Five-star hotel at sea? Ritz-Carlton launches luxury superyacht, Ilma

When you think of Ritz-Carlton, chances are images of flashy hotels in cities and along coastlines in glamorous locations spring to mind. Cruising? Not so much. 

Well, this has all changed now as a second yacht, Ilma, has joined the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection fleet – having just returned from her maiden voyage this week. And for those lucky enough to sail onboard, the ship offers quite the cruising experience. With an infinity pool, Michelin-starred chef restaurants, an enormous onboard spa, and some truly gorgeous interiors it’s not hard to see why this new superyacht is making such a (ahem) splash.

Home to 224 spacious suites and with a capacity of 448 guests, Ilma has one of the highest guest-to-crew ratios at sea. The result? A dreamy combination of feeling like you’re on a private yacht but with the care and service that Ritz-Carlton is renowned for. So, what can you find onboard?

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Cabins

Spa & Wellness

Ilma boasts 10, expansive decks, on which to dine, dance, swim, sip and generally live your best life.

Ilma Food & Drink

The food and drink onboard is central to the new yacht’s offering, with seven bars and five restaurants specialising in cuisines spanning from Peruvian to Pan-Asian. There’s even a signature wine vault to get lost in, so no danger of going thirsty…

Michelin-starred chefs Fabio Trabocchi and Michael Mina are the brains (and tastebuds) behind two of the ship’s hot new dining venues. Laid-back beach club inspired restaurant, ‘The Beach House’ offers 180-degree sea views, stylish interiors and is the place to be for that magical shift from day to nightime. When it comes to the food here – bold, fiery flavours of Peru pair with those from the Caribbean for a serious flavour kick. 

Fabio Trabocchi’s ‘Seta su Ilma’ is the only restaurant onboard where you have to pay an additional fee. A contemporary Italian fine-dining restaurant that offers seasonal tasting menus inspired by regional flavours, think 11-course tasting menus with wine pairings for each course – in short, the works.  

Elsewhere across the ship’s 10 decks, discover a taste of the Mediterranean beside the main pool area at ‘Mistral’, slick Asian dining at ‘Memorī’, and seasonal menus dependent on the vessel’s location at ‘Tides’. If you’re really looking to pull out all the stops, Dining Privée offers a hidden enclave for celebratory dinners and special occasions.

– READ MORE: 15 best cruise destinations for food –

Ilma Entertainment

A cruise aboard Ilma is all about getting out onto the water and being up on the decks. While there’s no theatre or dedicated entertainment space, you won’t miss them as you’ll most likely be too busy having fun on the ‘aquabana’. And what’s that when it’s at home? Essentially, an ‘aquabana’ is a supreme adult-playground in the form of a floating area connected to the yacht’s stern. Here, guests can paddleboard, swim, kayak or simply lounge under a cabana, dipping a toe into the sea below.  

Evenings can be spent bopping to live DJs by the pool deck or listening to the dulcet tones of live bands in the chic central space known as the ‘Living Room’.

– READ MORE: What’s the entertainment like on adult-only ships? –

Ilma Cabins & Interiors

Designed by leading interior designers from across the world, every space on Ilma oozes understated luxury and comfort. It’s even possible to spy original artworks by the likes of Picasso and Warhol while strutting along the corridors. 

Each cabin boasts a spacious balcony with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors, a living area, plus oodles of closet space. Diptiyque bathroom products complete the air of ultra-luxe living.

Ilma Spa & Wellness

Though the spa onboard Ilma’s older sister Evirma, the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s first yacht, was nothing to sniff at, Ilma’s spa is somehow twice the size. Complete with 11 treatment rooms – five of which offer outdoor treatments – a steam room, sauna and three separate fitness suites, Ilma’s wellness facilities rival any land-based Ritz-Carlton spa.

– READ MORE: Full list of new ships setting sail in 2025 –

Where will Ilma sail?

Ilma’s inaugural season will be spent in the Mediterranean throughout autumn 2024, soaking up popular destinations like Santorini, Barcelona and Rome. Just before Christmas she’ll set sail for the azure waters of the Caribbean where lesser visited regions such as Gustavia, Virgin Gorda and St John await.

Summer 2025 will see a first for The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection as Ilma is due to sail itineraries in the North and Baltic Seas of Northern Europe, calling in destinations ranging from Amsterdam and Stockholm to Reykjavík.