Inside the Ritz-Carlton’s new luxury ship Ilma, with 5 restaurants, 7 bars and even a Picasso

First, let’s be clear: There is no official size limit for a yacht these days. Jeff Bezos’ personal floating toy, Koru, is, after all, 417 feet long and sleeps 18. Meanwhile, most sea dogs insist that 12 passengers is the maximum for a private yacht. The Ritz-Carlton, however, is looking to change: It has two new ships (and one more on the way) to prove it. Aiming to bring the “yacht lifestyle” to travelers who previously would never consider cruising, Marriott’s luxury label launched a brand extension and its first superyacht in October 2022.

The 149-cabin, 624-foot development was such a success, the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection immediately decided to ship another. Less than two years later, Ilma is sailing into the port of Monte Carlo, ready for her maiden voyage. Sleek and Mediterranean blue on the outside, she strikes a handsome yacht-like silhouette, if slightly longer (at 790 feet) than her larger sister, especially when docked next to other leisure vessels using the same term. But don’t worry about the large size; all that space comes in handy if you want to squeeze in five restaurants, seven bars, two pools and 667 works of art, including a Picasso. Anyone worried that Ilma might feel like a mass-appeal cruise ship should dispel that thought, given her eight guest decks.

Basic cabins are just under 300 square meters, not including balconies of 50 to 110 square meters. (We dare you to find a better place for a sofa at sea.) You’d be forgiven for believing you’re on a wonderful friend’s boat, what with the separate en-suite shower, bath and toilet, dining room en-suite and a spacious living room separated from the bedroom by a sliding partition in most cabins. Prefer to pack three outfits for each day? Go for it. Almost all offer passengers drawers and cabinets in every way they look, two closets and an army of hangers ready to combat total unpacking. (An Ambassador Suite will happily take the command.)

Tasteful but large TVs, a fully stocked free fridge, full-sized toilets, comfortable sofas and thoughtful lighting (one switch for all bedroom lights, another for everything else) complete the relaxed effect – luxury. Along with a palette of neutral shades, these spacious cabins somehow manage to convey a hygge vibe. But eventually you’ll want to leave your sweet suite. Walk around Ilma and you’ll come across all sorts of diversions that you’re unlikely to find in Koru. It’s Michael Mina’s beach house, all Med-party-cool; Fabio Trabocchi’s Seta su Ilma (at $250 per person without wine pairing, $350 with, quite a steal for a 13-course prix fixe); the seasonal Marina Terrace for cocktails, with “wings” that extend out to create outdoor seating for a scenic view; and a gym packed with Technogym equipment that puts most tourist gyms to shame.

Head upstairs and you’ll find an observation deck and, above that, a delightful pool whose sunken beds beg for a lounge; Head downstairs and you’ll come across a spin gym and movement studio where, if your dates match, former pro ballerina Amanda Kloots performs low-weight, high-rep workouts that (if her body is any indication) will ‘make you look like a rocket in a week. Lay it out after a massage that includes luxurious Espa products, or during a truly transporting facial using London’s luxurious 111Skin line. Go back to your cabin or to the inflatable aft marina with your robe. This is a yacht, it’s casual like that. Like many small ships, Ilma spends the summer and fall in the Mediterranean (with some North Sea and Baltic stops in 2025), then the winter months in the Caribbean, and her sister ship, Luminara, which sails in July 2025, will make its way through the Asia-Pacific region.

Unlike her competition — which is getting pretty big now that Four Seasons has debuted a superyacht and Amanresorts is quick on its feet — Ilma somehow feels like a bargain at under $17,000 for a cabin for two on a Med cruise seven nights (compared to, say, a similar Four Seasons itinerary, starting at $24,000), along with one of the most high space-guest and guest-staff ratios at sea. We say that’s the best thing about chartering your own yacht—bonus points for not having to tell anyone you just got home from a cruise. Once you sail the Ilma, you are truly a yachtsman. 7-night Caribbean cruises from $6,400 per person, all-inclusive, based on double occupancy; 7-night Mediterranean cruises from $8,700 per person, all-inclusive, based on double occupancy.