A Touch of Class

The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe for living that suits all cases.

- Carl Jung

Fun is the order of the day for Carnival cruises, and Princess is the Love Boat. You can't get hipper or more active than Royal Caribbean. While all cruise lines manage to please about everyone who boards, they all tend to deliver experiences geared more for one particular market than all others.

When you're ready for a touch of class but don't want to spend more than you would on other mainstream cruises, Celebrity is an excellent choice. It does come with a cost. Your fellow passengers will expect a certain sense of decorum and elegance of style. If you've imagined yourself to be James Bond in a tuxedo sipping a Martini (shaken, not stirred), you'll feel quite at home on Celebrity. I tried to go to tea one time in slacks and a silk shirt on one Celebrity cruise, and the Maitre d' simply pointed at my tennis shoes to let me know they were unacceptable attire. A quick trip to the room rectified the situation, and looking around upon my return, I realized Celebrity's policy is to ensure other passengers get what they anticipated for the occasion: an upscale affair included at no additional charge.

Then again, I know someone who cruised with his family aboard Celebrity without bringing a collared shirt. I loaned him one of mine so he could experience the excellent dining room experience at least once, but despite foregoing one of the line's highlights, his family praised it as one of their all time favorite cruises, second only to Disney, which was high praise indeed for a family with three small children. In addition to being quite deluxe, you see, Celebrity's crew members also pride themselves on outstanding service.

A Celebrity Suite takes luxury to a new level, but for many people, it is hard to make that financial leap. Celebrity Concierge Class, however, makes many Suite amenities affordable, taking a larger stateroom with private balcony and adding many services you would expect to find only in much larger Suites, like fresh cut flowers and fruit delivered to your room, a personal concierge to book your shore excursions and a choice of pillows to suit every passenger. The list of extras is long, but suffice it to say they are additional touches of class that make you feel special.

Celebrity offers many wonderful itineraries. Here are a few favorites that include special amenities like onboard credit or wine delivered onboard:

Prime summer tropical summer cruising aboard Summit on July 25, 2010, embarking from Cape Liberty (by New York City) to the pink sand and turquoise water of Bermuda, starting at just $849 per person, or only $1349 pp for Concierge Class.

Alaska's fabulous Inside Passage on Infinity embarking August 20, 2010, with Category 10 inside starting at just $889 and Concierge Class from $1499.

8-Night New Year's Southern Caribbean cruise on Summit embarking December 26, 2010, starting at $999 per person, with Concierge Class from $1799. If you've never done New Year's Eve on a cruise, try it!

And, of course, all through the summer you can enjoy Celebrity's Mediterranean cruises, many of which have special amenities, too.

Too excited to wait? You're in luck, because you can snag one of Celebrity's exciting Last Minute Deals! Almost every week brings new specials, so call me when you suddenly find some extra money in your pocket or your boss tells you to take some time off.

Whatever cruise you choose, be sure to call 866-554-5553, because "Better service leads to better trips!"