Fine dining, world class spas and cocktails on tap – there’s no doubt that cruising is an indulgent and glamorous way to travel, with many modern vessels compared to floating hotels. But some cruise ships take seafaring in style to the next level.
Think personal butlers, complimentary Champagne and private hot tubs, as we tour around the luxurious cruise ship staterooms only the super-rich can afford...
*All prices correct at time of writing.
Built in 2023, the award-winning Viking Saturn is small in cruise ship standards, accommodating just 930 guests. Its clever layout means each stateroom gets its own veranda, and there's plenty to keep even the most active cruiser occupied. Guests can enjoy the many restaurants, as well as a jazz lounge and the Wintergarden, where you can take afternoon tea while listening to live classical music. There's also a theatre, two cinemas, a sports deck and a pool with a retractable roof, so you can take a dip in any weather. Or you can relax in the Nordic Spa's sauna and steam room. Intriguingly, it also has a Snow Grotto – a 'sanctuary' of fluffy snow and chilled air.
For particularly discerning travellers, the Owner's Suite is the largest, most well-appointed stateroom on board – and it comes with some pleasing perks. The 1,448-square-foot (134sqm) multi-room suite has an elegant living room with a private curated wine collection, as well as a boardroom that seats 12 people – perfect for hosting a private, catered dinner party. Owner's Suite guests also get a complimentary shore excursion with their own private car and driver.
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However, we think the standout perk has to be this private ocean-view dry sauna, which is accessed from your own personal veranda. In 2024, Saturn will be calling at ports all over Europe, as well as taking in Iceland's majestic landscapes and sailing the trade routes of the Middle Ages. Saturn's newest route sails from Barcelona to Mumbai, stopping for 20 tours across 12 countries in 35 days. Prices for the Owner's Suite start from around £14,890 ($18.8k) per person for the shorter eight-day itineraries.
The first in a series of five Edge vessels, Celebrity Edge maximises sea views with an innovative outward-facing design. Launched in 2018, it carries up to 2,918 passengers and is built for entertainment. The glamorous Grand Plaza is home to cafes and a Martini bar, while the Eden space offers a spiralling three-deck lounge and bar area, wrapped in glass. Elsewhere, there's a club, casino, pool and rooftop garden. One innovative feature is the Magic Carpet – a floating moveable deck with an open-air lounge and bar, designed to turn the experience of boarding a small boat to visit port into a pleasure.
The largest suite on board is the Iconic Suite. Designed by Kelly Hoppen, the two-bedroom, two-bathroom space covers 2,581-square-feet (239sqm) and enjoys panoramic views from above the captain's bridge. Decked out with clean lines and soothing neutral tones, the rooms are relaxed and comfortable with an underlying feeling of opulence. The largest suite in the Celebrity fleet, the Iconic has a huge private terrace with its own hot tub, double day bed and plenty of seating.
The Iconic Suite is part of The Retreat, an exclusive area of the ship accessible to suite guests. It's home to a sundeck, restaurant and lounge where your butler, along with a team of attendants and concierges, will cater to your every whim. In 2024, Celebrity Edge will visit Hawaii, Alaska, Tahiti and New Zealand and also take in Australia's wine country. A stay in an Iconic Suite on a 13-night cruise around New Zealand costs from around £22,500 ($28.3k) per person.
Disney Wish took to the seas in 2022 as the fifth member of the Disney Cruise Line fleet. Able to accommodate 4,000 passengers, Wish offers everything you might hope for from a Disney-themed ship. Kids are well catered for with a Frozen-themed theatrical dining experience and immersive shows, as well as deck parties and water slides, while grown-ups can enjoy a Norwegian-style pub and Quiet Cove, an adults-only refuge with infinity pool, bar and lounge.
Perched in the funnel of the ship, high above the upper decks, the Tower Suite is accessed by its own private elevator. Inside, the two-storey living room features a chandelier, floor-to-ceiling glass windows and decor subtly inspired by the Disney movie Moana. A grand spiral staircase connects the palatial living area, which includes a dining salon and wet bar, to the suite's four bedrooms. Added perks include a concierge who handles your priority reservations, and access to a VIP lounge and sun deck.
The 1,966-square-foot (182sqm) suite has two main bedrooms, one children's room and a library that can double up as a bedroom if needed – each one has its own bathroom. Disney Wish runs multiple three- and four-night cruises around the Bahamas in 2024. Prices for the Tower Suite costs from around £10,800 ($13.6k) per adult and £2,600 ($3.3k) per child for a three-night sailing, before taxes and other charges.
