Photo tour: The most spectacular suites at sea
One of the biggest stories in the Cruise World in recent years has been the arrival of a new crop of megasuites on ships: Big, bold and beautiful cabins that can cost tens of thousands of dollars a voyage.
As can be seen above in our new photo tour of the 10 most spectacular suites at sea, some of the latest cruise ship megasuites are bigger than the average American home, with multiple bedrooms, living areas with dining rooms and sprawling balconies. Sweeping views of the ocean are a given. The pampering is world class.
As one would expect, luxury lines such as Silversea and Seabourn have been rolling out some of the most stunning (and pricey) suites. But there's also been a super-suite arms race of sorts in recent years among the big, mass-market operators such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, which are catering to an ever-broader range of customers (see the additional gallery at the bottom of this page for a look at the swankiest suites on Royal Caribbean's new Quantum of the Seas).
In addition to expensive furnishings and designer style, the top suites at sea now almost always come with around-the-clock butler service -- someone to unpack your bags, take out your dry cleaning and even arrange private cocktail parties for your new on-board friends. And you'll probably have access to a private concierge, too, to book your shore trips and dinner reservations.
Other perks normally reserved for top suite guests include priority embarkation and disembarkation, priority access to the ship's spa and restaurants (just name a time and the table is yours!), and more than likely an invitation to dinner with the ship's captain (and maybe even a tour of the bridge).
But, then again, you may never want to leave your room. All of the top suites in our photo tour above feature elegant living areas; bedrooms with plush bedding (think top-of-the-line Egyptian cottons) and giant walk-in closets; and marble-lined bathrooms that often have whirlpool tubs and cavernous showers. On some ships such as Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2, the biggest suites spread over two decks.
