Luxury cruising is changing. Previously there was a clear distinction between those cruise lines that offered the ultra-luxury experience and those that sat more comfortably in the premium bracket. However many of those in the latter are beginning to blur those lines with innovative ship-within-a-ship concepts – such as MSC Cruises’ Yacht Club.

Others are also increasing the level of exclusivity on their respective ships in an attempt to offer a more elevated cruise holiday, as you can discover in the main investigation in this special supplement.

We also speak to Oceania Cruises EMEA senior VP and MD Bernard Carter, who provides the latest on the line’s OceaniaNEXT programme.

In addition, Star Clippers general manager Fay McCormack takes us through the operator’s plans to engage with the trade, while Windstar Cruises’ Star Legend proves to be a luxurious small-ship experience.