Luxury hotel brand, the Ritz-Carlton is entering into the cruise market by creating their very own luxury yacht. The brand announced it would be building three small luxe ships with amazing itineraries and sailing from 2019.
The company has appointed the Tillberg Design of Sweden to create the ship – a company which has designed ships for Viking, Norwegian, Azamara, Costa and Cunard. Owner and executive project director Fredrik Johnson said, “we’re designing these ships to turn heads.”
He’ll be drawing inspiration from superyachts as well as Maserati.
“We wanted a look that was very slender, long, and elegant,” said Mr Johansson. “Most ships in port look the same—but this won’t. I’m looking for the Maserati effect. I want people to see it and wonder how stunning it is on the inside.”
The ship will accommodate 298 passengers in 149 suites and compared to Ponant, another leading luxury cruise brand, the new ships will be 200 feet longer.
Mr Johansson will be pioneering an open-concept floor plan and will “break down the traditional boundaries between dining and drinking areas”.
Other shared spaces also include a yacht-like marina platform where the glass doors open to a sweeping staircase that leads to the pool deck. You can have drinks and snacks or launch water toys like kayaks and paddleboards.
The suites will have verandahs as well as high ceilings and certain touches which guests can see if they’ve stayed in one of the Ritz-Carlton’s hotels.
“It specifies all sorts of details, from how big the writing desks should be and how many cushions should be on the beds,” said Mr Johansson.
The first vessel will sail the Caribbean, New England and Europe starting in late 2019 while the sister yachts will be sailing in early 2021 and early 2022.
Bookings for the first ship open next May.
