Many of us can only dream of spending a fortnight in a superior suite on our next cruise, but with the market increasingly competitive in prices, we thought that now would be a good time to compile a countdown of the best luxury accommodations in the sea!
There are a few things you’d expect to come standard as a suite guest, like a handy butler and a pillow menu, but we’ve searched highs and lows for those that go much further.
Our first entry comes from Aurora from P&O. At 76,000 tons, it is not a super ocean liner, but it does manage to have one of the most impressive suites to be found at sea. Located at the front of the ship are two exclusive Penthouse Suites. With two decks, the 937-square-foot suites include two balconies, a wide spiral staircase, dining room, living room, whirlpool tub, and the option of a baby grand piano or a library, but most surprising of all is that the area is highlighted by the floor. to the roof window and patio doors offering fantastic ocean views.
In a modest 360-square-foot that includes a balcony, you may wonder how Costas Samsara Suites reached our top countdown. The answer is; The size is not everything. These suites may not have enough space to host your own party, but they do have direct access to the largest wellness center on the sea, which covers over 2,000 square meters on two decks.
Suite guests receive a “welcome ritual” package that includes daily entry to the thermal baths and thalassotherapy pool, two spa treatments of your choice, two fitness or meditation lessons, access to the relaxation area and reservation of table in the exclusive Samsara restaurant, serving a variety of wellness foods. A stay in a Samsara suite guarantees a truly relaxing cruise.
experience, and in a unique way, one where you can go home a few pounds less than you came in!
Celebritys Millennium class ships have dominated Condé Nast’s prestigious readers’ awards for the past four years, achieving the four highest ranked ships in the world.
With that in mind, I would expect a celebrity suite to appear as one of our best venues.
And it well deserves its place with a 1400+ square foot suite – impressive enough, however when you have a 1098 square foot surrounding balcony offering 180 degree ocean views attached it makes this quite exceptional!
The two suites, located at the rear of the ship in the Penthouse Deck, feature separate living and dining areas, baby grand piano, exercise equipment, and a marble bathroom with jetted tub. The suite is well equipped with entertainment facilities such as televisions, DVD player, music center, fax machine and Internet station. Your Celebrity suite experience begins at boarding with priority boarding and welcome champagne.
The finalists for our countdown are Cunard. Awarding the largest of the famous trio, the Queen Mary 2, an ocean liner with the most luxurious suites afloat. Lucky guests staying in the Balmoral or Sandringham Duplex Suites can enjoy no less than 2,249 square feet of luxury. Spread over two floors, you can expect to find an oversized balcony, marble bathroom, and spacious ground-floor living room. This is truly a home away from home.
Cunard has also reserved areas of the ship for suite guest access only, the Queens Grill for individual dining, and the Queens Grill Lounge, thus avoiding any unpleasant encounters with lesser cabin ushers! (Or maybe just a nice quiet area for suite guests to enjoy)
We’re near the end of our countdown, and we’ve seen some of the largest, most luxurious, and most innovative accommodations at sea so far. So it has to be something pretty spectacular to win our first place.
How about a 5,750-square-foot three-bedroom, three-bath area that can sleep up to six but entertain up to 100 people? Announcing Norwegian Cruise Lines Garden Villas!
A collection of 10 unique suites located on its own terrace, each with a private garden, terrace and Jacuzzi with outdoor dining and exclusive access to a patio area with a private pool just for you and your neighbors.
Each oversized contemporary villa has an amazingly decorated living room, dining room, and bathroom, all framed by windowed walls that provide incredible ocean views.
So, in our opinion, there is the best accommodation currently available at sea. What if your budget doesn’t quite fit? Well, what’s the harm in a little indulgent daydreaming?