Cruising’s sea change
By outfitting their suites with plush materials, stylish furniture and collectable art, leading cruise ship companies are taking high design to the high seas.
Cruise lines are forever upping the ante, with increasingly elaborate ships, lavish cuisine offerings and expeditionary vehicles, including submarines and helicopters, that would not be out of place in a Dwayne Johnson movie. Lately, many of them are focusing on super-luxe fit-outs, partnering with renowned designers, decorating with exceptional furnishings and instilling their suites with the type of considered amenities you might expect from a five-star hotel. The resulting spaces – generous, glamorous and handsomely designed – are light years from your grandmother’s cruise ship.
Ultra-luxe
“Every piece of furniture, finished material and artwork has been painstakingly curated,” says Studio Dado designer June Cuadra, in reference to the jaw-dropping Regent Suite on the new Seven Seas Grandeur. The monumental 412-square-metre lodging features a sumptuous living room, wraparound verandah and marble-clad master bathroom – nine different types of the stone were deployed in the spa-like space alone.
Highlights include the master bedroom’s four-poster bed with a Hastens Vividus mattress (the price of which might cause even Succession’s Logan Roy to be at a loss for words), the collection of impressive artwork and decorative lighting, and the glass atrium, which makes outdoor living a dream no matter what part of the world you’re sailing in. The suite even has a separate guest bedroom with a private bathroom. The master bathroom is equipped with a sauna, steam room and an exquisite treatment area for unlimited services.
The Regent Seven Seas vessel, scheduled to sail in November 2023, is rightly attracting a lot of attention for its souped-up suite. Studio Dado has considered everything. “It’s not only stunning but functional,” adds the firm’s founding partner Yohandel Ruiz. “From beautiful large dressing areas with plenty of storage for an around-the-world cruise to a fully stocked bar for entertaining, this suite is definitely your home away from home.”
For more information and itineraries go to rssc.com
Hip Hoppen
When famed British designer Kelly Hoppen was asked by Celebrity Cruises to bring her dramatic East-meets-West aesthetic to its new Edge-class vessels, she had never set foot on a cruise ship. Her collaborators, including architect Tom Wright, famed for Dubai’s futuristic Burj Al Arab, and industrial designer Patricia Urquiola, celebrated for her contemporary furniture, were equally used to working exclusively on terra firma.
Their efforts on Celebrity Edge, and the newer Celebrity Apex, which set sail for the first time in October, created a bold, urban look that subverts traditional ship aesthetics. For the suites, Hoppen embraced a soft grey and white colour palette, with washed-out timber floors, clean-lined furniture and modern rugs, enlivened with starburst chandeliers and flashes of rose metal. The layout is oriented around the suites’ spectacular location above the navigation bridge, with floor-to-ceiling windows ensuring the focal point for guests is always out to sea.
For more information and itineraries go to celebritycruises.com
Dandy Scandi
Room 7001 on all Viking’s ocean ships is dedicated to kos, a lovely Norwegian word which translates as cosy but is used to describe objects and actions that evoke love, comfort, contentment. Chunky knits, open fires, unputdownable novels, fragrant candles dotted all over the home are all kos-mic, if you will.
The 134-square-metre Owner’s Suites take the tactile elements of kos, and its Danish cousin hygge, and blend it with the perennially cool, minimalist hallmarks of Scandinavian design. The midcentury-modern furniture is an inviting mix of smooth timber, soft felt and wool, elegant linen and crisp cotton in layer upon layer of neutral tones. The restrained use of colour – glacier and deep-sea blue and autumnal russet and amber – complement the organic feel of the space.
Select ornamental features, including wall carvings, patterned carpets and throw blankets, are inspired by traditional Nordic arts and crafts. The theme continues on the verandah where, tucked in the corner, a dry sauna will really get guests into the spirit of Viking’s Scandinavian heritage.
For more information and itineraries go to vikingcruises.com.au
Nautical but nice
The codes of the Ralph Lauren brand include seafaring style, adventure travel and a patriotic predilection for red, white and blue. So it’s fitting that Oceania Cruises tapped the all-American fashion house to decorate three suites and the library aboard its vessel Vista in maritime-themed glamour. In the light-filled library, which is open to all passengers, polished-nickel sconces, equestrian prints and glinting chandeliers catch the eye.
The suites, meanwhile, are chicly decked out with saddle-suede couches, striped lounge chairs and an elegant dining table surrounded by leather director’s chairs. Wenge-wood flooring, floor-to-ceiling windows and metallic accessories contribute to the evocation of a sultry Hamptons residence. You might even leave with some design inspiration for your own home.
For more information and itineraries go to oceaniacruises.com