First, let's be clear: there is no official set limit for yacht size these days. Jeff Bezos' personal toy float, Kuro, is 417 feet long and holds 18 people. Meanwhile, most sea dogs insist that 12 passengers is the maximum for a private yacht. However, the Ritz-Carlton is different: it has two new ships (and another on the way) to prove it. Aiming to introduce the “yacht lifestyle” to travelers who would never have considered cruising, Marriott's luxury brand launched a brand expansion and its first superyacht in October 2022.
The 149-cabin, 624-foot yacht Evrima was such a success that the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Group immediately decided to ship another yacht. Less than two years later, Elma was bobbing in Monte Carlo harbor, preparing for her maiden voyage. It's sleek and Mediterranean blue on the outside, and presents a beautiful yacht-like silhouette, albeit a bit longer (at 790 feet) than its big sister, especially when moored alongside other leisure vessels that use the same term. But don't worry about the bulk; All this space comes in handy if you want to squeeze in five restaurants, seven bars, two swimming pools and 667 pieces of art, including a Picasso. Anyone concerned that the Elma might look like a cruise ship with mass appeal should dismiss that notion, given its eight guest decks.
Basic cabins are just under 300 square feet, not including the 50- to 110-square-foot balconies. (We dare you to find a better place to enjoy a sea nap.) You'd be forgiven for thinking you're on a cool friend's boat, with a separate shower, bathtub and toilet room in the bathrooms, an indoor dining area and a spacious living room separated from the bedroom with a sliding bulkhead in most Cabins. Do you prefer to pack three outfits for each day? Go for it. Almost all of them provide occupants with drawers and cabinets in every direction they look, two large closets, and an army of hangers ready to battle a complete emptying. (The Pavilion Ambassador will gladly take the lead.)
Tasteful but oversized TVs, a complimentary fully stocked refrigerator, full-size toiletries, comfortable sofas and thoughtful lighting (one switch for all the bedroom lights and another for everything else) complete the calming, luxurious effect. Combined with the neutral color palette, these spacious cabins somehow manage to convey a clean vibe. But eventually you will want to leave your beautiful suite. You will encounter Wander Ilma and all kinds of diversions that you definitely will not find in Koru. There's Michael Cena's beach house, all mead party cool; Seta su Ilma from Fabio Trabocchi ($250 per person without wine pairing, $350 with, which is a steal for 13 courses at the Grand Prix); The aft marina terrace for cocktails, with “pavilions” jutting out to form an outdoor seating area for a stunning view; And a fitness center filled with Technogym equipment that would put most resort gyms to shame.
Climb upstairs and you'll find an observation deck and above that, a pleasant swimming pool whose sunken beds beg for a lounge; Scroll down and you'll find a gym and movement studio, where, if your schedules line up, former professional dancer Amanda Kloots leads low-weight, high-rep workouts that (if her body is any indicator) will have you looking like a rocket within a week. Extend it after a massage featuring luxurious Espa products, or during a facial with London's luxurious 111Skin line. Return to your cabin or to the inflatable dock aft in your gown. This is a yacht, it's casual like that. Like many small ships, Ilma spends the summer and fall in the Mediterranean (with some stops in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea in 2025), then the winter months in the Caribbean, and her sister ship Luminara will sail in July 2025. Making her way through the region Asia Pacific.
Unlike its competition — which is somewhat sharp now that Four Seasons has debuted a luxury yacht and Amanresorts is quick on its keel — the Elma somehow looks like a bargain at under $17,000 for a cabin for two on a 2-hour Mediterranean sailing trip. Seven nights (compared to, say, a similar Four Seasons itinerary, starting at $24,000), along with one of the highest space-to-guest and room-to-guest ratios To employees at sea. We say this is the next best thing to chartering your own yacht – bonus points for never having to tell anyone you just got home from a cruise. After cruising on Elma Island, you truly become a yacht. 7-night Caribbean cruises from USD 6,400 per person, all-inclusive, based on double occupancy; 7-night Mediterranean cruises from US$8,700 per person, all-inclusive, based on double occupancy.
