By Olivia Cuccaro
What do you get when you combine the glamour of a luxury hotel with the adventure of a cruise? The Ritz-Carlton is taking to the seas for its latest venture, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.
With lavish hotels, resorts and residences around the globe, The Ritz-Carlton has announced plans to expand its luxury empire to the cruise industry. The first of three cruising yachts in The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is scheduled to set sail in late 2019, offering guests the elegant atmosphere and personalized service attributed to The Ritz-Carlton in an offshore setting. Voyages will range from seven to 10 days, with the first ship cruising a variety of destinations including Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America. The itineraries in development will include both overnight and daytime ports of call for an exciting course of travel. Specially designed as a small capacity vessel, the 623ft-yacht will allow guests to experience unique locations not typically accessible to large cruise ships (think Capri, Portofino, St Barths and Cartagena).
The vessel will accommodate up to 298 passengers and feature 149 suites, each with a private balcony, as well as two 1,485 sq ft duplex penthouse suites. Bringing Ritz-Carlton opulence on board, yachts will encompass a restaurant by Sven Elverfeld of three-Michelin-starred Aqua, a signature Ritz-Carlton Spa, a Panorama Lounge, wine bar and an array of entertainment. For something truly unique, the yacht will offer one-of-a-kind curated destination journeys through collaborations with local chefs, musicians and artists giving an exclusive look into the destinations. Reservations will open in May 2018. The ships of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection are also available for private charter. For more information, please visit ritzcarlton.com/en/yachts.