cruise ship design companies

Gem is one of the world- leading architecture and interior design firm specialized in ultra-luxury cruise ship design and project management. It's name is based on the initial of architect Giacomo Erasmo Mortola who founded Gem in 1985

In the last 40 years, Gem has played a pioneering role in the cruise industry as coordinating architect and interior designer, designing a several award-winning vessels for a variety of clients leaders in their respective markets. Today Gem is involved in every level of the design and construction of luxury and premium cruise ships as well as smaller expedition vessels, from the pre-contractual phase until the delivery of the vessel

Giacomo Erasmo Mortola

Giacomo Erasmo Mortola graduates in Architecture from the University of Genoa in 1974; in the same year his involvement in the cruise ship industry started with the refurbishment of Sitmar fleet.

In 1985 Arch. Mortola established his own firm Gem; since then, he has created over thirty eight new ships and lead as many refurbishment projects.

In his illustrious career, Arch. Mortola became renowned for his ability to strike the perfect balance between form and function and to blend luxurious aestethics with cutting-edge technologies.

Today Giacomo is at the helm of Gem together with his son Lorenzo.

Lorenzo Mortola

Lorenzo Mortola is an Italian naval architect and Chartered Engineer.

After obtaining a Master degree in Naval Architecture form the University of Southampton he moved in Milan where he completed a second Master degree in Interior Design and started working for renowned architecture and interior design film specialized in hospitality.

In 2012 Lorenzo moved back to Genoa and joined Gem as surveyor for refurbishment projects; in 2016 became involved in new builds as well, focusing mainly on ultra-luxury projects.

Since then he has overseen fourteen multi-million cruise ships refurbishments and seven new building projects. Today Lorenzo is at the helm of Gem together with his father Giacomo

At Gem, creativity thrives through collaboration within our multidisciplinary team. Comprised of architects, interior designers, engineers, lighting designers, our team brings together a diverse range of expertise to craft one-of-a-kind spaces that seamlessly blend functionality with aesthetics.

Through constant dialogue and exchange of ideas, we leverage each team member's unique perspective to tackle design challenges from every angle. From conceptualization to execution, our collaborative approach ensures that every project benefits from a holistic understanding of naval architecture, interior design, and engineering principles. Together, we transform visions into reality, pushing the boundaries of what can be realized onboard sea-going vessels.

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Gem P.zza Fontane Marose 4/6 Genova 16123, Italy

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Cruise Ship Design Construction Building

Information on cruise ship construction and design and how cruise ships are built. Learn what is the cost of building a cruise ship, where are cruise ships built, which are the major cruise shipbuilders/yards and building companies . Plus some other shipbuilding stuff and fun facts, like who built the Titanic ship, who built the most expensive cruise ship in the world, who built the most expensive yacht in the world, who is responsible for making the best cruise vessels of the world. This survey is integrated with our cruise ship engines-propulsion-fuel and cruise safety articles.

The actual cruise shipbuilding takes 2 to 3 years (the design plans are usually started a year ahead). Shipbuilding takes place in specialized facilities called shipyards. The cruise ship hull is designed by the shipyard, while the interiors and all the special features are designed by architects. Shipbuilders (also called shipwrights) do shipbuilding, as well as ship repairs, both services being also referred to as "naval engineering". The reverse process (dismantling of ships) is called ship breaking/demolition . The world's biggest ship-breaking scrap yards are in India (Alang) , Bangladesh (Chittagong) , Pakistan (Gadani) , and Turkey (Aliaga).

Cruise ship construction and design

The cruise shipbuilding process involves numerous complex research and testing procedures. The cruise ship design company (whose work is also called naval architecture) analyses and provides solutions to meet the Marine and Shipbuilding Industry's requirements, submitting the basic and detailed designs, ship equipment designs and production drawings to the shipbuilding company. The design firm also provides engineers with analysis, simulations, diagnosis, manufacture, repair and other data by using the latest CAE (Computer-Aided Engineering) technology. The ship cabins manufacturer is able to design and produce various types of ready-to-install ship cabins and bathrooms for virtually all passenger ships - big and small, luxury, ferries, Ro-Ros, research, etc. The shipbuilder also hires a company to provide the so-called "Lifecycle Services", pertaining mostly to the industry's rules and regulations. Some of these services are retrofitting and refurbishing and keeping regular updates regarding new rules and requirements.

It's a common modern practice big cruise ships to be built of pre-made huge sections. Entire multi-deck segments are built at another place, transported or slipway to the shipyard and lifted into place. The sections often feature even pre-installed equipment, cables, pipes, and other components - it saves a lot of shipbuilding time, and it surely saves lots of money. This technique was used for the first time in the construction of Cunard's Queen Mary 2 (2002-2004) by the French "Chantiers de l'Atlantique" company.

The next photo shows a pre-made section for the Symphony Of The Seas ship construction.

The ice-going cruise shipbuilding is so expensive as to hull strength and engine power, that the best option is to buy an unfinished vessel or to refit an existing Ice-class ship (often an ex-navy vessel), like the case of the Regent Seven Seas Navigator ship. Constructed as a naval support ship and strengthened for navigation in ice, the Navigator ship's hull was purchased from the former USSR (now Russia), while its superstructure was finished later at the T. Mariotti shipyards in Genoa, Italy.

The following YouTube timelapse video shows the Japan-made AIDAprima cruise ship construction process (shipyard Nagasaki Japan ). Next YouTube video shows the Aqua Mekong riverboat construction (time-lapse).

Cruise ship design

This is an amazingly detailed cruise ship design infographic showing what is what and where on a typical cruise passenger vessel. Note: Click on image to enlarge, backspace/back button to return to the article page.

Marine design solutions for cruise ships are truly amazing and unique, using the latest innovations, technologies, and materials to ensure difference from other existing passenger ships. Special onboard features, such as the Royal Caribbean ships' rock-climbing walls, ice-skating rinks, surf simulators, wave pools, and the 9-deck high Zip-line are an irresistible temptation and a true allure for all the ship vacation fun fans. As to the common features, all big-capacity passenger ships have a several decks-high Atrium, at least 3 huge swimming pools, a Spa-Fitness complex, a grand casino, a library, duty-free shops, 2 huge capacity main restaurants, grand theatre, disco nightclub, kids and teen areas, numerous bars and lounges, and all-new big ships feature an open wraparound Promenade.

Cruise ship interior design

What about cruise ship interior designs? An example is SMC Design, which was appointed by Cunard Line to lead the development of the interior spaces on RMS Queen Mary 2 in preparation for liner's drydock refit in 2016. Cunard's flagship had a multi-million 25-day extensive refurbishment (May 27-June 21, 2016) that boasted new interior designs. The most iconic liner in the world opened the next chapter in her illustrious career. The announcement of the designer company followed the news that QM2 will gain 15 brand new single cabins and an additional 30 Britannia Club rooms during the refit. The popular onboard kennels were expanded in order to cater to the high demand this extraordinary facility already attracts.

SMC Design was established in 1994. The London -based design consultancy specializes in the maritime sector. SMC Design's team has worked on many cruise vessels - from small yachts to some of the biggest ships ever built. It also has a working history with Cunard liners, leading previous refits of QE2, Cunard Princess and Cunard Countess, while also being involved in its current fleet design: Queen Victoria , Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary 2. Andy Collier, SMC Managing Director, was part of the launch design team of QM2 at the beginning of the Century. She was then the first Atlantic liner being built for more than 35 years.

New Russian cruise ship designs

In August 2016, at Lotus shipyard (Astrakhan, Russian) part of ASC (United Shipbuilding Company), the keel was laid for the 1st Russian passenger cruise ship in decades. Support for the new class of even vessel is coming from Russian Federation president Vladimir Putin, who expressed hope that this will be the first but not the last of a series of such ships.

The Marine Engineering Bureau office engineers developed the Concept PV300VD cruise ship, the first of which is to be completed within 3 years. The project belongs to Saint Petersburg team of Marine Engineering Bureau SPb, which has been working in Russia for 16 years. Its other branch is in Odessa . Such vessels were not generally built in the old Soviet Union.

The last built in the USSR, 2 river cruise ships, Soviet Union and Lenin, were built at the Gorky plant in 1959-1960. Then, as with its ocean ships, the Soviet Union bought foreign-built river ships, until 1989-1990. However, these were not entirely foreign as they were created to Soviet order and developed for operation in Russian conditions. These vessels were built mainly in Austria, East Germany, and Czechoslovakia. After 1990, Russian riverboats were no longer built and the business was carried on for years utilizing old tonnage. The same happened with the Russian passenger fleet as they were banned in North America after Russia's invasion in Afghanistan.

Today, shipping conditions in Russia are different. The new ships are planned to be "river-sea" ships. This class is needed in order to navigate large lakes. Russian river cruise ships are much more powerful than typical Danube and Rhine vessels. Dimensions for the new 310-passenger ships will be 463 x 55 feet. The PV300VD concept emerged in 2010-2015 by the order of the Russian Federal Marine Agency. The program's state customer and coordinator is the Minister of Industry and Trade, and completion is scheduled for 2019. The cost of a ship varies between 2.5 to 3.5 billion rubles and the payback period is 5 to 20 years. 3 such ships are foreseen at the stage, though more could follow. The next photo shows the design of Vodohod's new river cruise ship project PV300VD.

The next photo combo shows the design of Mosturflot's new river cruise ship project PV300.

The routes foreseen for the new Russian ships are in season (May to October) between Moscow and Saint Petersburg, then taking travelers from Moscow to Samara and Rostov-on-Don, in the winter embarking in the Eastern Mediterranean and possibly the Red Sea: for example, Rostov-on-Don- Yalta- Odessa- Istanbul- Alexandria . There are talks about navigation in Crimea, Sevastopol, and Sochi, on more interesting routes in the Caspian sea.

The newbuilds could carry about 500,000 passengers annually, of which about 100,000 foreign tourists. The number of foreigners declined by nearly a half in 2014 as western tour operators cut Russian programs and westerners stayed away. According to the Ministry of Industry and trade, buyers of the new ship would be operators like Mosturflot (GK Sea and River shipping company), Vodohod and Orthodox. Given the high cost of the vessels, it is planned to lease them to operators. The main difference of this 4-deck ship is that it will be able to navigate not only rivers but seas as well. The vessels will also be more luxurious than past ships and will include western amenities, such as French balconies and comfortable large suites.

Next image shows a traditional European river cruise ship design (4-deck boat). All top-deck/sundeck structures (Wheelhouse, awnings, railings) are retractable and lowered when the boat passes under low bridges.

New expedition cruise ship designs

A new contract was awarded to the shipbuilder Uljanik (Croatia) for a 10,000-GT, 237-passenger ship ( Scenic Eclipse ) scheduled for delivery in 2018 but eventually postponed to 2019.

Based on these dimensions, the new ship was to be of the same general size as Ponant's fleet, the latest of which ( Le Lyrial ) was built at Fincantieri 's Shipyard Ancona Italy . Uljanik has not disclosed the identity of the purchaser, but new ships are also expected from Lindblad and Seabourn in 2018.

Next photos show other designs fitting the expedition vessel category.

The above is STX France's Project Ulysseas (145 m length, 200 passengers) was officially revealed in March 2015.

Next is the 2020-announced icebreaking cruise ship design developed by Knud E. Hansen.

The PC3 ice-classed vessel has deadweight/DWT 1965 tons, LOA length 144 m, beam 22 m, draught 7 m, max passenger capacity 300 (plus 150 crew) and 150 staterooms. Most cabins are with step-out balconies and interconnecting, featuring the company's "Flex Cabin System" which allows their walls to be reconfigured in order to convert a Suite into two separate cabins.

The newbuild has max cruising speed 17 knots (20 mph / 32 kph), can operate in solid ice (max thickness 1,8 m) and has diesel-electric propulsion (based on 2 azipods, total power output 15 MW), 6 electricity generators (dual-fuel / LNG and MDO-diesel) plus a lithium-ion battery pack (powers the ship while docked). The new passenger ship design features an Ice Bar, multi-purpose Lounge, a tender garage (for Zodiacs and other expedition equipment that can be launched via a portside shell door), an aft-located helicopter deck (where a helicopter is lowered into the hanger on the below deck).

The next design (by Aker Arctic) is of an expedition ship ordered by the UK-based company Polar Cruise Enterprises Ltd. The vessel has LOA length of 135.5 m, Beam 17.8 m, Draught 5.5 m, Propulsion 2x 3.5 MW azimuth thrusters, Engines 4x MAK 6M32C (2,88 MW each) allowing max cruising speed 13 knots (15 mph / 24 kph).

Knud E Hansen's expedition ship design is with 150 staterooms and heavy-duty, ice-rated hull.

The next video shows various passenger and research ship designs developed by Knud E Hansen (Danish marine engineering company established in 1937).

Next is the VARD-6 polar ship design on which are based the newbuilds of Ponant (Explorers-series), Hapag-Lloyd (Hanseatic-series), Viking Expeditions and Coral Expeditions (Australia).

Next images show expedition yacht cruise ship design by the Dutch shipbuilder Damen Group. The vessel is "Polar Class 6" (with ice-strengthened hull) and has endurance 30 days autonomous cruising.

The ship has approx 1100 m2 public space and 2500 m2 outdoor deck space. Max capacity is 115 passengers. Propulsion is a diesel-mechanical hybrid and encompasses IMO Tier 3 compliant medium speed engines.

Damen Shipyards new expedition cruise ship design

Damen's cruise vessel is "battery ready", which means it could be equipped with a battery system for peak-shaving (reducing peak demand), providing supplementary power for maneuvering or silent drive operations. The hybrid propulsion is the best fuel-efficient technology currently available, allowing service speed 16 knots (30 kph / 18 mph) and max speed 18 knots (33 kph / 21 mph). The next aft view image also shows the ship's marina platform.

SunStone's "World-Class" expedition cruise ship design

On March 16, 2017, SunStone Ships Inc (USA) signed an agreement with the Hong Kong-based "China Merchants Industry Holdings" (CMIH) for the construction of 4 units based on the "ULSTEIN CX103" design. SunStone is currently the world's largest (by GT tonnage) shipowner chartering exclusively expedition vessels to the cruise travel industry. The contract included the option for additional 6 units.

The ice-class 1A vessel has the following polar code specifications.

• Designer: SUNSTONE SHIPS INC
• Shipbuilder: (CMIH) CHINA MERCHANTS INDUSTRY HOLDINGS
• Passenger cabins: 80-95
• LOA Length: 104 m
• Beam / Width: 18 m
• Speed: 15 Kn / 17 mph / 28 kph
• Ice-Class: 1A
• Polar Class: PC 6 (highest)

The boat has a fleet of Zodiacs (20-22x aft-stored inflatable RIB boats) and features a dedicated Zodiac loading platform for easy boarding.

Charterers of these ships are the travel brand companies AQV-American Queen Voyages , Aurora Expeditions ( fleet ), Albatros Expeditions ( fleet ).

STX France "Ulysseas" cruise ship project

In March 2015, the major shipbuilder STX France unveiled a revolutionary new expedition ship design named "Ulysseas". It represents an innovative idea for a small cruise ship ( passenger capacity 200, ice-class hull, length 476 ft / 145 m, cruising speed 17 Kn / 20 mph / 31 kph) aimed at the expedition cruising market.

The main reason for the Ulysseas project is that currently, the expedition cruise market uses mostly second-hand vessels. Unique for this new ship design is the excessive usage of glass (in all public areas) and the French balconies (false balconies) on all passenger cabins. Every passenger-use facility on the new vessel features floor-ceiling windows. There will be a unique forward-located observation lounge for 360-degree views.

The Ulysseas ship's aft-section is an STX-patented design for saving energy. This is a movable duck-tail, which position depends on cruising speeds and weather conditions. The vessel is powered by two 2,5 MWT azipods (360-degree rotating thrusters), with 4x diesel-electric generators and 1x scrubber. This cruise ship design also features a helipad (helicopter landing pad), a helicopter storage space (inside the ship), zodiac boats for ship-to-shore operations.

(2018) "Silenseas" sailing cruise ship design by Chantiers de l’Atlantique (fka STX FRANCE)

In early March 2018, STX France revealed a carbon-free cruise vessel design (trademarked Silenseas) using wind as main power source. The new wind-power technology was trialed on Ponant 's yacht Le Ponant , on which one of the existing sails was replaced and the new technology tested.

STX France's project was something never done before. The carbon-free sailship design is an alternative to the popular hybrid-powered vessels. Hydrogen and fuel cells are still expensive, plus hydrogen is not available in most ports.

The technology uses the company's patented "SolidSail" concept. The sails (total size up to 1200 m2 / 12900 ft2) are mounted on masts but without any ropes or cables. The STX France design has 3 masts and 3 rigs, with masts rotating in order to adapt the sails to the wind. The new design also includes the latest hybrid propulsion technologies, combining wind with LNG, and potentially batteries, solar panels, and fuel cells.

The sailing ship can reach speeds of 12 knots (14 mph / 22 kph) under sail in 15 knots (17 mph / 28 kph) winds. In winds over 15 knots, the vessel's propellers will be used, acting as a turbine that draws power from the sails. On Caribbean Sea routes, the new technology could reduce propulsion energy by 60%.

STX France's sailship design was developed for 3 vessel sizes, the biggest being 15000 GT-ton with LOA length 190 m (620 ft) and 150 passenger staterooms. The French shipbuilding company started research in sail propulsion in 2009, Silenseas has technology patents (2009 and 2017) for the new sail. The unit is made from fiberglass, carbon and epoxy-resin panels.

SolidSail system debuted on October 31, 2018, on the yacht Le Ponant. The new Solid Sail (sized 300+ m2) was constructed at Chantiers de L'Atlantique ( Saint-Nazaire ) and installed in Marseille . The 3-masted Le Ponant departed from France to Cape Verde Islands, then embarked on a Transatlantic crossing to Cuba, testing the new sail for 1 year.

Similar is the concept of Peace Boat's new vessel Ecoship (built by Arctech Helsinki Shipyard in Helsinki, Finland ).

In December 2022 was announced the shipyard's first SolidSail with a carbon-fiber mast. The project was a collaboration with the Lorient -based companies Lorima (manufacturer of carbon fiber masts and spars), Avel Robotics (manufacturer of composite parts), CDK Technologies (boat building company) and Mulitplast ( Vannes -based shipbuilding company).

The carbon-fiber SolidSail mast has height 66 m/217 ft, width 2 m/7 ft and weight ~20 tons. It can carry a SolidSail sized ~1500 m2/16150 ft2.

Silenseas' SolidSail will propel the world's largest wind-powered/sailing cruise vessel - Accor's Orient Express Corinthian/fka Silenseas (2026).

Aeoldrive (rig comprising the mast and the SolidSail) is fully automated and 360-degree rotating, while the masts rotate/tilt up to 70 degrees (when the vessel passes under bridges).

(2019) "Wind Cruise Vessel" design by KNUD HANSEN

On June 19, 2019, KNUD HANSEN announced its medium-sized (LOA length 110,3 m / 361 ft) long "Wind Cruise Vessel" design. This sail-assisted ship has max passenger capacity 100, max speed 15 Kn (17 mph / 28 kph), operational range 6000 nm (6900 ml / 11100 km), draught 4,5 m (), TDW-deadweight tonnage 730 tons. The new sail-ship targets the expedition travel market and passengers who prefer destinations inaccessible by larger vessels.

The vessel is powered by 4x low-sulfur ULSD diesel engines (plus wind power) and also includes a large battery pack (for zero emissions while in port and protected marine zones). The rig is designed by Detlev Loll Ingenieurburo GmbH ( Peenemunde -based company) and comprised of 3x free-standing masts. Each mast is fitted with a fully-battened sail with adjustable flaps (wing devices that increase the max lift coefficient that a wing can generate). Ship's total sail area is 1910 m2 (20260 ft2). The sails are computer-controlled and designed for peak performance even in light winds.

The propulsion system is based on aft-located twin-screw propellers (fixed) and two fore-located tunnel thrusters (for better maneuverability in ports and anchorages). In sail-assisted mode, two fin stabilizers limit the ship's heel/listing to just 6 degrees.

Cabin decks house 48 passenger staterooms (46 cabins plus 2 suites) - all outside and many with balconies. Sea Lounge features underwater porthole windows. Deck 2 has a large tender boat garage for Zodiacs (rigid inflatable boats), jet skis, scuba diving gear, and other equipment. The ROV (remotely operated underwater vehicle) is fitted with HD camera equipment underwater observations at max depth 3 km ()9840 ft). Deck 3 is the Sun Deck featuring a swim platform with a ladder for easy water access. On Deck 4 are the restaurant (with outdoor terrace), bar, library, card room. On Deck 5 are the aft-located bar lounge and the bow-located observation area. Deck 6 has an open-air cafe and sun deck (sunbathing area with deckchairs and loungers).

Cruise ship building vs ship refurbishments

Unlike the scheduled cruise ship refurbishments , major refits may include even a cruise ship lengthening, like in the case of Royal Caribbean ship Enchantment of the Seas lengthened in 2005 (see the photo below). The Enchantment ship lengthening cost ~ US$55 million, it was a process of cutting the ship in two and inserting a whole new 73 ft (22 m) 3,500 tons midsection, pre-built at the Aker Finnyards.

The month-long dry-dock at the Keppel Verolme shipyards (Rotterdam, The Netherlands) resulted in adding 151 brand new cabins, a 50% bigger Pool Deck area, a new kids area, a teen centre, several new bars and lounges, an expanded main dining room, a new specialty restaurant. This "refurbishment cost" record was recently beaten by the CCL line and the US$155 million Carnival Destiny refit 2013 producing a brand new ship named Carnival Sunshine!

