Three Yachts. Endless Adventure with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.

Before many luxury hotel brands began looking to the sea as the next frontier, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection had already set sail.

The Ritz-Carlton was one of the first major hotel brands to successfully translate its experience from land to water…

Long considered a benchmark for refined service and timeless hospitality, The Ritz-Carlton was one of the first major hotel brands to successfully translate its experience from land to water—without compromising what made it iconic in the first place. Rather than adapting classic cruise conventions or chasing scale, the brand approached yachting as an extension of its hotel philosophy: intimate, design-forward, and deeply attuned to how modern luxury travelers want to move through the world.

The result is The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, a fleet of three superyachts—Evrima, Ilma, and Luminara—that collectively helped redefine what travel at sea can look like for a new generation of travelers. Not cruises in the traditional sense, but floating boutique hotels designed for guests who value space, service, and a slower, more intentional way of seeing the world.

A Disruptor That Changed the Conversation

When The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection launched in October 2022, the idea of a hotel brand operating at sea was still novel. Cruising, for many well-traveled clients, still carried outdated perceptions: crowds, rigid schedules, and experiences designed for mass appeal. The Ritz-Carlton didn’t attempt to modernize that model—it bypassed it entirely.

…it proved the concept could work for travelers who never thought cruising was for them.

Instead, the brand exported what it knew best, designing suites that feel more like hotel rooms rather than cabins, matched by service that is intuitive rather than performative. Plus, dining that stands on its own merit, paired with itineraries designed to linger, not rush. That early clarity of vision matters. As more luxury hotel brands now enter the maritime space, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection stands apart not just because it was one of the first to bring a hotel brand to sea—but because it proved the concept could work for travelers who never thought cruising was for them.

One Philosophy, Three Distinct Yachts

There are no casinos. No water slides. No crowded decks competing for attention.

While each yacht in the collection has its own personality, all three share a common DNA. Across the fleet, the experience is unmistakably Ritz-Carlton: polished without being too formal, elevated without excess, and designed around the idea that true luxury is felt, not announced. There are no casinos. No water slides. No crowded decks competing for attention. Instead, the focus is on proportion, flow, and ease—spaces that invite guests to settle in, rather than move from port to port at a rushed pace.

Evrima: The Proof of Concept

As the inaugural yacht in the collection, Evrima laid the foundation for everything that followed for The Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection. With the smallest guest count in the fleet at 149 suites and a passenger capacity of up to 298 guests, she delivers the most intimate onboard experience—one that feels closer to private yachting than cruising.

Evrima appeals particularly to travelers who value subtlety over spectacle.

The atmosphere aboard Evrima is calm and residential. Public spaces are designed for lingering, whether that means working quietly between ports, reading on deck, or enjoying a drink without distraction. The scale allows for a deeper connection between guests and crew, and service quickly becomes intuitive rather than transactional. Evrima appeals particularly to travelers who value subtlety over spectacle. For villa loyalists and boutique hotel devotees, the experience feels familiar in the best way: refined, personal, and unhurried.

Where Evrima Sails

Evrima’s itineraries are built around access and atmosphere—destinations where her size is an advantage rather than a limitation. In the Mediterranean, Evrima visits both iconic coastal stops and smaller ports that larger ships can’t reach, often anchoring offshore and tendering guests ashore in a way that feels more like arriving by private boat than disembarking from a ship.

In the Caribbean, itineraries emphasize rhythm over rigidity, with marina days that allow guests to swim, paddleboard, and relax directly off the yacht, alongside easy island-hopping. Evrima also sails French Polynesia, where her scale allows for anchoring in crystalline lagoons and lingering in destinations that reward slowness. Here, the line between yacht and destination blurs entirely—days are dictated by light, water, and inclination rather than a rigid schedule.

Ilma: Refined Scale and Elevated Wellness

If Evrima was the proof of concept, Ilma represents the refinement phase. Larger and more expansive at 226 suites and up to 448 guest capacity, Ilma offers increased deck space, enhanced wellness facilities, and a brighter, more contemporary design sensibility than her predecessor. Interiors lean European in feel and airy, with an emphasis on openness and flow throughout the yacht.

The onboard spa, fitness spaces, and dedicated wellness programming feel integrated into daily life…

Wellness plays a more prominent role aboard Ilma, making her particularly appealing to travelers who prioritize movement, balance, and restoration while traveling. The onboard spa, fitness spaces, and dedicated wellness programming feel integrated into daily life rather than positioned as optional extras. Despite her increased size, Ilma retains the uncrowded, residential feel that defines the collection. The experience remains relaxed and personal—just with more room to breathe.

