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Want to enjoy the pleasures of the high seas without leaving port…..or even land? A handful of hotels we love provide would-be seafarers with “aweigh” to anchor for a night or two without setting sail. Here’s a look at some nautically inspired accommodations that are making waves while providing safe harbor for visitors.

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Hammetts Hotel: Newport, RI

Newport and sailing are synonymous. The Rhode Island burg became world-famous for yachting once it started hosting America’s Cup in the 1930s. Today, the so-called “City by the Sea” continues to embrace its status as a maritime hub, and the marina area is where all the action is. Bowen’s Wharf acts as an anchor for entertainment, food, and beverage for tourists and locals alike. Hammetts Hotel, located on an adjacent wharf, is closely interconnected with its waterfront surroundings, right down to its origins and its design. Opened in 2020, the hotel sits on the site of  the former Newport Yachting Club. Aptly, then, the Hammetts’ aesthetic is “modern yacht club,” accented with nods to Newport’s historic mercantile wharves. The boutique property offers guest rooms with private decks overlooking the water. Another highlight is the 9,000-square-foot deck overlooking Newport Marina.

Sagamore Pendry Baltimore: Baltimore, MD

Baltimore’s Recreation Pier welcomed thousands of immigrants between 1914 and the early 1930s. Today, the pier continues to greet new arrivals, albeit of another sort. The Sagamore Pendry Baltimore embodies the city’s rich maritime history. The boutique hotel, which opened in 2017, evokes a natural nautical feel both outside and in. At the entrance, a curvy white steel sculpture is reminiscent of the sails of a ship. Guest rooms are designed to feel like cruise cabins, with mahogany headboards, wood paneling, and touches like throw pillows adorned by octopuses. Those staying in waterside rooms will get a definite cruise ship vibe, as a look out the window makes you feel like you are floating on water. Guests can sail right up to the Sagamore Pendry, thanks to the private boat dock that can accommodate four smaller craft or one 100-foot yacht. Sailors can either stay on their boats and receive all of the room service amenities available to guests, or jump ship and stay on land for a night or two.

Casa de Campo Resort & Villas: Dominican Republic

Five-star Casa de Campo Resort & Villas is home to one of the most prestigious yacht clubs in the Dominican Republic. Guests of the property can enjoy the Marina, inspired by the picturesque seaside villages dotting the Mediterranean coastline. More than just a place to moor, it’s an entire community for sport fishermen, yachting enthusiasts, and landlubbers alike. Casa de Campo guests have plenty of options for getting out on the clear turquoise waters. Sailboats, catamarans, kayaks, and charter boats are all available for hire. Other water sports to indulge in include swimming, snorkeling and catch and release blue marlin fishing. Golfers may opt to avoid water hazards on the property’s 18-hole private course.

CPH Living: Copenhagen

CPH Living is a floating hotel located in the boho-chic neighborhood of Christianshavn in Copenhagen. Formerly a working barge, the hotel has just 12 guest rooms spread over two decks. Rooms are designed in a sleek Scandinavian style, and are fairly no-frills. The breakfast, however,  is not nearly as modest. Every day, expect a yummy selection of cold meats and cheeses, fruits, fresh bread, and yogurts. CPH Living is located within a five-minute walk of Islands Brygge Harbour Baths, where you can actually swim in a natural pool. The Old City Ramparts are also nearby, and downtown Copenhagen is an easy stroll, as well. Of course, you can just stay on board, hanging out on the rooftop deck and enjoying the wonderful, wonderful views of Copenhagen and of the canal.. 

Sea Containers: London

You’ll feel like you are on the high seas during a stay at Sea Containers London. Once home to a maritime transport company, the property based on the South Bank of the River Thames has a design reminiscent of a 1920s transatlantic liner. It’s no coincidence, as the architect of the hotel has also designed cruise ships. The lobby of Sea Containers features a copper clad wall inspired by the hull of a ship. Rooms are furnished with custom-designed furniture following a nautical theme. All 359 rooms and suites are inspired by ocean liner cabins, and feature goodies like rainfall showers, pristine marble bathrooms, and one-off artworks. Even the public bathrooms adhere to the theme, with porthole mirrors and detailing typical of shipboard loos.

The Queen Mary: Long Beach, CA

Photo courtesy of the Queen Mary

If you want a ship-shape experience without actually taking a cruise, it doesn’t get much closer than a stay on The Queen Mary, which is now permanently docked in Long Beach, California. While you can’t currently book a room onboard (full control of the ship and its surrounding property recently reverted back to the City of Long Beach), the hotel is expected to reopen in the foreseeable future. Once it does, you can look forward to a stay with all the history and Gilded Age opulence you’d expect from a former luxury ocean liner. When she launched in 1936, the Queen Mary set a new benchmark in transatlantic travel, featuring some of the grandest, and most intricate interior designs ever aboard an ocean liner; it’s widely considered one of the world’s best examples and landmarks of Art Deco style. Overnight visitors will get a big taste of ocean cruising’s bygone era of glamour. Each stateroom is unique and offers a real glimpse into what transatlantic travel was like back in the heyday of ocean cruising. And then there are all of those Art Deco touches, which are best explored via a variety of themed guided tours, which are discounted for overnight guests. Note: At the time of writing, the Queen Mary is up for sale and not currently accepting overnight guests.

Tagged: California, Caribbean, Cruise, Europe