Ship within a ship: Are exclusive areas worth the price tag?

It’s the best of both worlds – the endless amenities of a large cruise ship with the privacy of exclusive areas away from the crowds.

The ‘ship within a ship’ concept is a selection of private spaces – such as a lounge, dining room and sun deck – that you gain access to through booking a stateroom of a certain level, usually suites, villas or penthouses.

And it’s rising in popularity, with cruise lines including MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruises offering suite-level guests access to private areas onboard.

These areas vary depending on what cruise line you opt for. Case in point Norwegian Cruise Line’s The Haven features a private dining room, sundeck and pool whereas MSC Cruises offers an exclusive restaurants, grill & bar, pool and sun deck.

As well as exclusive areas, you’ll also enjoy the services of a private butler, premium drinks, Wi-Fi, the spa and more – depending on the cruise line you choose to set sail with.

Here we explore the ship-within-a-ship concept on three major cruise lines...

Norwegian Cruise Line: The Haven

As the pioneers of the ship-within-a ship concept, Norwegian Cruise Line’s the Haven is available onboard both the line’s Jewel and Prima-class ships and offers its clientele several exclusive areas.

First up is the Haven lounge and bar where you can bond with fellow passengers over an expertly-mixed cocktail.

Then there's the Haven restaurant which serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Or for a small cover charge, you can order from any restaurant on the ship and have your order delivered directly to your suite.

Speaking of suites, you’ll even feel extra-special in yours: Expect a 24-hour suite service menu, Nespresso coffeemaker, Tea Forte tea bags, treats delivered to your door nightly and a fruit bowl that is replenished on request.

Now depending on which suite you are in, you can indulge in a bottle (or two) of liquor. Anyone staying in the owner’s suite on a sailing of between three and six days, will receive one bottle. Sail for longer than seven days and you'll be gifted with three bottles.

Eyeing up a garden villa? You’ll be gifted two bottles of liquor for sailings between three and six days or a staggering six bottles for sailings of seven days and above.

What's more, all guests of the Haven will be presented with one bottle of Moet Champagne upon embarkation, as well as two bottles of spring and sparkling water and six cans of fizzy in their cabin.

Elsewhere the Haven courtyard and sundeck is the perfect place to soak up the sun away from the crowds. Take a dip in the pool, or perhaps the hot tub; dive into a good book; or simply take in the scenery. Note that the sundeck is restricted to aged 16 and over.

Guests of the Haven can also look forward to 24-hour butler service, plus a concierge to help you book dining, entertainment, shore excursions and more.

NCL's vice president and head of UK and Ireland, Gary Anslow, told World of Cruising: "Discreetly positioned, the Haven offers a luxurious ship-within-a-ship experience that truly enhances the NCL journey. With spacious, beautifully designed suites, private lounges, dedicated pools, and exclusive dining, guests can enjoy an oasis of opulence and tranquillity.

"With personalised concierge and butler services catering to every need, the Haven combines privacy and premium service with full access to all the cruise amenities, offering the best of both worlds and making it well worth the extra investment for a memorable, top-tier cruise."

And now for the cost: as a rule of thumb you can expect to pay twice as much for a Haven suite when compared to a regular cabin.

When you consider the extras – private areas onboard, gifted alcohol, personal escort, 24-hour butler and more – this could be worth the heavy price tag.

Celebrity Cruises: The Retreat

VIP treatment will begin before you even step onboard a Celebrity Cruises' ship as priority boarding and a private boarding lounge are just two of the perks that come with booking the Retreat.

Much like Norwegian Cruise Line's the Haven, the Retreat features a dedicated sundeck (available on Edge series and Revolutionised ships), and an exclusive lounge and restaurant.

Let's start with the sundeck which provides plenty of shaded padded loungers to choose from, alongside Retreat attendants who will bring you anything – from towels to drinks to snacks.

If you want to cool off, take a dip in the pool, or heat up in the hot tub. The bar is the perfect place to gather with friends for a round of drinks – or two.

