Ritz-Carlton to enter cruise market with luxury yachts

Ritz-Carlton, the luxury hotel and resort chain, has announced plans to enter the luxury yacht and cruise market.

The company, part of Marriott International, will launch three vessels in the fourth quarter of 2019 under the banner of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.

The vessels, which are also available for private charter, will measure 190-meters, accommodate up to 298 passengers, and feature 149 suites, each with its own private balcony.

They will feature two 138 square-meter penthouse suites, designed by The Ritz-Carlton and Tillberg Design of Sweden.

The company said its itineraries are still being developed, but will range between seven and ten days.

A spokesperson confirmed that the cruises, which go on sale in May 2018, will be available to the trade.

Few other details have been released, but renderings suggest that the vessels will include a marina bay at the aft of the ship, as well as a helicopter and helipad on the top deck.

“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 chief operating officer 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,” he said.

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