GRAB YOUR BINOCULARS AND GUCCI SHADES AND CLIMB ABOARD THE NEWEST EDITIONS IN ULTRA LUXURY CRUISING, FROM THRILL PACKED MEGA SHIPS TO FEARLESS SUPER YACHTS THAT SLICE THROUGH SOME OF EARTH’S MOST REMOTE AND WILD WATERS

BY AMANDA McCOY

ROYAL CARIBBEAN

Icon of the Seas

This February, the world’s largest cruise ship a 1,200-foot-long, 510,000-ton behemoth departed the port of Miami for its maiden voyage, a seven-day jaunt through the Caribbean. (Royal Caribbean went all out for the show, tapping footballer Lionel Messi to christen the boat alongside a stacked entertainment lineup with high-divers, concert pianists, ice skaters, and powerhouse musicians.) The ship is swimming in best-of badges; the 40,000-gallon Royal Bay, for instance, is the largest pool at sea, while the adults-only Hideaway, dotted with in-water daybeds, is the cruise universe’s first suspended pool. A candy-colored maze of water slides floats above the highest deck, while an army of bubble gum pink loungers offer expansive views of the tropics. Toss in a surfing simulator, basketball court, swim-up pool, and carnival-inspired community dedicated to families, and the Icon rivals the nation’s largest amusement parks.

The ship can accommodate 7,500 guests and features a dizzying menu of staterooms. In the rooms, guests can expect all the usual suspects (spacious ocean-facing balconies, floor-to-ceiling windows, plush bedding), plus a few vanguard niceties, like two-story indoor slides and karaoke stations in the Ultimate Family Townhouse. The latter is stretched across three levels and boasts a cinema room, two private decks – with hot tubs, of course – and an al fresco tennis court.

Schooner Bar – Deck 6 Midship Starboard
Icon of the Seas – Royal Caribbean International

Late-night capers unfold across 15 different bars and live music venues, from a billiards sports bar to dueling pianos. There are 20 different restaurants on board, divided into eight “neighborhoods,” each with a casual grab-and-go option and formal seated affair. Be sure to book a table at The Empire Supper Club, modeled after a New York City jazz club circa 1930, complete with velvet seating and live performances nightly. Expect appetizers of oysters Rockefeller followed by Wagyu ribeye topped with shaved truffle. Cruises start at $1,775 per person. royalcaribbean.com

OCEANIA VISTA

Oceania Cruises

Last year, the upscale boutique liner debuted the inaugural ship in its new Allura class (the second soldier will be hitting the high seas next year), the flagship Vista. With capacity for 1,200 guests, it’s not a mini city on water like some of the entries on this list, but it’s certainly no sailboat, either. There are ample signature spaces to get lost in, including an expansive pool deck that boasts an oversized tanning ledge for guests to soak up the rays. The swim ming pool is bookended with a pair of elevated whirlpools, and there’s a melange of rounded daybeds shaded by leaf-shaped umbrellas. Dreamy ocean views are also served in the massive relaxation terrace of the Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center, featuring spacious treatment suites, a sun-flooded fitness center with personal training services, and a beauty salon and barbershop.

The Grand Staircase, nestled behind a floor-to-ceiling waterfall of crystals and lights, greets each guest as they board the ship. Accommodations are swanky, and Oceania was wildly generous with space. Even the entry level rooms feature luxurious spa-like bathrooms with rainfall showers, plus the liner’s signature Tranquility Beds topped with heavenly dressings.

Upgrade to one of four suite categories: Penthouse, Oceania, Vista, and the top-end Owner’s Suite. The latter stretches between 2,200-2,400 square feet and spans the full beam of the ship, edged with sweeping walls of glass that overlook the floating horizon. Suites add five-star amenities like personal butler service, marble bathrooms with deep soaking tubs, 100% cashmere lap blankets, dark wooden walk-in closets, built-in bars with premium wine and spirits, and exclusive card-only access to private a private executive lounge.

Meals are a highlight of any Oceania-branded voyage (the brand touts the “The Finest Cuisine at Sea”), and Vista lives up to its namesake with a dizzying array of dining options that run from barefoot to black tie. Start the evening with James Bond’s preferred drink in the grand Martini Bar, where an award-winning pianist serenades you as you sip before sitting down to feast. Visit Ember for California wine country-inspired American classics (porcini-dusted bone-in ribeye with foie gras-truf f le demi-glace, anyone?) or gawk at Toscana’s hand-blown Venetian glass and Carrara marble accents as you dig into plates of octopus carpaccio and hand-rolled gnocchi with pesto.

