Certainly, Silversea is one of the more luxurious - and more expensive lines. It is like staying in a 5-star+ hotel and priced accordingly. Whereas a comparable cabin on Viking may start at $3500pp, a Silversea cruise of the same duration may cost $5300pp. Yes, they are more expensive, but if you're thinking this is your last trip abroad, and you want to make it count, they're a great option. There are many inclusive items that do come into play on Silversea and other premium lines. Silversea advertises their product this way:
It's all included with Silversea. Yes, that’s right. Everything. From
24-hour gourmet dining and butler service to award-winning
entertainment, first-class wines premium spirits, and shore excursions
for the expedition cruises, it’s all in there. What’s more, we have
added shore excursions as well for classic cruises from Summer 2022.
Whether you want to enjoy in-depth discovery of a destination or
simply be pampered by your butler, relax in the knowledge that there
will be no extra price tag at the end of your cruise.
Tauck does a great job of presenting comparisons between their costs and what you would pay on a similar river cruise, as they are far more inclusive than many of their river competitors. On a Tauck Ocean-going cruise, they do not own these ships but charter them, primarily through Ponant which is an excellent line. Sometimes you have to drill down to get apples-to-apples comparisons - beyond what you simply pay for the cabin.
I am not a cruiser - my wife LOVES to cruise. So yes, I've been on many ships - ranging from a Queen Mary II transatlantic cruise to a Carnival 3-day cruise to the Bahamas. 7 days is about all I can take. On most, I cringe when I get the nightly summation of our "add-on" expenditures. When you disembark with an onboard expense bill near what you paid to cruise, you do start thinking about what is inclusive.
I suppose smaller ships probably do cost more. They don't have interior or oceanview cabins. Their ships are primarily veranda cabins and suites. There's the all-inclusive element. With a higher passenger-to-crew ratio, there comes a level of service that dictates the price, perhaps much like staying in a 5-star hotel vs. a 4-star hotel. That said, you won't catch me on a 6,000 person Royal Caribbean mega-ship. I have no interest in that environment.
Viking Ocean does a good job - they don't have the service standards of Cunard or Silversea, the food of Oceania, the relaxed, laid-back and more intimate atmosphere of Seabourn, Azamara, or Seadream Yacht, but I've known many folks have enjoyed their new and more modern ships
Regarding the Swarovski crystal staircases, you're thinking of MSC Cruises, which started that design in 2008. They are not on my list for preferred cruise lines; just too inconsistent.
I'd price out your preferred Viking Ocean cruise. Then go and compare it with others, looking at what the beverage package might cost, or Wi-Fi, or the "better" alcohols & wines, a coffee card, specialty dining options, and so on - those things that are important to you. See if gratuities are included in the base price and what are the shore excursion costs. Are you offered an OBC (On-Board Credit)? Are there incentive credits - for example, if you have a military background? Look to see if the base price on one compares equitably with another. Again, the Tauck group are masters at making these comparisons.
Of course, if you find THE CRUISE that fits your ports of call, your timeframes, and your preferred cost, then look no more! Good Luck.
