If the idea of sailing the seven seas in style is something you’ve always dreamt of doing, then you’re in luck: today’s ultra-modern, high-end cruise ships offer the last word in luxury, from state-of-the-art gyms to Olympic swimming pools, gourmet restaurants to full-size theatres. These vast vessels have been furnished with everything you could possibly need to make your dream cruise memorable, whether that means watching a Broadway-quality show, shopping for designer handbags or having your own butler on call 24/7. This level of luxury doesn’t come cheap, but it’s certainly a seductive way to travel. Here’s our pick of the world’s top luxurious cruise ships.
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1. Azamara Quest, Azamara
Best for vegetarians and vegans
Azamara Quest is informal and friendly, with warm, contemporary decor that wouldn’t be out of place in a smart boutique hotel. The ship sails northern Europe and the Mediterranean in summer, crossing the Atlantic for a winter season in the Caribbean and South America, including the Rio carnival. Happily, almost everything is covered including drinks. Non-carnivores are well catered for — Azamara has introduced a creative, wide-ranging menu of meat-free dishes across all its restaurants. The two speciality restaurants, Aqualina for fine Italian cuisine and the Prime C steakhouse, are worth the extra cover charge. Both have expansive sea views so time your meal for sunset.
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2. Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn
Best for intuitive service
Seabourn Odyssey brings the highest standards of accommodation and cuisine to its 462 passengers and remains one of the most luxurious ships at sea. The Grill by Thomas Keller features steakhouse classics from one of America’s most celebrated chefs, while the casual Colonnade becomes a romantic outside dining venue by night. Seabourn Square is a clever touch; a combined concierge lounge, library and convivial gathering place, serving all-day snacks and the best coffee at sea. Service is excellent — even the most junior crew members will go out of their way to help with queries. Choose another ship if you’re travelling with young children. Seabourn’s ships have a sophisticated, grown-up vibe and there’s not much entertainment for little ones.
3. Silver Muse, Silversea
Best for the highest levels of luxury
Serene and elegant, the 596-passenger Silver Muse is one of the most luxurious cruise ships around, with butler service, classy cuisine in a range of dining venues and all-inclusive pricing. Every finish shows quality, from the acres of gleaming Italian marble, to polished wood and buttery leather. The teak pool deck is especially lovely, featuring one of the largest swimming pools at sea. What’s exciting about this ship is the variety of places to dine; try Silver Note, the supper club, an intimate venue with live music, including some superb jazz and blues singers.
4. Regent Seven Seas Voyager, Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Best for foodies
It’s hard not to lust after the Regent Seven Seas Voyager. Bask in its 354 opulent suites and indulge in the food — its six restaurants serve exquisite fine dining, including a French speciality restaurant and Compass Rose, where you’ll eat from Versace plates under opulent chandeliers. Every suite on the 700-passenger Voyager has butler service, a marble-lined bathroom and a private veranda. Enjoy blissful days lounging on deck, round the pool — waiters remember your name and your favourite drink from day one, while thoughtful attendants will even polish your sunglasses.
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5. Queen Elizabeth, Cunard
Best for elegance
Glamorous, formal and traditional, Cunard’s art deco-inspired Queen Elizabeth harks back to the golden era of ocean travel with daily afternoon tea and black tie dances in the grand ballroom. At the same time, you’ll find the Mareel Wellness & Beauty spa, a choice of restaurants and a traditional British pub, the Golden Lion. You can also tuck into dinner in Steakhouse at the Verandah, a swanky New York-style grill. Pay a visit to the gorgeous library, too, spanning two decks and housing more than 8,000 books.
6. Silver Spirit, Silversea
Best for romance
One of the most luxurious cruise ships in the world, the 608-passenger Silver Spirit is the one to choose if you love the idea of butler service, all-inclusive drinks and fine dining. Every cabin is a sumptuous suite and most have a private veranda. Don’t miss Silver Note, an intimate jazz bar. Spend evenings dining under the stars in La Terrazza, the ship’s Italian restaurant, or share the best pizzas at sea in Spaccanapoli.
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7. Queen Mary 2, Cunard
Best for enrichment
The world’s most famous ship, built for the regular north Atlantic crossing between New York and Southampton, Queen Mary 2 is all about black tie nights, ballroom dancing and fine dining. You can expect to be wowed by the famous White Star Service starts the moment you step on board. Don’t miss the lectures: you’ll hear from some of the world’s greatest artists, historians, wine-tasters and lots more in between on the liner’s transatlantic voyages.
8. Royal Clipper, Star Clippers
Best for people who love sailing
Carrying just 227 adventurous sailors on swashbuckling Caribbean adventures, Royal Clipper is the world’s biggest and most beautiful square-rigged ship. With three pools, plenty of sunbathing space on her sun-warmed teak decks, a smart restaurant and an alfresco bar, Royal Clipper brings all of the romance of travel under sail without sacrificing creature comforts. Complete with Edwardian touches, faux fireplaces and plenty of polished brass, Royal Clipper has bags of character. It’s propelled along by 56,000 feet of billowing sails and has a loyal following of keen sailors and boat owners. Stay in one of 14 deluxe suites on the main deck and lie in the big nets on either side of the bowsprit — it’s one of the best places to spot dolphins racing the ship. Avoid this ship if you’ve got any mobility issues: there are four decks and no lifts so getting around could prove tricky.
