Barreras Shipyard to build Ritz-Carlton’s boutique cruise ship series

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, part of Marriott International, has announced its entry into luxury cruises with orders for three yacht-style boutique cruise ships to be built at Spanish yard Astillero Hijos de J Barreras.

Itineraries are being developed with an intent to, “combine the lifestyle of the Ritz-Carlton’s luxury resorts and the casual freedom of a yachting vacation”. Voyages will range from seven to ten days in a variety of destinations depending on the season, including the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America.

The specially designed small capacity vessels will measure 190 metres in length, accommodate up to 298 passengers, and feature 149 suites, each with its own private balcony. The yacht will also feature two 138m2 duplex penthouse suites, with interior finishes jointly designed by the Ritz-Carlton and  cruise ship design firm Tillberg Design of Sweden.

Due to the size of the vessels, the yachts will call at locations typically not accessible to large cruise ships, such as Capri, Portofino, St. Barths and the old town of Cartagena.

The Ritz-Carlton yachts will feature a restaurant by Sven Elverfeld of Aqua, the three Michelin-starred restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg; a signature Ritz-Carlton Spa; and a Panorama Lounge and wine bar, offering a wide variety of on-board entertainment.

Reservations will open in May 2018. The first of the three vessels in this series is scheduled to take to sea in the fourth quarter of 2019.


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