5 amazing cruise ship suites where you'll get VIP treatment

Imagine being on the largest cruise ship in the world and having a genie make all your wishes come true. That was the dream vacation Heather Felix, Vice President of AAA Travel Products, experienced. She recently took her husband, 14-year-old son, and 11-year-old daughter to the Mediterranean on Royal Caribbean International’s 5,734-passenger Wonder of the Seas.

Their home for the week was a top-of-the-line Star Class suite, which are available on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis- and Quantum-class ships. The suite includes pampering and careful attention by Royal Genies. These personal concierges use their British Butler Institute training to craft VIP experiences.

The genie in this case contacted Felix before the cruise and attended to every aspect of the family’s cruise. This included making reservations at specialty restaurants, booking premium seating for entertainment shows, and arranging a special birthday celebration.

“It was the most relaxing vacation I’ve ever had,” said Felix. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It will be a wonderful memory for my whole family.”

In addition to the Royal Genie service, Star Class includes other incredible perks, such as access to lounges, concierge clubs, and exclusive signature activities. Here’s a list of some of Royal Caribbean’s most amazing cruise ship suites and the over-the-top amenities they offer.

Felix and her family stayed in the Star Class 2-story Ultimate Family Suite. As the name implies, it’s an oasis designed for families.

On Wonder of the Seas, the gorgeous 3-bedroom suite, decorated with brightly colored contemporary furnishings, is filled with features that will impress every family member. A glass staircase plays music as you take each step, though Felix’s daughter preferred to descend on a slide from the kids’ room to the living room. Upstairs is a stylish modern master bedroom with a TV that comes down from the ceiling. 

At 1,324 square feet (plus a 212-square-foot balcony) there is room for everyone to find their own favorite hangout. Felix’s teenage son enjoyed his downstairs bedroom, when not playing video games in the suite’s game room/cinema. Outside, the expansive balcony includes a private family-size whirlpool and a climbing net, which even Felix tried.

If you’re able to draw the kids away from the suite, your Royal Genie will personally escort the family to Wonder of the Seas activities such as FlowRider surf lessons, ice skating, and laser tag. The best part? You won’t have to wait in any lines.

Exclusively on the game-changing Icon of the Seas, which is debuting in January 2024 as the world’s largest ship, the Ultimate Family Townhouse is an enhanced 3-level family retreat for up to 8 guests. The red-carpet experience comes with an indoor slide for the kids and shared spaces that include a large living room, a dining area, and a cinema room with karaoke equipment.

Two private balconies ensure glorious views. Pass through a pretty, white picket fence to the suite’s private entrance in the ship’s Surfside neighborhood. Surfside is a first-of-its-kind area designed for young families. It features an infinity pool for grownups and separate splash areas for young kids and babies—expect to hear squeals of delight.

Outside your front door is a carousel, an arcade, and Royal Caribbean’s supervised Adventure Ocean kids’ program and the cool Social020 club for teens. The neighborhood also has family-friendly dining venues, relaxing lounge areas, and a bar.

Your cushy loft, with star treatment from a Royal Genie, may feature a grand piano in the living room. If you don’t know how to play, no worries: The piano can play automatically, a perfect accompaniment for lounging in your sprawling oasis.

Multigenerational families—or groups of friends—looking for together time will enjoy privacy and pampering in this expansive suite that can sleep up to 14 guests. You need a minimum of 8 guests to book the villa aboard the Harmony of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas. With its sleek contemporary decor, this is a cushy retreat designed for entertaining indoors and out.

On the balcony, you can host the perfect dinner party for 14. Start the festivities by watching the sunset while enjoying cocktails from the suite’s full wet bar, complete with bar stools. Continue with an elegant spread arranged by your Royal Genie, who can make suggestions based on each guest’s tastes. Gaze at the sea while unwinding in the private whirlpool on the balcony.

Guests will be comfortable in a variety of sleeping options. Two of the 4 bedrooms have twin beds (that can convert to a king), pullman beds that descend from the ceiling, and in the large living room, a double sofa bed.

The suite sleeps up to 8 guests in 2 bedrooms. Each bedroom has 2 twin beds that convert to a king and 2 pullman beds. There’s a double convertible sofa in the living room, where you’ll also find a dining area.

A big suite bonus: You get front-row seating to thrilling shows at the ship’s AquaTheater. There, watch Olympic-level high divers plunge from 30-foot diving platforms into the deepest pool at sea (with 137,000 gallons of water).

If you stay in a Star Class suite, your Royal Genie will carefully curate your time onboard. They’ll present a daily itinerary and check in to make sure all is to your family’s liking. You don’t have to lift a finger. Your Royal Genie is your go-to person for anything you desire. “I got onboard, and everything was done for me,” Felix said. “The time it gave you with your family and to relax was huge.”

Like the VIP you are, you will be escorted to your choice of events around the ship, and the elevator will stop only at your desired destination. You’ll have expedited ship boarding and departure, so you won’t have to wait in line even at the ports of call.

Star Class suites come with Frette linens and luxury bathroom amenities, access to Coastal Kitchen (a restaurant reserved for suite guests), all specialty restaurant dining, a deluxe beverage package, refreshments, gratuities, and Wi-Fi via VOOM, the fastest internet at sea, plus complimentary laundry service. Your vacation is nearly all-inclusive. While you’ll pay for shore excursions and spa services, your Royal Genie can handle the arrangements and scheduling.

Felix’s kids bonded with their Royal Genie, she said. In fact, she said jokingly, he pampered them too much. “He would bring them Frappuccinos from the onboard Starbucks,” she laughs. “They thought he was their best friend.”

The Royal Genie service is exclusive to Star Class guests and cannot be purchased separately.