The average cost of building a cruise ship is around the US $450 for mid-sized vessels and up to $800 million for bigger cruise ships. These prices, along with the current economy status force many cruise lines to hold off from building new ships - the biggest expense of all. As a rule, all new cruise ships on order/currently under construction are by contracts signed years ago when the dollar had a good rate.

Cruise shipbuilding prices are high enough to not meet the return requirement. Even the mighty Carnival Corporation (the world's largest cruise shipowner) puts its shipbuilding plans on hold. Royal Caribbean is one of the few companies continuing to place orders for new ships - and not any ships, but the ever largest, the most innovative, the most expensive in the world. Still, most passenger ship lines are trying to keep their current fleet fresh and good looking. Two of the best examples are Holland America with its $450 million SOE program for ship renovations, and Carnival investing $250+ million to fully refit and refurbish 8 of its oldest vessels.

The next photo shows the construction of the world's largest cruise ship - Harmony of the Seas - at Saint-Nazaire (STX France) .

The following tag link lists all of CruiseMapper's news related to shipbuilding .

Streets of Monaco Superyacht

"Streets of Monaco Superyacht" is a futuristic project developed by Yacht Island Design. The vessel is modeled after the actual city and designed for billionaires to sail and play.

The 500-ft / 152-metre-long ship is lined with scaled-down versions of Monte Carlo's most famous buildings, including the Casino and its Grand Prix course (which on the yacht doubles as go-kart course). Among the most prominent amenities on this superyacht are swimming pools, cafes, full-service spa, full-size sports court (doubles as a helipad for private helicopters), library, interior parking for smaller boats, mini-submarine.

Staterooms (1VIP Suites) are sized 3800 ft2 (350 m2) each. There are also cabins for the 70 crew and staff members. The Superyacht cost about USD 1 billion.

Havyard's sightseeing cruise vessel design

In July 2019, Havyard Group ASA (Fosnavag Norway-based ship technology company) and SINTEF ( Trondheim Norway -based research company) started a project for designing a new environmentally friendly sightseeing cruise vessel specifically for touring the Norwegian Fjords, as well as a new Norwegian Coastal cruiseferry design. The project includes measuring energy consumption, hull optimization, developing new-generation equipment and using renewable energy sources.

These ships are designed with battery-power propulsion (zero-emission) and recharging in call port. The vessel has LOA length is 70 m (230 ft), max passenger capacity between 600-800, max speed 10-11 knots (20 kph / 13 mph), floor-ceiling and wall-to-wall windows throughout (for unobstructed fjord cruising experiences), wheelchair-friendly interior and exterior spaces. The new vessel's designer is Stig Magne Espeseth.

Passenger embarkations/debarkations are at floating hubs (platforms at sea) installed at the fjord's mouth and outside the itinerary's seaports. The hubs also double as charging stations for the smaller-sized vessels.

Smooth Sailing: The Cruise Ship’s Evolution From the 1800s to Today

In 2018, 26 million people set sail on cruise ships, earning the leisure cruise industry an estimated $45.6 billion. The market has grown at a steady clip, with the design of modern cruise ships continuously evolving since the heyday of luxury ocean liners and the industry’s Love Boat days. Below, we trace the cruise ship’s development from its humble origins to its promising future.

The RMS Britannia , one of the first ocean liners from Cunard, was launched in 1840 and could carry 115 passengers.

1800s: The First Cruises 

Passengers began boarding packet ships as early as 1818, when the Black Ball Line ran a mail route between Liverpool and New York City that also advertised space for people. Shipping companies like P&O and Cunard got in on the mail delivery game, and by 1844, P&O was offering sea tours to such destinations as Gibraltar, Malta, and Athens, making them the oldest cruise line still in operation. 

The idea for the first pleasure cruise is often credited to Albert Ballin in the early 1890s. Ballin, a German shipping magnate and general director for the Hamburg-America Line, introduced the concept of the luxury ocean liner as a "floating hotel" in order to compete with on-land counterparts. To do so, he hired hotelier Cesar Ritz to head up customer service and the British architectural firm Mewes and Davis for interiors. Under Ballin’s direction, one liner’s decor included such elegant features as a Rococo stairwell with gilded cherubs bearing light bulbs.   

Cunard's Queen Mary launched in 1934 and featured an Art Deco interior that included the application of over 50 different types of wood in intricate marquetry, carvings, and wall panelling. The ship has been preserved and is today a museum and hotel moored in Long Beach, California.

Early 1900s: Heightened Luxury 

In the early 20th century, shipping companies competed for passengers by increasing ship speed and the onboard amenities, which grew more opulent over time. In 1911, the RMS Olympic , part of a trio of ships from the White Star Line that included the Titanic , boasted a grand staircase, swimming pool, Turkish baths, and private bathrooms for first-class travelers. By 1921, the French-owned SS Paris debuted the first onboard movie theater and a chic Art Deco interior. 

1930s: Crossover Into Architecture 

By 1930, the cruise liner’s aesthetic crossed over as a popular architectural style on land, called the P&O style, after the ships of the Pacific & Orient line. Think curved walls, steel-framed windows, glass bricks, and flat roofs, with such seaworthy features as porthole-shaped windows or a brick chimney that tapers like a ship’s steam funnel.  

P&O style was a form of German modernism in the 1930s, and its influence can still be seen today, such as with this recent design of the Plaster Fun House by Sans-Arc Studio in South Australia.

1970s: The Love Boat Era  

After World War II, once commercial airplanes made crossing the ocean much quicker than traveling by ship and the glamorous ocean liners of the past were too costly to operate, the industry had to reinvent itself. Companies either converted liners into cruise ships or sold them. The interior designs were sharply modernized. For instance, Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2 , designed by James Gardner and Dennis Lennon, debuted in 1969 with exterior detailing resembling a yacht, and sunken green leather sofas and plenty of Formica and chrome inside. 

The cruise ship itself and its onboard amenities and entertainment became the point of the journey, a shift crystallized by the popularity of the 1977 show,  The Love Boat . "With the arrival of the Aaron Spelling production, Americans started thinking about cruises not as something from a 1930s, high-society drama set aboard a grand ocean liner, but as a vacation for the average person," writes Mark Orwoll in Conde Nast Traveler .  

1980s: The Megaship 

The 1980s saw the development of the first megaships when the MS Sovereign of the Seas from Royal Caribbean took its maiden voyage in 1988. Still in service today, that ship is 880 feet long and has a capacity of 2,850 passengers. More recent vessels are double the size and can hold over 5,000 passengers, climb 18 decks, and feature amenities like IMAX theaters, boutiques, and water-slide parks. To maintain an air of exclusivity, luxury lines skew smaller, sailing with 400-1,200 passengers and more curated amenities.  

Designing for Cruise Ships Today

Scarlet Lady is currently being built in Genoa, Italy, as is Virgin’s second ship. The construction of each ship takes approximately two years. 

More recently, cruise lines are tapping celebrity designers to reach a more design-savvy market. Just as on-board roller coasters and ziplines once added to a ship’s appeal, now it’s interior designers with broad name recognition and experience in hospitality design.

