The Cruise Industry's Growing Luxury Trend

Crowded pool decks, long lines and the constant buzz of a large cruise ship can leave many travelers feeling torn. They want the abundant dining, entertainment and itinerary choices that only a big vessel can offer, but they also crave quiet spaces, more personalized service and a sense of calm. 

These days, travelers no longer have to choose between intimacy and variety, thanks to the rise of “ship-within-a-ship” concepts. By carving out self-contained, access-controlled zones on their ships, cruise lines are providing travelers with a practical middle ground. They give guests a reliable escape from the crowds while keeping every activity, restaurant and show within each. 

These areas often feel like boutique hotels tucked inside much larger vessels. They typically feature their own lounges, dining rooms, pools and sundecks, along with services that help elevate the journey. All-suite accommodations, concierge and butler support, and expedited boarding help streamline the experience and remove common pain points.

Here’s a snapshot of some of the “ship-within-a-ship” concepts available on today’s cruise ships—and the unique features that help set each one apart.

Cunard guests who book a Princess Grill or Queens Grill suite gain access to exclusive onboard areas, including a private Grills Lounge and outdoor Grills Terrace. They can also dine in dedicated restaurants, Princess Grill or Queens Grill, and enjoy a reserved table for the duration of the voyage. 

Suites vary in size and scope. On many ships, Princess Grill suites run from about 335 to 513 square feet with private balconies. Queens Grill suites range from roughly 484 square feet up to more than 1,400 square feet, with larger layouts, separate living areas and sometimes wrap-around balconies. 

Service is a key part of the package: Travelers in both suite types have access to an onboard concierge. Additionally, Queens Grill guests enjoy personal butler service, pre-dinner canapés, an in-suite bar with spirits and soft drinks and priority embarkation and disembarkation. 

Guests who book a Queens Grill or Princess Grill suite on a voyage of five nights or longer can also enjoy a free drinks package and inclusive hotel and dining service charges.

The Grill Suites are offered on all four of Cunard’s ships—Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Anne—with the newest ship, Queen Anne, having entered service in May 2024 and continuing the Grill tradition.

The Haven is Norwegian Cruise Line’s signature “ship-within-a-ship” enclave—a private, keycard-accessed area at the top of select ships that offers the line’s most upscale accommodations and a full suite of exclusive amenities. 

Guests staying in The Haven enjoy a wide variety of amenities and perks, including 24-hour butler service and concierge support, priority embarkation and disembarkation (including port tenders), and priority reservations for restaurants, shows and excursions. 

The Haven also includes access to a private courtyard and sundeck with pool and hot tubs, a dedicated restaurant and bar/lounge and a sundeck—a peaceful contrast to the often busier public areas of the ship. 

Accommodations range from owner’s suites with large balconies to two-bedroom family villas and penthouses. Travelers can also book larger multi-bedroom villas on certain ships. Suites feature ocean-view windows or balconies, luxury baths (often with marble finishes and whirlpool tubs), fine linens with pillow-top mattresses, plush bathrobes and slippers and turndown service. 

The Haven concept dates back to 2005, when Norwegian Cruise Line first introduced VIP-style private enclaves on its ships; the branding as “The Haven” began in 2011. Today, The Haven is available on numerous vessels across the fleet, including Prima Class ships such as Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, Breakaway Class ships like Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway, and newer additions like Norwegian Aqua. It will also be included on the forthcoming Norwegian Luna, scheduled to debut in March 2026.

MSC Cruises launched its “ship-within-a-ship” concept, MSC Yacht Club, in 2008 aboard MSC Fantasia. Since then, the line has expanded MSC Yacht Club to more than half of its fleet, giving travelers a chance to enjoy a higher tier of service from the moment they step on board.

Accommodations range from deluxe and grand suites to larger owner’s or royal suites—decked out with amenities like Nespresso coffee machines, minibars, high-quality linens and, often, private terraces or whirlpool baths. 

Other perks include 24-hour butler support and a dedicated concierge who can arrange everything from spa reservations to private shore excursions. Guests can also enjoy a premium extra drink package throughout the ship, unlimited Wi-Fi and unlimited access to the Thermal Suite for the entire cruise.

Beyond the staterooms, MSC Yacht Club guests also have exclusive access to an array of private venues: a separate restaurant with à-la-carte dining, the dedicated Top Sail Lounge with panoramic sea views, gourmet snacks and drinks throughout the day and live music in the evening. Outdoors, there’s a secluded sundeck with a private pool, hot tubs, cabanas and an outdoor bar—a tranquil retreat apart from the main ship crowd. Located at the front of the ship, these exclusive spaces are available only by key-card access.

