With all the talk about contemporary, come-as-you-are cruising, one wonders if any of cruising’s original charm remains. The answer is a resounding YES. While dressing in black tie and evening gown for dinner at the Captain’s Table isn’t for everyone, it remains an extraordinary cruising experience.

Traditional, set dining assignments also increase the chance of running into a high school classmate, meeting another couple in real estate or learning about life in Texas. In other words, old-school cruising has its virtues.

Cruising was once synonymous with luxury, consisting of cocktails at five, formal dress for dinner, and ballroom dancing long into the night. These cruises remain available for the discerning passenger. Imagine decanting wine from the ship’s own label (Crystal Cruises) or standing on the bridge watching the sails unfurl as you depart St. Barts (Windstar Cruises) or knotting your bow tie as the chimes indicate dinner is served (Holland America Line).

Numerous cruise lines feature smaller ships designed for exclusive ports of call. Explore the Galapagos, disembark into 14th century Tallinn, Estonia and squeeze into the narrow inlets of Alaska’s Inside Passage. These are just some of the itineraries that recall the classic cruising of yesteryear.