The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection: The Definitive Guide to Luxury at Sea

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection brings the renowned service of The Ritz-Carlton to the water. Aboard an intimate fleet of all-suite luxury yachts — Evrima, Ilma, and Luminara — it pairs the freedom of yachting with the comfort of a Ritz-Carlton stay. Every suite opens onto a private terrace, finished with Frette linens, a Nespresso machine, and the attention of a personal concierge. The collection is the only ultra-luxury yacht programme operated directly under a Marriott Luxury Brands hospitality standard — and one of the most distinctive new categories in luxury travel of the past decade. As preferred partners and Marriott STARS members, our team at Lorraine Travel books these voyages with substantive STARS at-sea benefits at the same rate as direct, through our dedicated sailings portal.

The Yachting Distinction: Why This Isn't Cruising

The collection deliberately positions itself outside the cruise industry's traditional categorisations. Even the largest vessel in the fleet — Ilma at 790 feet, with 224 suites accommodating up to 448 guests — operates at a fraction of the scale of conventional luxury cruise ships. The all-suite configuration produces among the highest space-per-guest ratios at sea, with the dedicated residential-style interior identity that the broader luxury cruise category cannot match.

The smaller scale enables port access at the yachting playgrounds — the exquisite, exclusive harbors that larger ships cannot reach. Each itinerary pairs the established destinations with intimate ports and tucked-away anchorages, supported by the substantive Ritz-Carlton service standard: the dedicated personal concierge assigned to every suite, the 24-hour in-suite dining, and the celebrated Ritz-Carlton service ratio at sea. The collection occupies a deliberately distinctive position in luxury travel — meaningfully different from the dedicated luxury cruise lines (Silversea, Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas, Crystal, Explora Journeys), the dedicated private-yacht-charter market, and the broader Ritz-Carlton hotel portfolio.

Three Yachts — One Standard of Service

The fleet operates across three purpose-built superyachts with the same Ritz-Carlton service standard expressed at three different scales. Each yacht offers a meaningfully different sailing experience.

Evrima — A Voyage of Discovery

Launched October 2022 · 624 ft · 149 suites · up to 298 guests

Named for a word of Greek origin meaning "discovery," Evrima is the inaugural yacht and the most intimate of the three. With only 149 suites, it is built for slipping into the kind of exquisite, exclusive harbors larger ships cannot reach. On board, five restaurants and six lounges run from casual poolside cocktails to elegant fine dining, and The Ritz-Carlton Spa offers a full range of revitalising treatments. When you are ready to explore, the dedicated aft Marina puts the sea and the shore just steps away — and at the day's end you return to a spacious suite to watch the sunset from your private terrace. Evrima's itineraries emphasise the Mediterranean and Caribbean classical yachting circuit alongside Iceland, French Polynesia, and Hawaii.

Ilma — Larger, Brighter, More Spacious

Debuted September 2024 · 790 ft · 224 suites · up to 448 guests

Ilma joined the fleet in September 2024 — a brighter, more spacious yacht that keeps the all-suite, private-terrace experience while adding room to roam, dine, and unwind. The substantial 46,750-gross-ton displacement and the LNG dual-fuel propulsion represent a meaningful sustainability upgrade from Evrima, with the dedicated higher-percentage of larger suites (new categories include 1,076 sq ft configurations). The dining programme includes restaurants conceptualised by Michelin-starred chefs Fabio Trabocchi and Michael Mina — a culinary identity that the broader ultra-luxury cruise category cannot match. The substantial seven-bar configuration, the expanded Marina with its Marina Terrace open-air space on Deck 10, and the dedicated wine vault produce the most substantial single onboard programme in the collection.

Luminara — The Fleet at Its Most Refined

Entered service 2025 · 790 ft · 46,750 tons · 226 suites · up to 452 guests

Luminara is the most recent vessel in the collection — a 790-foot LNG-powered sister ship to Ilma that carries up to 452 guests across 226 suites with the same intimate, terrace-first design. The substantial AD Associates interior architecture (the London-based firm responsible for both Ilma and Luminara) produces the dedicated modern-elegance configuration calibrated to the contemporary luxury identity. Luminara's itinerary programme emphasises Alaska and Asia-Pacific routings — the dedicated newer-market positioning that distinguishes Luminara from the more established Mediterranean-and-Caribbean Evrima identity. For the traveller whose motivation includes the substantial newer-build identity combined with Alaska or Asia-Pacific destination access, Luminara is the strongest specific recommendation in the collection.

