Having heard rave reviews from various friends over the past few years about Regent Seven Seas, we decided to experience this "six star" line for ourselves. To us, true luxury in cruising is lots of space in our stateroom. For that reason, we choose a Penthouse Suite, and have sailed mostly on Celebrity (both Millennium class and Solstice class) and Holland America.

On both these lines, which our travel agent refers to as "mass market", we not only enjoy enormous suites, with large balconies, powder room, etc., but first class service to match - excellent butler and steward, wonderful tables in the dining room (even "table for 4 for 2" guaranteed), priority boarding, and special events such as officers' cocktail parties and invitations to the captain's table. On our last Holland America cruise on Statendam, the executive chef even prepared some main courses personally for us - just part of the service!

Wondering how "six star Regent" could possibly improve on this, we swallowed hard at the much higher fare for a 10-day cruise on Regent Navigator. Read more