The Ritz-Carlton is undoubtedly one of the world’s most luxury hotel brands, but what will it be like to cruise on one of their three lavishly built yachts? These ships are not open for review until 2019, but you can be fairly sure of an ultra-luxury, exclusive trip. These cruises will compete against luxury cruise ships like the newest Silversea ships.
In a press release this week, Ritz-Carlton, which is part of Marriott International, announces that it “will be bringing its award-winning luxury hotel brand’s service and timeless style to sea”. Each custom-built yacht offers space for just 298 guests with 149 suites. Each suite will have its own balcony, and there will be several luxurious duplex penthouses.
The Ritz-Carlton yachts will feature a restaurant by Sven Elverfeld of Aqua, the three Michelin-starred restaurants at The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg; a signature Ritz-Carlton Spa; and a Panorama Lounge and wine bar, offering a wide variety of on-board entertainment. Additionally, the yacht will offer one-of-a-kind curated destination journeys through collaborations with local chefs, musicians, and artists, allowing guests to experience the locations in unique and experiential ways, both onboard and ashore.
“The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection will have a distinctive personality, and the vessels are sure to be true standouts in some of the most glamorous ports around the world,” said Herve Humler, President and Chief Operating Officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. “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 personalized service.”
Itineraries are currently under development but are expected to include a wide variety of high-end destinations depending on the season, including the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Due to the intimate size of the vessel, the yacht will call at unique locations typically not accessible to large cruise ships, from Capri and Portofino to St. Barths and the old town of Cartagena. The aim of these trips is to provide a completely relaxing experience while offering an interesting itinerary both overnight and during daytime ports of call, a uniquely curated destination experience.
Can I Earn & Redeem Marriott Rewards On Ritz-Carlton Cruises?
Good question! Marriott Rewards members can earn points, elite night credits and receive elite benefits at The Ritz-Carlton hotels. Members can also redeem points for free nights at The Ritz-Carlton hotels. So yes, it would seem likely (although this has not been confirmed) that these cruises would be bookable with Marriott Rewards, and equally, it seems that you should be able to redeem rewards for a trip, although in reality, if the cruises are super popular, management may decide not to offer them on points. It will be interesting to see.
If you book on the Ritz-Carlton website direct, may not get the best deal. Book your next Ritz-Carlton stay or cruise via our luxury travel concierge, and we can secure you free loyalty-style benefits (on top of your own status and membership benefits), room upgrades, and perks, for no extra cost.
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