For travelers sailing to The Bahamas, the MSC Yacht Club experience extends to MSC Cruises’ private island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. On the island, guests enjoy an exclusive enclave with butler service, a private beach and clubhouse and all-inclusive food and drinks—a seamless extension of the privacy and convenience they receive at sea.

On newer ships, MSC Cruises has been expanding the MSC Yacht Club experience. On MSC Seashore, for example, the MSC Yacht Club spans four decks and offers around 32,000 square feet of private space—making it the largest and most luxurious in the fleet. On MSC Virtuosa, guests can enjoy an enhanced MSC Yacht Club experience, featuring 103 exclusive suites and more than 13,000 square feet of outdoor space, including a private pool area with a solarium, cabanas and hot tubs.

Celebrity Cruises first introduced The Retreat on Celebrity Edge in 2018. Under a $500 million modernization program known as The Celebrity Revolution, Celebrity also began rolling out The Retreat experience across most of its fleet. Designed by interior designer Kelly Hoppen, The Retreat features a sleek, sophisticated aesthetic with the feel of a high-end resort. 

At its core, The Retreat offers suite-class guests access to a private world: suites come with a dedicated butler reachable via “Butler Chat,” and a concierge team is available to help arrange excursions, dining and shore-side transitions. 

Guests enjoy a dedicated restaurant—Luminae at The Retreat—with signature dishes by culinary ambassador Daniel Boulud, as well as an exclusive lounge designed to feel like a secret clubhouse. For outdoor relaxation, there’s the private Retreat Sundeck featuring a pool, hot tubs, loungers and attendants bringing towels, drinks or snacks. Inside you’ll find spacious suites, plush bedding, stocked minibars and premium toiletries. 

The Retreat offers a variety of suite types—from expanded staterooms to large, multi-room (or multi-story) residences. The Iconic Suite, for instance, is the largest and most luxurious in the entire fleet, offering two bedrooms, two bathrooms, 1,892 square feet of interior space and a 689-square-foot terrace.

Within its three tiers—Star, Sky and Sea—Royal Caribbean’s Royal Suite Class offers exclusive access to lounges and dining venues while onboard, attentive services and additional stateroom amenities.

The cruise line announced the experience in August 2015 and began offering it in May 2016 aboard Oasis and Quantum Class ships. Today, you’ll find it onboard Allure of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas.

Perks include things like priority boarding, in-room coffee machines, luxury linens and bathroom amenities, concierge service, priority dining reservations and a reserved seating section in select entertainment venues. There’s also an exclusive restaurant, Coastal Kitchen, as well as a suite lounge and a suite sun deck. 

Amenities and access vary across the three tiers, with Star offering the most upscale experience. For example, guests who book a Sea suite do not enjoy access to the lounge but they can dine at Coastal Kitchen. And only guests who book a Star suite can enjoy access to a dedicated personal concierge called a “Royal Genie.” 

Princess Cruises is a relative newcomer on the “ship-within-a-ship” scene, having introduced its offering—The Sanctuary Collection—aboard new vessel Sun Princess in October 2024. It expanded to Star Princess when it made its debut in October 2025. So far, it’s only available on the line’s two Sphere Class ships.

Guests who book a Sanctuary Suite gain access to a private top-deck retreat called the Sanctuary Club, reserved for adults. There, they can relax poolside in lounge chairs or private cabanas, enjoy a pool and jacuzzi, sip cocktails or mocktails, order light fare or snacks and attend wellness classes such as yoga. Dining is also elevated: Sanctuary guests have a dedicated restaurant—the Sanctuary Restaurant—with its own menu and dedicated service, separate from the main dining rooms. And travelers can relax in their own exclusive lounge, a two-story space with personalized service and views off the back of the ship.

A suite experience manager provides help with onboard arrangements, including dining reservations and excursions. Sanctuary guests also get priority disembarkation at tender ports and at the end of the trip. All Sanctuary Collection suites include a Lavazza coffee machine, as well as an included minibar.

Accommodations range from balcony rooms and mini suites to 1,200-square-foot Sky Suites, which include an oversized balcony, two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a premium location near the lounge.

Beyond the physical spaces and other extra perks, the Sanctuary Collection includes the full Princess Premier bundle:  unlimited premium drinks, unlimited WiFi for up to four devices, crew gratuities, two nights of specialty dining, unlimited casual-dining meals, room service, reserved theater seating, boutique fitness classes, premium desserts and fresh juices and a digital photo package.