Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection Reveals Details on Their New Small-Ship Luxury Cruises

Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection has revealed a host of details about their new small-ship cruises, which debut in 2019 with the line’s first 298-passenger luxury vessel.

Ritz Carlton currently plans a fleet of three identical ships. The first will be named in December 2018 at a luxury travel conference. Here are some of the key features identified about the new brand:

All-Inclusive: The ships will be all-inclusive in nature, with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available in the passengers’ suites and throughout the yacht. Onboard gratuities and Wi-Fi will also be included in the fare.

Cost:  Ritz will be in line with other luxury cruises. A seven-day Mediterranean cruise will be $5,600 per person. There will be no waiver of the single supplement.

Dining: The ships will have five dining venues, and some of those spaces will feel truly intimate. The main restaurant has been designed with lots of nooks, so it feels like 10 small restaurants. In addition, there will be an Asian fusion restaurant, a poolside grill, casual dining and an a la carte restaurant called Aqua from celebrity chef Sven Elverfeld. In addition, in-suite dining will be available around the clock.

Suites: All suites on the ship will have balconies/terraces. Even suites that are at the water level will have balconies, thanks to a duplex-style loft suite where the bedroom is on the ground floor with a window and stairs leading up to a sitting area with the terrace. Two Owners Suites will have whirlpools on their terraces.

To accommodate different traveler needs, the line specifically designed the suites so they can be combined with others to make larger or smaller cabins when needed — for example, for a charter. The ship can go from 149 suites to 170 suites, giving it considerable flexibility.

Outdoor Spaces: The Ritz ships will have a marina-style platform that can be used for open-air events and parties, as well as give passengers direct access to the water. A selection of water toys will be available for passengers to use.

The ship will have deep and shallow pools, as well as whirlpools; renderings show an infinity-style pool located aft. There will be a current within that pool for exercise.

The connection to the outdoors will continue with an indoor-outdoor solarium space that looks more like a cool lounge than the usual cruise ship solarium. The top-deck outdoor space will transform into a nightclub-style space at night.

Lounges and Spa: Other social spaces onboard will include the Living Room, which serves as a library and cafe. This will be the arrival space on the yacht; most booking and check-in will take place online before the cruise. There will be a lounge and wine bar with a variety of entertainment experiences, some of which will focus on local entertainers, lecturers, chefs,

and artists. There will be no show lounge and no casino.

The spa will be operated by the Ritz Carlton and have indoor/outdoor treatment rooms, each with its own balcony. Passengers will be able to pick if they want their treatment inside or out. There will also be a medical wellness center. The fitness center will be an indoor/outdoor space with equipment inside and yoga and relaxation space outside.