What is the latest way for luxury hotel brands to expand their reach? Apparently, they are launching a fleet of luxury yachts to compete with high-end cruise lines for intimate experiences, fine dining, elegant accommodations and personalized service.
Ritz-Carlton plans to launch its first yacht this fall and on Wednesday, September 28. Four Seasons announced its latest project, Four Seasons Yachts, which is expected to deliver its first ship by the end of 2025.
“Four Seasons Yachts represents the next chapter in our long history of leading industry innovation and is a pivotal moment for our company as we continue to capitalize on opportunities new to expand the world of Four Seasons,” said Christian Clerc, president of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, in a company statement.
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This is not the first time the brand has expanded beyond hotels. It provided Four Seasons Private Jet Experienceas well as yachts offering three to seven-night cruises from and between the brand’s two properties in the Maldives.
Partners on board
Four Seasons is working with long-standing partners in the travel industry to give this new venture every chance of success.
The ships will be designed by Tillberg Design of Sweden (responsible for the extremely lavish Regent Suite on Seven Seas Splendor) and Martin Brudnizki Design Studio.
They will be built by renowned Italian shipbuilders Fincantieri, run by Marc-Henry Cruise Holdings (co-led by luxury entrepreneurs Nadim Ashi and Philip Levine) and run by Larry Pimentel (a veteran in the luxury yacht market who has led the likes of Azamara, Seabourn and SeaDream Yacht Club).
Yacht details
The first ship, currently named the Four Seasons Yacht, will launch in late 2025, and Four Seasons has options for two more.
The 14-deck yacht will feature 95 suites that can be combined into spacious indoor-outdoor living spaces. While accommodations start at 581 square feet, more than half of the suites will offer 818 square feet or more of combined indoor and outdoor living space.
Exhibitor will be the Funnel Suite, a 9,601-square-foot, four-story suite with a private pool and spa that would bring Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Regent Suite (voted as the top performer for the Regent Seven Seas Cruises). best set of TPG) to earn money.
Other luxury touches will include a 1:1 ratio between guests and staff; a spa and salon, complete with wellness program; large pool deck that doubles as a special event space and an outdoor cinema; and the bars and restaurants will stay true to the Four Seasons history of culinary innovation.
The yacht will also boast what Four Seasons calls “the industry’s first horizontal marina”, running from port to starboard, where passengers can enjoy water sports and toys or sunbathe. from the ship.
“We are creating something extraordinary that combines their expertise with what Four Seasons does best – delivering unmatched quality and excellence, surrounded by action,” said Clerc. beauty of service and love for our guests”.
Ritz-Carlton cruise ship updates
Cruise and hotel aficionados may wonder how the new Four Seasons Cruise will compare to the much-anticipated Evrima, the first yacht to be offered since The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.
That company also partnered with Tillberg Design to visualize its suites, but the smallest starts at 367 square feet (including interior and balcony space) and the largest comes in at 1,091 feet square with a 635 square foot balcony. Evrima will carry 298 passengers, compared with 190 for Four Seasons. It will also feature a full-service spa and fitness center, and a marina behind for free water activities.
Unlike Four Seasons, which partnered with the famous Fincantieri shipyard to build the ship, the Ritz-Carlton originally contracted with Hijos de J. Barreras, a shipyard in Vigo, Spain. , is not known for building cruise ships. Due to problems with that facility and growing delays, the yacht was shipped to the Astander shipyard, also in Spain, for completion.
Evrima’s next two sister ships will be built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique in St. Nazaire, France, a shipyard with experience building cruise ships. Evrima is now 33 months later than planned.
It is expected that Four Seasons will reveal more details about its new project in the coming months as design plans are completed and construction begins. The brand seems confident that their foray into the yachting space will turn the tide and change the industry.
“We are creating a new kind of luxury lifestyle travel that appeals to discerning guests. We are bringing together the best in the industry to create the ultimate yacht service through world-class design, moderated experiences and truly exceptional service,” said Pimentel. “When we launch in 2025, there will be nothing else like it on the high seas.”
For our part, we can’t wait to learn more.
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