If you have a Moby Dick wish, but don't actually want to live out at sea for more than a few days or weeks, satisfy your sea lust with a stay in a boat hotel. These hotels may be built inside a medium to large cruise ship, or may be immobile, serving only as a home built upon a river. You can expect nautical-theme, floating platforms, lake, river or sea views but hopefully without the seasickness.
Boat
Hotels
'21sep20
Meliá Koh Samuimore
Melia Koh Samui sits right alongside the beautiful white sand beach of Choeng Mon. This is the famous hotel brand's first entry into Thailand. Naturally, you can expect their full spectrum of amenities, but the real sensation is the boat-shaped suites. They took traditional teak barges (hundred-year-old wooden Thai-Chinese boats) …
'21sep2
S/V Noorderlicht more
This schooner first set sail in 1910. It spent 100 years sailing to icy destinations all over the world, from the Arctic Circle to the penguin-strewn islands of Antarctica. Today, it has a double life. Since being restored to its former glory, it sets sail every summer on exciting expeditions. …
'21jun15
Shipwreck Lodgemore
Wake up to the sight of endless sand dunes surrounding you. Then slowly realize the wooden structures next to you are actual shipwrecks. Notice the signs indicating that you are in a place called Skeleton Coast National Park. Burning sun, dunes, shipwrecks, and skeletons? Surely this must be a nightmare. …
'21jun8
Anthenea more
The solar-powered and self-sufficient capsules by Athenea float on water. It's the brainchild of naval architect Jean-Michel Ducancelle, who was inspired by the floating saucer in the 1977 Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me. These eco-luxe pods take hotel suites to a whole new level. They can be installed …
'21apr22
Wikkelboats more
The Rijnhaven, with its floating forest and the iconic Rijnhaven Bridge, is one of the oldest ports of the Nieuwe Maas River, dating back to 1895. Wikkelboats launched a small hotel with just four tiny floating houses in this quirky part of Rotterdam. The sustainable water houses offer unique accommodation …
'21mar17
Delfin Amazon Cruisesmore
How does immersing in the deep rainforest on a floating luxury hotel sound? Delfin offers precisely this. Starting from the Peruvian town of Iquitos, their three uniquely designed vessels are ready to cruise deep inside the Amazon jungle. Onboard you'll find spacious suites with panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the water …
'19may23
Fingal Hotel Edinburghmore
If you’re a history geek – or watch The Crown – you’ll remember Britannia, the former royal yacht of Queen Elizabeth II. Now out of service, the ship is permanently docked in Edinburgh and serves as a museum, attracting thousands of visitors each year. Luckily for all of us hotel …
'19jan16
Binhai Aircraft Hotelmore
Housed in an ex-Russian aircraft carrier, the Kiev, this ship-turned-hotel offers 148 guest rooms for travelers looking for a unique stay. The luxury hotel is part of Binhai Aircraft, an 80,000-square-meter military theme park that opened in 2004 in east Tianjin, China. The interiors are extravagant; suites with silver cushions …
'18jul2
Yellow Sub more
Ever wanted to live the high life and join one of the biggest bands of all time? Even if you can barely play a tambourine, we can all live in a yellow submarine, at least for one night. Fans looking for the full Beatles experience can book accommodation in this …
'18jun13
Zambezi Queenmore
Do you think that cruise holidays are outdated? Think again. A holiday on Zambezi Queen is not your usual river cruise. The luxurious 5-star houseboat was designed as an unconventional way of exploring the Chobe National Park. As the boat slowly drifts along the river, you will enjoy the front-row …
'15dec1
Mount Noah Lodgemore
South Africa is home to the world’s first-ever dry-dock marina, where guests can stay on any one of five yachts or boats (with one more in the making!) without the pulse of water rushing underneath. Whether you’re prone to seasickness or just longing to channel your inner-pirate personality sans water, …
'14dec10
Ship in the Icemore
A Ship in the Ice is just what it sounds like — a frozen ship in Tempel fjord, one surpassing 100 years of age and that has been remade into a very nice accommodation. Sure, they could probably thaw the ship out, but what’s the fun in that? It’s far …
'14sep17
Sunborn Londonmore
Who can afford the ₤150,000-a-week it costs to charter a superyacht? Not many. But thanks to the Sunborn London you can still experience the life of a sexy sea-dog. It is a 394ft superyacht that has been converted into a luxury hotel. Permanently moored at Royal Victoria Dock, the financial …
'14jan31
Sarah Cruise Veneziamore
A luxury 26ft cruise boat that will take you to Venice and Croatia. Breakfast is served on board and you can eat dinner in their luxury on-board restaurant. The top deck is equipped with sun loungers and there is a covered bar and lounge to sit in. Below deck, there …
'14jan27
Sun Cruise Resortmore
The world’s first on-land cruise ship, this hotel takes all the joy of a cruise ship and combines it with the usefulness of staying in one place. The sound of waves lapping at the hull are simulated, so you can imagine that you really are on a cruise. The location …
'13dec18
Camping Raftmore
The peaceful waterways of the Netherlands have long been popular holiday destinations. There is something about calm, fresh water, trees, and far-distant grasslands that relaxes the soul. Trouble is, you always have to leave the water and return back to reality by heading back to your hotel at the end …
'13sep25
Aqua Amazonmore
This hotel is located on a boat; no big deal there; lots of hotels are on boats – hell, what about cruise ships? Well, this boat is a little different. Not only does it feature stunning design (more on that later) but it sails you on an adventurous cruise up …
'13aug14
Barge Agroundmore
Built at the starboard end of the British obsession with the seaside, this holiday bungalow is shaped like a barge and decorated with a nautical theme. The bungalow is self-catering with all modern conveniences provided for. Wooden shutters allow air to circulate in summer and protect the windows from storms. …
'13jul29
Alila Purnamamore
This traditional Indonesian Phinisi ship is the first of its kind to offer cruises for up to 10 passengers. These ships were first built by the Konjo tribe in the 17th Century and have been in continuous use ever since. For the most part, they have been used for trading …
'13mar12
Necker Belle more
Virgin Magnate Richard Branson has recently added a luxury catamaran to his collection of unique hotels. Necker Belle specializes in Whale watching, and every year it follows thousands of whales as they meet at Silver Bank in the Caribbean for the annual mating. During this time, the Whales come to …
