Four of the best cruise ship suites
While cruises are synonymous with style and comfort, a number of lines
are taking things to a whole other level with prized artwork, butler service
and walk-in wardrobes. Nick Dalton peeps through the keyhole
POLES APART
Expedition ships have moved on from the world of woolly jumpers and
comfort food. New Seabourn Pursuit
voyages to the furthest corners of the
world – from Papua New Guinea and
the Chilean fjords to Antarctica – with
its two-storey Grand Wintergarden
Suites providing an opulent retreat.
The aesthetic is slightly more rugged
and relaxed than the ornate style of
many high-end ships, so expect plenty
of leather and wood. The bedroom is up an extravagant staircase on the
second floor, which has a whirlpool tub
in the bathroom, a mini bar stocked
with complimentary drinks, and double-height windows to let those
spectacular views flood in.
The laidback atmosphere on
board is a perfect contrast to
adventure-filled days ashore, with
two submarines, 24 Zodiac inflatable
boats, a fleet of kayaks and a
24-strong expedition team ensuring
plenty of adrenaline-fuelled fun.
Seabourn’s 18-night Chilean Fjords & Antarctica cruise aboard Seabourn Pursuit, from Santiago to Ushuaia via Puerto Montt and Punta Arenas, departs on October 17 2024; Grand Wintergarden Suite from £35,799.
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PAINTER’S PARADISE
You know you’re doing well when
there’s not one but two Picassos
hanging on your bedroom wall. The
Regent Suite on Regent Seven Seas
Cruises’ new Seven Seas Grandeur
is, they say, the biggest suite at sea,
with two bedrooms, a spacious living
room and three walk-in wardrobes –
making it feel more like a townhouse in
London’s Belgravia than a stateroom.
However, it’s the not-so-discreet
extras that make this suite unlike any
other. The four-poster bed frames a £160,000 Hästens Vividus mattress,
while an iPad-controlled coffee
machine and £200,000 Steinway piano complete the living room set-up.
Elsewhere, the suite’s wraparound
veranda includes a private pool, while a sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi can be found in the in-room spa. Add to all that butler service, caviar
delivery on request and a private
chauffeur in each port – not forgetting
those original works by the renowned
Spanish painter – and you have a room
fit for Picasso himself.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ 12-night
Istanbul to Venice cruise aboard Seven
Stairs - Norwegian Cruise Line; bathroom - Uniworld
Seas Grandeur, via Kavala, Chios,
Athens, Mykonos, Santorini, Argostoli,
Kotor and Dubrovnik, departs on April 16, 2025; Regent Suite from
£55,000 including business-class flights
and a pre-cruise hotel night.
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ROYAL TREATMENT
River ships aren’t adrift when it comes
to ultra-luxurious experiences, and
Uniworld is especially well known for
its opulent interiors. New this spring, the line’s SS Victoria
is currently making waves on the Rhine,
with two Royal Suites offering the
largest premium accommodation on any European waterway.
Naturally there’s plenty of room for a king-size bed and even a marble
fireplace with a faux-log fire. Breakfast
is enjoyed in-room, courtesy of the
ship’s butlers, who also keep guests
topped up with snacks such as fruit and
cookies throughout the day.
There’s a complimentary mini bar, an espresso
machine and windows that transform
into a balcony at the flick of a switch.
What’s more, both Royal Suites can
be connected, turning them into a single two-bedroom suite, ideal for
families or friends sailing in a group.
Uniworld’s eight-night Castles Along the Rhine cruise aboard SS Victoria, from Basel to Amsterdam via Breisach, Strasbourg, Mannheim, Rudesheim, Boppard and Cologne, departs on April 25, 2025; Royal Suite from £12,419 including flights.
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HOME COMFORTS
If some suites resemble luxury
apartments, the new offering aboard
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian
Aqua, arriving in spring 2025, is like a full-on residence. The two-floor
Duplex Suite has three bedrooms – two
with king-size beds, one with a single – as well as three bathrooms, separate
living and dining rooms and a balcony.
The decor is the work of the Italian
designer Piero Lissoni, who is known
for creating hip residences in Miami,
though the muted and sophisticated
palate used here is a nautical mile from
South Beach’s kitschy style. There’s a
butler offering round-the-clock service
to take the strain, and a concierge to
handle those pesky restaurant and spa bookings.
NCL’s latest ship is designed to help
guests celebrate the great outdoors,
and the suite’s unobstructed views
through floor-to-ceiling windows
ensure there’s always plenty to admire.
Like any desirable residence it’s in a good neighbourhood, too: The Haven
is a cool, sophisticated ship-within-a-
ship enclave with its own pool, bar and exclusive restaurant.
NCL’s seven-night Great Stirrup Cay & Dominican Republic cruise aboard Norwegian Aqua, return from Miami via Dominican Republic, St Thomas, Tortola and Great Stirrup Cay (Bahamas), departs from April to August 2025; Duplex Suite from £7,456.
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