Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection’s Ilma
Photographer: Don Riddle/Ritz Carlton Yacht CollectionWith New Ship, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Changes Course: Photos
The 448-passenger Ilma, which is soon to debut, is nearly twice the size of its older sibling, which was all about intimacy. And yet, there’s little that’s cruise-shippy about it.
When Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection finally unveiled its 298-passenger Evrima in 2022 after a few years of high-water drama involving construction delays at a Spanish shipyard, it blazed a trail as the first hotel-branded superyacht. Two years later, the brand is established as a posh option for cruise skeptics: 50% of its guests are first-time cruisers and 20% have already booked repeat trips. By those metrics, the yacht line is a success.
But that doesn’t mean it’s been smooth sailing. When Ritz-Carlton officially debuts its second yacht, the 448-passenger, $600 million Ilma, on Sept. 2, it will represent a pivot for the brand.