If you love the idea of a big cruise ship – with all of the bells and whistles for the grandkids – but still want moments to escape back to your own private bubble, several cruise lines allow you to do just that. They call it a “ship within a ship” experience.
It’s like staying in a fancy little boutique hotel inside the big ship, with luxurious amenities and exclusive spaces. The entire family can sail together on one ship – even if the grandparents prefer the exclusive “ship within a ship” suite. Check out these shipboard jewel boxes:
Celebrity Cruises – The Retreat
The Retreat is a super sleek, modern ship-within-a-ship suite experience on Celebrity Cruises. It includes a private restaurant, exclusive lounge, and a dedicated sundeck. Suite guests get butler service, premium amenities, and priority boarding. All drinks, Wi-Fi, and gratuities are included.
Cunard – Grills Suites
Old-school elegance. If you stay in the Queens Grill or Princess Grill suites you’ll find spacious suites with private balconies, exclusive dining, and concierge service – luxurious, but minus a butler. On the Queens Grill suites Cunard take it several steps further: the suites are larger (some two-story) and come with a dedicated butler, the most exclusive restaurant, and top priority perks.
The Queens Grill is Cunard’s ultimate in opulence, while the Princess Grill offers premium comfort at a better price. Both have access to private Grills lounges and terraces.
MSC Cruises – Yacht Club
Super popular in Europe, the MSC cruise line is now building their brand throughout the globe along with their ship-within-a-ship concept called The Yacht Club. With a friendly-elegance, guests can expect a dedicated three-meal dining room, pool, and butler service, plus your cabin feels more like a high-end hotel suite. And it’s surprisingly affordable compared to other luxury options.
As a guest in the YC, you’ll have daily access to the thermal spa (think: heated lounges, saunas, aromatic steam room, and so forth), a premium drinks package that lets you drink throughout the ship, Wi-Fi, and concierge services. It’s a truly amazing experience.
Norwegian Cruise Line – The Haven
Think of this as a hidden luxury neighborhood at the top of the ship. You get your own restaurant, pool, bar, and lounge. There’s even a private sundeck and a 24/7 butler. You’ll find The Haven on most of Norwegian’s newer ships.
Princess Cruise Lines
Not to be left out of the full ship-within-a-ship success, the Sun Princess and Star Princess have the line’s first boutique ship within-a-ship. You’ll have your own restaurant, sundeck, and extra amenities. On Sun Princess and Star Princess, the Sanctuary Collection offers a private deck with pool and cabanas, an exclusive restaurant, upgraded suites, priority boarding, dedicated service, and all-inclusive perks.
While the following cruise lines don’thave an exclusive “ship within a ship” concept, they still offer a lot of luxurious upgrades.
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival has Excel Suites that include access to Loft 19, a private pool, sun deck, and concierge perks. Havana cabins have their own exclusive pool and lounge area reserved during the day. Cloud 9 Spa Suites come with special amenities and priority spa access. While not fully separated, these areas create a more private, upgraded experience within the larger ship.
Disney Cruise Line – Concierge Level
Disney’s ships are already elaborate luxury at sea for your grand-Nemo’s. The Disney Cruise Concierge Level provides VIP perks like priority boarding, upgraded suites, a private lounge with elegant snacks, a sun deck, a Concierge team, priority reservations, daily treats, and luxurious amenities.
Princess Cruises – Sanctuary Collection
Princess Cruises has a new Sanctuary Collection offering a private deck with pool, cabanas, and exclusive dining, plus all-inclusive perks like drinks and Wi-Fi, Collection suites add priority boarding, a concierge lounge, upgraded amenities, and dedicated dining – creating a premium, semi-private experience.
Royal Caribbean – Royal Suite Class
Not exactly a separate “neighborhood,” but if you book one of their big Star Class suites, you get a personal Royal Genie (a concierge), special restaurants, and exclusive areas. Royal Caribbean’s Suite Class offers guests private lounges, the exclusive Coastal Kitchen restaurant, a Suite Sun Deck, priority boarding, reserved show seating, and upgraded amenities.
My Big Idea for the Whole Family to Cruise
The beauty of the ship-within-a-ship experience is that family members of all income brackets can cruise together. Let’s say the family comprises Grandma and Grandad, their two adult sons and their wives, and the grand darlings.
Grandma and Granddad can watch the darlings on the water slides, have lunch together in the ship’s buffet. Around 3 p.m. the grandparents can head back to the elegance and quiet of the enclave at the top of the ship. They’ll have dinner in their luxury ship and meet up with the kids for the evening performance.
The Skinny
It’s important to know that some of the perks might make you feel separate from your family. For example, on embarkation day the YC guests sit in a quiet, comfortable room with drinks and snacks before they board whereas the MSC guests stand in a long line to board (that happily moves quickly). Same thing when you get to a destination. Your butler will escort you off the ship, and you’d wait for your family to join you.
Each cruise line offer special arrangement, but the MSC line is the only one to offer kids 0 to 17 free passage as long as they’re sleeping in the same cabin as two adults.
So, if you’re looking for extra perks, upgraded spaces, and a touch of luxury – without needing a separate “ship within a ship” area – these cruise lines still have plenty to make your vacation feel special.
Let’s Have a Conversation:
If you’re a seasoned cruiser, what do you think of “two ships in one” idea? How big is your family? Does your whole crew vacation together? What are you planning for your future trips? What is your favorite cruise line?