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9. Star Pride, Windstar
Best for spacious cabins
Windstar’s petite Star Pride, carrying just 212, is the perfect way to explore the more off-the-beaten-track islands of the Caribbean, with a watersports platform, exceptional cuisine and wonderfully spacious suites — even the smallest is 277 square feet — of which many have private balconies. All cabins come with a queen-size bed, luxurious linens, L’Occitane products, TV and ocean views. The best bits? Rum punch sundowners at the alfresco Star Bar, dinner under the stars at Candles on the aft deck and diving straight off the back of the ship into the warm Caribbean when the watersports platform is lowered.
windstarcruises.com
10. Emerald Harmony, Emerald Cruises
Best for Asian adventure
Emerald Harmony is a stylish sanctuary from which to explore the wonders of the Mekong in Cambodia and Vietnam. Expect cool, contemporary design with Asian accents and five-course dinners featuring local and international cuisine in the Reflections Restaurant, as well as beautifully designed cabins, a pool and fitness centre. Be warned, there’s not much entertainment — local performers join at different ports of call, but there’s nothing huge happening each night. The ship carries just 84 passengers and there’s a 2:1 crew ratio.
emeraldcruises.co.uk
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11. Le Bougainville, Ponant
Best for special features
Sleek and stylish, Ponant’s all-inclusive expedition ship, Le Bougainville, is packed with innovative features. There’s an infinity pool on the aft deck, overlooking an extending watersports platform from which you can swim, launch a kayak or board the ship’s Zodiac launches. Inside are beautifully minimalist chic lounges decked out in soothing neutrals, 92 elegant staterooms and a restaurant serving fine French cuisine. Head to the Blue Eye Lounge to spy passing marine life through two giant windows in the ship’s hull as well as on digital screens projecting live images from underwater cameras.
uk.ponant.com
12. Seabourn Ovation, Seabourn
Best for spa lovers
Inspired by the graceful lines and rich tones of a luxurious private yacht, the 600-passenger Seabourn Ovation is one of Seabourn’s slickest ships. A wide range of dining venues, including the Grill by Thomas Keller, offers impressive culinary choices as the ship explores Asia, Australia and New Zealand and the eastern Mediterranean. Book yourself in for some indulgence in the Retreat, a sanctuary on the 12th deck, where a private cabana can be yours for the day. Note that this ship isn’t for you if you’re a minimalist who prefers to avoid alcohol and fine dining. While you’d still have a wonderful time, you would be paying for the indulgence of others.
13. Mekong Navigator, Lotus Cruises
Best for boutique hotel vibes
All polished teak, ceiling fans and elegant décor, the 68-passenger Mekong Navigator is a beautifully designed river cruiser. Luxurious touches like marble-lined bathrooms, a spa and a convivial lounge make this a comfortable way to experience the Mekong, a bucket-list journey for many. Prepare to tuck into full-board luxury dining and stretch out on its spacious sun decks.
lotuscruises.com
14. Azamara Pursuit, Azamara
Best for affordable luxury
The 702-passenger Azamara Pursuit brings an all-inclusive experience in an elegantly refurbished ship. Azamara’s “destination immersion” ethos means itineraries, many of which venture off the beaten path, are designed to maximise time in port. Each cruise includes an AzAmazing event, an exclusive and often elaborate taste of local culture, and a glamorous White Night deck party. The two speciality restaurants, Aqualina and Prime C, are wonderful, serving classy Italian and steak and seafood respectively. Both are well worth the cover charge to create a sense of occasion.
15. Seabourn Venture, Seabourn
Best for exploring
Seabourn’s original expedition vessel launched in July 2022, Seabourn Venture combines all the luxury touches you’d expect from this cruise stalwart with itineraries in far flung corners of the world. Northern hemisphere winters are spent in the southern hemisphere exploring Antarctica and South America, while the Arctic is among the destinations on the calling card for the summer season. On board, there are just 132 all veranda, all ocean-front suites — but this is really about getting off the ship. To that end, the ship carries two custom-built submarines, 24 Zodiacs, and a fleet of double sea kayaks for all those excursions that are included in your sailing.
• Best luxury cruises to Antarctica
16. S.S. Maria Theresa, Uniworld
Best for Decadence
Named after one of the most powerful female rulers in European history, S.S. Maria Theresa is as opulent as they come. The interiors are inspired by the grand Baroque palaces of the 18th century, with antique mirrors, hand-painted murals and a Murano chandelier further adding to the regal atmosphere. Suffice to say you’ll awake each morning from the hand-crafted Savoir bed feeling like royalty. Staterooms and suites on the Hofburg Deck are the most sought after; their balconies transform into a conservatory at the touch of a button. Like other Uniworld ships, S.S. Maria Theresa sails in just one region — along the Danube and Main rivers, stopping in cities that would have been part of the Habsburg empire.
Additional reporting by Oliver Berry
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