Superb staterooms, gourmet food, impressive wine lists, private shore excursions, and excellent personalised service – these are the hallmarks of a luxury cruise experience. 

Most cruise companies offering luxury cruises are using medium to smaller vessels to deliver personalised service, which is important in creating exceptional five-star experience for VIP guests. 

But the size of the vessel is not always the standard in a luxury cruise. Some companies are focused on the concierge-style of service, while others are proud of their Michelin-inspired fine dining. 

Cunard has large cruise ships, but it has designed its onboard experiences so that it never feels crowded. 

Overall, Australians love luxury cruises because of exceptional service, quality furnishings, entertainment centres, exclusive access to curated onshore activities and more. 

But one area that people look into while choosing a luxury cruise experience is the quality of accommodation. 

In this article, Cruise Passenger provides you with a glimpse of the top luxury cruise companies and their suites or staterooms.  

Regent Seven Seas

The “only truly all-inclusive luxury cruise line” offers thousands of FREE Unlimited Shore Excursions to explore when you sail to 450+ ports of call aboard its luxury fleet across the globe. 

RSS offers an in-suite luxury experience. Every suite has spacious closets, high-end finishes, relaxing Elite Slumber™ beds and private balconies. Sizes range from 307 to 4,443 square feet (93.6 to 1,354.2 meters)

The Regent Suite is the line’s most luxurious suite. The 371-plus sq.m. suite includes top-of-the-line, customisable amenities, a private car and driver in every port, an exclusively personal dining experience in The Study for you and select friends, an in-suite spa with unlimited, Serene Spa & Wellness™ treatments, and much more.

Meanwhile, its Distinctive Master Suite is a 2-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom Master Suite that boasts a chic Park Avenue style, replete with rosewood furniture and a crystal chandelier. The large living room and two balconies are perfect for entertaining.

RSS Itineraries include Africa & Arabia, Alaska, Asia, Australia & New Zealand, Bermuda, Canada & New England, Caribbean & Panama Canal, Mediterranean, Northern Europe, South America, and South Pacific. 

RSS also offers Grand Voyages and World Cruises. 

The lowest fare for a 10-day cruise aboard an RSS ship starts from A$ 7,045 per person. 

Oceania

Recognised as Best Overall Cruise Line by Cruise Critic and Boutique Cruise Line of the Year by Food and Travel Magazine, Oceania is undoubtedly one of the top luxurious cruise ships in the world. 

Oceania’s seven small, luxurious ships carry no more than 1,250 guests and feature the finest cuisine at sea and destination-rich itineraries that span the globe.

Oceania’s suites are contemporary luxury featuring rich woods, lustrous fabrics, original artworks, and custom-crafted furnishings. 

“Plump the goose-down pillows of the Ultra Tranquility Bed, an Oceania Cruises exclusive, and relax in bed while reading the latest bestseller.”

All Oceania’s suites and staterooms are added with a custom-designed Ultra Tranquility Bed to help you wake up feeling refreshed and revitalised during the whole trip. 

Oceania’s Penthouse Suites feature oversized living and dining areas, marble and granite-clad bathrooms with a bathtub, as well as a separate shower and walk-in closet.

The lowest fare for a 10-day cruise aboard an Oceania ship starts from A$ 4,143.00 per person

Cunard

Cunard, the stately cruise line that is the ambassador of all things British, is a famous luxury cruise line in Australia. 

Cunard is considered the last “big ship” luxury line – and its appeal for those who want a more formal experience aboard a large vessel with more amenities.

It is famous for white-gloved waiters, traditional afternoon tea, gala balls, and event cruises. 

Accommodation on board Cunard ships are luxurious with floor-to-ceiling windows, abundant space, and exquisite furniture. 

But unlike other luxury ships, Cunard staterooms (Queen’s Grill) come with a personal butler. 

Some rooms feature iPads or game consoles upon request. 

The lowest fare for a 10-day cruise aboard a Cunard ship starts from A$ 3,370.00 per person

Seabourn

Seabourn pioneered small-ship, ultra-luxury cruising and continues to represent the pinnacle of that unique style of travel. 

Its fleet of intimate, all-suite ships, carrying between 458 and 600 guests each, sail to the world’s most desirable destinations at their peak seasons.

Seabourn Suites embody sublime comfort that features a personal suite host and suite attendant to ensure everything in your suite is always as you wish. 

Rooms have twin or queen-sized beds with a luxurious custom-built mattress, cotton linens, fluffy all-season duvet and a choice between soft or firm pillows. 

In-suite bars are added with a selection of beverages and complimentary wines or spirits. There are ample storage spaces and walk-in closets with plush terry robes. 

A spacious marble bath with double vanities, a full tub, shower and luxury products featuring an exclusive signature scent created for Seabourn by Molton Brown, London

If you are cruising on expedition ships, a pair of SWAROVSKI OPTIK binoculars are available in every suite for you to use during your voyage. 

The lowest fare for a 10-day cruise aboard a Seabourn ship starts from A$ 8,703.34 per person

Ponant

PONANT promises you unforgettable moments aboard our sleek and intimately sized cruise yachts, all of which sail under the French flag. 

Discover the innovatively designed cruise ship Le Boréal and her three sister vessels: L’Austral, Le Soléal and Le Lyrial. 

Experience Le Ponant, our famous three-masted ship, with her 32 staterooms, each combining traditional authenticity with modern comfort; and enjoy the pleasures of Le Lapérouse, a technologically cutting-edge cruise ship, the first in the PONANT EXPLORERS series.

Ponant prides itself on a five-star service. “Even under the most extreme climatic conditions, you can be sure of great comfort and an exceptional service which is the hallmark of our line.”

Butler service is available for passengers travelling on one of the suites on Deck 6 aboard Le Lyrial, Le Boréal, L’Austral, or Le Soléal. 

Attentive and discreet, your butler will provide fully personalised service. Throughout your 5-star cruise, he will be at your service. You will benefit in this way from a bespoke, carefree voyage.

The lowest fare for a 10-day cruise aboard a Ponant ship starts from A$ 6,740.34 per person

Crystal Cruises

For almost a decade, Crystal Cruises has been named the best luxury cruise travel by Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards. It also landed 24 number one spots in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards. 

Onboard experience features excellent butler service plus Michelin-inspired food hubs. 

Meanwhile, the accommodations are ultra-luxurious suites and penthouses, most with private verandah. All rooms are equipped with supremely comfortable beds and plush amenities. 

Crystal’s most luxurious stateroom is the 1,368 square feet penthouse with a verandah that features in-suite dining, a built-in bar, a Swarovski chandelier, and a custom entertainment centre with flat-screen HD TV. 

The penthouse has separate living and dining rooms, and the master bedroom includes a dreamy queen-size bed or twin bed that features walk-in closets, fine Frette linens, and private access to the expansive verandah. 

The master bath has a Jacuzzi, heated floor, separate shower and bidet, and decadent marble features. 

The lowest fare for a 10-day cruise aboard a Crystal ship starts from A$ 5,387.44 per person. 

Crystal is currently not sailing after its owners, Genting Hong Kong, filed for liquidation over unpaid bills.