Cruise Liners Are Now Offering Multi-Story Suites That Are More Luxurious Than Your Manhattan Condo

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Picture this. You’re standing in your private elevator, ascending to your personal rooftop terrace that’s double the size of most cruise cabins. With open ocean stretched out below you, your butler arrives with caviar and canapés for an unforgettable happy hour at sea. Before retiring, you and your loved ones go for a soak in the Jacuzzi, a freshly made signature cocktail in hand, stars blazing in the sky.

This isn’t a dream. It’s the new reality of the vanguard of luxury cruise ships, which are increasingly going vertical. Boat by boat, cruising is getting a makeover. Two-story suites with private elevators, rooftop terraces, and residential-scale living quarters are replacing traditional cabins, and with these luxurious accommodations come a shift in the expectations and amenities that define a new way of vacationing at sea. This reimagining of cruise-ship architecture borrows from Manhattan real estate, yacht design and five-star resort configurations.

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While most cruise cabins once measured between 150 to 300 square feet, today’s premium two-story accommodations now extend to more than 2,000 square feet. In the case of The Four Seasons’ Four Seasons 1, expected to launch next January, its multi-level Funnel Suite will measure over 10,000 square feet, between the expansive three-bedroom apartment and even larger outdoor terrace. It will also have its own gym, splash pool, sauna and steam room, and three master bedrooms.

The two-story trend includes the industry’s most exclusive operators, each with its own approach to vertical luxury. The Regent Seven Seas upcoming ship, Seven Seas Prestige, scheduled to debut in late 2026, will include three new kinds of suites: Skyview Suites, Grand Loft Suites and Horizon Penthouses. “Every suite comes with an ever-growing list of included amenities,” Jason Montague, Chief Luxury Officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings told Robb Report. He pointed to the butler service, valet laundry, and access to all 11 onboard dining experiences. “The higher the suite category, the more exclusive touches guests can enjoy,” he added. For instance, guests who stay in the Horizon Penthouse and above have access to a personal butler service. A Grand Loft Suite includes top touches such as an in-suite caviar service.

Montague also points out that only six Skyview suites exist across the entire 822-guest ship, creating the kind of scarcity that discerning travelers are increasingly demanding. Each Skyview apartment, which measures nearly 9,000 square feet and costs $25,000 per night, has its own private in-suite elevator to a 952-square-foot rooftop terrace.

Prestige‘s suites are leaning into more intentional decor, too, all designed by Miami-based Studio DADO, which combined classic and modern touches by mixing neutral colors with jewel tones to make the spaces feel more like home than a typical cruise-ship cabin. The ship’s Grand Loft Suites, for instance, also draw inspiration from Manhattan luxury residences, with dramatic double-height spaces in which the upstairs loft bedrooms face the horizon.

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The Prestige is not simply a one-off design, but will be the first of a new class of vessels featuring suites. With a sister ship scheduled to launch in 2029, Regent is betting big on what luxury travelers want: more space and highly personalized service.

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has been pushing boundaries as the first luxury hospitality brand to create a new form of hybrid yachting, treating its cabins more like five-star suites. Among the fleet of three vessels, Evrima, Ilma, and the recently launched Luminara, Evrima is the only one with a two-story suite.“The Loft Suite is a study in duality, with a lower level designed for rest and relaxation and an upper level ideal for socializing and entertaining,” Alejandra Obregon, Director, Architecture & Design, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, told Robb Report.

Loft suites feature a dual-entry design where guests can access both the upper and lower levels directly from the corridor, a solution that is more like a proper residence than a hotel room. At 611 square feet, plus an 81-square-foot terrace, these suites include convertible sleeping sofas upstairs for children and luxury king-bed bedrooms below, with double-vanity bathrooms and private oceanfront terraces.

Celebrity Cruises took a different approach with its Edge-class ships, creating six, two-story luxury residences that blur indoor-outdoor living. The 739-square-foot interior spaces come with 211-square-foot terraces that feature three-foot-deep plunge pools and direct access to The Retreat Sundeck, an exclusive area reserved for suite guests only. The design emphasizes seamless flow between levels, with floor-to-ceiling windows and marble primary bathrooms with whirlpool tubs.

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Even Royal Caribbean, a cruise line traditionally focused on mass appeal, is playing the exclusivity game. The cruise line’s Ultimate Family Suite spans two stories with an in-suite slide, air hockey table, and table tennis on the balcony. Available only on Symphony of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas, and Wonder of the Seas, these suites come with a dedicated “Royal Genie” who arranges exclusive access and personalized experiences. Its Icon of the Seas offers even more white-glove services and amenities for those staying in the exclusive Star Suites that can cost $100,000 per week.

Disney’s take? Sleeping Beauty-themed Royal Suites at 1,759 square feet, featuring three full bathrooms, walk-in closets in both main bedrooms and private verandahs with whirlpool tubs. The end goal? To show that family-focused luxury can match adult-oriented sophistication.

This space expansion reflects broader changes in luxury-travel expectations. Some private-jet cabins now resemble flying apartments, and high-end resorts are increasingly offering villa-style accommodations with dedicated staff. There’s a common thread. Affluent travelers are more commonly rejecting standardized experiences in favor of personalized environments that adapt to their preferences.

But even with a hefty price tag—some of the largest suites exceed $50,000 per week—the square footage is just the beginning. The added value lies in the service ecosystems that surround these accommodations. Regent’s butler service, for example, prides itself on maintaining detailed guest profiles across voyages and anticipating needs through careful observation.

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The Ritz-Carlton Yachts meanwhile assign personal concierges who serve as point people for guests onboard. And Celebrity offers Butler Chat that allows suite guests to contact their butler anywhere on the ship. Even disembarkation gets the VIP treatment by using private departure lounges that skip the usual cruise-ship chaos.The idea is to transition the upper end of the cruise market away from mass transportation to something resembling a floating resort. Going vertical, it turns out, is the best way for them to reach for the sky.

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