Dropping anchor on the cruise of a lifetime
As the appetite for luxury cruising grows, seeking truly exceptional experiences comes with a ship-sized price tag
4 min
A private driver arrives at your home to transport you to your cruise suite, where you are welcomed aboard with a glass of Dom Perignon and introduced to your personal butler — exhale, your luxury voyage has begun.
Welcome to a new level of luxury cruising where rare and remote experiences are the currencies and every opulence you thought you knew on land is also available at sea.
“The luxury experience at sea has started to fragment, it’s different things to different people,” says Joe O’Sullivan, managing director of small ship booking specialist, Cruise Traveller. “For some, it’s the whole ethos of the white glove service, the personal touches like the butler who remembers your favourite drink. But another big driver in the luxury market is experiences, the people who want to camp on the ice in Antarctica or paddleboard off the bow of the ship.”
We did all the hard work for you and found five of the most luxurious experiences you can have at sea in 2025 — and what they cost.
Live like a VIP at sea
Want to organise a private dinner for 12 in your suite? No problem. What about a night in a luxury hotel before the ship sails? Of course. A growing number of ships are offering that VIP treatment once reserved for world leaders and celebrities. And for the right price, your wish is their command.
The Owner’s Residence aboard an Explora Journeys ship is about as luxe as it gets on sea. We’re talking an outdoor terrace that extends the full width of the ship, marble ensuite with a large bathtub, private steam room and Dyson appliances and a butler that packs and unpacks, launders and presses your clothes like an old-school majordomo. Of course, this will set you back almost $200,000 per couple for a two-week cruise.
For a similar, though no less opulent experience, Explora Journeys have four categories of Ocean Residences below this.
“Explora Journeys is the luxury division of MSC Cruises, but don’t let the mass-market MSC brand put you off, this is like Volkswagen owning Porsche and Audi,” says Mark Trim, managing director of Flat Beds Tour + Cruise, who was lucky enough to spend two weeks in an Ocean Residence with his family earlier this year. “And whilst it is a small ship, there was a lot of space, and the wellness facilities, bars and shopping were also incredible, highlighted by the inclusion of the exclusive Rolex boutique on Deck 4.”
The VIP treatment aboard a Regent Suite on select Regent Seven Seas ships carries a price tag of around $16,000 a night. For this you get 413sqm of space (more than double the average ship suite) at the bow of the ship with ocean views from two wraparound balconies.
And forget an ensuite, in the Regent Suite, it’s called a master bathroom spa retreat and includes a treatment area, full sauna and multi-jet shower, heated relaxation loungers, a heated spa and unlimited, complimentary in-suite spa treatments.
You also get access to The Study, a Private Dining Room for up to 12 guests, and a night in a luxury hotel pre-cruise including breakfast and transfers.
A 14-day cruise from Monte Carlo to Rome in a Retreat Residence suite on Explora II departing May 2025 is from $22,650 a person twin share and from $74,000 a person twin share in an Owner’s Residence suite.
A night in a Regent Suite aboard Regent Seven Seas Explorer, Grandeur or Splendor is from $16,000.
Walk among penguins
There are a few things you can be sure of when you step onto remote Snow Hill off the east coast of Antarctica — you will be surrounded by thousands of Emperor penguins and you will be part of a select few to do so.
Getting access to Snow Hill, where up to 10,000 breeding penguins and their offspring live, is by helicopter only.
Five years ago, Scenic launched their discovery yacht class called Scenic Eclipse equipped with two onboard helicopters and a custom submersible to take travellers on these types of rare adventures.
“We’ve seen significant demand for immersive experiences, particularly for unique offerings like our helicopter excursions,” says Anthony Laver, Scenic Group general manager, sales and Marketing, APAC. “This growing interest reflects a broader trend towards intimate, immersive and ultra-luxury journeys that go beyond traditional cruising. And given its sleek yacht design, Scenic Eclipse is also capable of sailing into places many ships are not able to reach.”
The 22-day Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands itinerary departing Buenos Aires in February 2025 is from $32,020 a person twin share. Helicopter excursions operate from this cruise at an extra cost.
Meet the Inuit
Go hunting on dog sleds with Inuit masters, set off on a polar hike and experience the midnight sun. It may sound clichéd, but these are just some of the once-in-a-lifetime experiences you can have onboard Ponant’s first luxury hybrid electric polar exploration ship, Le Commandant Charcot.
