to truly enjoy the sea itself. When you book Holland America with River and Vine Travel, I help you choose the right ship, itinerary, and stateroom—whether you’re dreaming of Alaska, Europe, or a longer “collector” voyage—and can also coordinate flights, hotels, and shore experiences so your journey feels seamless from the moment you leave home to the moment you return.

A personal Holland America ship tour with me is coming soon, so you’ll be able to step onboard virtually, see the lounges, pool decks, and staterooms, and decide if it feels like the right fit before you book.

Princess

Photo of the Star Princess Ship in Fort Lauderdale.

Princess Cruises is where I send travelers who want that “classic cruise” feel with a polished, contemporary twist—beautiful ships, good food and wine, and a relaxed, grown‑up atmosphere that still works well for multigenerational families. You’ll find movies under the stars, destination‑focused enrichment, and itineraries that balance sea days with time in port, whether you’re dreaming of Alaska, Europe, the Caribbean, or somewhere farther afield.

When you book Princess with River and Vine Travel, I help you sort through ships, staterooms, and itineraries—plus options like Princess Plus and Premier—so we land on the right blend of value and inclusions for how you actually like to travel. From there, I can coordinate flights, hotels, and special touches like specialty dining or celebration packages, so your Princess voyage feels easy, well‑planned, and a little bit storybook from sail‑away to return home.

Viking Ocean

Photo of a Viking Ocean Ship.

Viking Ocean is where I send travelers who love culture, history, and a quieter, more refined way of being at sea. You won’t find water slides or casinos here—just beautifully designed, adult‑focused ships, destination‑rich itineraries, and thoughtful touches like included excursions and wine with lunch and dinner.

When you book Viking Ocean with River and Vine Travel, I help you choose the right ship and journey for your interests—whether that’s the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Iceland, or a longer exploration—and then coordinate flights, hotels, and pre‑/post‑stays so your voyage feels unhurried, immersive, and seamlessly planned from first port to last.

If you’re picturing yourself with more space to breathe, lingering over good wine and conversation, and stepping off the ship feeling refreshed instead of exhausted, these premium ocean cruise lines may be exactly what you’re looking for. Tell me a bit about how you like to travel—casual or dressy, small ship or something a bit larger, quiet corners or a little more buzz—and I’ll help you narrow the choices, match you with the right line and itinerary, and handle the details so your time at sea feels every bit as refined and relaxing as you’re imagining.

Ask Robert Which Premium Line Fits Me