I Put The Ultra-Luxury Cruise Lines To The Test: Silversea vs Regent Seven Seas vs Crystal vs Seabourn

Who Deserves The Crown? I Put The Ultra-Luxury Cruise Lines To The Test

If you’re considering an ultra-luxury cruise, four key lines usually rise to the top: Seabourn, Silversea, Regent Seven Seas, and Crystal. And with fares often starting around $1,500 per cabin per day, expectations are understandably sky-high. But while these lines all promise near-perfection, each shines in different areas — and each has some weaknesses too.

I’ve sailed on all four within the past year to compare them head-to-head across fleet, inclusions, cabins, dining, service, entertainment, and itineraries — so you can understand which fits your travel style best, and which you may want to avoid.

What Is Ultra-Luxury Cruising?

Ultra-luxury cruising sits above resort-style, premium, and small-ship luxury cruising — and represents less than 2% of all cruise passengers annually.

These lines are designed for travellers who want:

Personalised five-star service
Small ships with no crowds
Access to unique, smaller ports
Spaces that feel like boutique hotels
High crew-to-guest ratios
Inclusive pricing

Most ultra-luxury ships carry 600–800 guests, far fewer than premium or resort-style lines. Their fares typically include:

Accommodation
All dining (with minor exceptions)
All drinks (including wine & spirits)
Wi-Fi (streaming is usually an upgrade)
Gratuities

Regent stands out for being the most inclusive, including excursions and often flights, transfers, and hotel stays in some fare levels.

I Cruise Silversea To See If Its New Owners Have Ruined It

Who Owns These Lines?

Silversea → Royal Caribbean Group
Seabourn → Carnival Corporation
Regent Seven Seas → Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings
Crystal → Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group (Heritage Group)

What Each Line Is Best Known For

Line	Best Known For	Drawbacks
Silversea	Widest range of itineraries, butler service throughout, immersive SALT regional dining concept	Experience varies by ship class/age
Seabourn	Relaxed yacht-like atmosphere & signature events like Caviar in the Surf	Fleet size is shrinking; no new builds announced
Regent Seven Seas	Most all-inclusive experience and some of the largest suites at sea	Appeals to a more traditional travelling style
Crystal	Remarkably personal service, fine dining including the only Nobu restaurants at sea	Still rebuilding trust; ships are older despite refurbishments

Fleet Differences

Silversea

The largest ultra-luxury fleet (12 ships), spanning both classic and expedition.
The newest, Silver Nova and Silver Ray, feel strikingly modern with asymmetrical pool deck layouts and open-flow dining spaces.

However, experience varies noticeably between ship classes — something to consider when booking.

Seabourn

A smaller fleet, soon just five ships, including two impressive expedition vessels (Venture and Pursuit).
Seabourn’s classic ships offer a warm “yacht-like” feel but fewer fleetwide consistency guarantees.

Regent Seven Seas

Six ships, all with similar layouts and venues, meaning guests enjoy an almost identical experience whichever ship they board — a major strength.

Crystal

Two ships (Serenity and Symphony) which underwent significant refurbishment after the brand’s revival.
Capacity was intentionally reduced to maximise space and service — but design elements still reflect older ship architecture.

Itinerary Differences

All four sail worldwide, but:

Silversea → The widest and most varied itineraries
Seabourn → Global, but focuses on iconic, well-known ports
Regent → Longer itineraries, primarily in Alaska, Med, Japan, Asia & Australasia
Crystal → More one-way sailings instead of repeating regional loops

If itinerary choice is your priority → Silversea leads.

Dining Differences

All offer elevated dining, but with notable distinctions:

Line	Dining Standout	Considerations
Silversea	SALT culinary immersion: regional menu, bar, cooking lab, shore excursions	Some specialty dining venues carry added charges
Seabourn	Relaxed, global tastes and strong outdoor dining experiences	Overall cuisine is the least refined in this category
Regent	Excellent menus, huge variety, consistently strong execution	Most traditional presentation
Crystal	The best fine dining in the category + Nobu’s Umi Uma	Booking Umi Uma can require forward planning

Service Differences

Service across all lines is outstanding — but each has a different personality:

Silversea → More formal European style; occasionally inconsistent
Seabourn → Most relaxed and friendly; staff learn names quickly
Regent → Polished, warm, but slightly more reserved
Crystal → The most personal & intuitive service thanks to long-serving returning crews

Entertainment

Entertainment across all lines is intimate, not large-scale. Expect:

Live music & classical / jazz sets
Guest speakers
Light evening shows
Trivia, lectures, cookery demos
Bridge / enrichment

This should not be a deciding factor when choosing between them.

Which Line Is Best For Who?

Traveller Type	Best Choice	Why
Destination-focused & culinary-curious	Silversea	SALT program + diverse itineraries
Relaxed, understated luxury seekers	Seabourn	Casual yacht-like feel & signature events
Travellers wanting everything included	Regent Seven Seas	No-surprise pricing + spacious accommodation
Fine-dining & service connoisseurs	Crystal	Most personalised service & elevated cuisine

Final Thoughts

All four deliver a high-end, deeply comfortable cruising experience — but the right choice depends entirely on what type of luxury traveller you are. Rather than asking “which is best?”, the better question is: