All Aboard, But Make It Uber Luxury
The Ritz-Carlton yacht Luminara, has officially set sail, and it’s making waves. With 226 ocean-facing suites (each with its own terrace), this is the brand’s biggest vessel to date, but still intimate enough to feel personal. The yacht debuts with a maiden voyage from Monte Carlo, cruising through Cannes, Corsica, Livorno, and Portofino.
The design brief? Sophisticated, sun-drenched, and deeply serene. Exteriors are by Aivan, with interiors from AD Associates and creative direction by Chapi Chapo Design; the same dream team behind Ilma. Every space is made to feel like a boutique hotel on the water.
Suite Life at Sea
The new Residential Suite is a highlight: 1,000 square feet of quiet luxury with floor-to-ceiling windows, a soaking tub, and enough space to actually unpack. Outside, whirlpools offer sea views and breezy lounging, while the indoor-outdoor Art Bar, curated with Cycladic art, is the go-to for pre-dinner drinks or long, late-night conversations.
Five Restaurants. Seven Bars. Endless Views.
Dining onboard is no afterthought. Chef Michael Mina helms The Beach House, a coastal-Mediterranean restaurant inspired by his Egyptian roots. Fabio Trabocchi’s Seta su Luminara brings Venetian indulgence to the water, with both à la carte and an eight-course tasting menu. Haesu Bit, a new Pan-Asian concept, nods to Luminara’s upcoming voyages to Asia.
And the bars? Seven in total. The Art Bar remains a favourite, but there’s a cocktail moment around every corner, designed for golden hours and post-dinner lounging.
Cruising, Reimagined
Unlike its sister ships Evrima and Ilma, Luminara is built for long-haul journeys. Come December 2025, it’ll venture into Asia-Pacific for the first time, with stops in Hạ Long Bay, Osaka, and Bangkok. By summer 2026, it heads north to Alaska and Canada, bringing the brand’s signature polish to more remote, cinematic coastlines.
Where to Next?
With Luminara, the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection doubles down on that idea: high-touch, low-effort travel where design, discovery, and decadence all meet at sea. Sail from Athens to Rome over seven nights, opt for a roundtrip voyage from Barcelona (five or seven nights), or cruise from Rome to Venice with a lineup of sun-drenched, art-filled stops along the way.
For something a little more epic, there’s a 13-night journey from Cape Town to Port Louis—designed for travelers who prefer their adventures long and their luggage well-packed.
Rates start at $7,800. The sunsets? Worth every dollar.