Floating Hotels: Ritz-Carlton To Dabble In Sea Hospitality With New Cruise Line
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co. is taking its five-star hospitality service to the high seas.
The high-end hotelier announced Thursday it will launch a luxury cruising yacht line that will be unveiled at the end of 2019. The Marriott International brand will build three 298-passenger yachts for its collection, named the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, following a path taken by Disney when it launched its Disney Cruise Line back in 1996. The ships will each include two penthouse suites and 149 balcony suites and are targeting luxury travelers already familiar with the brand.
Canadian Maritime Group CEO Douglas Prothero is behind the creation of the venture, as is Lars Clarsen, Aida Cruises’ former president, the Miami Herald reports. Itineraries will include seasonal trips through the Mediterranean, northern Europe and the Caribbean that will last from seven to 10 days.
“The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection will have a distinctive personality and the vessels are sure to be true standouts in some of the glamour ports around the world,” Ritz-Carlton Chief Operating Officer Herve Humler said in a statement.
