This Superyacht-inspired Ship Is the Perfect Vacation for First-time Cruisers — Here's Our Full Review of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection's Ilma

As a yachting journalist, I’ve been fairly skeptical about the new wave of cruise ships calling themselves "superyachts." Mainly because, in line with maritime regulations, private yachts can sleep just 12 guests.

Superyachts don't typically sleep 298 people, as in the case of Evrima, the first in the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection that launched in 2022. The second in the fleet, Ilma, which started sailing in summer 2024, can accommodate even more: 448.

It took about 30 hours on Ilma — during a preview sailing from Barcelona to Monaco — for my cynicism to thaw. As my sister, who was traveling with me, and I clinked together our flutes of Möet & Chandon Champagne, we took in the view of Saint-Tropez. Apart from the barman, we had the entire Marina Terrace at the aft (rear) of the third deck to ourselves.

Two shell doors, one on either side of the ship, fold out to create an intimate seating platform above the waterline. The portholes point down, so we could see directly into the water below us.

It was the first time I’d seen such an overwater nook on a cruise ship, although it’s fairly common on private yachts. It quickly became my go-to spot. Every time I returned, I had it all to myself.

The ability to find your own space, even on a busy sailing, is by design. Building on the success of Evrima, where 50 percent of the guests are new to vacations on the water, Ritz-Carlton continues to court the non-cruise crowd with Ilma.

So you won't find a single buffet or theater on board. But you will find that most of the fourth deck has been given over to the fitness, spa, and wellness space (which, after listening to guest feedback, has been made four times bigger than on Evrima and includes a cycling studio).

You’ll also find a floating swim platform so expansive that it takes three hours to inflate. The deep-blue Mediterranean Sea was so deliciously fresh compared to the temperature of the two onboard plunge pools that I spent almost an entire afternoon lounging on the AquaBanas, as this inflatable pool area attached to the stern of the boat, is called.

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection CEO Jim Murren, who sailed with us, said the AquaBanas cost “not a million, but close to it."

“We’re breaking new ground here,” Murren told me over coffee one morning in The Living Room, the social hub of the ship. “We want to continue to emphasize the yachting experience as opposed to the cruise experience. And, what our passengers continue to tell us, is just how important this connection they have to the sea itself is.”

How many cruise ships have a "beach club" (as the space is known in yachting circles), an outdoor lounge at the stern of the vessel with stairs descending into the water?

“We interviewed thousands of people in terms of what they would expect to see and experience if they were to be on a yacht,” Murren continues. “Each decision, down to the floral arrangements, has been made with a lot of research behind it.”

That explains everything from the sleek profile of the vessel to the wines, many of them the same names you’ll find poured on a charter yacht. It’s clear Murren and his colleagues have immersed themselves in the yachting world. There’s also no doubt that Ilma ticks a lot of the boxes that yachts do — even if I still can’t bring myself to call it as such.

Here’s my in-depth review of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection's Ilma:

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection's Ilma

• The AquaBanas inflatable swim platform makes the ship truly feel like a yacht.

• The spacious suites bear more resemblance to a stylish city apartment than a boxy cruise ship cabin.

• The 700-piece art collection, a mix of works procured at auction and bespoke commissions.

• The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection continues to attract first-time cruisers; 50 percent of those sailing on Evrima, Ilma's sibling ship, are new to vacations on the water. There's not a buffet or theater to be seen.

The Staterooms

Ilma has nine categories of suites, each with a balcony. We stayed in a Grand Suite on the sixth deck, which has an extended terrace with plenty of space for a pair of chairs and a pair of sun loungers. An increase in overall suites from Evrima (224 versus 149) means Ritz-Carlton has been able to bump up the number of Owner’s Suites on Ilma to eight. These top-tier offerings have a Jacuzzi and outdoor shower, as well as prime forward- or aft-facing views.

I haven’t slept so well — or in anything so spacious — at sea. Sliding doors close off the bedroom from the living room with a separate lounge and dining area. The elegant, residential feel is a Ritz-Carlton hallmark. Luxury is in the details: Diptyque toiletries, Dyson Supersonic hair dryers, king-size Frette mattresses. Should you get up during the night, an automatic spotlight lights up under the bedside table, soft enough not to disturb your travel companion. I also counted an impressive 24 coat hangers each in our twin walk-in wardrobe areas: plenty to hang our assortment of swishy dresses for early evening aperitifs at Mistral Bar on the top deck.

Bars and Restaurants

When Murren talks about the lessons learned from Evrima, culinary experiences top the list. “With Ilma, we knew we had to deliver at an extraordinarily high level, but we also knew we wanted new ideas and diversity,” he said.

