Elegance. Refinement. Noble. Just a few words that come to mind when we think of the brand Ritz-Carlton. Known for their luxury hotels and resorts worldwide, the company recently announced they are now taking on a new form of luxury travel: lodging on the sea with the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.

Ritz-Carlton is a brand that is the pinnacle of luxury and refinement, many saying they are the gold standard of travel. Started as far back as the early 1900s, the Ritz-Carlton began with hotels in cities such as Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburg and more. The hotel has always strived to embody the finest luxury experience, Yankee ingenuity and Boston social sensibilities. The standards of service, dining and facilities of this Boston landmark served as a benchmark for all future Ritz-Carlton hotels and resorts worldwide.

The Ritz-Carlton enterprise continued its growth. In 1998, the brand attracted the attention of Marriott International, who purchased the Ritz-Carlton brand. Since then, expansion has continued, even across the globe. Their goal is to “continue to grow and inspire life’s most meaningful journeys in the most desirable destinations on earth.”

In 2017, the brand announced that they were taking luxury to the next level and introduced the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. The first voyage is slated to hit the sea in 2020. If you’re curious what all the hype about this new Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is about, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s dive in and find out!

If you’re dreaming up your next yacht vacation, you may want to consider the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. The line’s managing director, Douglas Prothero, said the idea for the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is to bridge the gap between yacht charters, small-ship cruises and resort-style vacations. This new addition to the Marriott International enterprise distinguishes the brand as the only provider of luxury accommodations on both land and sea.

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection will offer several voyages on their first three vessels in 2020. The majority of these excursions will range from seven to ten nights. The Ritz-Carlton promises each excursion will feature personalized service, an elevated dining experience, luxury amenities.

In addition to promising a luxurious time on the yacht, these seven to ten day voyages will also feature “culturally immersive” shore experiences. “The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection itineraries and programs on land were created with the yachting lifestyle in mind and will offer a relaxed pace and intimate, highly personalized experiences on shore,” said Douglas Prothero, Managing Director, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. “We are thrilled to share the curated voyages and look forward to introducing guests to the local cultures of each destination through our Shore Collection while offering the best luxury accommodations at sea. We’ll spend more nights overnight in port. It’s a slower pace, more typical of what you would do on a superyacht,” Prothero added.

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection isn’t the only brand in the luxury yacht cruising market. They will be competing with top luxury brands like the SeaDream Yacht Club and Silversea Cruises. Let’s look and see what specific features the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection offers.  

Reservations for The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection opened up to the public this month. If you’re lucky enough to be a Ritz-Carlton and Marriott Rewards loyalty members, priority access booking opened in May. But where are these yachts setting out to?

These voyages will range from seven to ten days. The first round of locations offered includes the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, northern Europe and the Baltic, and Canada and New England.  

Ports along the way range from Barbados, Cartagena, Bordeaux and Copenhagen, as well as ports that deliver a yacht-style sailing experience including Carriacou, Falmouth Harbour, Gustavia, the Balearic Islands, Mykonos, Portofino and more.

“The itineraries and intimate shore experiences are not only unique and forward-thinking in their design, but illustrate our commitment to providing rare opportunities to today’s luxury traveler,” said Lisa Holladay, Global Brand Leader for The Ritz-Carlton. “Combining the Ritz-Carlton’s unparalleled service with journeys created specifically to offer immersion into the culture of the destination, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection will set a new standard in sea travel and redefine the yachting experience.”

The cost for a seven-day Mediterranean voyage on the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection would cost approximately $5,600.

"In terms of price point, we will be at a slight premium to the market," Douglas Prothero said. "We think because it is an intimate ship by Ritz-Carlton that the market will bear that. Our research tells us it will. But it's not a surprisingly large number at all. People, when we tell them, say it's less than they expected it to be."

That estimated cost is in line with Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection competitors. A Silversea Cruise to a similar location would cost around $5,600 for a seven-day cruise.

