The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Launches Its Third Ship Next Week—and We Got a First Look Inside

Travel + Leisure

2 days ago

The third ship from Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Luminara , welcomes its first guests next week, sailing from Monte Carlo on July 3.
The biggest ship yet from the brand, Luminara has 226 suites, each with a terrace. ( Ilma , which launched in 2024, is just slightly smaller, with 224 cabins). Setting it apart from the two sibling yachts that came before, Luminara will sail to Asia, Alaska, and Canada—all firsts for the company.
' Luminara will lead the collection's expansion into Asia-Pacific beginning December 2025, with voyages to destinations including Hạ Long Bay, Vietnam; Osaka, Japan; and Bangkok,' says Ernesto Fara, the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection's president and CFO. 'In summer 2026, Luminara will sail to Alaska and Canada, bringing the brand's ultra-luxury approach to some of the most remote and awe-inspiring coastlines in the world.'
With five restaurants, the ship taps top culinary talent, including chefs Michael Mina and Fabio Trabocchi, both of whom also worked on Ilma's restaurants. 'Mina is the creative mind behind Luminara 's Beach House, which offers a vibrant and relaxed setting for Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine inspired by his Egyptian heritage,' says a spokesperson for the brand. Italian restaurant Seta su Luminara is by Trabocchi and offers both à la carte Venetian fare and an eight-course dégustation menu. Haesu Bit will serve Pan-Asian food, a nod to the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection's first foray into Asia. There are also seven bars on board including the Art Bar, 'where guests can mingle among a striking curation of Cycladic art,' says a spokesperson.
Luminara is by the same design team behind Ilma , with Aivan studio crafting the exterior and AD Associates and Chapi Chapo Design handling the interiors and creative direction, respectively. (The first Ritz-Carlton Yacht was designed by Tillberg of Sweden.)
Since the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection launched in 2022 with Evrima —a ship half Luminara's size that affords travelers access to lesser-visited cruise ports—it has continually introduced non-cruisers to the benefits of this style of travel. On Evrima , '50 percent of the guests are new to vacations on the water,' Chrissie McClatchie reported on T+L.
'We've seen remarkable interest from first-time luxury travelers at sea,' Fara confirms. 'Many are loyal guests of The Ritz-Carlton or other Marriott luxury brands, seeking a new way to explore the world. They also choose to extend their experience with pre- and post-voyage stays at the Ritz-Carlton or other luxury brands within the portfolio.'
When Evrima launched in 2022, it marked the start of a major trend. Since, hotel operators including Four Seasons, Orient-Express, Aman, and Waldorf Astoria, have invested in ships—following The Ritz-Carlton's lead.
'When Evrima set sail in 2022, the Ritz-Carlton became the first luxury hotel brand to enter the world of yachting, ushering in a new era of hospitality at sea,' says Tina Edmundson, the president of Marriott International's luxury brands, in a message shared exclusively with T+L. 'As we look ahead to the launch of Luminara , we're reminded of our continued commitment to innovation and excellence. With chef-led culinary experiences, museum-worthy art, and immersive cultural programming, Luminara raises the bar once again by delivering the kind of personalized, elevated travel our guests have come to expect from the Ritz-Carlton.'