The luxury cruise sector has never been so crowded. Indeed, many lines who would once place themselves somewhere between entry-level and premium cruise brands are now breaching into the upper echelons of the market, boasting new or newly renovated ships that boast the kind of refined, design-led features you’d expect of a five-star hotel.

Oh, and they’re getting in on the action, too, with a growing cohort of ultra-high- end hotel chains launching their own fleet of boutique ships, giving affluent travellers more choice than ever.

Our special luxury supplement is here to help you make sense of this ever-shifting sector, providing in-depth analysis of the latest trends in high-end cruise travel.

On page eight we look at the luxury hotel chains infiltrating the cruise market and examine how their offerings differ from the more traditional lines, while on page 22, we round up some of the most extravagant suites at sea.