In 2020, Virgin Voyages, billionaire Richard Branson’s soon-to-be-launched cruise line, will launch their first "Lady Ship" (a nod to their British roots and the expression "your ladyship.") The exterior of the first ship, Scarlet Lady (named, in part, for one of the earliest Virgin Atlantic planes) was designed by London’s Magpie Studio, and its sleek, silvery-gray hull with accents of the company’s signature red is meant to mimic a superyacht.

For Virgin Voyages' design-forward interiors, the company tapped Roman and Williams, Tom Dixon’s Design Research Studio, Concrete Amsterdam, and Softroom of London—all of whom have experience designing in hospitality but are first-time designers in the cruise industry. Roman and Williams took a different approach in their designs for the ship, using lighting to "create a cinematic, dreamy type of experience," says Robin Standefer, who co-founded the firm with her husband, Stephen Alesch, after the two met while working in Hollywood. 

Roman and Williams took a dreamy, cinematic approach and used lighting to create a sense of drama in their interior designs for Virgin Voyages.

Not to be left out, Celebrity Cruises introduced their own luxury line: Celebrity X cruises. For their latest line of ships, called Edge Class, the company partnered with Nate Berkus as the design ambassador and engaged both Kelly Hoppen and Patricia Urquiola for the interiors. Hoppen took the lead on the design of the fleet’s staterooms, suites, spa, and lounge areas, while Urquiola collaborated with architect Scott Butler of Wilson Butler on public spaces such as an installation-like common area known as "Eden."  

Patricia Urquiola designed the interior space for "Eden," a greenery-filled common area in Celebrity Cruise’s Edge Class ship.

The light-filled public space includes pops of color via bohemian macrame-like hanging chairs and plant installations, in addition to the bar in Eden Cafe. 

Luxury lines are also revisiting Ballin’s concept of the cruise ship as a hotel. When Viking Cruises’ founder and chairman, Torstein Hagen, first asked Richard Riveire of Rottet Studios to design Viking’s fleet of cruise ships, Riveire—who has designed a wide range of luxury hotels and has a deep understanding of hospitality environments—responded that he had never been on a cruise or even inside a cruise ship before. Hagen reportedly replied, "That’s OK, I want a hotel guy." 

"It was so smart because I could look at it from a new perspective—a hotel perspective," explains Riveire. "I didn’t think about what we couldn’t do, because I didn’t even know what we couldn’t do!" Riveire had to consider some of the basic differences in cruise ship design, such as adhering to strict regulations concerning issues like weight and having to think about the placement of materials. However, a partnership with SMC Design, a design firm with extensive maritime experience who served as the associate architect on the project, helped successfully translate Riveire’s ideas to the shipyard.  

Richard Riveire of Rottet Studios cites Viking’s Wintergarden as his favorite spot on the ship, and it’s easy to see why. Riveire has done projects for Disney and is a natural storyteller, so he envisioned this open space near the pool as an interpretation of a story from Norse mythology about Odin’s two ravens: Hugin and Munin. Structural steel poles were masked with wood, like stylized trees in a forest. If you look carefully you can find a pair of ravens in the trees.  

The inspirations for his design stem from actual Viking longships, Norse mythology, and a minimalist Scandinavian aesthetic. However, according to Riveire, the most challenging part of the experience was learning how to design to the right scale. "We’re using spaces that are much smaller than we want them to be, but we want them to feel just as luxurious as a land-based hotel," says Riveire. To accomplish this, he employed subtle tricks—like the use of mirrors—throughout to make the spaces look bigger than they actually are. "Just as you would use in a small apartment," he explains.

Viking’s fleet of ocean cruise ships all have a distinctly understated and minimalist Scandinavian feel that emphasizes luxury materials and light.  

The Aquavit terrace bar is a lovely, light-filled space with a connection to outdoor space. 

But ultimately, the key difference comes down to the fact that instead of designing for a place—you are designing the place. "On a ship, every day you open the window and you are looking at new sights," explains Riveire. "Hotels feel like a part of a place. On a ship, this is your home; after a day of exploring, this is where you are coming back to." 

Related Reading: This Winning Renovation Takes Cues From 1930s Cruise Ship Design

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When designing a ship, Ulstein helps shape the maritime industry. By providing sustainable and efficient solutions, we do our part to create a highly competitive and green business. The connection between operational challenges, the use of new technology, and commercial solutions is high on our priority list.

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Our approach to design is always to seek solutions to new challenges. A new design is an opportunity to improve our previous work. We use our expertise and imagination to provide the industry with new standards based on long-term competitiveness. We can do this by designing with a focus on the environment, cost-efficiency, reliability and the total life cycle cost of the product.

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Bringing the personal touch to cruise interior design

Liz Schneider speaks with Alex Smith about her journey through the cruise interiors industry, highlighting why people should always be at the heart of good design 

Liz Schneider

By Alex Smith | 30 May 2024

Liz Schneider’s journey in cruise design began in 2015, when she joined Holland America Line’s growing interior design department as an intern. The cruise line was embarking on a period of revitalisation, as it carried out several significant refits onboard its ships. Schneider fondly recalls her first days on the job, when she rapidly became involved in some of the line’s biggest projects. 

“In my second week on the job, I was travelling to visit Holland America’s Eurodam to write the scope of work and walk the ship with contractors,” she says. “From there, my role progressed quickly, as I started taking on a lot of different projects. I’ve always enjoyed interior design, but I quickly fell in love with cruise ship design as soon as I got involved. The process, which one of my colleagues once referred to as being like floating Tetris, really resonated.” 

As part of the interior design team at Holland America, Schneider contributed to a wide range of projects and vessels, including heading up a fleet-wide sofa replacement project for staterooms and initiating a plan to create custom furniture designs for each class of ship. Schneider describes the process of designing a cruise ship interior as a balance between delivering an impactful, memorable moment and ensuring consistent comfort. 

“The first thing I think about when designing a space is what someone is going to feel when they walk into this venue,” she explains. “On the one hand, you want the design to create big and impactful moments for the guest on a cruise ship. On the other hand, less noticeable design elements such as comfort and durability are also influential in shaping the overall quality of a guest’s onboard experience. It’s important to get those small things right to help a guest relax, even if they aren’t going to go away talking about how comfortable the sofa was.” 

Schneider has taken inspiration from her residential projects for her latest suite and staterooms designs

After five years at Holland America, Schneider left and founded her own design studio in 2020. Liz Schneider Interiors has since carried out both land-based and marine projects, including the redesign of several suites and restrooms onboard Windstar Cruises’ luxury yachts, and managing the planning and installation of dry dock refits for Holland America, Windstar and Princess Cruises. Schneider says that experience with refit projects is important in understanding the challenges they pose. 

“There are bound to be surprises with what you find on some of the older ships when you start pulling back materials, and having the experience of knowing what to do in those situations is absolutely crucial,” she says. “One thing that’s always a challenge with refit projects is determining the scope, because if you’re not renovating the entire vessel, there can end up being a very obvious divide between the old and the new. During such refit projects, a designer has to understand and work with the older designs to create solutions that transition between the two.” 

Environmental responsibility and sustainable practices have become a priority for the cruise industry in general in recent years, and Schneider says this has significantly influenced her own design choices when creating interiors. She highlights the need for designs to become less ephemeral if the sector is to become more sustainable. 

