Imagine the incomparable luxury and pristine service you receive at The Ritz-Carlton. Now picture receiving that same level of care and bespoke service, but this time on a yacht. That’s right: Ritz-Carlton is launching into the cruise industry. Signature voyages from the Ritz-Carlton yacht collection will last from seven to ten days and itineraries will be based on seasonality but will include itineraries in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Cruises will begin in 2019.
Image courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
“The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection will have a distinctive personality and the vessels are sure to be true stand outs in some of the most glamorous ports around the world,” said Herve Humler, President and Chief Operating Officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. “This unique combination of yachting and cruising will usher in a new way of luxury travel for guests seeking to discover the world in a relaxed, casually elegant and comfortable atmosphere with the highest level of personalized service.”
Small capacity, specially designed ships will allow guests to experience intimate port-of-calls unheard of on a larger ship, including Capri, Portofino, old town Cartagena, or St. Barths. Jointly designed by The Ritz-Carlon and Tillberg Design of Sweden, the leading cruise ship design firm, the first ship to launch will measure 190-meters and feature 149 suites with private balconies. You will be one of 298 passengers, lending intimacy to an ordinarly overbooked and overcrowded style of travel.
Image courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
“The Ritz-Carlton is known for its legendary service and high standards,” said Douglas Prothero Managing Director, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. “We are delighted to collaborate with The Ritz-Carlton as our hospitality operator in offering the most exclusive yachting experience to be found at sea in a venture that will give new meaning to curated luxury travel,” continued Lars Clasen, Managing Director, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.
The brand’s promise to create a more intimate and bespoke experience for their guests will surely attract a high-end market. These “anti-cruise ships” mark the first time a hotel company has migrated to the cruise ship industry. Ritz-Carlton plans to take advantage of their small ships and curate itineraries with collaborative elements from the destinations. Each journey will feature partnerships with local chefs, artists, and musicians to provide guests an experiential journey, unlike any other cruise. And if you still can’t handle sharing the ship with the other guests, the ships are available for private charter.
For more information on The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, click here.