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Top 10 luxury cruise companies

We’ve read the fine print, weighed up the inclusions, checked the shine on the cutlery and the comfort of the beds. Here, in no particular order, are the top 10 luxury cruise companies.
John Laurie

1[**Silversea

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](http://silversea.com)Passengers** 100-540

Where Worldwide

Best itinerary 7-night Galapagos Islands (year round from September 2013)

Restaurants 2-5

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Bars 2-4

Alcohol Included

Weakness Specialty-restaurant surcharges.

Must do Make the most of your butler – provided for all guests.

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2[**Seabourn

](http://seabourn.com)Passengers** 200-450

Where Worldwide

Best itinerary 23-night Antarctica, Patagonia and South Georgia Island (11 December 2013)

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Restaurants 4

Bars 4-6

Alcohol Included

Weakness Older ships lack decent balconies.

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Must do Caviar in the surf; massage on deck.

3[**Regent Seven Seas Cruises

](http://rssc.com)Passengers** 490-700

Where Worldwide

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Best itinerary 7-night round trip from Vancouver to Alaska (22 May 2013)

Restaurants 5-6

Bars 4-5

Alcohol Included

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Weakness Butler service is only for some suites.

Must do Enjoy free shore excursions in every port.

4[**Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

](http://hl-cruises.com)Passengers** 164-698

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Where Worldwide

Best itinerary 7-night Monte Carlo to Valletta, Malta (8 June 2013)

Restaurants 1-4

Bars 1-8

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Alcohol Not included

Weakness Onboard language on some voyages is German.

Must do Michelin-starred chef Dieter Müller’s restaurant.

5[**Sea Dream Yacht Club

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](http://seadream.com)Passengers** 112

Where Amazon, Adriatic, Black Sea, Mediterranean, Caribbean, Transatlantic, Costa Rica, Australasia

Best itinerary 14-night Benoa, Bali, to Cairns (18 January 2014)

Restaurants 2

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Bars 3

Alcohol Included

Weakness Staterooms don’t have balconies.

Must do Enjoy the signature Champagne and caviar splash.

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6[**Crystal Cruises

](http://crystalcruises.com)Passengers** 922-1070

Where Worldwide

Best itinerary 9-night Istanbul to Rome via Çanakkale (25 July 2013)

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Restaurants 10-11

Bars 9

Alcohol Included

Weakness High passenger numbers.

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Must do A huge array of activities and classes.

7[**Oceania Cruises

](http://oceaniacruises.com)Passengers** 684-1250.

Where Worldwide

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Best itinerary 30-night Cape Town to Singapore via the Maldives (7 January 2014)

Restaurants 5-10

Bars 5

Alcohol Discount packages available

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Weakness Surcharges for some dining.

Must do La Reserve, Polo Grill and Jacques restaurants; visit Canyon Ranch Spa Club.

8[**Star Clippers

](http://starclippers.com/au)Passengers** 170-227

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Where Mediterranean, Baltic, Caribbean, Central America, Panama Canal, Transatlantic

Best itinerary 10-night Sweden, Russia and Finland (6 July 2013)

Restaurants 1

Bars 2

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Alcohol Not included

Weakness Limited entertainment options.

Must do Climb the mast, raise the sails, take the wheel.

9[**Sea Cloud Cruises

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](http://seacloud.com)Passengers** 64-94

Where Europe, Caribbean, Central America, Transatlantic

Best itinerary 7-night round trip from Bridgetown, Barbados (12 December 2013)

Restaurants 1

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Bars 2

Alcohol Wine and beer with meals

Weakness No balconies and limited entertainment.

Must do Watch the crew – all sailing is done by hand.

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10[**Azamara Club Cruises

](http://azamaraclubcruises.com)Passengers** 694

Where Europe, Asia, West Indies, Caribbean, South America, Mediterranean

Best itinerary 13-night Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand (21 January 2014)

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Restaurants 6

Bars 6

Alcohol Wine with meals; all included will roll out in March and May.

Weakness Premium rather than pure luxury.

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Must do Experience the new complimentary evening events on land.

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