DIG THESE DIGS
Feast your eyes on these 10 amazing suites at sea.
AS CRUISE SHIPS STEER CLOSER TO the best in home and hotel design, the top accommodations at sea have become increasingly impressive. Read on for the top 10 most remarkable suites at sea.
REGENT SUITE
Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Explorer _ This 3,026-square-foot two-bedroom suite stretches across the aft of the ship, overlooking the wake from a 1,417-square-foot terrace that features a dining table, lounge chairs, and a whirlpool tub. Step inside the suite’s double doors and you’ll find a pair of Picasso lithographs hung on either side of the entrance. Designed by Tillberg Design of Sweden, the suite boasts furniture that’s a mix of colors and textures, as well as playful touches such as lamps made of brass bird statues. Other highlights include a dramatic golden Murano glass chandelier in the living room, a custom Savoir king bed, a custom Steinway piano by Dakota Jackson, and a lavish master bathroom.
OWNER’S SUITES
Oceania Cruises’ Riviera and Marina _ These dramatic suites look like the Manhattan apartments of your dreams: Susan Bednar Long, formerly of Ralph Lauren, said she was also inspired by the elegance of ocean liners. Inside the 2,500-square-foot suites (there are three in each of the line’s two purposebuilt ships) you’ll find entryways with faux Zebra-framed mirrors as well as black-and-camel mosaic tile insets surrounded by black carpeting, mahogany walls, vintage black-andwhite photographs, Ralph Lauren furnishings (including a striking Highbridge desk), ebony baby grand pianos, and bedrooms with cashmere-covered walls and 1,000-thread-count linens.
GRAND WINTERGARDEN SUITES
Seabourn’s Seabourn Encore _ These two two-bedroom suites on Seabourn’s new 600-passenger luxury ship have two terraces and two-and-a-half bathrooms and — with nearly 1,500 square feet out indoor and outdoor space — a truly indulgent amount of space. The look and feel has designer Adam D. Tihany’s understated, quietly elegant look, designed for comfort rather than splashiness, but the attention to detail remains in everything from the walk-in closets to the Molton Brown amenities and the in-room library.
GARDE N V IL L AS
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Dawn _ The two Garden Villas on Norwegian Dawn, which was refurbished in 2016, are perhaps the line’s best-kept secrets. At an unbelievable 6,694-square-feet each (plus a 4,455-squarefoot balcony) these three-bedroom villas are easily the biggest accommodations at sea. There’s also a living room, dining room, and private garden with hot tub. The design — which, post renovation, feels clean and modern — gives you a feeling of privacy that’s rare on large, mainstream cruise ships.
OWNER’ S SUITE
Viking Ocean Cruises’ Viking Star _ Each of Viking’s ocean ships have a 1,448-square-foot Owner’s Suite, designed to chairman and founder, Torstein Hagen’s, specifications and filled with his favorite things. (It’s not listed in the brochures, but is available to book when Tor isn’t on board.) On Viking Star, you’ll find modern Scandinavian furniture and dark-wood floors that blend in with the rest of the ship as well as a collection of Tor’s family photos and favorite books, a portrait painted of Tor as a child, and a painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. One amenity you may never use: a boardroom that Tor uses for meetings while he is at sea.
ROYAL LOFT SUITEWITH BALCONY
Royal Caribbean International’s Anthem of the Seas _ At 1,640 square feet, these are the largest suites in the fleet and are designed like contemporary urban two-story loft apartments. With open bedrooms upstairs and two-story glass walls, the suites are lined with glass lit by enormous chandeliers. The look is fresh and modern, with polished dark-wood floors and plenty of clean white. Downstairs is a living and dining area with white tufted seats at a long dining table, as well as a separate media area that converts to a second bedroom. Upstairs, the master bedroom has amazing views of the sea and a bathroom with a separate shower, bathtub, and bidet.
REFLECTION SUITE
Celebrity Reflection _ Until Celebrity Edge launches in 2018 with its stunning, sexy duplexes, these two tastefully beige 1,636-square-foot suites — the line’s first two-bedroom suites — remain the most exciting choice. Located only on Celebrity Reflection, the Reflection Suite boasts oceanview bathrooms, premium Reverie Dream Sleep System mattresses, and amazing panoramic corner locations, which means the a tub on the balcony comes with primo views.
QUEENS GRILL GRAND DUPLEXES
Cunard Line’s QueenMary2 _ This gorgeous ocean liner has five of these stately suites, the biggest of which is a whopping 2,224-squarefeet. But it isn’t their size that makes them special: It’s the feeling of being in a tony Art Deco–style London hotel. Elegant details include crystal ball lamps and molded doors, a private gym, a fully stocked bar, a dining area big enough to host a dinner party for eight, a bed framed with a regal white leather tufted headboard, and his-andher bathrooms. Of course, you also have a very British private butler and access to the exclusive Queens Grill restaurant.
CRYSTAL PENTHOUSE WITH VERANDA H
Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Serenity_ These 1,345-square-foot suites come with all the decadent treats you might expect to find on a wedding registry: the robes and kimonos are Italian Frette linen, the comforters are down, the sheets are 100 percent Egyptian cotton, the throw blankets on the sofa are mohair, and there’s even a pillow menu. The bathroom is especially impressive, with heated floors, a shower with a heated bench, and a separate spa flotation tub with ocean views. The comfortable design includes a separate master bedroom, living room, dining room, terrace, walk-in closet, stone-lined foyer, and guest bathroom.
BAL SOR ANO OWNER’ S SUI T E
Silversea Cruises’ Silver Muse _ Named for the luxury line’s Italian chairman, Manfredi Lefebvre — whose full name is Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio di Balsorano de Clunieres — this suite was designed to reflect his personal tastes and traditions. At 1,000 square feet, the suite comes complete with a comfortable living room, a small separate office space, a reading nook, and a long teak verandah. The marble master bathroom boasts a large whirlpool soaking tub and a walkin closet with a dressing area. Like the rest of the ship, the design is understated and elegant, with muted taupe tones.