Elsewhere embrace the Retreat lounge – a true home away from home. Grab a coffee, or something stronger, and find some company – or indulge in a bite to eat while curling up with your favourite book. You can visit the lounge in the morning for a continental breakfast, afternoon tea and cocktail hour.

And when it’s time for lunch or dinner, you can opt for Luminae, the private restaurant reserved for Retreat guests. Choose from a range of dishes that are exclusive to the restaurant – many of them designed by the line’s global culinary ambassador Daniel Boulud.

The restaurant seats just 92 (no reservations are required for Retreat guests) and serves up a modern menu from eggs in every style imaginable for breakfast to burgers et al for lunch. Dinner is the main event, with the menu rotating every two weeks.

The Retreat's included extras – daily laundry, a minibar, speciality dining, a premium drinks package, suite to car escort on excursions, reserved theatre seating, shoeshine service, fitness classes, access to SEA thermal suite and the Persian garden – are worth shouting about too.

Retreat facilities do vary by ship, so we would recommend opting for Celebrity Apex, Beyond or Ascent which offer the most amenities.

Celebrity Cruises president, Laura Hodges Bethge, told World of Cruising: “At the Retreat, the world really does revolve around our guests.

"To ensure they never have to lift a finger while on vacation, all suites come with a dedicated butler who is easily reached with Butler chat as well as a destination experience specialist.

“In addition to luxurious accommodations, guests of the Retreat will enjoy dining at Luminae, the exclusive Retreat restaurant, serving Daniel Boulud signature dishes, as well as access to an exclusive lounge and private sun deck.

“We continue to exceed vacation expectations by delivering amenities and experiences we know our guests value most.”

From our research, to upgrade to and enjoy the Retreat you can expect to pay around three times the price of a veranda stateroom.

MSC Cruises: Yacht Club

Location is key when it comes to MSC Cruises’ Yacht Club which offers a forefront setting for its private venues and suites.

The 24-hour lounge offers a complimentary bar, with finger food available at selected times but stands out for its nightly live music performances, high tea events and officer welcome onboard cocktails.

Yacht club guests can dine in the MSC Yacht Club restaurant which serves up Mediterranean and International cuisine. A Sommelier is also on hand to advise on food and wine pairings.

After dinner, saunter down to the theatre safe in the knowledge that your seats have already been reserved owing to your Yacht Club status.

Yacht Club guests can also take advantage of a private outdoor grill and bar which serves breakfast before extending into a sun deck and pool for drinks (with a premium extra drinks package included throughout the ship).

Speaking of the sundeck, it features a swimming pool as well as multiple hot tubs for you to submerge yourself in.

The Yacht Club is also suitable for families: a butler will collect your children from the kid’s club and bringing them back to the Yacht Club so that you don't have to leave your lap of luxury.

What’s more, service on the sundeck includes fresh towels and even a sunglasses cleaning service.

Meanwhile in your suite, you’ll have the services of a 24-hour butler service, and 24/7 room service: look forward to the frequent deliveries of fresh fruit, macrons, chocolates and spirits of your choice straight to your suite.

Speaking to World of Cruising Antonio Paradiso, vice president of international sales and managing director of MSC Cruises UK & Ireland, said: "MSC Yacht Club offers guests exclusivity and privacy on board our ships. Guests can enjoy elegant, spacious suites, along with exclusive access to restaurants, lounges, pools, and sundecks.

“The 24-hour butler service is a big favourite, and with a dedicated concierge, guests can fully relax, knowing every detail of their stay is taken care of.

“To elevate their experience, we also offer exclusive Yacht Club excursions, combining luxury, privacy, and adventure with private transport, smaller group sizes, and all-inclusive perks."

And the price? As a rule of thumb, you’ll be paying around twice the price of a standard balcony cabin for an MSC Yacht Club suite. However when you consider all the extras included, we think that’s a steal.