This thread has come about because my wife found a lovely cruise (Silver Seas) Panama Canal and Machu Picchu which tickled our fancy and whilst it was (IMO) eye-wateringly dear it made up for that by effectively containing 2 desired destinations in one holiday and a bonus luxury train-journey. I have since been surfing the various threads and trying to take ideas on-board... I've seen SS called premium by some and luxury by others (certainly for my budget it seems luxury!) and I was then wondering about dress-codes on-board in the more premium priced part of the market. Actually another question is quite simply what's the difference between premium and luxury?
We've only been on 2 cruises: Baltic on Princess; Alaska on HAL (should've been Celebrity but... <sigh> ) and thoroughly enjoyed both which has left Mrs W.too keen to try other ones, there is an issue though. Having spent 45 years needing to wear a suit and tie (for both work and school) I have no desire to now dress like that when I'm meant to be relaxing - indeed the thought of having to put on formal attire these days is, IMO, the antithesis of 'relaxing'. I do understand that for a lot of people the dressing up thing is a big part of the cruise (and I appreciate that we're all different) and so a lot of the pricier options seem to follow this dress-code idea - I guess partly down to age groupings on these cruises (though to be fair at 58 I'm not exactly a fresh-faced youngling)?
I realise I'm waffling a little (a lot?) without getting to other questions so without further ado:
- which of the more premium lines have a formal dress-code (for clarity now I'm retired I am strictly jeans and t-shirt)?
- are all of the premium lines all-inclusive for excursions or only some?
- are you obliged to share a table for meals? I am quite a quiet/introverted person who enjoys his own (and wife's!!) company and really have no interest in being part of "strangers are just friends you've not yet met". That's not to say I'm rude or don't engage, it's just not enjoying being 'forced together', get me talking and I'm liable not to shut-up 😁
- not keen on being waited on hand and foot (I'll pour my own water at dinner thank you very much)
- neither of us are really drinkers (the odd cocktail or glass of wine, but that's it) so not really bothered about AI drinks, is that a negative?
I'm sure I'll think 🤔 about more, but rather than waffle on I'll leave it at this for the time being... 👍