64 TRAVEL+LEISURE | OCTOBER 2019
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AS THE LUSH CARIBBEAN sunset settled
over the water, my eye caught sight of
another delight: a spread of champagne
and caviar our head butler had set out
on the private balcony attached to our
Regent Suite aboard Regent Seven Seas
Cruises’ Seven Seas Explorer (rssc.com;
$10,000 per night). After a day spent
being squired around Key West’s Old
Town in our complimentary private car,
my girlfriend and I had returned to the
two-bedroom refuge to find this gentle
courtesy, along with our freshly
laundered undergarments wrapped
neatly in discreet black boxes inside the
walk-in closet. Life felt ordered and
blissfully quiet—the ultimate luxury.
In February 2020, Regent will
continue upping the ante when its new
ship Seven Seas Splendor debuts with a
super-charged version of the suite
featuring a $200,000 bed and a larger
bathroom equipped for unlimited
in-suite Canyon Ranch treatments. But
Regent isn’t alone in striving to give
high-rolling clientele an unparalleled
experience at every turn. A number of
lines have unveiled similarly swank
mini-apartments with a host of lavish
benefits to match.
Scenic (scenicusa.com; Antarctica
cruises from $4,720 per day) operates
22 river-cruise ships on the Danube,
Mekong, and other popular waterways.
Eclipse, the company’s first ocean-
cruise ship, is a 114-cabin Polar
Class 6 vessel capable of navigating
Antarctica: it has 12 Zodiacs, two
six-passenger helicopters, and
a six-passenger submarine. Inside
the ship’s two Owner’s Penthouse
Guests staying in a Regent Suite can
enjoy caviar service in their own
dining areas.
Scenic’s penthouse suites allow
travelers to take in Antarctic views
from their private hot tub.
Suites— 2,099-square-foot one-
bedrooms—guests can counter the
single-digit temperatures with a soak
in the suites’ outdoor Jacuzzis,
followed by in-suite spa treatments
and butler-served canapés.
Celebrity Cruises’ Iconic Suites,
found on Celebrity Edge and the new
Celebrity Apex, coming in April 2020
(celebrity cruises.com; from $6,122 per
night), sleep six people in a two-
bedroom, two-bath setup with floor-to-
ceiling windows, plus touches like Le
Labo amenities and an optional Peloton
bike. Unlimited specialty dining and
access to an adults-only, club-level
pool are also included, but perhaps
the biggest selling point of the
1,892-square-foot stateroom is the
additional 689 square feet of private
patio space, which encompasses a hot
tub and a double-bed cabana.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise
Collection, too, is elevating its river-
cruise offerings with the January 2020
launch of the Sphinx (uniworld.com;
from $1,090 per night). Royal Suites are
tricked out with Savoir Beds of England,
marble bathrooms with Hermès
products, and, of course, personal
butlers catering to any whim.
SAVOR YOUR
ONBOARD EXPERIENCE
Splurge on an Ultra-Luxe Suite
The most sumptuous staterooms combine a palatial spread with perks
like dedicated butlers and specialty dining. These sybaritic oases truly
take the cruise experience to the next level. BY TOM AUSTIN