If this sounds like your type of cruise, you'll be even more impressed upon further inspection. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection promises guests the utmost luxury and pampering. 

Currently, there are three yachts in the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. Each has the ability to welcome 298 passengers in 149 suites. The current yachts in the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection are 624 feet long and 78 feet wide. Its weight in tons is 26,500 and features eight guest decks. Plenty of space to take in the beautiful scenery! 

With a unique layout and design, each suite was created to be comfortable to the luxury-seeking traveler. Suite offerings vary in terms of size and amenities. When you’re cruising the ocean, what you need is the place to relax and enjoy the view. That is why each suite is complete with its own terrace. There are six different suite categories to choose from – ranging from 1,098 square feet to 312 square feet.

There is no shortage of fine dining about the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. The yacht boasts Chef Sven Elverfeld of Aqua, a three Michelin-starred restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton. In total, there are five unique dining experiences including regionally inspired cuisine to enhance cultural immersion on your voyage. A café, champagne bar and in-suite dining are offered to ensure you are always able to appease your culinary desires.

Main Dining Experience – This spacious main restaurant offers locally inspired creations that change daily.

Asian Fusion – This sleek, contemporary restaurant offers a sushi bar, family-style table experience or outdoor dining.

Aqua – Run by the aforementioned Chef Sven Elverfeld, this offering provides an inspired European journey in sophisticated setting.

The Outdoor Grill – This seafood bar features fresh local catches and prime cuts prepared to order from the grill. Enjoy your dinner and drinks while taking in a stellar view.

Marina Lounge and Bar – This casual offering serves a variety of options prepared quickly in an open-air space.

There is no shortage of luxurious amenities aboard the Ritz-Carlton Yacht. The Ritz-Carlton Spa offers facials, massages and locally inspired treatments to make even the spa trip culturally immersive. You will also find a state-of-the-art gym, featuring sunrise yoga and Pilates, an infinity oasis pool up on the deck, an intimate lounge and a boutique offering branded sportswear and jewelry. Find out more about the amenities by clicking here.

Each excursion offers an in-house classical and jazz musician who provides personable performances during the voyage. When wanting to venture off the vessel, you are spoiled for choice. Activities range from hiking, cooking with a celebrity chef, walking through a lavender field to distill your own perfume – and so much more. Each shore collection allows you to experience and immerse yourself further into the culture you are visiting, providing for a unique and unforgettable experience. If you’re unsure of what to do, a Concierge Ashore will help curate something just for you!

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is not the only luxury cruising brand. We’ll highlight three additional brands for your expedition planning.

TheSea Dream Yacht is a bit smaller than the Ritz-Carlton yachts. Each voyage can welcome 112 guests and offers two different types of suites. The ship’s overall length is 344 feet, slightly over half the size of the Ritz-Carlton yacht. They offer trips to the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Transatlantic and a special Wine Cruise. While the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection still hasn’t hit the market, this brand has been sailing the seas since 1987. A midlevel suite price for a Mediterranean cruise with SeaDream is around $5,699. Click here to learn more about this brand. 

A Silversea Cruise offers a much smaller and more intimate voyage than the Ritz-Carlton. Similar to the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, they emphasize luxury, top-tier service and culturally-immersive cuisine. They can sail to over 900 destinations and all seven continents. A cruise on the Mediterranean will cost around $5,600. Click here to learn more about this brand. 

A Crystal Cruise offers unique yacht-specific voyages to the UAE and the Holy Land, Greek Isles and the West Indies and more. The Chrystal Yacht offers two suite options – both are smaller in size compared to the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. This brand offers a wide range of activities available for travelers. Water sports, snorkeling, taking a short trip on the yacht’s submarine and more are offered through Chrystal Cruises. A Mediterranean cruise is around $4,400. Click here to learn more about this brand. 

From cultural food and spa options, to shore exploration opportunities, this is sure to be an unforgettable experience for the luxury seeker. Click here to learn more about the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.

Would you set sail on one of these excursions? Let us know in the comments below!

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