The result is five dining venues — and two celebrated chefs making their debut at sea. Michael Mina’s Beach House has a breezy indoor-outdoor setting and a broad Pan-Latin and Caribbean brief, although, in reality, Mina is free to “make his menu very flexible depending on the time of year in the region where Ilma happens to be," Murren said.

Acclaimed chef Fabio Trabocchi’s elegant Italian dinner venue, Seta Su Ilma, is tucked away next to the private dining room. We ate our way through the intricate degustation menu in four hours — the chef’s signature lobster ravioli was among our favorite dishes. It’s the only restaurant with an extra charge ($350 including wine pairing) and the crew recommends booking as soon as you board. My advice? Come hungry.

The miso-glazed black cod at Memori, the Asian-fusion venue with a buzzy downtown restaurant vibe, is another stand-out, although it’s the simplest dish of all that left the biggest impression on me: two gigantic grilled jumbo shrimps, seasoned with little more than esplette pepper and served with aioli at the Mediterranean-inspired Mistral restaurant. Fresh and juicy, the meal was the perfect match to the blindingly blue Côte d’Azur skies.

The ship has seven bars, including my favorite spot, Marina Terrace, and the pool bars of the Beach House and Mistral, where the uniform is swimmers and bare feet. The spot for a nightcap is The Living Room, which hosts a soft-rock cover band each night.

Where Ilma Sails

After its inaugural season in the Mediterranean, Ilma, in true superyacht fashion, is heading to the Caribbean for a winter program that toggles between longer inter-island itineraries and teaser-like three- and four-day return port sailings. Next spring Ilma will return across the pond to the Med, before straying far from the crowds during the high-season months of July and August to cruise coolcation spots in Northern Europe and Scandinavia. There’s currently nothing beyond a crossing from Lisbon to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on sale for October 2025, although that sailing suggests the boat will be back in the Caribbean for winter 2025/26.

Shore Excursions

Shore excursion options for our two days in Saint-Tropez included walking tours, seafood tastings, and vineyard visits. They all sounded very tempting, but the hands-on nature of a cooking class at the patisserie of acclaimed French chef Cyril Lignac won out. From the port, it’s a short drive to Lignac’s shop in a typically Provençal stone house on the outskirts of town. Our small group of eight spent two hours piping meringues and choux pastry and playing with cream, salted caramel, and edible flowers for decoration. We left laden with tasty treats.

Getting on and off the boat, even at anchor, is blissfully stress-free. “I don’t feel herded at all,” my sister said to me as we took the tender back on board. The relaxed setup is designed so guests retain their independence — all the way down to the timing of the last tender run at 1:30 a.m. in the morning during our overnight in Saint-Tropez.

Amenities and Entertainment

Ritz-Carlton is making a strong case for spending as much time on board Ilma as possible. Why make a reservation at Club 55 or another of the jet-set beach clubs along Saint-Tropez’s buttercream-sand beach, Plage de Pampelonne, when there’s a DJ, plunge pool, sun loungers, and Whispering Angel rosé flowing under the afternoon sun at the Beach House?

Any hint of excess is balanced out by the wellness zones, all supersized from Evrima, including the spa which has 11 treatment rooms (compared to Evrima’s five). There’s no pickleball court, although the bow, with yards of gorgeous teak, is big enough to fit two of them. Instead, it was the setting for an energetic 9 a.m. total body workout class with fitness guru Amanda Kloots, who was onboard especially for our sailing.

The retail alley is small, but carefully curated and includes just a few luxury names, including a Bulgari boutique and vintage handbags from What Goes Around Comes Around. Perhaps the only single item onboard more valuable than the Bulgari jewels or the preloved luxury Hermès Birkins on sale were pieces from the 700-strong art collection, such as the Picasso and Andy Warhol works hanging in The Living Room or the David Hockney original at the entrance to the spa.

Family-friendly Offerings

Children over six months are welcome on board (although for sailings longer than three days, the minimum age is one). I was pleasantly surprised to find baby changing tables in some of the public area bathrooms. There aren’t any connecting suites on Ilma, but there are suite categories with a fold-out sofa. I meet a trio of bubbly Ritz Kids crew ready to entertain the handful of children on our sailing with activities such as crafts and board games in The Ritz Kids hub. The Ritz Kids area doubles as a meeting room and is smaller than the children's area on Evrima.

Accessibility

Amenities in Ilma’s five ADA compliant suites include larger doorways, an automatic entrance door, a shower seat, and grab bars in the toilet and shower areas. Tip: accessible suite 631 on deck six has the largest terrace.

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