There is a point many of us reach, after a long, cold winter, where we long for the warmth of the sun and the R&R that comes with a well-earned holiday. For many this year, that holiday might involve the greatest kind of luxury you could ever find at sea — a luxury cruise ship. With that in mind, we have narrowed down our top four favourites to make your decision process a little easier.
Seven Seas Splendor
The ultimate elite luxury cruise line, Regent Seven Seas, specialises in a personal cruise experience with their small passenger capacity ships, including the brand new Seven Seas Splendor set to be launched in February this year.
This cruise ship caters to the tastes of all guests with a Las Vegas and Monte Carlo inspired casino and the two-deck state-of-the-art Constellation Theatre for evening entertainment, as well as a fitness centre, jogging track and wellness spa for full body pampering. Several elegant and suave lounges are perfect for a round of cocktails and socialising, while a host of restaurants, ranging from casual to fine-dining, specialise in their own type of cuisine.
If that isn’t enough to keep you busy, the Seven Seas Splendor has plenty for you to fill your days with too including a bocce court, a selection of high-end boutiques, a card room, a golf net and putting green, a paddle tennis court, an infinity-edge plunge pool, a shuffleboard and even a culinary arts kitchen.
After all the excitement aboard the ship, your own private sanctuary awaits you at night with a beautiful ocean view. Try the Regent Suite out for size — the most prestigious accommodation on board with two bedrooms, a living room, a private in-suite spa, three walk-in closets and a private balcony all spread across 4,000 square feet. Set sail onboard a slice of floating luxury to Miami, Barcelona, Venice, Istanbul or Monte Carlo, just a few of the destinations available to you on this extraordinary cruise ship.
Independence of the Seas
If you’re dreaming of the Caribbean, Mediterranean or Canary Islands, then feast your eyes on the newly refitted Independence of the Seas, one of Royal Caribbean’s most popular cruise ships. The ship’s 15 decks offer guests all the things they could want and need for a perfect holiday at sea.
Stretching much of the length of the ship is the Royal Promenade Mall lined with shops, cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy a casual meal at the sports bar, buffet or Italian restaurant, or something with a little extra class at the steak grill or three-tiered main dining room, and that’s just to name a few.
The new refurbishment has also seen the addition of an outdoor cinema, ship-wide WiFi, an escape room and laser tag as well as a revamped ice skating rink, basketball court, rock climbing wall, mini-golf course and several pools. Some additional features also include a surfing simulator, boxing ring, kids water zone, and cantilevered hot tubs over the sides of the ship.
When it comes to sleeping arrangements, the Independence of the Seas extends its luxuries all the way to the bedrooms with a range of spacious, ocean view suites to suite your needs whether you’re after something intimate like the junior suite with a balcony and king size bed, or something a bit bigger like the ocean view panoramic suite with panoramic windows and an open living room.
Celebrity Edge
Launched in 2018, Celebrity Edge is the first edge-class vessel of Celebrity Cruises, parented by Royal Caribbean Cruises. Cruising around the Eastern and Western Caribbean, Europe and the Mediterranean, this cruise ship is full to the brim with all things luxurious.
With 29 restaurants, bars, cafes and lounges with menus curated by Michelin Star chef, Cornelius Gallagher, the resort deck with a 25-yard lap pool, private cabanas and two storey martini glass hot tubs, this cruise ship is sure to meet all your holiday desires. The theatre provides regular immersive entertainment, while The Retreat – an elite, on-board sanctuary – offers 124 therapies and treatments and eight distinct sea thermal suite experiences and are exclusively reserved for suite-class guests.
And with accommodation in mind, Celebrity Edge offers guests limitless luxury in their variety of suites, including the brand new range of iconic suites and edge villas; two-storeys of premier luxury complete with private plunge pools, floor to ceiling windows and access to the speciality restaurants and The Retreat, among other complimentary benefits.
Seabourn Quest
Whether you’re after a short seven day trip around Northern Europe, Canada and New England or the Panama Canal, or a 100+ day world wide exploration, this ultra-luxury cruise ship can accommodate it all. With a vessel design deemed “a game-changer for the luxury segment”, the Seabourn Quest invites you to experience an intimate and sophisticated journey on the seas.
Onboard you will have time for activity and relaxation with a card room, casino, salon, fitness centre, discovery centre, nine-hole putting course and a range of boutiques all at your disposal. The ship is also stocked with a host of world-class dining options from buffets, brunch, fine-dining, American-style, afternoon tea, in-suite dining, as well as an open-bar policy.
The Seabourn Quest has seven suites to offer from the basic ocean view suite, to the prestigious grand wintergarden suite, measuring approximately 1,189 square feet and boasting two bedrooms, a glass-enclosed solarium with hot tub and day bed, two bathrooms, pantry with wet bar and three flat-screen TVs – the pinnacle of luxury.