The Ritz-Carlton Experience — Every Suite, Every Detail

What sets the collection apart is what happens aboard. Every suite opens onto its own private terrace and is appointed with Frette linens and a Nespresso machine, while a personal concierge anticipates the details. It is the service The Ritz-Carlton is known for on land — translated, suite by suite, to the sea.

The accommodations span multiple tiers calibrated to the specific guest profile and budget. The entry-level Terrace Suites (approximately 300 sq ft interior plus 54–81 sq ft of private terrace on Evrima; substantially larger on Ilma and Luminara) provide the substantial private-terrace standard. The Grand Suites and the Owner's Suites add larger configurations — the Evrima Owner's Suite measures 1,091 sq ft interior plus 635 sq ft of terrace — with dedicated multi-room living-and-dining configurations. Every suite includes the spa-style double-vanity bathroom, the 24-hour in-suite dining, and the dedicated personal concierge assigned to every accommodation.

All-Inclusive, All Exceptional

Fares with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection are genuinely all-inclusive. Elegant accommodations, gourmet dining, beverages, personalised service, Wi-Fi, entertainment, water sports, and gratuities are all seamlessly included — so the days unfold without a folio in sight, and the price you book is close to the price you pay.

What's specifically included: the all-suite accommodation; dining across the multiple onboard restaurants and the 24-hour in-suite configuration; the substantial beverage programme (select wines and spirits, all nonalcoholic, bottled water, coffee, and tea); onboard entertainment; Starlink high-speed Wi-Fi; the dedicated marina-platform non-motorised water sports (paddleboard, kayak, snorkel); and onboard gratuities for housekeeping, dining, and bar staff. What's not included: specialty restaurant surcharges, spa and salon services, shore excursions, premium beverages, charter flights and pre/post-cruise transfers, and certain optional enrichment programmes. The hybrid approach produces the substantial baseline luxury experience while allowing the customisation that the considered ultra-luxury traveller specifically values.

Life on Board

The onboard programme is calibrated to four substantive pillars — each operationally distinct and each contributing to the broader Ritz-Carlton service identity at sea.

Culinary excellence. Cuisine inspired by global traditions and crafted from the freshest, most seasonal ingredients — every meal a celebration of the destinations you are sailing. Five or more onboard restaurants per yacht across Mediterranean-inspired, Asian fusion, and Pan-Latin regional identities, with Ilma's Michelin-starred chef collaborations representing the most substantial single elevation in the collection's dining programme.

Spa and wellness. Ocean-inspired spa treatments and personalised therapies designed to restore balance — the holistic well-being programme for mind, body, and soul. The Ritz-Carlton Spa programme runs across the fleet with multiple treatment rooms, beauty and grooming services, a sauna, steam room, relaxation area, and 24/7 fitness centre.

The Marina. On days at anchor, a marina platform opens directly onto the sea. Float with a view back to the yacht, or set off by kayak or paddleboard on select voyages. The aft Marina on Evrima and the substantially expanded Marina Terrace on Deck 10 of Ilma produce among the most distinctive single architectural features in the broader luxury cruise category.

Onboard entertainment. Intimate performances by classical and jazz musicians, plus enriching cultural experiences both on board and ashore — including discussions led by experts, regional cultural workshops, and the substantive enrichment programming that the global itinerary specifically supports.

Where in the World You'll Sail

From Alaska's glacial waters to the lagoons of the South Pacific, the yachts call on marquee harbors and smaller ports larger ships cannot reach.

Alaska

Pristine landscapes, rugged terrain, and abundant wildlife — explored on intimate Zodiac excursions led by seasoned naturalists and cultural experts. The Luminara routing is the substantial Alaska programme in the collection.

Asia

Layered landscapes from lively cities to tranquil shores and historic sites — each a passage into rich cultural traditions and extraordinary flavors. Routings cover Japan, Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia), and the broader Asia-Pacific circuit, with the substantial cherry-blossom-season Japan routings in early April.

