The most luxurious cruise ship you can book in 2026 is Orient Express Corinthian, a 220-metre sailing ship with just 54 suites for 110 passengers, with fares from €21,200 per suite for a four-night sailing. The ships on our 2014 list were the biggest and flashiest; the ones below are the most luxurious, because luxury at sea means space per guest, not slides per deck.
| Rank | Ship | Size | Price marker |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orient Express Corinthian | 54 suites, 110 guests | From €21,200 per suite, 4 nights |
| 2 | Seven Seas Prestige (Regent) | Debuts December 2026 | Top suite from $25,000 a night |
| 3 | Luminara (Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection) | 226 suites, 452 guests | Roughly £650 to £1,400 per person per night |
| 4 | Silver Nova (Silversea) | 243 m, hybrid power | 10 nights from about £3,269 per person |
| 5 | Seven Seas Splendor (Regent) | Top suite about 5,100 sq ft | Top suite reported at $25,000 a night |
Our ranking logic is simple: how much space and service each guest gets, then how high the top fare climbs. Prices are the lowest we found or a quoted starting point, and they change with season and route.
1. Orient Express Corinthian
The world’s largest sailing ship, at 220 metres, carries just 110 passengers in 54 suites, with suites running up to 70 square metres and a presidential suite reported at 900 square metres. Three masts with rigid SolidSail sails do much of the work, backed by LNG propulsion for bad weather. There are five dining areas, a pool and spa and a 115-seat theatre.
It is run by Orient Express, the Accor brand backed by LVMH, and it entered service in 2026. The operator lists fares from €21,200 per suite for a four-night sailing and from €16,500 for a three-night Caribbean sailing. We placed it first because nothing else offers this much room per guest. A second ship, Orient Express Olympian, is expected in 2027.
2. Seven Seas Prestige
Regent’s new ship begins its inaugural season on December 13, 2026, with a 14-night crossing from Barcelona to Miami. The headline is the Skyview Regent Suite, a two-level, 8,794-square-foot suite for up to six guests, with a starting fare of $25,000 per night, according to Regent’s own release.
It has not sailed yet, so we rank it on the announced suite and the line’s all-inclusive record. Move it up or down once guests report back.
3. Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection: Luminara
Luminara entered service in July 2025 with 226 suites for 452 guests, every one with a private terrace. Suites run from 294 square feet to a 1,047-square-foot Owner’s Suite with its own outdoor Jacuzzi. Fares are all-inclusive for main dining, most drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities.
Prices vary widely by route. Cruise specialists put entry fares at roughly £650 per person per night on repositioning crossings and £1,400 or more on short peak Mediterranean trips. Treat those as ranges, not quotes.
4. Silversea: Silver Nova
Silver Nova (2023) was Silversea’s first hybrid ship, using LNG, fuel cells and batteries so it can run emission-free in port. At 243 metres and 54,700 gross tons it has an asymmetrical layout that opens up sea views. Every suite gets butler service, and fare includes wines, spirits, dining and gratuities.
Agents list a 10-night sailing from about £3,269 per person in June 2026, which makes it the most approachable name here.
5. Regent Seven Seas Splendor
Splendor is the older Regent ship, with a top suite of roughly 5,100 square feet that Regent charges around $25,000 a night for, according to reports in October 2026. Its 151-night world cruise starting in January is reported to be almost always full, which tells you who this ship’s guests are.
The big-ship classics from our 2014 list
We left the original five out of the luxury ranking, because they are mass-market resorts, but they are still afloat and worth a mention. Here is what has changed.
- Allure of the Seas was delivered in October 2010 and is 50 mm longer than her sister Oasis of the Seas, which entered service in 2009. Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, at 248,663 gross tons, has been the world’s largest cruise ship since 2024.
- Norwegian Epic was delivered in June 2010 with 4,100 passenger berths and the only tube-and-bowl water slide at sea.
- Norwegian Breakaway was delivered in April 2013 at 146,600 gross tons and 3,963 passengers on double occupancy. It was the largest ship homeported year-round in New York when it launched.
- Disney Dream began service in January 2011 at a reported cost of about $900 million, and is part of the Disney Cruise Line fleet.
FAQ
What is the most luxurious cruise ship in 2026?
In our ranking it is Orient Express Corinthian, with only 54 suites for 110 passengers. Fares start at €21,200 per suite for four nights.
How much does a luxury cruise cost per night?
Ultra-luxury lines run from roughly £650 to £1,400 per person per night for entry suites on Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection ships, and up to $25,000 a night for Regent’s top suites.
What is the largest cruise ship in the world?
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, at 248,663 gross tons, has held the title since 2024, ahead of the Oasis class that topped our 2014 list.
Is Seven Seas Prestige sailing yet?
Not before December 13, 2026, when its inaugural 14-night crossing from Barcelona to Miami is scheduled.
How did you rank these ships?
By space and service per guest first, then by how high the top fare climbs. Fares come from operator announcements and agent listings and change with season and route.
Last updated: October 2026.