Starting at $2,300 per person, oceaniacruises.com

SEABOURN PURSUIT

Seabourn Cruises

In 2022, when Seabourn’s first ultra-luxury expedition ship, Venture, departed Tromso, Norway, on its maiden journey, it marked a new chapter for the Washington-born line. Its expedition arm would carry intrepid travelers into some of the most remote areas on earth – wild, uninhabited, and untamed while offering Michelin-rated meals and extravagant guest quarters. (“Exploration has always been part of our brand legacy, but the launch of Seabourn Venture turns the page on a new chapter for us, offering our guests opportunities to explore remote destinations in every corner of the globe and truly be a part of the natural wonders, wildlife, history, and culture they’ll find there,” said Josh Leibowitz, Seabourn’s president.)

The second entry in Seabourn’s elevated expedition series, the Pursuit, launched last year, joining its sister vessel on bewildering excur sions through breathtaking regions like the remote shores of Indonesia, the Kimberley of Western Australia, and the isles of Papua New Guinea. Aboard the yacht-inspired vessel, 264 guests at a time are treated to a gorgeous juxtaposition of first-class amenities amid feral surroundings. The ship is rated for PC6 Polar Class standards (meaning it can withstand up to four feet of ice), is equipped with two custom built submarines, 24 Zodiacs (small, inflatable boats), and several kayaks, plus a team of 24 expert scientists, scholars, naturalists, and more. Guests can participate in curated shore excursions, cultural tours, guided Zodiac cruises, hikes, nature walks, snorkeling, and scuba diving.

The experience begins with a glass of champagne as guests settle into their ocean-facing suite, each finished with a private balcony. On board, they can indulge in a spa treatment, drink in views from 30,000 square feet of open-air deck space, or feast on lobster and filet crafted by Michelin-rated chefs, including the triple-star-toting Chef Thomas Keller. Cruises begin at $8,300, seabourn.com

REGENT SEVEN SEAS

Seven Seas Grandeur

The latest vessel in Regent’s royal army can tout the most expensive stateroom of any commercial liner. The Regent Suite RS a staggering 4,400-square foot floating penthouse rings in at $110,000 per passenger for a nine-day jaunt. Dubbed the most “exclusive address at sea,” the dual-bedroom marvel boasts full marble and stone bathrooms, two private balconies with heated spa pools, an in-suite spa oasis with a sauna, steam shower, and Jacuzzi, and a sun-drenched skylight parlor area for languid afternoons. Thoughtful inclusions span original lithographs by Pablo Picasso, hand-blown Lalique art vases, and fig and tea leaf bath salts. Private butler services are included, of course, as is a dedicated entrance onto the 735-foot, 746-guest mega-yacht. (Note: the ship’s 536 staff count offers one of the best guest-to-staff ratios on the water.)

But if you can’t afford the six-figure price tag, there are 372 still-uber-luxurious suites to choose from, all finished with private balconies, sitting areas, designer toiletries, plush bathrobes and slippers, and in-room mini bars stocked with each guest’s personal favorites. Outside the accommodations, a feast of finery awaits as you float by the Amalfi or across the Mediterranean. Clink glasses of Dom in the Art Nouveau-inspired observation lounge before sitting down for prime cuts of beef and bordeaux at Prime 7, a classic white tablecloth steakhouse. Sink back into a supple leather wing-back chair as you dig into a parade of jumbo crab cakes and steak tartare to begin before choosing your meat: a 28-day aged New York strip, perhaps, or a juicy porterhouse for two? Non-cow options include whole Maine lobster, applewood smoked salmon, and New Zealand double-cut lamb chops.

A gold-accented spa rivals any stationary five-star resort, offering a full suite of indulgent face and body treatments, from high-tech micro current lifting procedures to holistic cures like the calming rose facial, featuring an all-natural blend of soothing rose extracts to soften lines and strengthen the skin’s barrier. A variety of massages, wraps, body therapies, and hair and nail services are also on deck. Cruises start at $4,100 per person, rssc.comships/seven_seas_grandeur