Gone are the days when cabins aboard cruise ships offered the bare minimum in design and amenities.
Cruise companies are constantly changing their offerings to attract new travellers - and Regent Seven Seas Cruises' R170k-a-night Regent Suite on Seven Seas Grandeur - is an example of the ultimate luxury on offer now.
Although the liner will only begin cruises in November 2023, passengers are already waiting in line to book a stay in the suite on some of its itineraries.
And it's not hard to see why. The suite features a private balcony with a treesse mini pool, living room with sitting area, a private spa in the suite with sauna, steam bath and whirlpool and three walk-in closets.
In addition, guests will get hotel accommodation for a night before the cruise, free ground transfer and transport, private car and guided tours for shore excursions, unlimited spa services in the suite, laundry and dry cleaning and a personal butler. There are also luxurious bathroom amenities, a selection of luxury duvet covers, pillows and aromatic suite fragrances, shoeshine service, personalised stationery and more.
The suite also offers unobstructed 270-degree views from a wraparound veranda overlooking the bow of the ship.
The brains behind the extravagant suite is Miami-based Studio DADO. Founding partner Yohandel Ruiz and lead designer June Cuadra shared their vision for the suite.
“We imagined the Regent unrivalled board Seven Seas Grandeur to be unique and different from previous vessels, capturing the curiosity and discerning eye of an art collector.
“We really envisioned the space as a gallery, where every piece of furniture, every finish material, every artwork has been painstakingly curated to make the space feel very inviting and welcoming," they explained.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises' president and CEO Jason Montague, said each element of the Regent Suite was treated as a piece of art, from the highest quality textiles used to hand-selected furnishings and custom art.
“Studio DADO has married comfort, elegance and style in a fresh and exciting new way while retaining the essence of the unrivalled Regent experience which our guests have enjoyed for close to 30 years," he said.