You’ll Soon Be Able To Book The Luxury Ritz-Carlton Yacht

a large ship in the water

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The chances of anyone ever catching me on a cruise that isn’t around the fjords of Norway or viewing Orcas off Canada or trying to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights is generally about as close to zero as you can get.

The idea of staying in a floating hotel, drifting around the Caribbean, knowing that I can’t leave whenever I feel like it generally fills me with about as much happiness as a sledgehammer to the knees….and I’ve often suggested that the latter would be preferable.

But I may be prepared to change my mind…..for one very specific experience.

The Ritz-Carlton Yachts

Marriott (in the guise of Ritz-Carlton) is in the process of having 3 luxury yachts built and the first of these is scheduled to sail in November 2019.

a deck with lounge chairs and a boat on the water

Each yacht will measure 190 metres in length (approximately 625 feet), will accommodate up to 298 passengers in 149 suites which will all have their own private terrace. Some suites will have a duplex design.

a room with a large window and a tableImage – Ritz-Carlton

For those fortunate enough to have deep (very deep) pockets the yacht will also offer two 158 square meter (1,700 square feet) penthouse suites complete with private whirlpools.

Marriott says that the onboard offering “will reflect the sublime comfort and unparalleled level of individualized guest service for which the iconic Ritz-Carlton brand is recognized, with one of the highest staff to guest service ratios in the cruise industry.

a room with a view of the ocean

What Sort Of Cruises Will Be Offered?

Marriott promises that no two itinerary routes will be alike and the yachts will stopping at “both intimate and signature destinations”.

The cruises will range from 7 to 10 days in length and the first yacht will cruise a wide variety of locations depending on the season.

Destinations will include:

  • The Mediterranean
  • Northern Europe
  • The Caribbean
  • Latin America
  • Canada
  • Northeastern United States.

So far the list of ports that have been mentioned include the following:

  • Barbados
  • Cartagena
  • Bordeaux
  • Copenhagen
  • Carriacou (Grenadine Islands)
  • Falmouth Harbour (UK)
  • Gustavia (Saint Barthélemy)
  • The Balearic Islands
  • Mykonos (Greek Islands)
  • Portofino (Italy)

Guests will have the opportunity to combine back-to-back voyages without repeating ports, allowing them to “enjoy true exploration across a broad range of destinations“.

Booking

Reservations for the first Ritz-Carlton Yacht will open to Marriott Rewards and Ritz-Carlton Rewards members in May 2018 and then to the general public in June 2018 (if you’re not a Marriott Rewards member you can join for free via this link).

There has been no indication of what prices will start from and, more importantly, there has been no mention if members of the Marriott & Ritz-Carlton Rewards programs will be able to use points to book these yachts – I’ll post an update to this blog as and when that information is released.

Marriott says that prices, when released, will include the following:

  • All-inclusive luxury sailing experience
  • Spacious accommodations
  • Onboard activities
  • Entertainment
  • Multiple dining venues (including dining from a 3-Michelin Star chef)
  • Onboard gratuities
  • WiFi

a room with many chairs and a table

Thoughts

Ok, so this isn’t going be a typical cruise boat is it? 🙂

For this I’ll happily make an exception to my “I’d rather have my teeth pulled without anaesthetic before I go on a cruise” rule….but I doubt I’ll be able to afford it.

Still, I’m looking forward to seeing what itineraries Ritz-Carlton/Marriott come up with and what the entry-level prices look like. If there is an option to book with points that will be great…but I suspect there number of points needed will be scary.