Caribbean

Azure waters, golden sands, and lush islands — from colourful coastal towns to quiet stretches of beach made for unhurried discovery. The Lesser Antilles routings emphasise the substantial smaller-port access (St. Barts, St. Lucia, Antigua, dedicated private-anchorage programming) that the yacht scale specifically enables.

Mediterranean

Storied coasts where ancient sites, timeless cities, and pastel landscapes sit side by side — each port a chapter in a region shaped by art and exchange. Western Mediterranean routings cover the French Riviera, Italian Riviera, Spanish Mediterranean coast, and the Balearic Islands; Eastern Mediterranean routings cover the Greek Islands, Turkish Riviera, and Croatian coast.

Northern Europe & Baltic

Stately capitals, ornate cathedrals, and landscapes shaped by seafaring culture — from architectural landmarks to charming villages. Routings cover the substantial Norwegian Fjords, dedicated Iceland configurations, Baltic Sea programming, and British Isles routings.

South Pacific

Polynesian isles of volcanic peaks, coral reefs, and serene lagoons — perfect for exploring above and below the waves from the yacht's Marina. Routings cover French Polynesia (Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea), the Hawaiian Islands, and the broader South Pacific circuit.

Crossing Voyages

Uninterrupted days at sea — refined dining, talks from experts, and quiet exploration as the yacht connects oceans and continents. The substantial transatlantic and broader ocean-crossing programming connects the seasonal regional positioning.

Plan This Journey Through Lorraine Travel

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection sits within the Marriott Luxury Brands programme — and the substantive Marriott STARS preferred partner relationship that Lorraine Travel (WhataHotel!'s parent company) holds across the global Marriott luxury portfolio extends to the yacht collection. Lorraine Travel is a family-owned luxury travel house, advocating for discerning travelers since 1948 — from Havana to Coral Gables, nearly eight decades of craft, trust, and access.

The Marriott STARS at-sea programme delivers the substantial preferred partner benefit package adapted for the yacht-collection context: the dedicated VIP recognition and welcome amenity, the substantial onboard credit applicable to specialty dining, spa, and shore excursion programming (the supplemental-charge categories that the standard fare does not include), the dedicated upgrade priority at booking and at boarding (subject to availability — the upgrade economics at sea operate on inventory-availability constraints rather than the at-check-in upgrades of the land hotel programme), the dedicated personalised pre-cruise concierge support, and the substantive Marriott Bonvoy elite-tier benefit integration for the Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador-tier guests. The STARS rate matches the direct booking channel on ritzcarltonyachtcollection.com — preferred partner benefits arrive at zero additional cost.

The Lorraine Travel agency code (1835) is the dedicated booking identifier that supports the substantial preferred partner benefits — sailings booked through our dedicated Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection sailings portal automatically apply the agency relationship. For the considered booking, a senior advisor will help you turn an idea into an itinerary — the substantial advisor consultation supports the substantive itinerary, suite category, and excursion programming selection, a meaningful additional value for the first-time Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection guest.

When to Sail

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection operates a year-round sailing calendar with each yacht typically repositioning between regional configurations across the seasons. The peak rate seasons are the Mediterranean window (May through September — the European summer peak with the substantial regional weather and cultural calendar) and the Caribbean winter window (December through April — the Northern Hemisphere winter peak with the dedicated Caribbean dry season). The spring-and-autumn shoulder windows (April, October, November) deliver the strongest combination of pleasant regional weather and preferred partner availability across the Mediterranean and Caribbean transitions. The Alaska window (May through September) and the year-round Asia-Pacific programming with the substantial South Pacific dry season (May through October) complete the seasonal pattern.

For specific destination motivations: the French Polynesia and South Pacific routings sail May through October, the Northern Europe Iceland and Norwegian Fjord routings concentrate in June through August, the Caribbean private-anchorage routings run December through April, the Mediterranean Eastern routings run May through September, and the Asia-Pacific Japan and Southeast Asia routings run October through April. The Winter 2027–2028 season specifically introduces 14 new ports of call across the Asia-Pacific, Caribbean, and South Pacific routings — the dedicated continuing expansion of the global itinerary programme.