How Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Aman, and Orient Express are taking five-star hotels to sea.
If you already love staying at a Ritz-Carlton, a Four Seasons, an Aman, or an Orient Express hotel, you may be about to meet your next favorite way to travel. All four brands have taken their hospitality to the water. Three of them are already sailing, and Aman's first yacht arrives in spring 2027.
I recently sat down with the teams selling these yachts, and one idea kept coming back: these are not cruise ships with higher thread counts. They are closer to floating luxury hotels. Every guest stays in a suite, the yachts are far smaller than the mainstream ships you may be picturing, and the service is built around the way a five-star hotel runs. The difference is that your hotel takes you somewhere new each day, but you only unpack once.
Each brand has its own personality, though, and the right one depends on who is traveling and how you like to spend your days. This guide walks through all four so you can narrow the field before we ever talk about dates.
What you'll learn in this guide
Why a luxury yacht feels more like a five-star hotel than a traditional cruise ship
What sets the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Four Seasons Yachts, Aman at Sea, and Orient Express apart from one another
When each yacht launched, or when it is expected to
What is included in the fare on each yacht, and what is not
Which yacht suits families, multigenerational groups, couples, and travelers who want to pair a sailing with a land stay
How to choose the right one for your next trip
Why these yachts feel like floating hotels
Think about how a stay at a great hotel actually works. Someone knows your name when you arrive, your room is a proper suite instead of a box with a bed, and the staff seem to be everywhere without ever hovering. That is the model these four brands have taken to sea, and it shows up in a few ways.
Every guest stays in a suite. There are no standard cabins here. On the Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, and Aman yachts, every suite has its own terrace, and Orient Express suites look out to sea through large panoramic windows.
The staffing looks like a hotel's. Four Seasons promises one staff member for every guest. Orient Express cites 173 crew for up to 110 guests, and Aman cites 207 staff for 94 guests.
Smaller size means different ports. These yachts can slip into harbors and anchorages that big ships skip, and the brands plan around late arrivals, overnight stays, and quiet bays instead of crowded cruise terminals.
The yacht itself is part of the destination. Marina platforms open the back of the ship to the sea for swimming and paddleboarding, and onboard spaces are designed like a hotel's lounges, libraries, and restaurants rather than a ship's public decks.
A quick note on scale so there are no surprises. The Ritz-Carlton yachts are the largest of the four, carrying up to 452 guests on Luminara, while Aman's Amangati will carry just 94. Both are still far smaller than the mainstream ships most people picture, but the feel at 94 guests and the feel at 450 are not the same, and that is worth knowing before you choose.
Luminara against a glacier backdrop in Alaska
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection: familiar hospitality with room to spread out
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is the largest of the four and the only one already sailing more than one yacht. Evrima set sail in 2022, Ilma followed in 2024, and Luminara joined in 2025. Every suite on all three has a private terrace, so your morning coffee happens above the water instead of down a corridor.
The atmosphere is polished but relaxed, the same casual elegance you would expect at a Ritz-Carlton resort. Public spaces are generous, with Ilma and Luminara each offering five restaurants and six bars, and the brand says about one in four guests has sailed with them before.
The itineraries are also the widest of the group, with the Mediterranean, Caribbean, French Polynesia, Japan, Southeast Asia, Alaska, and Northern Europe all highlighted. For families, the brand offers Ritz Kids programming and welcomes children within capacity limits, and the newer yachts add larger suite categories that give a family more room to settle in.
Quick facts
Launched: Evrima in 2022, Ilma in 2024, Luminara in 2025
Size: Evrima has 149 suites and up to 298 guests, Ilma has 224 suites and up to 448 guests, and Luminara has 226 suites and up to 452 guests
Typical sailings: 3 to 15 nights, with many around 6 to 7 nights
All-inclusive? Mostly. Food and beverages are included except at the specialty restaurant, along with Wi-Fi, gratuities, and a dedicated suite ambassador. Spa treatments, shore excursions, and retail are extra
Best for: Families and multigenerational groups, couples who enjoy a lively social atmosphere, and travelers who want the widest choice of destinations. It has been popular with younger travelers who are new to cruising!
Four Seasons I rendering
Four Seasons Yachts: a residence at sea
Of the four, Four Seasons Yachts is the one that most literally feels like a hotel that happens to float. Four Seasons I set sail on March 20, 2026, with a second yacht planned for 2028. Its 95 residential-style suites all have floor-to-ceiling windows and private terraces, and the brand says each one offers more living space per guest than any other ship at sea. The team keeps a one-to-one ratio of staff to guests, which is the kind of number you usually only see at a very small resort.
Then there is the space itself. The largest suite, the Funnel Suite, spans four levels inside the yacht's glass-enclosed funnel. Eleven restaurants and lounges keep the days varied, a transverse marina opens both sides of the yacht to the water, and select 2026 voyages bring in rotating chefs from Four Seasons restaurants around the world.
