The best food on mega vessels has migrated away from the main dining room to the specialty restaurants, which tack on an extra fee. The experience on luxury lines, however, includes a special focus on the cuisine, and you won't pay extra for top-notch meals.

Bigger cabins (many with balconies) are the norm on luxury cruise ships. Décor and amenities are upscale too, and could include high-end sheets from Pratesi and toiletry products by Bulgari.

Regent Seven Seas cruise fares include airfare and airport transfers as a standard benefit, and you can find regular promotions from other luxury cruise lines like Oceania Cruises, which offers free airfare from select gateway cities.

This is a biggie for many. Most luxury cruise lines include soft drinks, wine, and spirits. Although some restrict complimentary alcoholic drinks to mealtimes, other lines offer unlimited open bar service, even from your stateroom's minibar. Cheers!

Luxury lines typically offer a wide range of goodies at no cost. For example: laundry facilities, Wi-Fi minutes, access to the spa, and 24-hour room service.

Luxury cruise ships generally carry from 300 to around 1,000 passengers, which means you can get to know many of your fellow travelers while sailing, and the service is more personal as well. Ships this size can also stop at smaller ports closer to city centers and in exotic locales in the Mediterranean or in French Polynesia that are off limits to oversize vessels.

No tipping is expected on these trips. The crew is paid through the service fees built into the fares, yet crew members still go the extra mile to make you happy on board.