Last fall, a friend and I ordered cocktails and found a couple of seats in The Club on board Celebrity Xcel. Chatting, we both noticed a photo booth, and that people were going in to snap their photos but not coming back out. Curious, we walked over to have a peek and discovered not only was it a photo booth taking and printing a strip of photos, but it also doubled as a portal to IYKYK, the ship’s Prohibition-inspired speakeasy.

Once inside, we were shown to some seats where we found not only an exclusive cocktail menu with some enticing sips but also strolling singers and musicians. Cellphones are strictly prohibited — they did not exist in the 1920s, after all — and time inside the speakeasy is limited to an hour, but once you know, you know you’ll want to return to IYKYK. We knew we did.

Experiential dining and drinks is a growing trend on cruise ships, according to the Cruise Food & Beverage Trends Report 2026 from Seatrade Cruise. In fact, 80 percent of respondents said experiential dining is a key trend, and cruise lines are certainly taking notice.

Here, we take a look at a few more of the unique bars on cruise ships in which to toast your voyage.

© PRINCESS CRUISES

SPELLBOUND
Princess Cruises invites guests to become enthralled by illusion, sleight-of-hand and unforgettable storytelling in Spellbound by Magic Castle on board Sun Princess and Star Princess. The cruise line partnered with the iconic Hollywood clubhouse of the Academy of Magical Arts to create an immersive space wherein guests become a part of an hour-long magic show while sipping handcrafted cocktails served with a side of theatrical performance, such as Smoke & Mirrors with rum, Aperol, almond, lime and pear; and Escape from Houdini’s Chest blending cinnamon, strawberry, elderflower and lime. Spellbound’s signature cocktails include the inspired Magician with tequila, Pamplemousses, lime, grapefruit and serrano peppers; and The Conjuror with bourbon, maraschino, lemon and black charcoal.

“Spellbound has quickly become one of the most talked-about experiences at sea,” said Lorna Warren, vice president Hotel Operations, Guest Experience and Entertainment, Princess Cruises. “By bringing to life the spirit and setting of the original Magic Castle in Hollywood, our reimagined speakeasy delivers a one-of-a-kind venue where every guest can feel like they’ve stepped into a world of true magic.”

HAUNTED MANSION PARLOR
Since its opening in Disneyland in 1969, the Haunted Mansion has enjoyed a loyal fan following, so it comes as no surprise one of the most highly anticipated spaces on Disney Treasure when it set sail in 2024 was the Haunted Mansion Parlor.

Inspired by its frightful namesake, the dimly lit, adults-only space is filled with eerily spooky décor, including several of Disney Imagineer Rolly Crump’s exhibits for his Museum of the Weird, like the Aquarium with Ghost Fish. Speaking of ghosts, those who dare to enter may catch a glimpse of the mansion’s famous hitchhiking ghosts in the parlor mirrors and portrait gallery. Haunted Mansion Parlor can also be found on Disney Destiny.

© NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE

SKYY VODKA ICE BAR
Chill out, literally, at Norwegian Cruise Line’s Skyy Vodka Ice Bar, found on three ships in its fleet: Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Epic. Inspired by the original Scandinavian ice hotels, the ice bar is kept at a frigid 17 degrees Fahrenheit. Why? Its bar, seating and glasses are all made entirely of ice. There’s no need to pack your winter gear, though: Guests receive parkas and gloves to wear while in the bar sipping specialty cocktails featuring — what else? — Skyy Vodka.

PHOTO: © PONANT

THE BLUE EYE
Ponant’s fleet of six explorer ships — Le Lapérouse, Le Champlain, Le Bougainville, Le Dumont d’Urville, Le Bellot and Le Jacques Cartier — all feature a truly unique experience at sea. The Blue Eye found on each of these ships is an innovative, underwater lounge located below the waterline — an industry first designed by Jacques Rougerie, a French architect who specializes in underwater habitats. Inspired by the world’s cetaceans and aquatic environments, this intimate space features windows to the undersea world and a soundtrack from the natural symphony of the sea, the sounds of which are piped in through hydrophones. Guests are invited to sink into multisensory sofas that pulse in sync with the acoustics, sip a cocktail and let themselves float into a state of complete relaxation.