Best Luxury Cruise Ships with King Size Beds

Which Luxury Cruise Ships Have King Size Beds? For first-time cruisers used to more spacious luxury hotel rooms and beds, or even for veterans no longer willing to put up with a smaller bed than they enjoy at home, this is a common question. Fortunately, some of the newer luxury vessels do have king size beds, making them more comfortable for couples used to a larger bed. Here are my top picks, along with example sailings and destinations.

1. Crystal Endeavor: All Cabins

I'm very excited for my cruise clients about the Crystal Endeavor, a complete newbuild, which will revolutionize expedition cruising. Currently, you've have to choose between often aging luxury ships such as the Silver Shadow (built in 2000, although refurbished in 2017), which carries 382 passengers, and more spartan expedition vessels such as Lindblad Expeditions, which is partnered with National Geographic and has much smaller ships of only ~100 passengers, but with truly tiny cabins of ~120 square feet.

The Crystal Endeavor, which will have its inaugural sail in August 2020, will enjoy the best of both worlds. It will have a Polar Class 6 rated hull, such that it can operate summer and autumn through medium first-year ice, and its destinations will include Antarctica, Tasmania, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Borneo, the Russian Far East, and Japan.

Yet it's more a luxury yacht, carrying just 200 guests in all-suite accommodations. Even the smallest Deluxe Veranda Suites will be over 300 square feet, with a king bed, private balcony, floor to ceiling windows, double vanities in the bathroom, rain showers, heated floors, and walk-in closets, along with a place to store and warm parkas used during glacier and cold weather expeditions ashore.

Interested TravelSort Clients should contact us now, as special savings ends on September 30, 2018 and pricing for many sailings will increase after that.

2. Crystal Esprit: Category S3 and Higher

Although Crystal Esprit has had several lives (she was built in Germany and originally completed in 1991 as Aurora I, serving Star Cruises 1994-2008) she was rechristened Crystal Esprit in 2015, and is for just 62 guests. She is my top recommendation currently, for clients that have never cruised before and are skeptical about a traditional large ship experience.

Crystal Esprit's smaller size also means that she can visit ports not open to larger ships, and the Zodiacs she carries mean that guests can visit beaches, coves and islands that are inaccessible to larger craft. Crystal Esprit also carries a submarine (this is at additional cost) that accommodates two passengers in addition to the pilot. Current Crystal Yacht itineraries include the West Indies; British Virgin Islands; Spain; French Riviera; Greek islands; Croatia; the Suez Canal, Egypt, Israel and Jordan; Dubai, Oman and Qatar.

Yacht Suites are 280 square feet, and all of S1, S2 and S3 cabins except Suite 307 feature a king size bed, that can be converted to two twin size beds if guests prefer. Entry level S4 cabins are 223 square feet and feature 1 queen size bed (convertible to two beds), so I recommend reserving at least an S3 category to enjoy a king bed.

3. Silver Muse: Silver Suites and Higher

Silversea Cruises' Silver Muse debuted in 2017, and carries up to nearly 600 passengers. It's a much larger vessel than the Crystal ones above, and its lower category suites only have queen beds, that can be separated into two beds. That said, if you book a Silver Suite (786 sq ft.), Royal Suite (1130 sq ft), Grand Suite (1475-1572 sq ft) or the Owner's Suite (947-1055 sq ft) you'll enjoy a king bed, swathed in Pratesi bed linen. Also enjoy marble bathrooms with double vanities, separate soaking bath and shower, an Illy espresso maker, unlimited premium WiFi, laundry service throughout the voyage, and a private furnished teak veranda.