As I walked through a Norwegian Cruise Line ship one evening in March, the Metropolitan Bar was still buzzing at the tail-end of cocktail hour. But as I turned into a wood-paneled elevator bank on Norwegian Aqua and tapped my keycard to catch a ride upstairs, the chatter receded as I watched the doors narrow to a close.
The private elevators to The Haven, Norwegian’s luxe ship-within-a-ship concept, were just across the hall from the bar, but I already felt much farther away.
Guests staying in the enclave don't just get dedicated elevators. They also get access to a private restaurant, lounge, two-story sun deck with an infinity pool, hot tubs, and more – with the freedom to come and go from the rest of the cruise line's large ships as they please. Those spaces offer more personalized service and pampering than passengers would find in other cabin categories. While many ships have upscale suites, these offer greater privacy, a world away from the rest of the vessel.
However, they aren’t necessarily the same as luxury cruises. Here’s what to know.
Norwegian isn’t the only cruise line with an area of that kind. Others include:
