Times may be tough for most of us, but it seems there is still a market for the most indulgent of holidays.
A cruise package promising to be the world’s most luxurious has been unveiled – and with a price tag of £1-million (about R12-million) per couple it is as exclusive as it is extravagant.
The 124-day trip begins with a helicopter transfer to a London airport, during which guests are treated to Beluga caviar, priced at £4,000 a kilogram, Da Hong Pao Tea, so rare it costs £2,000 per kilogram, and Dom Perignon champagne.
From there, they are flown in a private jet, with mahogany panelling and gold-plated fixtures, to the US.
Not to let the standard of refreshments slip, the plane has its own dining room, serviced by a top Michelin-starred chef, who is tasked with creating a ten-course tasting menu.
Once they have touched down in Los Angeles, guests are driven in a Rolls Royce to a Beverly Hills hotel for a four-night stay in its top suite.
While this alone would make for an incredibly luxurious trip, for guests on this particular Six Star Cruises holiday it is just the start.
The extravagance continues when they board the Silver Whisper, greeted by a member of the white-gloved staff brandishing yet another glass of champagne.
Departing next January, the cruise visits 28 countries, including French Polynesia, New Zealand, Australia, Sri Lanka, Mauritius and South Africa, before crossing the Atlantic to Barbados and returning to Fort Lauderdale, near Miami, Florida.
But it is the facilities onboard that best reflect the price tag.
Among the accommodation options is the Royal Suite, which has two bedrooms over 1,000 sq ft, two marbled bathrooms, a separate dining area and bar, and two spacious verandas.
There are designer soaps in the bathrooms, flatscreen TVs in the bedrooms and a choice of nine different pillow types.
With an attentive butler on hand and laundry service throughout the voyage, guests needn’t lift a finger while they are away.
But should they find themselves craving some activity, there are dance and exercise classes available, as well as pools for swimming.
To stimulate the mind, there is a programme of lectures from eminent speakers.
Dining is all-inclusive for the duration, with guests treated to incredible cuisine created by renowned Relais & Châteaux chefs and a dinner at the Officer’s table.
Afternoon canapés are also available upon request should any guest actually have room for them between their lavish lunches and decadent dinners.
On returning to Miami, to ease them back into “normal” life gently, guests are put up in a £7,300-a-night apartment, with its own cinema and butler, for four nights before taking the private jet home.
Company Director Mal Barritt admits it is “likely to be the most expensive cruise ever sold” – costing more than £8,000 per day.
But despite economic uncertainty, he is adamant it will be a hit.
He said: ‘We have listened to what some of our most discerning customers say they look for in a holiday and have created the most desirable cruise holiday in the world.
“This is truly a cruise that will never be forgotten.” - Daily Mail