For most travellers, a cruise means endless buffets, a cabaret show, and maybe a plastic cocktail glass stamped with the ship’s logo. But in a parallel
universe of ultra-luxury sailing, passengers sip Dom Pérignon under Picasso paintings, sleep on $200,000 mattresses, and disembark not just in Santorini or Sydney, but in private ports and remote polar frontiers that few will ever see. The world’s most expensive cruises are not vacations so much as floating palaces that offer travellers exclusive, meticulously choreographed experiences that cost more than many people’s homes. Is there an upper limit to the perks of life at sea? We find out
Regent Seven Seas Splendor – The $839,999 Suite Life
When Regent Seven Seas launched Splendor in 2020, it wasn’t just another cruise ship; it was a declaration of excess. In January 2027, she will embark on a 140-night world cruise priced to make even seasoned jet-setters blink. The star attraction is the Regent Suite: a 4,443-square-foot apartment in the sky with its own solarium, sauna, and original Picasso. At $839,999 per person (yes, that’s nearly $6,000 a night), even the bed is bespoke, a handcrafted $200,000 creation designed for perfect sleep. But the extravagance doesn’t end there: 71 ports, 35,000 nautical miles, and private tours of UNESCO sites across Bali, Cape Town, Lisbon, and beyond. For those who find 140 nights “too much,” a 126-day segment can be had for just $84,999.
Regent Seven Seas Prestige – The $25,000 Skyview Regent Suite
As if the Splendor wasn’t enough, Regent has already teased its next trick: Seven Seas Prestige and the jaw-dropping Skyview Regent Suite. At 8,794 square feet (larger than your penthouse ultra-luxury flat in India), it spans two floors, with a floating stone staircase and private in-suite elevator. Starting at $25,000 a night, the suite comes with everything you’d expect and then some: a personal gym and sauna, a glass-encased bar, and access to The Study, a hidden dining space seating twelve privileged guests.
Evrima – The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
If Regent is old-money lavish, Evrima is new-money chic. Ritz-Carlton’s first yacht feels less like a cruise ship and more like a billionaire’s floating playground. With just 298 passengers, it slips into ports that mega-liners can only dream of. Suites are sleek and modern, all with terraces, while dining is Michelin-grade and wellness offerings rival any five-star spa on land. But what’s truly changed the perception of Evrima is its cultural cachet: celebrities and influencers right from Naomi Campbell to Alix Earle, have turned the ship into Instagram catnip, making cruises glamorous again.
Silver Endeavour – Silversea Cruises
And then, at the other end of the spectrum, there’s adventure. Silversea’s Silver Endeavour is the Rolls-Royce of expedition ships, purpose-built for the ice. With an ice-class 6 hull, it ventures where others cannot: the Antarctic’s Ross Sea, the Arctic’s Northwest Passage. But make no mistake - this is not hardship travel. Suites come with butlers, interiors gleam with polished woods, and fine wines flow freely. Guests may spend the day zipping around in Zodiacs or flying in helicopters above glaciers, but evenings end in plush lounges or over a multi-course dinner.
