Set Sail on These 10 Stylish Cruise Ships
If you want more than a water slide and a kids’ club on your next cruise, these 10 cruise ships exude style and elegance.
Photo By: Hurtigruten
Photo By: Princess Cruises
Photo By: Windstar Cruises
Photo By: Celebrity Cruises
Photo By: Uniworld
Photo By: Silversea
Photo By: Norwegian Cruise Line
Photo By: AmaWaterways
Photo By: Viking
Photo By: MSC Cruises
Hurtigruten – MS Nordkapp
Hurtigruten ships have been cruising the coast of Norway for more than a century, and just this last year, they gave several of their ships, including the 590-passenger MS Nordkapp, a much-deserved Scandinavian-style makeover. The new "Arctic Interior" design is relaxed and informal, yet comfortable and sensibly luxurious. Using raw materials, like driftwood and slate, as well as natural colors, like navy, forest green and burgundy, the ships take their cues from the sea, fjords and greenery, even fishing villages, that can be seen throughout the voyage.
Princess Cruises – Majestic Princess
The newest ship in the Princess Cruises fleet, Majestic Princess, is not only the largest ship, accommodating more than 3,500 passengers, but it’s also one of the most stylish. Interiors throughout the ship infuse a blend of design elements, like mosaic tile floors and custom floral carpets, as well as metallic glass and embedded wooden décor. From the staterooms to the dining rooms, the Majestic Princess exudes elegance. Book an evening at the Crown Grill, which boasts a delightful private dining space set amongst racks of fine wines.
Windstar Cruises – Wind Surf
Windstar Cruises’ three Wind-class yachts, including Wind Surf, have a distinct style that makes passengers feel as though they’ve set sail on a private yacht. A neutral color palette of sand and marine shades, a contrast with the warm wood finishes, creates an upscale, nautical feel. Wind Surf is the largest commercial sailing vessel in the world, able to sleep 310 passengers, and is in the process of getting new sails. Look for custom tote bags made from the recycled sails in the ship’s gift shop.
Celebrity Cruises – Celebrity Edge
The luxurious Celebrity Edge will be the first of Celebrity Cruises' new class of ships in a decade. Expected to debut in December 2018, Celebrity Edge will introduce several new upscale stateroom options, including Edge Villas, two-story cabins with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook private terraces and plunge pools, and two-bedroom Iconic Suites set on top of the ship. A new Edge Stateroom design will include an "infinite veranda" that brings the outside in, enabling guests to walk out to the water’s edge.
Uniworld – S.S. Joie de Vivre
Uniworld’s newly renovated S.S. Joie de Vivre strives to make passengers feel as though they are on a floating pied-a-terre in France. As the ship travels the Seine from Paris to Normandy, handcrafted furniture, original artwork and signature accents inspired by 20th-century Parisian design, give passengers a truly French experience. On-board restaurants play into the theme, including Le Bistrot, the ship’s Parisian-style sidewalk café, which serves up a menu of flavorful French cuisine and was designed with windows that allow for open-air ambiance.
Silversea – Silver Muse
The newest ship from Silversea, Silver Muse, exudes understated European elegance, stemming from its Monaco roots, while embracing design that is both luxurious and intimate. Silver Muse has decentralized dining on board the ship, replacing the main dining room with eight restaurants, including the first at-sea Relais & Chateaux restaurant. The circular Silver Muse lobby serves as the main entrance onto the ship, giving passengers a first-look at the stylish elegance that feels more like a small luxury hotel than a cruise ship.
Norwegian Cruise Line – Norwegian Bliss
Due to begin sailing in June 2018, Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship, Norwegian Bliss, is expected to impress with the largest racetrack at sea, open-air laser tag and delectable new restaurant concepts. However, it’s the ship’s more luxe experiences that should attract more discerning travelers. The Haven by Norwegian, an exclusive section of the ship, includes spacious suites, pillow-top mattresses and a private courtyard with a retractable glass top. Many suites even have floor-to-ceiling windows and private balconies to enjoy the seascape.
AmaWaterways – AmaKristina
AmaWaterways has long been drawn to interior design and color schemes that evoke warmth as a way to welcome guests aboard their home away from home. Vibrant colors, like corals, goldenrods and teals, as well as soft textures can be found throughout the fleet, including on their newest ship, AmaKristina. From bright, patterned linens in the staterooms to chic, turquoise sofas in common spaces, even fruit tree-printed booths in the main dining room, guests will find that interiors across the ship burst with color and personality.
Viking – Viking Sea
Best known for its river cruise ships, Viking is gaining recognition for its ocean vessels, including the first ship, Viking Star, which began sailing in 2015. Since then, three sister ships have been christened, including Viking Sea. Each ship design emanates Scandinavian influences in the color palette of pale blues and pure whites, as well as in the light-colored woods. One of the more striking interiors is the Wintergarden lounge, an open, airy communal space styled to feel as though you are sitting under a forest canopy. More specifically, the Tree of Life.
MSC Cruises – MSC Meraviglia
MSC Cruises introduced their newest ship, MSC Meraviglia, this past June to cruisers along the Mediterranean. Meraviglia, which means "wonder" in Italian, has a variety of stand-out design features, like a 262-foot LED Sky that rotates stunning designs and displays, from a sunrise to a stained glass ceiling. Overlooking the two-story Mediterranean-style promenade, enjoy cocktails and new friends in the social hub of the ship before taking in a showing of the first-ever Cirque du Soleil at Sea.