The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, part of Marriott International, is making its first foray into luxury yachting and cruises with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, a partnership created with maritime experts Douglas Prothero and Lars Clasen.
The venture, for which funds will be managed by Oaktree Capital Management, could stand Marriott International apart as the only provider of luxury accommodations both on land and at sea.
The first of three yachts in the collection is scheduled to take to sea in 4Q2019, with seven- to 10-day voyages cruising destinations in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America.
Due to the vessel’s intimate size, the yacht will call at locations typically not accessible to large cruise ships, from Capri and Portofino to St Barths and the old town of Cartagena.
The 190m-long vessel will accommodate up to 298 passengers and feature 149 suites, each with its own private balcony, in addition to two 138m2 duplex penthouse suites.
The yachts will feature a restaurant by Sven Elverfeld of Aqua, the three-Michelin-star restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg; a signature Ritz-Carlton Spa; and a Panorama Lounge and wine bar. Additionally, the yacht will offer curated destination journeys through collaborations with local chefs, musicians and artists.
Herve Humler, president and COO of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, said: “This unique combination of yachting and cruising will usher in a new way of luxury travel for guests seeking to discover the world in a relaxed, casually elegant and comfortable atmosphere with (high level) of personalised service.”
Reservations will open in May 2018. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection ships are also available for private charter.
