Cruise hack: 6 ways to turn a voyage on a mass-market ship into a luxury experience
Luxury lovers have a lot of choices when it comes to cruise ships.
Nearly a half dozen so-called luxury lines such as Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Silversea and Seabourn offer a travel experience at sea that is every bit as elegant, intimate and service-focused as what you'll find at the top luxury hotels on land.
On Regent Seven Seas' new Seven Seas Splendor, for instance, every cabin is a suite (with some as big as the average American home), the restaurants serve gourmet fare worthy of a Michelin star and the staff-to-passenger ratio is through the roof at nearly one-to-one.
But luxury ships, which tend to be relatively small, aren't your only option for living large at sea.
You'll also find a growing number of luxury experiences available on the giant mass-market ships operated by the likes of Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises -- often as part of a package that's significantly less expensive than what you'll pay to be on a luxury ship.
Indeed, with a few hacks, it's increasingly possible to turn a voyage on a big, bustling (and affordable) megaship designed for the masses into something almost akin to a luxury cruise.
This can be the perfect solution for luxury lovers who want to experience the world's biggest floating megaresorts without giving up the upscale touches to which they're accustomed.
Just keep in mind that, even on a mass-market ship, you will pay more to live it up in high style. You just might have more flexibility in choosing the luxury experiences for which you do and don't want to pay.
Here, six ways to turn a voyage on a mass-market ship into a luxury experience:
Get a room in a private luxury enclave
On a growing number of the biggest mass-market vessels, such as Norwegian Cruise Line's year-old Norwegian Encore, you'll now find private "ship-within-a-ship" luxury enclaves with their own private pools, lounge areas and even restaurants.
You'll often pay a big premium to get a room in one of these private enclaves. But the luxury perks can be well worth it.
Cruisers staying in the private luxury enclave on Norwegian Encore, known as The Haven, for instance, have access to a pre-cruise concierge who can handle all sorts of requests such as the delivery of special pillows to your room or the stocking of a particular type of chamomile tea. A pre-cruise concierge also will book your spa treatments, dining reservations and shore excursions long before you ever get on board.
The Haven passengers on Norwegian Encore also get access to a private check-in lounge upon arrival. They’re quickly whisked on board where they enjoy additional perks including butler service, special seating in theaters, priority disembarkation on port days and more.
The Haven complex itself is quite the luxury hideaway. Among its standout features is a stunning, two-deck-high lounge that overlooks the front of the vessel and offers the best views on the ship. There's also a private restaurant where you'll never have trouble getting a table and a private courtyard area with its own pool, sundeck, hot tub and fitness area.
Similar The Haven complexes can be found on sister ships Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Joy. Several other Norwegian ships have different versions of the complexes.
You'll also find "ship-within-a-ship" luxury enclaves on more than half of MSC Cruises ships, and Royal Caribbean recently said that its next giant ship, Wonder of the Seas, will have one, too.
The luxury complexes found on MSC Cruises ships, each of which is called the MSC Yacht Club, are located at the very top of the vessels and each come with a private lounge, pool, sunning areas and restaurant.
MSC Yacht Club accommodations also come with 24-hour butler service and a dedicated concierge.
Book a "concierge cabin"
In lieu of offering private luxury enclaves on their biggest ships, some mass-market lines offer "concierge cabins" on their vessels -- cabins that come with special concierge service and, sometimes, an exclusive concierge lounge.
You’ll typically pay a premium to get into one of these rooms as compared to a similarly sized cabin that does not come with the concierge designation. But, again, this sort of premium cabin can be well worth the extra cost.
On Disney Cruise Line ships, for instance, booking a concierge cabin brings access to a concierge lounge with complimentary food and nonalcoholic beverages throughout the day; complimentary beer, wine and spirits in the evening (served by a bartender); access to an exclusive sun deck with lounge chairs via a private entrance; and a private Disney character meet-and-greet.
In addition, a concierge is on hand during the day to help make onboard dining reservations, book shore excursions and spa appointments, organize childcare services and arrange special occasions on board.
Similarly, on the two newest Oceania Cruises ships, Marina and Riviera, passengers staying in Concierge Veranda-category cabins get access to a private concierge lounge serving snacks and nonalcoholic drinks throughout the day. Plus, a concierge is on hand during the day to help make onboard dining reservations, book shore excursions and spa appointments and answer questions about ports.