“Unlike more standard polar cruise activities, travellers won’t travel on Zodiacs very much at all, as everything is done by dog sled,” says Ponant expedition experience director, Jose Sarica. “The charm of this voyage to the far north-west of Greenland is that it offers some very immersive experiences in icebound landscapes, including hiking and snowshoeing, traditional Inuit kayaking, beluga and narwhal watching and even snorkelling through the ice in a wetsuit.”
The 11-day Inuit Spring of Ammassalik aboard Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot departing May 2025 is from $26,180 a person twin share (polar trek experience $1550 extra).
The luxury of time
Is there anything more luxurious than time, philosophically speaking? What about if you combine it with a prolonged journey aboard a six-star ultra-luxury ship? Sign up for the experience with Silversea who feature a range of Grand category itineraries designed to let you immerse yourself in your destination.
One of their most popular voyages is the 47-day circumnavigation of Australia which visits 23 ports and includes door-to-door private transfers from your home, your own butler to cater to your needs at sea, as well as all shore excursions and business class airfares.
The 47-day Grand Australia voyage departing Melbourne in October 2025 aboard Silver Nova is from $51,200 a person twin share with door-to-door service.
A record-breaking $11 million sale at The Centennial Collection has set a new benchmark for luxury apartment living in Bondi Junction.
As interest rates, inflation and market sentiment fluctuate, investors are being urged to focus on data, not panic.
Luxury Swiss watchmaker Zenith has unveiled the Chronomaster Sport Skeleton, a striking new timepiece that showcases the legendary El Primero movement through an open-worked design.
2 min
For collectors, the appeal of a great watch often lies in what cannot be seen.
The intricate movement, the engineering precision and the craftsmanship hidden beneath the dial are what separate fine watchmaking from mere timekeeping.
Now, luxury Swiss watchmaker Zenith is bringing those elements into full view.
The brand has unveiled the Chronomaster Sport Skeleton, a new interpretation of one of its most recognisable collections, combining contemporary design with the technical heritage that has defined Zenith for more than 160 years.
At the centre of the story is the legendary El Primero calibre, the movement that helped establish Zenith as one of the most respected names in Swiss watchmaking.
When Zenith introduced El Primero in 1969, it was recognised as the world’s first automatic integrated high-frequency chronograph.
Operating at 5Hz, or 36,000 vibrations per hour, the movement could measure time to one-tenth of a second, setting a new benchmark for precision.
More than five decades later, that same pursuit of accuracy remains central to the brand’s identity.
The Chronomaster Sport Skeleton takes that legacy and presents it through an open-worked architecture that allows wearers to appreciate the complexity of the movement beneath. Rather than concealing the mechanics, Zenith has chosen to celebrate them.
The result is a watch that offers a rare glimpse into the intricate world of Swiss horology while retaining the sporting character that has made the Chronomaster collection a favourite among enthusiasts.
Beyond the visual drama of the skeletonised design, the watch also incorporates a new folding clasp and ergonomic refinements that reflect Zenith’s focus on wearability alongside performance.
Powering the watch is the El Primero 3600 movement, a modern evolution of the original calibre.
The high-frequency architecture allows the central chronograph hand to complete a full rotation every 10 seconds, enabling the direct measurement of one-tenth of a second against the graduated bezel.
It is a technical solution that remains distinctive in contemporary watchmaking and a reminder of Zenith’s longstanding commitment to innovation.
For collectors, the Zenith Chronomaster Sport Skeleton represents more than a new release.
It is an opportunity to own a piece of a watchmaking story that stretches back more than 160 years while embracing a modern aesthetic that showcases the artistry normally hidden from view.
In a luxury market increasingly drawn to authenticity and craftsmanship, the Chronomaster Sport Skeleton offers both.
It is a watch that celebrates not only the passing of time but also the engineering mastery behind it.
The Chronomaster Sport Skeleton collection is available in stainless steel from AUD$26,100, with the rose gold model priced at AUD$49,000.
To discover more about Zenith and the Chronomaster Sport Skeleton collection, visit the Zenith website here.
Australia’s housing market defies forecasts as prices surge past pandemic-era benchmarks.
A restored 1860s Brisbane residence transformed by GRAYA has smashed Paddington’s house price record, selling for more than $12 million.