Where Ilma Sails

Ilma focuses on destinations that benefit from longer stays and scenic arrivals. Her Mediterranean itineraries span Italy, France, Spain, and the Adriatic, with schedules designed to keep guests in port well into the evening. Late departures allow for lingering lunches, spontaneous exploration, and early dinners ashore—luxuries often unavailable on larger ships.

In the Caribbean, Ilma’s sailings prioritize ease and flow, appealing to travelers looking for warmth, water, and effortless days at sea without sacrificing comfort or service. Ilma is particularly well-suited to repeat guests—those who loved their first experience with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and are ready to expand it will find themselves right at home.

Luminara: The Fully Realized Expression

The newest and most expansive yacht in the fleet, Luminara is the culmination of everything The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has learned so far at sea. Size-wise, she measures almost exactly in line with Ilma at 228 suites and a capacity of up to 452 guests. With expanded dining venues, a significantly enhanced wellness footprint, and thoughtfully designed social spaces, Luminara feels confident and fully realized. Interiors lean richer and more atmospheric, while still maintaining the clean lines and quiet luxury the brand is known for.

Despite her larger size, Luminara retains the hallmark uncrowded feel of the fleet. Guest flow is intentional, service remains attentive without being intrusive, and spaces are designed to accommodate both social moments and solitude. Luminara is the yacht for travelers ready to think globally—to use the sea not just as a setting, but as a seamless way to connect multiple destinations.

Where Luminara Sails

Luminara’s itineraries are the most globally ambitious in the collection. She sails the Mediterranean, covering classics like Italy, Spain, and the French Riviera, while maintaining the brand’s signature pacing—think: long days ashore and unhurried evenings back on board.

For travelers who want to explore complex regions without the friction of constant packing, transfers, and hotel changes, this approach offers a compelling alternative.

Beginning in mid-2026, Luminara’s itineraries expand into Asia, with sailings that include ports of call in Japan, Southeast Asia, and beyond. For travelers who want to explore complex regions without the friction of constant packing, transfers, and hotel changes, this approach offers a compelling alternative. Asia by yacht allows guests to move fluidly between cultures while returning each night to a familiar, beautifully designed environment—an especially appealing proposition for well-traveled clients seeking depth without the challenges that come with constant packing and unpacking.

Cruising Designed for the Anti-Cruiser

Perhaps the most telling success of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is the audience it attracts. Many guests step aboard having never cruised before—and never planning to prior to booking their maiden voyage. They are design-conscious, service-oriented travelers accustomed to luxury hotels, private villas, and thoughtfully curated itineraries. What draws them in is not the idea of cruising, but the promise of waking up somewhere new each day without sacrificing comfort, autonomy, or style.

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is one of the few luxury cruise experiences that meaningfully integrates with a major hotel loyalty program, allowing guests to earn Marriott Bonvoy points on their sailing.

The experience rewards those who value time as much as destination. There is no pressure to follow a rigid schedule, no rush to secure space, and no spectacle competing for attention. Instead, days unfold at a human pace—dictated by curiosity, appetite, and mood rather than announcements or programming. For Marriott loyalists, there is also a rare layer of familiarity at sea. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is one of the few luxury cruise experiences that meaningfully integrates with a major hotel loyalty program, allowing guests to earn Marriott Bonvoy points on their sailing. For points-savvy travelers, this quietly enhances the value proposition, turning a journey at sea into future stays across the Marriott portfolio—without ever feeling like a loyalty play.

It’s this combination—hotel-caliber service, design-forward spaces, intentional pacing, and the subtle reassurance of a trusted brand—that continues to convert even the most self-proclaimed non-cruisers. For many guests, the decision isn’t about trying cruising at all. It’s about choosing a new way to travel that still feels unmistakably like home.

Your Next Sailing Awaits

The fleet is not a novelty, but a long-term extension of the brand—one that continues to evolve with each new vessel and itinerary.

As luxury hospitality continues to expand offshore, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection remains the reference point. Not because it was loud or disruptive—but because it was intentional. By leading with service, design, and a deep understanding of its audience, The Ritz-Carlton didn’t just enter the space; it legitimized it. The fleet is not a novelty, but a long-term extension of the brand—one that continues to evolve with each new vessel and itinerary.

With three yachts now sailing across the Mediterranean, Caribbean, French Polynesia, and Asia, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection stands as both a pioneer and a benchmark. A reminder that when hospitality is done right, even the open ocean can feel like home.

Ready to set sail? Contact your SmartFlyer travel advisor to chat  itineraries.