Upgrade your onboard dining
The world's biggest mass-market cruise ships these days are loaded with an incredible range of restaurants, from cavernous, included-in-the-fare main dining rooms serving banquet-like dishes to much more intimate, high-end, extra-charge "specialty" restaurants. This offers luxury lovers a chance to upgrade their experience greatly simply by shunning the former and embracing the latter (a strategy that, of course, will cost you more).
On the biggest Norwegian, Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises ships, I'll often skip the main restaurants entirely during cruises and reserve tables at the extra-charge restaurant every night. This greatly changes the feel of cruising on these vessels, as dinnertime transforms from what is often a very mass-market experience to something much more alluring.
Norwegian's newest ships offer such extra-charge options as Onda by Scarpetta, a high-end Italian restaurant from the creators of New York’s Scarpetta; and Food Republic, a casual tapas and sushi venue created in partnership with Miami's Pubbelly Boys.
Royal Caribbean's biggest ships have extra-charge eateries designed by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, and MSC Cruises has restaurants created by celebrity chef Roy Yamaguchi.
Reserve private deck space
One of the downsides of sailing on a big mass-market ship is that you'll be sharing the ship's deck-top pools, hot tubs and loungers with thousands of other passengers. But there increasingly are ways on the biggest ships to get away from the crowds -- for an extra charge.
Some of Norwegian's newest ships have exclusive, extra-charge deck-top retreats called Vibe Beach Clubs that will let you relax in the sun in style.
On Norwegian Encore, the Vibe Beach Club area spans both sides of the ship (instead of just one side on earlier vessels in the same series) and extends upward to a partial deck above. Priced at $99 per day, it's a lovely hideaway with a full-service bar, cabanas and two hot tubs that just might make you think you're on a small luxury ship.
If you want to upgrade even more, you can pay $278 for two to rent a cabana in Vibe Beach Club for the day.
Other big-ship lines with extra-charge upscale retreats on their top decks include Princess Cruises, which is known for The Sanctuary zones.
On other ships, such as the Celebrity Cruises vessel Celebrity Equinox, you'll find special private cabanas available at otherwise public top-deck venues that will give you an upgraded feel.
Make the spa your second home
One often-overlooked way to escape the masses on a mass-market ship -- and get a taste of the fancy life -- is to spend at least part of your days lounging in the ship's spa.
Many of the world's biggest cruise ships have spectacular spa zones that offer a lot more than just treatment rooms and salon services. You'll often find huge "thermal suites" in them full of special pools, hot tubs, steam rooms, saunas and heated ceramic tile loungers.
You'll usually get access to these thermal suites when you book a spa treatment. But, in some cases, you also can buy a day pass to these areas that are sold through the spa or the ship's guest services desk. That means that you don't even need to sign up for a spa treatment to spend a day escaping from the tourist hordes in your ship's spa.
Just be warned that the number of such spa day passes available often is limited to keep the spa uncrowded, which is exactly how you want it to be if you're using it as an escape.
Note that some lines also offer access to spas to passengers who book special spa-class cabins. Celebrity Cruises, for instance, has spa-themed AquaClass cabins that come with special access to its shipboard spas. You'll pay a little more for an AquaClass cabin on a Celebrity ship than a similar cabin that isn't part of the AquaClass.
Go swanky during port calls
There's nothing that says "mass-market" quite like being stuck on a bus tour of a destination with 40 or more fellow cruisers. But just because you're on a mass-market ship doesn't mean you have to sign up for a standard big-group tour.
For an extra charge -- sometimes a quite hefty extra charge -- many big cruise ships will arrange for you to have a private car and driver in a port to take you wherever you want to go.
And many lines that operate private island destinations have been adding ever more upscale, exclusive options for passengers willing to pay up for a luxury experience.
Royal Caribbean, for instance, recently built elaborate floating cabanas at Perfect Day at CocoCay, its private island in the Bahamas. Costing as much as $1,500 per day during peak times, they come with space for up to eight people, a private attendant, an overwater hammock, a slide to the water and a shower.
The cabanas are part of a new, exclusive private corner of Perfect Day called Coco Beach Club that offers a ritzy private beach, infinity pool, upscale restaurant and al fresco bar. Passes to the Coco Beach Club start at $54 per person.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
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- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.