By
Rebecca Gibson |
Luxury hotel brand The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, which is part of Marriott International, is to hit the waves for the first time in late 2019 with the first of three new cruise yachts.
Created by The Ritz-Carlton and maritime experts Douglas Prothero and Lars Clasen in collaboration with funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, the new venture will be named the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. The venture will make the Marriott International as the only provider of luxury accommodations both on land and at sea.
“The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection will have a distinctive personality and the vessels are sure to be true stand outs in some of the most glamorous ports around the world,” said Herve Humler, president and COO of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. “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 the highest level of personalised service.”
Each of the three yachts will measure 190 metres in length and accommodate up to 298 passengers in 149 suites with their own private balconies, including two duplex penthouse suites that were jointly designed by The Ritz-Carlton and Tillberg Design of Sweden.
Other onboard highlights will include a restaurant by Sven Elverfeld of Aqua, the three Michelin-starred restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton in Wolfsburg; a signature Ritz-Carlton Spa; and a Panorama Lounge and wine bar, offering onboard entertainment.
“We are delighted to collaborate with The Ritz-Carlton as our hospitality operator in offering the most exclusive yachting experience to be found at sea in a venture that will give new meaning to curated luxury travel,” said Lars Clasen, managing director, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.
Ranging from seven to ten days, itineraries will combine the ‘lifestyle’ of The Ritz-Carlton’s luxury resorts and the ‘casual freedom’ of a yachting vacation. The first vessel will sail a wide range of itineraries to the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America. Due to her small size, the yacht will be able to make day and overnight calls at locations that are not typically accessible to large cruise ships, such as Capri and Portofino in Italy, and St. Barths in the Caribbean.
In addition, guests will be able to enjoy one-of-a-kind curated destination journeys through collaborations with local chefs, musicians and artists.