“I would like to see the spaces we create become more long-lasting and timeless,” she says. “One way we can make that happen is by rethinking the furniture we use. We can choose products made from sustainably produced materials that can easily be maintained, then refurbish and recycle them instead of replacing them at the end of their lifecycle.” 

Choosing new and more innovative products for projects can help change attitudes towards sustainability, says Schneider

Schneider highlights UK-based Morgan Furniture as an example of a manufacturer taking this approach to producing furnishings. For example, the company’s Aran chair is made from a combination of renewable and recyclable materials. 

“Products like Aran feel very innovative, and it’s something that I think we’re going to see more of going forward,” she says. “I aim to be progressive in my choices for projects, and I think choosing products like these is an important part of moving the needle on the way we think about sustainable interiors.” 

Liz Schneider is putting her design principles into place on both land-based, residential work and projects at sea, and she suggests that staying open to developments on land can help designers find inspiration in places they might not have expected. 

“Design is a huge part of people’s everyday lives, and I think as brands continue to grow, there’s a need to look to what’s happening on land,” says Schneider. “If we’re thinking about how to make people comfortable, it’s helpful to look at the places they call home. Trends in residential design can carry over to marine projects as a great inspiration for creating a space that feels upscale but is comfortable for guests to spend time in.” 

Another source of inspiration for Schneider is her recent work designing spaces onboard research vessels for the University of California. 

“There are only crew members onboard these vessels,” she says. “It’s made me think about what is being done for crew onboard cruise ships, and how the design of those spaces can be improved. We should be looking at how we can recreate at sea that great feeling you have on land of being able to find a place to relax together with other people after a long day at work.” 

Schneider has also been consulting with Holland America’s team on how to design accessible cruise interiors in line with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations. This is a uniquely rewarding challenge, says Schneider. 

“It’s something I studied at school, and I think accessibility is at the heart of good design,” she says. “Our designs are what enable people to be able travel in comfort when they might not otherwise be able to, and I believe that is incredibly important.” 

Schneider cites the connections she’s made within the industry and with the guests enjoying the ships she’s helped to create as the highlights of her cruise design career to date.  

“The sense of community has been the most rewarding thing for me in the industry,” says Schneider. “I started my own firm during the pandemic, and people have been there supporting me at every step. I also love when I get the chance to visit a ship while guests are onboard and I can see people enjoying their holidays. That’s a big motivation to do the best I can to help make those memories special.” 

This article was first published in the  2024 issue of  Cruise & Ferry Interiors . All information was correct at the time of printing, but may since have changed.  Subscribe   for FREE to get the next issue delivered directly to your inbox.  

Tags: interiors     Feature     CFI-24

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Ship design: A blueprint for the future

Cruise ships are now regularly referred to as floating hotels, as they become more than just vessels in which to transport passengers from A to B. At the forefront of this evolution is design, as Gary Peters discovers.

T he name Adam D Tihany may not be instantly recognisable to everyone, but among those in the design world, he is a global brand – a brand that is now making waves in the cruise industry, as Tihany has been named creative director of Cunard’s yet-to-be-named new ship, launching in 2022.

Tihany – who made his name designing spaces at luxurious and iconic hotels, restaurants and resorts across the globe, including The Beverly Hills Hotel, Belmond Hotel Cipriani and The Oberoi New Delhi – will be bringing his own sense of design to Cunard’s distinctly British heritage.

The challenge – as Cunard’s brand director, Lee Powell, admits – “is to design a ship that is distinctly Cunard and that will remain relevant for luxury consumers in 2022”.

He adds: “The tension between old and new is a healthy one, and one that the brand has managed successfully over its 178-year history. We’re confident that the fourth ship will become the perfect exemplar of Cunard for 2022.”

A new approach

In today’s competitive landscape, more and more cruise lines are attempting to highlight the uniqueness of their design and brand, as they seek to attract more of the lucrative new-to-cruise market.

Take, for example, Virgin Voyages, which is launching its debut vessel – Scarlet Lady – in 2020. Much has been made of its arrival in the cruise industry and there is plenty of anticipation as the countdown to Scarlet Lady ’s inaugural sailing begins.

The firm is working with a number of designers as part of the Virgin Voyages Creative Collective, including some who have never before been involved with cruise ship design. British designer Tom Dixon, the brains behind Scarlet Lady ’s Mexican restaurant and Richard’s Rooftop – a private lounge – said last year: “It seems risky to use designers who have never been on a cruise before, but it makes complete sense. The obvious thing to do would be to go to experts in cruise design. I like that Virgin didn’t do that.”

There’s also been plenty of talk about Celebrity Edge , Celebrity Cruises’ newest addition to its fleet, launched late last year.

Renowned interior designer Kelly Hoppen was brought on board – pardon the pun – to design the suites and staterooms, as well as The Retreat, a private sanctuary for suite-class guests. And, of course, there is the Magic Carpet, the cantilevered floating platform that has caused such a stir in the industry.

The company’s director of sales, Claire Stirrup, explains: “Kelly Hoppen had never cruised before taking on this challenge. Her style and aesthetic are a perfect fit for our brand and our collaboration will forever change what our guests expect from a Celebrity ship.

“The Magic Carpet began as a practical design-led solution to an important part of the guest experience – transferring to a launch when in a port where the ship cannot berth. We designed an amazing space that can be used throughout the day and our design teams – who love a challenge – thought, ‘why not have it move’. It is an architectural marvel and a feature that ’ s really caught people’s imagination.”

P&O Cruises is also taking things that one step further with new ship Iona , launching next year.  P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow explained last year: “ Iona will offer holidays to a whole new contemporary generation who appreciate the intricacies of great design and extraordinary spaces for eating, drinking, dancing and relaxing.”

Creating experiences

Among those involved in the design of the ship is Terry McGillicuddy, director at hotel design specialist Richmond International. For Iona , McGillicuddy and his colleagues have designed the Conservatory Mini-suites, of which there will be 95 on the ship.

“The brief was to create British contemporary luxury with a ‘seaside’ feel, which embraces the sea as the star,” says McGillicuddy. “The result is a contemporary design enriched with a subtle and sophisticated nautical style.”

Aside from the necessity of creating something different, why are cruise lines turning to expert design firms with such gusto? “Guests are now expecting more state-of-the-art vessels, exclusive destinations and memorable experiences; interior design must respond to and support these demands,” adds McGillicuddy.

“This may result in cruise ships becoming more ‘resort’ like and design becoming more focused on the deployment markets [destinations] or passenger origins, which may bring in local and cultural design requirements.”

This is something that Powell wholeheartedly agrees with: “Design is becoming more agile and in step with land-based trends. The sector is brimming with innovations and is enlisting talent from outside the traditional maritime design sector.”

As for the future, “technology will be a key factor to enhance the passenger experience and service expectations”, says McGillicuddy, while at Celebrity there is a multi-million-pound project underway – The Celebrity Revolution – to transform all of the line’s existing ships.

Powell, meanwhile, believes “societal trends” will “no doubt be reflected through design over the coming years – from material choices in relation to environmental impacts and the subtle integration of relevant technology”. The design evolution in cruise shows no signs of abating.

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The 12 Best Luxury Cruises For White-Glove Service At Sea

All products and services featured are independently selected by forbes vetted contributors and editors. when you make a purchase through links on this page, we may earn a commission. learn more, annie davidson watson , contributor, forbes vetted.