With five restaurants, six bars and a wine vault, Ritz-Carlton's Ilma superyacht packs a lot of luxe amenities for a yacht that carries a maximum of just 448 guests. Relaxed and refined, life on board Ilma includes visits to a Ritz-Carlton spa, infinity pool and a marina, giving direct access to the sea for swimming, kayaking and paddleboarding. Classical and jazz musicians serenade guests in venues across the yacht, while renowned experts lend educational insights along the way.
The Owner's Suite is spread across 1,033 square feet (96sqm) and channels a casual elegance that will make 5-star travellers feel right at home. Outside, guests can relax in a whirlpool and cool off in an outdoor shower on their private 721-square-foot (67sqm) terrace. The personal concierge service ensures shore excursions go without a hitch – they can even organise bespoke private jaunts, from a tailored afternoon exploration to a multi-day stay.
The Owner's Suite bedroom features a custom king bed and a bathroom with a modern soaking tub to ease muscles after a day of watersports. Ilma will make her maiden voyage in September 2024, making her way from Monte Carlo to Rome on a seven-night adventure that takes in Saint-Tropez, Cannes, Livorno, Corsica and Sardinia. If you fancy jumping aboard, prices for the trip start from £43,832 ($55k) per person for the Owner's Suite.
Known for its boutique river cruises, Uniworld immerses guests in French elegance as soon as they step aboard the impossibly chic SS Bon Voyage. Fitted out in gleaming brass and polished wood, Le Salon Champagne bar is inspired by Yves Saint Laurent's former villa in Marrakech, Morocco while La Brasserie is imbued with Parisian cafe style. The sun deck has a beautifully tiled infinity pool and a cafe that hosts open-air cooking demos.
The luxurious 280-square-foot (26sqm) Grand Suite is bijou but beautifully decorated in a characterful style that typifies this unique ship. Perks include an in-suite butler service, packing and unpacking assistance, in-room breakfast, a daily fruit and cookie plate, an evening snack and even a shoe shine. A French balcony allows guests to experience the river views without having to leave the luxury of their suite.
A hand-crafted bed and a marble bathroom with rain shower and tub tops off the Grand Suite's amenities. If you fancy spending eight days experiencing all the history – and wine – the Garonne, Dordogne and Gironde rivers have to offer, prices start from around £9,900 ($12.5k) per person for the Grand Suite, which includes flights from London to the embarkation point in Bordeaux, France.
Norwegian Jewel can carry up to 2,376 guests and offers some of the largest suites available at sea. With 11 different dining options to try, as well as eight bars (including a sake bar), live music, Le Cirque Bijou circus show, an art gallery, spa, card room and tennis court, Jewel passengers have no problem keeping boredom at bay between ports.
At up to 6,694 square feet (621sqm) the Haven 3-Bedroom Garden Villa is the most spacious stateroom to make our list. It's available on six of Norwegian's ships, including Jewel, and sleeps up to eight people. The living room features a grand piano and a dining area, while a stay in any of the ship's Haven staterooms come with 24-hour butler service and access to an exclusive pool, sun deck and hot tub, as well as an invitation to a cocktail party with the ship's officers.
The Haven Three Bedroom Garden Villa also comes with its own garden deck and hot tub. Jewel is making multiple journeys around the Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal, Japan and the Pacific Coast wine country in 2024. The Three Bedroom Villa books up quickly, but for an 11-night cruise from Florida to Curacao, Aruba and the Dominican Republic it costs from around £34,800 ($44k) per person.
Built in 2023, Oceania Vista can carry 1,200 passengers across 15 decks. As well as providing a spa, running deck, pool and fitness centre, Vista prides itself on offering activities that exercise passengers' brains as well as their bodies. Guests can learn to cook everything from classic French cuisine to New World wonders in the state-of-the-art cookery school, receive expert guidance from resident artists in the Artist Loft or cosy up with a novel in the library. They can even attend talks given by a historian, naturalist or former ambassador.
The nautical-themed Owner's Suite is Vista's finest and largest stateroom, at between 2,200 and 2,400-square-feet (204-223sqm). The space includes an office, a lounge area (with cashmere lap blankets, of course), a dining room and a bedroom with its very own fully-fitted dressing room. The suite even has a full-sized stocked bar, where your 24-hour butler can whip you up a cocktail or two. If you're lucky enough to bag yourself one of these premium staterooms, you'll also gain unlimited access to the Aquamar Spa Terrace.
