The Ritz-Carlton is preparing to launch its own luxury cruise line, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, combining the intimacy of private yachting with the amenities and service of a five-star hotel. The first of three identical 298-passenger yachts is scheduled to begin service on February 1, 2020, departing Fort Lauderdale just ahead of Super Bowl LIV in nearby Miami.
The concept has been under consideration for years and entered active development more recently. The yachts are designed to offer a smooth transition for Ritz-Carlton hotel guests from land to sea, extending the brand’s signature approach to service—discreet, attentive, and personalized—into a more relaxed yachting environment.
Positioned as an “anti-cruise ship,” the new yachts emphasize space, privacy, and highly tailored experiences. Passenger-to-crew ratios will be high, reflecting the emphasis on individualized attention. Each vessel will carry its own helicopter, a high-speed tender, and a stern marina for direct access to the water. Onboard dining will be flexible, with multiple restaurants and bars open round-the-clock and no fixed seating times. The ships will not include casinos or buffet dining; instead, they will feature an onboard Ritz-Carlton spa and five specialty restaurants. A highlight will be Aqua, a gourmet venue by Chef Sven Elverfeld, known for his three-Michelin-starred work at the Ritz-Carlton in Wolfsburg, Germany. All accommodations are suites with terraces or balconies, prioritizing comfort and private outdoor space.
Itineraries are designed to focus on relaxed, immersive travel rather than rapid port-hopping. Cruises will typically range from seven to twelve days and offer fewer but longer calls, with curated shore excursions. Examples of planned experiences include private museum visits in Montenegro, snorkeling or swimming with turtles in the Tobago Cays, sea kayaking in Iceland, winery tours in Bordeaux, and sunrise and sunset yoga sessions on wellness-themed sailings in the Grenadines.
The inaugural season in the Caribbean runs from February through March 2020 and concludes with a 12-day transatlantic voyage to Lisbon. The yacht will remain in the Mediterranean into early July and then head north to explore Northern Europe through mid-September, operating routes that include London and other regional ports. After a second Atlantic crossing, the ship will call at destinations in Canada and New England during the fall, finishing that segment in Boston before returning to the Caribbean in late October.
Plans call for a second Ritz-Carlton yacht to operate in the Great Lakes during the summer of 2021, while a third sister ship will expand the brand’s reach into the Pacific beginning in 2022. For travelers who seek the privacy and flexibility of a private yacht without owning one, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection aims to offer a compelling alternative—combining hallmark luxury service, thoughtfully curated experiences, and a more intimate scale than traditional cruise ships.