L ong gone are the days where overcrowded ships with overstimulating amenities are your only cruising option. They certainly still exist, but now there’s a much stronger and more accessible market for luxury charters. Combining lavish amenities and refined comforts with the thrill of exploration, the best luxury cruises have taken white-glove service to the sea. In fact, luxury cruising has become so in demand that many esteemed hospitality brands—like the Ritz-Carlton , Four Seasons and Aman—have recently launched branded yacht collections of their own.

More than just a vacation, luxury cruises are designed to cater to the whims and desires of its discerning guests (caviar and Champagne on-demand, anyone?). From glimmering chandeliers and secluded suites adorned with plush furnishings to one-to-one crew and passenger ratios and carefully-curated expeditions, these cruises redefine the meaning of extravagant living—on land and sea. Whether you’re traveling as a couple, family, small group, or otherwise, we’ve selected the best luxury cruises of 2024.

Best Luxury Cruise Overall: Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Evrima

Best luxury river cruise: viking river cruises, viking osiris, best luxury cruise for foodies: crystal, crystal serenity and crystal symphony, best small ship luxury cruise: seabourn, seabourn pursuit, best luxury cruise for couples: silversea cruises, silver ray, best luxury cruise for families: msc, msc world europa.

• Most Yacht-Like Luxury Cruise: Four Seasons, Four Seasons Explorer

Best Luxury Expedition Cruise: Aurora Expeditions, Sylvia Earle

Best luxury cruise for small groups: windstar cruises, star pride, best luxury cruise for solo travelers: ponant, le lyrial.

• Best Luxury Cruise For Book Lovers : Avalon Waterways, Avalon Artistry II
• Best Value Luxury Cruise : Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seven Seas Voyager

The Terrace Suite on Evrima

Recommended Itinerary: 11-Night Athens to Venice

Departure: From June 19, 2024

All-Star Amenities: The tasting menu at the onboard restaurant S.E.A., crafted by the Ritz-Carlton Wolfsburg in Germany’s Michelin-starred chef Sven Elverfeld

The Ritz-Carlton has built a brand on its premier white-glove service on land, which now extends to sea following the recent launch of its Yacht Collection in the fall of 2022. Its 298-passenger ship, Evrima , marries a yacht-like experience with access to even more amenities (six restaurants, four pools, suite-style sea-facing cabins, salon, spa, fitness center and more). Aside from the ship itself, what makes Ritz-Carlton’s Evrima stand out from the rest is its sheer amount of itinerary options. You can explore the European Mediterranean and the enclaves of Canary Islands on one charter, then see the Caribbean’s greatest hits like San Juan and St. Barts on the next. Thanks to the Ritz-Carlton’s world-renowned reputation, Evrima is drawing younger crowds to the luxury cruising scene, creating a more diverse experience. Ultimately, the feel here is of a true luxury hotel at sea.

Guest room on Osiris

Viking Osiris

Recommended Itinerary: 12-Night Pharaohs & Pyramids

Departure: From August 21, 2024

All-Star Amenities: The sheer knowledge of and access to the crew

Time spent on Viking River Cruises’ Viking Osiris is not only a retreat, but an enlightening experience. Known for its educational programming, the ship features lectures and informative guides that highlight seemingly endless knowledge on everything Egyptian (ancient to modern). Paired with the Nile as a backdrop, you’ll find yourself absorbing more than you can have possibly imagined. Built for just 82 passengers, the intimate ship is a modern vessel built specifically for the Nile, with intentional Scandinavian design details. It has a light and bright feel, encouraging outdoor exploration of the riverbanks through plenty of outdoor decks. Guests must be 18 years or older, which makes this a great option for couples or older families who can truly appreciate the experience.

Umi Uma on the Crystal Symphony.

Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony

Recommended Itinerary: 10-Day Venice to Athens on the Crystal Symphony

Departure: From November 14, 2024

All-Star Amenities: The only Nobu restaurant at sea, Umi Uma by Nobu Matsuhisa Restaurant and Sushi Bar

After a brief hiatus in 2022, Crystal Cruises made a comeback in 2023, setting sail as Crystal—Exceptional at Sea under guardianship of the Abercrombie & Kent travel group. Along with the new name, Crystal refreshed its two ships, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony , and reintroduced them to the world of luxury with more spacious suites, a revamped spa and refreshed entertainment and events programming. The real star of the show, however, is Crystal’s exceptional dining, anchored by the only Nobu restaurant at sea, Umi Uma by Nobu Matsuhisa Restaurant and Sushi Bar, which can be found on both ships. One meal at Umi Uma is included with your sail (per person, on sailings 11 days or shorter) with each additional visit available for a charge of just $50 per person—incredible value to experience fan favorites like the miso-marinated black cod. Aside from a night at the most luxurious specialty restaurant you can find on a cruise ship, the rest of Crystal’s dining offerings are equally superb, from seasonal dishes at Waterside to classic Italian fare at Osteria D’Ovidio.

With an elegant design that reads yacht-like, Pursuit includes fine dining options for a true luxury cruise experience.

Seabourn Pursuit

Recommended Itinerary: 21-Day Antarctica, South Georgia & Falkland

Departure: From December 15, 2024

All-Star Amenities: Two custom-built submarines, 24-person expedition team

Setting sail in August, the 264-passenger, 132 seafront-suite-only Seabourn Pursuit is the newest ship to join the Seabourn fleet. With an elegant design that reads yacht-like, Pursuit includes several fine dining options and formal supper nights, as well as complimentary caviar and Champagne on-demand, for a true luxury cruise experience. The crowd is well-traveled and skews older; you won’t find many late-night revelers here, in part because the ship doesn’t offer any onboard youth programming (although children are still welcome). That said, the ship does include entertainment that’s worth experiencing—singers, pianists and more.

White-gloved butlers and complimentary caviar are just a few elements that make Silversea’s Silver Ray perfect for a stress-free getaway.

Recommended Itinerary: 8-Day Cartagena to Lima

Departure: From December 27, 2024

All-Star Amenities: The onboard dining scene, specifically S.A.L.T. Kitchen, La Dame and Kaiseki

The second in Silversea’s Nova class ships sets sail this summer when the 728-guest Silver Ray makes a splash in the Mediterranean before crossing the Atlantic to winter in warmer climates. Mirroring her sister ship, Silver Dawn , she boasts the same level of service you expect from Silversea. White-gloved butlers, suite-only accommodations, complimentary caviar and Roman baths are just a few of the elements that make Silversea’s Silver Ray perfect for a stress-free getaway for couples in need of pampering. Beyond the ship, Silver Ray’s itineraries immerse her guests in authentic experiences that showcase the beauty in the world. Passengers tend to be in the 55-and-over age range and you won’t find many children onboard, which for couples, might just be what the doctor ordered.

Owner's Suite on MSC World Europa

MSC World Europa

Recommended Itinerary: 7-Night Western Mediterranean

Departure: From July 1, 2024

All-Star Amenities: LEGO experience, Aurea spa featuring high-tech beauty treatments and thermal experiences

Larger than many other luxury ships, MSC World Europa manages to host nearly 7,000 passengers while still keeping everyone serviced and entertained with over 1,400 crew members. With plenty of pools and hot tubs, and more unique amenities like a casino, arcade, brewery, Formula 1 simulator, water park, roller rink and more, there’s truly something for everyone onboard. Plus, it boasts the tallest dry slide at sea in the world—a must-do for families. There’s also a Family Zone that caters to every age range, from infants to teenagers, with dedicated sections per group.

