Once confined to city landmarks and remote island resorts, the world’s most prestigious hotel brands are now venturing offshore. From the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection to the forthcoming Four Seasons Yachts, ultra-luxury cruising has entered a new era, designed with the art of slow travel.
For decades, cruising has existed as an animated holiday, defined by its convenience- vast ships and packed itineraries. But as luxury travel continues to evolve, hotel-branded yachting is gaining momentum as heritage hospitality names translate from land to sea.
This shift reflects a broader change in how high-net-worth travellers define luxury. By launching new fleets of superyachts, clientele are offered immersion and privacy in an entirely new way.
A floating extension of five-star travel
Unlike conventional cruise ships, guest numbers are deliberately limited, often capped at a few hundred- or fewer- allowing for a sense of calm that is increasingly rare in travel.
Onboard, the hallmarks of luxury hospitality are immediately familiar: glamorous accommodation, expansive terraces, spa-level wellness and dining experiences curated with the same care as their sister-urban properties.
Itineraries are equally considered. Rather than bustling ports, these yachts prioritise smaller harbours and coastal destinations inaccessible to larger ships. Guests may wake anchored off a quiet Mediterranean cove or disembark for a privately guided cultural experience ashore- all without the crowds.
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection was the first major luxury hotel brand to successfully make the leap from land to sea, setting the precedent for this new category of travel.
Launched in 2022 with Evrima, the collection has since expanded to include Ilima (2024) and 2025s’ newest voyage- Luminara. Each yacht combines a sleek, contemporary design with the classic-brand feel that mirrors their most refined resorts.
With capacity ranging from approximately 298 to 452 guests, the experience remains intimate. Every suite features a private terrace, while public spaces are designed to encourage both social connection and quiet retreat- this is anything from pristine lounges to open-air-decks.
Dining is central to the onboard experience, with menus inspired by regional cuisines and elevated through collaborations with acclaimed chefs such as Fabio Trabocchi or Sven Elverfield. A signature feature is the yacht’s aft marina, which opens directly onto the sea. This luxury feature goes as far as to transform the vessel into a private beach club while at anchor.
More information can be found at:
https://www.ritzcarltonyachtcollection.com
Four Seasons Yachts
Set to debut in March this year, Four Seasons Yachts represents the next evolution of ultra-luxury yachting. Staying true to the brand’s representation for understated elegance, the first vessel will accommodate 190 guests.
The emphasis is on privacy and design, with private terraces ranging from generous balconies to expansive outdoor decks in the yacht’s most prestigious accommodations.
Guests can expect bespoke itineraries across the Mediterranean and Caribbean, alongside signature wellness experiences, multiple dining venues and highly personalised service- all delivered with the brand’s famously discreet attention to detail.
The yacht is curated to elevate all previously known boating experiences as our next look into these new bespoke holidays.
More information can be found at:
https://www.fourseasonsyachts.com
Aman at Sea
Another compelling addition into the ultra-luxury yachting arena is Aman at Sea, the soon-to-be extension of the celebrated Aman hospitality brand. At the heart of this project is Amangati– a nine-deck superyacht scheduled to debut in spring 2027.
The yacht will embody Aman’s signature ethos of serenity and space, taking its name from the Sanskirt term for “peaceful motion.” The vessel will accommodate only 94 guests across 47 expansive suites, each with a private terrace and panoramic sea views.
The yacht will feature lounges, a jazz club, water sports marina alongside the Aman Spa, offering treatments anywhere from much loved massages to hamman and banya spaces designed for holistic wellbeing.
Initial Mediterranean voyages will travel iconic coastlines- from the French Riviera to the Greek Islands.
More information can be found at:
A wider movement at sea
At first glance, the rise of hotel-branded yachts may look like simple luxury expansion- another high-end product for an audience that will always seek next level. But the reality is evolutionary, it answers a very modern tension in travel: affluent guests want freedom without friction and novelty without risk. Traditional cruising can feel too crowded and formulaic. These luxury extensions sit neatly in the middle, with the assurance of a name guests already trust.
For travellers considering this new category, the best approach is to book with intention. Look closely at ship size and onboard atmosphere: some lean social, others quieter and wellness led. Embrace the yachting mindset, letting the travel unfold from beneath you as you absolve yourself in the residential aspect onboard.
In a travel landscape increasingly shaped by over-tourism, crowd fatigue and the desire for controlled exclusivity, hotel-branded yachting is a response to what luxury travellers are asking for in the now.
By Anna Bodium
