Ritz Carlton

Indulge in a voyage with the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and experience a life that is truly lived.

Photo Credit may be given to SOMNIO YACHT and Ritz Carlton Yacht.

By: Subhasish Chakraborty

In the super luxurious yacht scene, there is a new kid in town, and the famed Ritz-Carlton hotel chain has come up with a luxurious super yacht—the Ritz-Carlton Yacht—that promises a level of luxury that has never been witnessed in the luxury cruise industry.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, of Chevy Chase, MD—and part of Marriott International, Inc.—operates 95 hotels and over 45 residential properties worldwide and is a name to reckon with in the five-star hotel segment and synonymous with the concept of “tailored opulence” that has been the hallmark of this prestigious hotel chain.
It is this element of tailored opulence that the Ritz Carlton Hotel Chain is all set to introduce in the world of cruising: avant-garde design and onboard entertainment that is poised to take cruising to an altogether different level.

How about embarking on customized voyages on custom-built yachts? This is exactly what is on offer: seven- to ten-night voyages that will offer exceptionally designed visitor experiences both on shore and off. Each Ritz Carlton yacht will have space for 149 impeccably designed suites with private terraces.
Carefully designed itineraries that are non-repetitive in terms of ports is one of the highlights of the Ritz-Carlton Super Yacht experience. In the Mediterranean season, for instance, Ritz-Carlton has included ports of call in the Greek Isles and Côte d’Azur, with stopovers in destinations like Cartagena and Martinique. In the Caribbean, discerning travelers have the opportunity to visit outstanding visitor attractions in Puerto Rico, Barbados, and the British Virgin Islands as well as Aruba.

Evrima, the first among the three exclusive yachts from the Ritz-Carlton Collection, will offer travelers the most sophisticated luxury offerings: opulent suites, multiple dining options, high-end entertainment, Wi-Fi, and a plethora of watersport activities. Evrima’s outstanding signature restaurant, SEA., has been designed to perfection by Michelin-starred chef Sven Elverfeld.

The Ritz-Carlton endeavor is to convert cruising into a private yacht experience, and as far as the interiors are concerned, the essence is on a unified flow with one designer’s trademark instead of multiple designers. With this in mind, Ritz-Carlton has roped in the renowned Tillberg Design of Sweden, and the collaborative effort promises industry-defining sea accommodations and onboard luxury. The ambience inside is residential, and the interiors evoke freedom.

All suites of the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection will be soundproof and feature all the luxurious offerings that guests of Ritz-Carlton hotels on land are familiar with: a king-sized bed, a double vanity bathroom, and luxury linens for instance. Apart from the legendary services for which the Ritz-Carlton brand is so renowned, the yachts will also redefine the cruise industry crew–guest ratio with perhaps the highest crew to guest ratio with one crew member assigned to every discerning guest.

As far as the deck plan is concerned, the yacht will have eight passenger decks, starting from deck three to ten. The Marina and the Marina Terrace are on deck three; living room, boutique, main dining, and meeting rooms on deck four; terrace suites, loft suites and the pool on decks five, six, and seven; and eight reserved for onboard bars and restaurants. Deck nine is the place for the gym, fitness studio, salon, launderette, and the onboard medical center. The uppermost deck—deck ten—is where the ship’s observatory is located, offering mesmerizing ocean views and equipped with an exclusive helipad.

When it comes to fine dining, the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection will offer a bewildering array of world cuisines on board. The Talaat Nam restaurant, for instance, will serve authentic Southeast Asian cuisine with an exclusive sushi bar as an additional add-on, whereas the SEA will serve European cuisine with an á la carte menu. Mistral will be the venue for the seafood bar, and if insider information is anything to go by, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection will offer the day’s freshest catches. The Bar will recreate an intimate lounge experience, with cocktails and champagnes that will come with caviar pairings.

Carefully curated itineraries will cater to the five distinctive segments: sightseeing of iconic landmarks, immersive cultural experiences, activity-oriented programs, and authentic gastronomic/culinary journeys. Cruise experts have been hinting at the prospect of itineraries that might have a tie-up with Ritz-Carlton hotels.
Consider, for instance, the Canada and New England segment. In the autumn months, much of Canada’s east offers a temperate climate, which is ideal for cruising and exploring the cultural diversity, sightseeing, and adventurous jaunts for visitors. Ritz-Carlton Yacht’s Canada cruises will go that extra mile to integrate a select few destinations of the United States and even Iceland for an unparalleled cruise experience.

Since the Ritz-Carlton luxury cruises are targeted at 1% of global travelers, fares range from $3,100 to $10,100, which isn’t surprising given the opulence and sophistication that is on offer. For instance, the seven-night Canada cruise that includes Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Boston is priced at $6,537 plus $337 per passenger. All fares are on a double occupancy per person basis. Bear in mind, all reservations require that you pay the full amount 120 days prior to your departure date.

When it comes to inoculation, the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is pretty strict, and inoculation requirements vary from country to country. A signed and globally accepted vaccination certificate is mandatory, and failure to comply with the strict inoculation standards might even result in cancellation of your reservations.

These days, the trend for cruising with family is growing phenomenally, and often there are children accompanying. To reach out to the young ones, the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has come up with an exclusive Ritz-Kids program aimed at encouraging children to explore the world together with Mom and Dad. Ritz-Kids is educational, and in the holiday season, the programs will be fun filled, exciting, and a lot more thrilling.

So much about the luxury super yacht experience! But what is the dress code like? Although there is no strict dress code on board, it is expected that guests not be dressed outlandishly. During the daytime, one can wear casuals, while in the evening, T-shirts and swimsuit coverups are a strict no-no. You should be extra careful when you step inside the ship’s signature restaurant, Aqua, where the dress code is sophisticated. Wearing collared shirts would be the best option.

In the cruise industry, the mood is upbeat, which is well reflected in the words of the CEO of the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Douglas Prothero: “We have been thrilled with the response to the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and look forward to continuing to build on that success, delivering experiences truly unlike any other on the market.”

As the world of cruising is on the verge of a major milestone in terms of industry-defining, ultra-luxury, super yacht experiences, courtesy the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, the anonymous sailor’s song—“Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, dream, discover”—is perhaps the most appropriate truism as technology and sophistication wed blissfully with the natural world.

For further information and reservations, please feel free to get in touch with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection at +356 2778 0076
www.ritzcarltonyachtcollection.com