This is also the yacht with the strongest pull for families and multigenerational groups. Suites connect through modular walls, which means a family or a group of friends can reserve an entire side of a deck, and the brand offers youth programming and flexible occupancy in its suites. Voyages typically run 5, 7, or 9 nights, you can link sailings back to back, and the itineraries favor smaller harbors, late arrivals, and overnight calls over crowded stops. Pre- and post-voyage stays at Four Seasons hotels can be added to round out the trip.
One thing to plan for: Four Seasons Yachts is priced per suite rather than per guest, and it works like a hotel on the dining side. Breakfast, Wi-Fi, and gratuities are included, while lunch, dinner, and drinks are generally billed separately. If you like the freedom of ordering what you want when you want it, that is a feature. If you prefer one fare that covers everything, keep it in mind.
Quick facts
Launched: March 20, 2026, with a second yacht planned for 2028
Size: 95 suites, each with a private terrace, and a one-to-one staff-to-guest ratio
Typical sailings: 5, 7, or 9 nights, with the option to combine sailings
All-inclusive? No. Breakfast, Wi-Fi, and gratuities are included, while lunch, dinner, and drinks are generally additional
Best for: Families and multigenerational groups, and travelers who love space, privacy, and a residential feel
Amangati rendering
Aman at Sea: the quietest of the four
Aman at Sea is the one to watch if your idea of luxury is stillness. Its first yacht, Amangati, is scheduled to set sail in spring 2027, and reservations are already open. The maiden sailing is a six-night voyage from Palma de Mallorca to Nice.
Amangati carries just 94 guests in 47 suites, and the suites are generous, ranging from about 730 to 3,800 square feet, each with its own terrace. The brand cites 207 staff for those 94 guests, and the design draws on the calm of a Japanese ryokan. If you have stayed at an Aman, you already know the feeling: space, quiet, and service that never announces itself.
What makes the itineraries stand out is the rhythm. Standard sailings have no scheduled sea days, so your time goes to ports and long stays ashore rather than open water. Voyages run 5 to 8 nights through the Adriatic, the French Riviera, the Dalmatian Coast, and the Greek Isles, with special sailings built around events like the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix. A Caribbean season follows in the winter of 2027 to 2028.
Aman at Sea is the most adult-focused of the four. Children are permitted, but the suites are generally designed for two, so it is best suited to couples, honeymooners, and celebrations for two rather than larger family groups.
Quick facts
Launching: Spring 2027, with Mediterranean sailings first
Size: 47 suites, up to 94 guests, each suite with a private terrace
Typical sailings: 5 to 8 nights, with no scheduled sea days on standard itineraries
All-inclusive? Mostly. Main restaurant meals, Wi-Fi, laundry, and gratuities are included. Specialty restaurants, spa treatments, shore excursions, and retail are extra
Best for: Couples, honeymooners, and travelers who prioritize privacy, wellness, and time in port
Corinthian at sail
Orient Express Sailing Yachts: the golden age of travel, under sail
Orient Express Corinthian is the showpiece for anyone who loves design and a good story. The brand calls it the world's largest sailing yacht, at more than 700 feet with three masts, and it began sailing in the summer of 2026. A sister yacht, Olympian, is projected for 2027.
The scale is still intimate: 54 suites and up to 110 guests, with a crew of 173. The suites run from roughly 485 to nearly 2,500 square feet, and the interiors borrow from the Art Deco spirit of the legendary Orient Express trains. Onboard you will find restaurants from Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alléno, a hidden speakeasy inspired by the Roaring Twenties, a cabaret, a library of 1,500 books, and a small cinema. The aim is a grand hotel in the Orient Express tradition, set afloat.
This is also the easiest of the four to try. Sailings often run just 3 to 4 nights, with longer voyages available, so a Corinthian sailing slots neatly onto a land trip in Italy or the Mediterranean. Itineraries highlight the Mediterranean, the Adriatic, the Amalfi Coast, Sardinia, and the Caribbean, and the pace is built around anchorages rather than busy ports. Because Orient Express also operates trains and hotels, it is a natural fit for travelers who want a land-and-sea trip under one name.
Families are welcome on select family-friendly sailings with children's programming, though the focus is on couples and adults, with the holidays the main family emphasis.
Quick facts
Launched: Summer 2026, with a sister yacht, Olympian, projected for 2027
Size: 54 suites and up to 110 guests
Typical sailings: 3 to 4 nights, with longer voyages and the option to combine sailings
All-inclusive? Largely. Dining, beverages, Wi-Fi, laundry, and gratuities are included, along with select destination experiences ashore. The signature restaurant, spa, and additional excursions are extra
Best for: Design and culinary lovers, couples, and travelers who want a short sailing to pair with a European land stay
How the four compare
Here is how the four differ on the questions that matter most when you are choosing. Each point stands on its own, so jump to the one you care about.