This elegant dining area opens out onto not one but two spacious teak verandas, but you'll also get wonderful ocean views from the-floor-to ceiling windows in your bar, dining room and bedroom. In 2024, Vista will be exploring the Greek islands and the Caribbean, among others, with trips to Scandinavia, the Baltics and the Northern Fjords following in 2025. A stay in the Owner's Suite for a seven-night cruise of Greece and Turkey will cost around £10,600 ($13.4k) per person.
A relatively small ship, Grandeur is the latest in the Seven Seas fleet and carries 744 guests. Inspired by the glory days of cruising, Grandeur's interior is full of shining brass, lustrous glass and Art Deco touches. Amenities include a jogging track, the Serene Spa, a New York steakhouse, a glamorous French restaurant and an Art Nouveau-styled observation lounge and bar. There are also four theatrical experiences to enjoy, featuring Grammy-winning musical talent.
All suites on board Seven Seas Grandeur have their own private balcony, but the Regent Suite takes luxury to a whole new level. Spread over a huge 3,143 square feet (292sqm), the suite contains a large living area, as well as a spa-style bathroom with its own sauna, steam room and jetted tub. The 1,291-square-foot (120sqm) balcony is among the largest at sea and has its own custom-made mini pool.
The two spacious bedrooms have three walk-in closets between them and the included perks are next-level – a personal butler, business or first class flights, a pre-cruise hotel, a car and guide to explore ashore, in-suite spa services and daily canapes. In 2024, Seven Seas Grandeur will explore Greece, Spain, Italy, Canada, Mexico and the US. For Regent Suite guests, a seven-night voyage to and from Miami, taking in Honduras, Belize and Mexico, starts from around £37,300 ($47,200) per person.
Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas isn't just award-winning; it also holds the Guinness World Record for the tallest observation deck on a cruise ship. Kids and adults alike can marvel at the vertiginous view from the observation capsule, which stands at 300 feet (90m). There's also a host of activities and amenities to keep the whole family entertained, including a skydiving simulator, bumper cars, a cabaret and even a musical. After working up an appetite, there are 15 eateries and numerous bars and lounges to cater for all palettes.
Accessed through a custom marble entryway, the Royal Loft Suite is the largest suite on board. Spread over two storeys, the space includes a living room, dining area and grand piano. Outside, the enormous wrap-around veranda has a hot tub, sun loungers, dining table and a bar with views of the sports court.
Guests who sail in the Royal Loft Suite receive perks such as a 'Royal Genie', who creates a bespoke holiday for each passenger. Anthem of the Seas sails all over the globe and will visit Singapore, Thailand, the Bahamas, Egypt and the Norwegian Fjords – among other destinations – in 2024. A three-night trip sailing to and from Singapore staying in the Royal Loft Suite will set you back from around £4,110 ($5.2k) per person.
Launching in May 2024, Queen Anne is the newest cruise liner in the Cunard fleet and the 249th ship to sail under its historic flag. On board, life centres around the three-storey grand lobby, a show-stopping space celebrating 182 years of Cunard. For the ship's 2,996 guests, entertainment can be found in the casino, library, art gallery and 825-seat theatre, while the Queens Room hosts everything from afternoon tea and classical recitals to ballroom dancing. As if that's not enough, there's also a spa, wellness centre and The Pavilion – a space with a retractable glass dome roof where passengers can enjoy open-air theatre, cinema screenings and live music.
The Grand Suite is designed to feel like your own private residence at sea. Inside, a reception hall leads to a spacious Great Room with floor-to-ceiling windows, which is perfect for entertaining, or guests can relax in their lounge or on the deck of their private balcony. Perks include a reserved table at the Queens Grill, as well as exclusive access to the Grills Lounge and outside Grills Terrace – not to mention a dedicated concierge, butler and steward at your beck and call.
At night, guests should be able to sleep easy in their king-size bed, having picked out the perfect pillow from the pillow concierge menu. Other nice touches include fresh flowers, binoculars and a world atlas to track your travels. In her very first year at sea, Queen Anne will visit the Canary Islands, Iceland, the British Isles, Scandinavia and the Mediterranean, among other destinations. The Grand Suite is booked up for 2024, so watch out for Queen Anne's 2025 itinerary and expect to pay a premium for her most luxurious accommodation.
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