Cruising has evolved far beyond just a vacation; for many, it’s a journey of unparalleled luxury, offering an escape into a world where every detail is tailored to perfection. If you’re seeking the crème de la crème of cruising, six star cruise ships are where you should set your sights. These vessels offer the epitome of luxury, service, and sophistication, rivalling even the most opulent land-based resorts. Here’s a deep dive into some of the best six star cruise ships in the world.
1. Regent Seven Seas Explorer
Overview: Touted as “the most luxurious ship ever built,” the Regent Seven Seas Explorer is the flagship of the Regent Seven Seas Cruises fleet. This all-suite, all-balcony ship exudes elegance from bow to stern. When you think of six star cruise ships, you think of Regent Seven Seas.
Luxury Highlights:
- Suites: The ship’s suites are a masterclass in opulence. In particular, The Regent Suite, is the pinnacle, boasting over 4,000 square feet, complete with a personal butler, Steinway grand piano, and an in-suite spa with unlimited treatments.
- Dining: Dining aboard the Seven Seas Explorer is a culinary adventure, with gourmet options including Prime 7, a steakhouse that rivals any top land-based counterpart, and Chartreuse, offering exquisite French cuisine.
- Service: With nearly one crew member for every guest, personalised service is guaranteed. Expect crew members to remember your name and preferences from the first day.
Special Features:
- A Canyon Ranch spa offering luxurious treatments.
- Artwork by Picasso and Chagall adorning public spaces.
- Exclusive shore excursions that delve deep into local cultures.
Best For: Discerning travellers who demand the highest level of luxury and personalised service.
2. Seabourn Ovation
Overview: Seabourn is synonymous with ultra-luxury cruising, and the Seabourn Ovation takes this reputation to new heights. The ship is designed with an emphasis on understated elegance and contemporary luxury.
Luxury Highlights:
- Suites: Spacious, ocean-facing suites come with a personal suite stewardess who will draw baths, arrange in-suite cocktail parties, and ensure your every need is met.
- Dining: The Michelin-starred chef Thomas Keller brings his culinary expertise onboard, with venues like The Grill, serving an elevated menu that features dishes like lobster thermidor and a perfectly cooked rib-eye steak.
- Service: Seabourn’s personalized service is legendary. The crew is trained to anticipate your needs, often before you realize them yourself.
Special Features:
- The exclusive Retreat, a private sanctuary on the top deck with cabanas and spa services.
- A well-curated collection of shore excursions designed to provide intimate and authentic cultural experiences.
- A partnership with Dr. Andrew Weil, offering a holistic wellness program.
Best For: Sophisticated travellers who appreciate fine dining, wellness, and a high staff-to-guest ratio.
3. Crystal Serenity
Overview: Crystal Cruises has long been a leader in luxury cruising, and the Crystal Serenity is one of its crown jewels. Recently refurbished, this ship offers an experience that blends classic luxury with modern innovations.
Luxury Highlights:
- Suites: The newly renovated Seabreeze Penthouse Suites are stunning, with private verandas, plush furnishings, and state-of-the-art amenities. Each suite also includes a dedicated butler.
- Dining: Crystal’s “open dining” concept allows for a flexible dining schedule, with restaurants like Umi Uma, a Japanese-Peruvian fusion restaurant by Nobu Matsuhisa, offering world-class cuisine.
- Service: The ship’s staff is known for their warmth and professionalism. The all-inclusive fare covers gratuities, ensuring the service is genuinely sincere and attentive.
Special Features:
- A full-scale Broadway-style theater offering performances by top talent.
- The Crystal Life Spa, with a focus on Asian-inspired treatments and wellness.
- Enrichment programs featuring renowned speakers, from authors to historians.
Best For: Travellers who value a combination of traditional luxury with modern amenities and entertainment.
4. Silver Muse
Overview: Silversea’s Silver Muse is the epitome of understated elegance. With a focus on spacious accommodations, gourmet dining, and personalised service, it sets the standard for six star cruising.
Luxury Highlights:
- Suites: Every suite aboard Silver Muse comes with a private veranda and butler service. The Owner’s Suite is particularly spectacular, offering expansive living space and panoramic views.
- Dining: With eight dining venues, including the innovative Japanese restaurant Kaiseki and the elegant French restaurant La Dame, foodies will find their culinary paradise.
- Service: Silversea’s service is discreet and polished. Butlers attend to every detail, from unpacking luggage to arranging personalized shore excursions.
Special Features:
- The Arts Café, a stylish lounge where guests can enjoy art exhibitions, literature, and an array of coffees and pastries.
- The Zàgara Beauty Spa, offering a range of treatments to rejuvenate body and mind.
- A selection of intimate shore excursions, including bespoke cultural experiences.
Best For: Connoisseurs of fine dining and those who appreciate a refined, intimate atmosphere.
5. Scenic Eclipse
Overview: Scenic Eclipse redefines luxury adventure cruising. Billed as the world’s first discovery yacht, it combines ultra-luxurious accommodations with the thrill of exploration.
Luxury Highlights:
- Suites: The Verandah Suites are spacious and elegant, while the two-bedroom Owners Penthouse Suite is the ultimate in luxury, featuring a private spa, outdoor Jacuzzi, and personalized butler service.
- Dining: With ten dining experiences ranging from contemporary French cuisine to Asian fusion, every meal aboard Scenic Eclipse is a gastronomic delight.
- Service: The crew-to-guest ratio ensures exceptional service, with personal butlers attending to every whim and detail.
Special Features:
- A submarine and two helicopters onboard, offering unique exploration opportunities in remote destinations.
- A state-of-the-art spa and wellness center, complete with a thermal suite, plunge pools, and a salt therapy lounge.
- Enrichment lectures and programs tailored to the destinations, often led by leading experts and explorers.
Best For: Adventurous luxury travellers who want to explore the world’s most remote destinations without sacrificing comfort and style.
6. Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Evrima
Overview: Evrima, the first yacht from the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, seamlessly blends the brand’s renowned luxury with the intimacy of a yacht experience. It’s designed for travelers who want the personalized service and exclusivity of a private yacht, but with the amenities of a larger vessel.
Luxury Highlights:
- Suites: The suites are among the most spacious in the industry, with floor-to-ceiling windows and expansive terraces. The Owner’s Suite includes a private whirlpool and a personal concierge.
- Dining: Evrima features several dining venues, including the S.E.A. restaurant by three-star Michelin chef Sven Elverfeld, offering a fine dining experience that rivals any land-based gourmet restaurant.
- Service: True to the Ritz-Carlton brand, service aboard Evrima is impeccable, with staff trained to anticipate and cater to every need with grace and professionalism.
Special Features:
- A marina platform offering direct access to water sports like kayaking and snorkeling.
- An infinity pool that blends seamlessly with the sea, providing breathtaking views.
- Curated shore excursions that offer exclusive access to some of the world’s most coveted destinations.
Best For: Travellers loyal to the Ritz-Carlton brand and those seeking a yachting experience with unparalleled luxury. Or those who have tried all other six star cruise ships and are looking to level up their experience.
Your Ultimate Guide to the Best Six Star Cruise Ships
Six star cruise ships are the pinnacle of luxury travel, offering experiences that transcend the ordinary. Whether you’re drawn to the timeless elegance of Regent Seven Seas Explorer, the adventurous spirit of Scenic Eclipse, or the intimate luxury of the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Evrima, there’s a six star cruise ship tailored to your desires. These vessels not only transport you to some of the most beautiful destinations in the world but do so with a level of service, dining, and accommodation that’s simply unmatched.