Size and intimacy:
Aman's Amangati is the smallest, with 47 suites and up to 94 guests
Orient Express Corinthian with 54 suites and up to 110 guests
Four Seasons I has 95 suites accommodations up to 222 guests (Four Seasons II will launch in 2028)
Ritz-Carlton yachts are the largest, with 149 suites on Evrima (298 guests), 224 suites on Ilma (448 guests), and 226 suites on Luminara (452 guests)
Key Takeaway: The smaller the yacht, the more it feels like a private club. The larger the yacht, the more variety you get in restaurants, bars, and company.
Families and multigenerational groups:
Four Seasons Yachts has the strongest family focus, with connecting suites that can take over an entire side of a deck, youth programming, and flexible occupancy.
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is a close second, with Ritz Kids programming and larger suites on its newer yachts.
Orient Express offers children's programming on select family-friendly sailings, though it leans more adult-friendly
Aman is primarily geared toward couples and adults.
Sailing length and pairing with a land trip:
Orient Express is the shortest and easiest to add on, with sailings often just 3 to 4 nights. Very easy to add to a land itinerary.
Aman will run 5 to 8 nights.
Four Seasons averages 5, 7, or 9 nights and lets you link sailings together. They also allows pre- and post-voyage stays at their hotels, which makes a land-and-sea trip simple to build.
Ritz-Carlton offers the most range, from 3 to 15 nights.
What is included:
The Ritz-Carlton includes food and beverages except at its specialty restaurant.
Aman includes main restaurant meals, with Wi-Fi and gratuities included on both. Spa, shore excursions, and specialty dining extra.
Orient Express goes furthest on inclusions, covering dining, beverages, laundry, and select destination experiences, with its signature restaurant and spa extra.
Four Seasons is the exception: it includes breakfast, Wi-Fi, and gratuities, and charges for lunch, dinner, and drinks like a hotel would.
Itinerary style:
Four Seasons builds around smaller harbors, late arrivals, and overnight stays.
Aman has no scheduled sea days on standard itineraries, so you are in port rather than at sea.
Orient Express favors slow sailing and anchorages
Ritz-Carlton covers the widest map, from the Mediterranean and Caribbean to Japan, Southeast Asia, Alaska, and French Polynesia.
When each is sailing? The Ritz-Carlton has been sailing since 2022, with Ilma added in 2024 and Luminara in 2025. Four Seasons I launched in March 2026 and Orient Express Corinthian in the summer of 2026. Aman's Amangati is the newest arrival, set for spring 2027, so it is the one to book early if it is on your list.
Which luxury yacht is right for you?
A few simple scenarios usually point to the right yacht quickly.
You are planning a multigenerational trip or a family milestone. Four Seasons Yachts is a strong option, where connecting suites can give your whole group its own side of a deck. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is another great option with convertible and connecting suites, especially if you want a wider choice of destinations and all-inclusive dining.
You want a honeymoon, anniversary, or quiet celebration for two. Look at Aman at Sea if you can wait for spring 2027 and want the most privacy and calm, or Orient Express if you want romance with a touch of old-world glamour.
You are curious about yachts but not ready for a full week. Orient Express sailings of 3 to 4 nights are the easiest way in, and they pair well with a stay in Italy or elsewhere on the Mediterranean.
You want the widest map. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection sails to the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Alaska, Japan, Southeast Asia, and French Polynesia, so it has the most to offer if your list of places is long.
You like to order dining as you go, like at a hotel. Four Seasons Yachts works this way, with breakfast included and everything else billed separately. If you would rather have most of it covered up front, the Ritz-Carlton, Aman, and Orient Express are built that way.
You are drawn to design, history, and a good story. Orient Express is the one to look at, with its Art Deco inspiration and the legacy of the legendary trains.
If you see yourself in more than one of these, that is completely normal. The best choice often comes down to the time of year, the number of nights, and who is traveling, and that is exactly where a conversation with a luxury travel advisor helps.
Ready to plan a sailing?
If you’ve made it this far — congratulations! You will be sailing in no time. The easiest way to get started is to tell me who is traveling, roughly how many nights you would like, and whether you intend to incorporate a traditional land itinerary pre or post. From there I can narrow four yachts down to the one or two that fit.
HOW CAN I ADD VALUE? In addition to my knowledge of the ships and product, I can also add additional amenities to your sailing, such as additional onboard credits. Details vary by yacht and sailing, so reach out and I will share the specifics for your dates.
Fill out my inquiry form to get started, and I would be happy to set up a complimentary consultation call. If you are still deciding whether a travel advisor is right for you, I wrote about how to know.
Note: The details included in this blog post were accurate at time of publication. Inclusions, routing, and availability are subject to change. Please reach out to Sarah Smoak Travels for the most up-to-date information!