Best Yacht-Like Luxury Cruise: Four Seasons, Four Seasons Explorer

The exquisite 128-foot luxury catamaran set sail in Palau in late-2023 and provides her guests an experience that’s out of this world.

Four Seasons Explorer

Recommended Itinerary: 6-Day King George Island

Departure: From November 27, 2024

All-Star Amenities: Speedboat transfer, PADI 5-star dive center, international dining

Luxury hotelier Four Seasons is expected to debut its highly-anticipated Four Seasons Yachts in early 2026. Until then, guests are invited to embark upon a true yacht experience onboard Four Seasons Explorer . With just 10 staterooms and an expansive Explorer Suite, the exquisite 128-foot luxury catamaran set sail in Palau in late-2023 and provides her guests an experience that’s out of this world. In addition to the attentive service onboard, everyone can dive into the clear Micronesian waters to visit the undersea world that’s filled with manta rays, sharks, orcas and, of course myriad fish. Back onboard, relax in the lounge, library, or sundeck, and enjoy indoor and outdoor dining while enjoying all the special touches for which Four Seasons is known, including checking in and out on your schedule.

Sylvia Earle Suite on the Sylvia Earle

Sylvia Earle

Recommended Itinerary: 14-Day Antarctic Explorer featuring the Chilean Fjords

Departure: From March 1, 2025

All-Star Amenities: The availability of so many amenities—restaurants, bars, hot tubs—that aren’t as typical on expedition cruises

Sailing on Aurora Expedition’s Sylvia Earle is nothing short of an adventure. Founded about 30 years ago by climber Greg Mortimer and inspired by the female marine biologist after whom it’s named, the 132-passenger Sylvia Earle has exploration ingrained in its DNA. It’s no surprise, then, that the staff is incredibly knowledgeable and eager with an up-for-anything attitude (remote seas, some of the world’s highest peaks, you name it). Plus, the onboard amenities rival any luxury cruise—a rarity on expedition ships.

Owner's Suite Living Room on Star Pride

Recommended Itinerary: 10-Day Comprehensive Iceland Cruise Tour

Departure: From August 20, 2024

All-Star Amenities: Join the yacht’s culinary team to shop provisions for meal service at local markets

A 312-passenger, all-suite vessel, Star Pride feels large enough for small groups where they won’t feel too-close-for-comfort and can have their own privacy, but intimate enough where they can welcome outside connections. And thanks to its size, it’s able to access less-traveled routes and ports that make for an even more memorable experience to enjoy among a group. Plus, there are plenty of dining options (five restaurants including a top-notch Spanish tapas concept that’s a must-try) to enjoy as a group or split up on different evenings.

From sailing past icebergs and rugged mountains to spotting whales, there is plenty to keep you busy throughout the duration of the cruise.

Recommended Itinerary: 15-Day Wilderness from Greenland to the East Coast of Canada

Departure: From August 25, 2024

All-Star Amenities: Single supplement waived on more than 100 voyages; spa with hammam; fine dining

Solo travel is becoming more popular amongst travelers, so it’s nice when you find a luxury cruise line that welcomes independent cruisers by waiving the single supplement. French cruise line Ponant does just that on more than 100 of its voyages, including the brand new 15-day Wilderness from Greenland to the East Coast of Canada itinerary. From sailing past icebergs and rugged mountains to spotting whales, polar bears and muskox, and excursions along the way, there is plenty to keep you busy throughout the duration of the cruise.

Time aboard Le Lyrial is filled with guest lectures, fine dining in two onboard restaurants and exceptional, personalized service. With just 122 staterooms and suites and 244 guests, and plenty of space for everyone, the ship never feels overcrowded. After days of exploration, retreat to the spa for complimentary access to the hammam and a full menu of services in partnership with SOTHYS Paris, including massages and facials.

Best Luxury Cruise For Book Lovers: Avalon Waterways, Avalon Artistry II

Onboard, enjoy wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows that convert Panoramic Suites’ living spaces into open-air balconies.

Avalon Artistry II

Recommended Itinerary: 8-Day Cheers to 50 Years! A Storyteller Cruise & Birthday Celebration with Jen Hatmaker

Departure: From August 3, 2024

All-Star Amenities: Well-stocked library; onboard adventure center; daily happy hour

Book lovers quietly rejoiced when Avalon Waterways debuted its Storyteller Series in 2021. Through the series, revered authors and musicians join guests onboard select itineraries for a week of conversation and collegiality while exploring stunning European river landscapes. During the 8-day Cheers to 50 Years! sailing, New York Times best-selling author Jen Hatmaker will celebrate her 50th birthday aboard the intimate Avalon Artistry II , with just 64 staterooms and suites, when it sails through Holland and Belgium.

In addition to spending time with Hatamaker, guests can choose their own onshore adventures through Avalon Waterways’ curated excursions that appeal to all types of travelers: Active, Classic and Discovery. Back onboard, enjoy daily happy hour; wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows that convert Panoramic Suites’ living spaces into open-air balconies; and complimentary WiFi to share the trip with your book club back home.

Best Value Luxury Cruise: Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seven Seas Voyager

All of the luxury line’s 2-for-1 all-inclusive fares include free roundtrip business class air on intercontinental flights and free air on domestic flights.

Seven Seas Voyager

Recommended Itinerary: 16-Day South Pacific Revelry

Departure: From February 11, 2025

All-Star Amenities: 2-for-1 all-inclusive fares; complimentary business class air; complimentary two- and three-night land programs; all-balcony suites; free unlimited shore excursions

The words value and luxury may not seem to go together, but they do when sailing with Regent Seven Seas Cruises. All of the luxury line’s 2-for-1 all-inclusive fares include free roundtrip business class air on intercontinental flights and free air on domestic flights; free two- and three-night land programs to enjoy before or after the cruise; pre-paid gratuities; free valet laundry service and more.

Soak up the sun of the South Pacific on the 16-day South Pacific Revelry cruise. Departing from Auckland, the voyage calls upon Vanuatu, Fiji and Samoa before arriving in French Polynesia, where you’ll enjoy three days of island bliss.

What Are The Top Luxury Cruise Lines?

In the seemingly ever-growing category of luxury cruise lines, you may wonder which are the crème de la crème. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection , Ponant and Aurora Expeditions certainly fit the bill, providing exceptional experiences with exquisite service to some of the world’s most exotic destinations, all aboard luxurious vessels.

What Is The Best Luxury Cruise Line For Couples?

Couples who want to set sail in the lap of luxury should make reservations with Silversea Cruises . The luxury cruise line attracts a more mature clientele and its worldwide destinations set the scene for couples who only have eyes for each other.

About Annie Davidson Watson, Your Luxury Cruise Guide

I'm a writer, editor and consultant who has covered luxury travel and cruising for the last ten years. Formerly, I was an editor at Departures, Travel + Leisure, Glamour and more, and I now contribute regularly to both Forbes and Forbes Vetted. I'm also the founder of @littleackbook , a Nantucket-based publication and concierge service. For more, follow me at @anniedavidsonwatson .

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