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Ritz-Carlton venturing into cruising
Luxury hotel group, Ritz-Carlton, is moving into the cruise market with three cruising yachts.
The Marriott-owned brand has announced the launch of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection in partnership with Oaktree Capital Management and with the help of maritime experts Douglas Prothero and Lars Clasen.
The first of three yachts is scheduled to set sail in the fourth quarter of 2019, with bookings being taken from May 2018.
"The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection will have a distinctive personality and the vessels are sure to be true stand outs in some of the most glamorous ports around the world," said Herve Humler, president and chief operating officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.
"This unique combination of yachting and cruising will usher in a new way of luxury travel for guests seeking to discover the world in a relaxed, casually elegant and comfortable atmosphere with the highest level of personalised service."
The first yacht will accommodate up to 298 passengers in 149 suites, each with its own private balcony, including two 138 square-meter duplex penthouse suites.
It will also have 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.
Cruises will range from seven to 10 days and will call at ‘intimate and signature destinations alike’, according to the announcement.
Due to the small size of the yachts, they will be able to call at locations like Capri, Portofino, St. Barths and the old town of Cartagena, it added.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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