With cruising, as the saying goes, you
only unpack once. But when you're staying in the same room for seven
days, how much space is enough?
A dozen years
ago, the top suite on a new cruise ship might be no more than four
or five times the size of a standard stateroom. It might have had a
big picture window, but no balcony.Today, suites of 1,000 or more square feet are
increasingly common. NCL went so far over the top with the 5,750
square-foot digs on its latest ships that it gave up on the word
suite and called them villas. Most are staffed with a butler or
concierge.
A quick note on
pricing: Fares vary according to cruise destinations and length.
The comparisons wont be exact, but we've listed per-day rates on
early-booking brochure prices for cruises in mid-December.
Carnival
Cruise Lines
Penthouse, 345 square feet.
Sitting area with
sectional sofa. King-sized bed. Walk-in closet, dressing area with
vanity table. Wet bar (not stocked), stocked refrigerator/minibar.
85-square-foot balcony includes patio furniture.
Ships: Conquest and Destiny
series.
Per person,
per day: $192
Celebrity
Cruises:Penthouse Suite, 1,432 square
feet.
Foyer,
separate living and dining rooms, a baby
grand piano, master bedroom, exercise equipment, marble master
bath, interactive entertainment systems. Internet station. Butlers
pantry. A 1,098-square-foot balcony with whirlpool, wet bar, lounge
seating.
Ships: Millennium-class.
Per person,
per day: $738
Costa Cruises:
Grand suite, 649 square
feet.
Whirlpool tubs,
separate bedroom and sitting areas, dual vanities, fresh flowers,
terry robes, canapes, sparkling wine, complimentary dinner in a
specialty dining venue. Priority embarkation and
disembarkation.
Ships: Fortuna, Magica, Mediterranea,
Atlantica
Per person,
per day: $285
Crystal
Cruises: Crystal Penthouse, 1,345 square feet.
Separate dining
room. DVD/CD players, plasma TVs, guest bathroom, pantry, library
and private workout room. Fully-stocked in-room bar. Bathroom
features Jacuzzi tub. Balcony.
Ship: Crystal Serenity
Per person,
per day: $1,542
Cunard
Line: Balmoral and Sandringham suites, 2,249 square
feet.
Duplex with living
room downstairs, upstairs bedroom, two marble baths with whirlpool
tubs. Private exercise equipment. Balcony and two deck-high windows
with aft views.
Ship: Queen Mary 2
Per person,
per day: $2,008
Disney Cruise Line: Royal
Suite, 1,029 square feet.
Sleeps seven in two bedrooms. Two and a
half baths, including whirlpool tubs. Living room, dining area,
piano, pantry, wet bar.
Ships: Disney Magic,
Disney Wonder
Per person, per day:
$600
Holland
America Line: Penthouse Verandah, 1,318 square feet, with
balcony.
Oversize whirlpool
bath, living and dining rooms, dressing room, butlers pantry, guest
bath, stereo system. Balcony with whirlpool.
Ships: Vista class
Per person,
per day: $578
MSC Cruises: Suite,
280 square feet.
Double bed, private
balcony, spacious wardrobe, bathroom with bathtub. Internet
connectivity for guests laptop (payment required).
Minibar.
Ships: Lirica, Opera
Per person,
per day: $264
Norwegian
Cruise Line: Garden Villa, 5,750 square feet.
Villa includes
living room, dining room and three bedrooms with separate baths
(two include whirlpool and separate shower) and DVD/CD
libraries. Butler and concierge service.
Private outdoor garden includes a hot tub, dining table and
sunbathing terrace. Complimentary limo to airport.
Ships: Norwegian Star, Norwegian
Dawn
Per day,
per person: $470
Oceania
Cruises: Owners suite, 962 square feet.
Includes wraparound
deck with table and deck chairs. Entertainment center and mini bar.
Living and dining rooms, separate bedroom. Whirlpool.
Ships: Regatta, Nautica,
Insignia
Per person,
per day: $583
Princess: Grand Suite, 1,329 square feet,
including balcony.
Separate bedroom
and sitting room with convertible, single-sofa bed. Dining area and
balcony. PC with free Internet access. Refrigerator and wet bar.
Walk-in closet, bathroom with a corner tub with whirlpool jets.
Complimentary dry cleaning, laundry and shoe polishing.
Complimentary drinks in the minibar.
Ships: Diamond Princess and Sapphire
Princess
Per person,
per day: $407
Radisson
Seven Seas Cruises: Master suite, 1,204 square
feet.
Suite includes two
bedrooms with baths, living room and dining area. A side balcony,
71 square feet, opens off the master bedroom; the forward balcony
is 727 square feet and includes dining area for five.
Ship: Seven Seas Mariner
Per person,
per day: $1,168
Royal
Caribbean International: Presidential Suite, 1,215 square
feet.
Sleeps 14 in two
master bedrooms and two additional bedrooms. Flat-panel TVs, living
room with sectional sofa that sleeps two, card/dining table,
entertainment center. An 810-square-foot balcony includes a
whirlpool, wet bar, lounge chairs and a 14-person dining
table.
Ship: Freedom of the Seas (debuts
2006)
Per-person,
per day: N/A
Seabourn: Owners Suites, 575 square feet,
excluding balcony.
Living room with
semicircular couch and ocean views, dining area. Bedroom with one
queen-size bed. Two alcove closets. Bose Wave stereo system. Guest
bath with vanity. A private balcony is 93 square feet.
Ships: Legend, Pride, Spirit
Per person,
per day: $1,275
Silversea
Cruises: Grand Suite, 1,286 to 1,435 square
feet.
Two bedrooms with
twin or queen-size beds, two living rooms, separate dining area,
walk-in closets, dressing tables. Wet bar with barstools. Two
marble bathrooms with separate shower (one with Jacuzzi and water
closet with bidet) and powder room. Three teak balconies with patio
furniture.
Ships: Silver Whisper, Silver Shadow.
Per person,
per day: $812
Get
More!
For more
details on this article, see Mass market goes luxury on the high
seas.