For travelers considering alternatives to traditional big-ship cruise experiences, the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection offers a small-ship option that brings five-star hotel service standards to the water. Having sailed extensively on various luxury lines, I found Ilma, the second yacht of the fleet, to be a solid entry into luxury “yachting.”But I was sailing with the intention to discover if I liked it more than Explora Journeys, a favorite of our family as well as many of our clients. So my Ritz Carlton Yacht review will serve as a comparison between the two.
Itineraries and Port Selection
The collection focuses on Caribbean and Mediterranean routes, with an emphasis on longer port stays and occasional overnight dockings. The seasonal calendar follows the standard pattern: Caribbean in winter, Mediterranean in summer. Routes through Asia and Alaska will be joining the ranks soon.
If you are new to yacht sailing, one of the perks is the ability to stop at much smaller ports than those the larger ships are limited to. Guests take tenders from the boat to the dock or marina in that destination for the day.
For example our Ritz Carlton Yacht itinerary explored the Bahamas, so in addition to Nassau where there is a large cruise port, we were able to dock at the Exumas and Bimini and the Abacos where there are no ports.
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About the Ilma, The Ritz Carlton Yacht’s second ship
Ilma accommodates only 448 guests, which does create a more intimate atmosphere than larger vessels. The crew-to-guest ratio is favorable, and this is where the yacht experience truly excels—service is consistently strong. The staff demonstrates genuine attentiveness and professionalism, learning preferences quickly and magically around every corner ready to assist with spa reservations, dining, and cabin requests.
The Best Ritz Carlton Yacht Cabins For Families
Ilma’s cabins are very comfortable and well-appointed with quality materials and thoughtful layouts. Beds are excellent, storage is extensive, and amenities are high-end. However, the spaces feel somewhat impersonal—there’s a generic luxury hotel quality to them that lacks character or distinctive design. They’re pleasant to inhabit but not particularly memorable.
Amenities include Frette linens and robes, Diptyque bath products, and Nespresso machines—standard for this market segment. The Grand Cabins offer dual walk-in closets and larger soaking tubs. The highest category of cabins on this ship, however, didn’t really deliver the wow factor that the top cabins on Explora do. So if you like sailing the Owner’s Cabins, I would divert you to Explora instead.
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For families, Ilma and Luminara have no connecting cabins. Signature and Grand Cabins above the entry level Terrace Suites can have a single sofa bed for a total of three. All cabins above these have a double sofa and take four per cabin. The Evrima, the collection’s first ship, has a short list of connecting options.
As of this writing, kids under the age of 15 receive a discount in their voyage fare, but reach out to us for your cruise quote.
Service Standards
The crew-to-guest ratio allows for personalized attention, and staff anticipated needs appropriately without being intrusive. Our suite attendant learned preferences quickly, and restaurant service was professional and warm. We never experienced a glitch in consistently good service.
We sat at the sushi bar the first night and one of the sushi chefs kept making us special, off-the-menu treats. When we had a request for one of the guitarists during dinner, the guitarist came over, introduced himself, and took our suggestions seriously though he was at the end of his set.
Dining
The dining program is comprehensive, with multiple restaurants offering different cuisines. Quality is consistently good across venues, and we found our meals to be one of the best parts of our sailing.
The in-room dining was delicious and prompt, and the casual grab and go cafe’s daily gelato flavors were delicious and a daily highlight. I was impressed that even the takeaway casual food included lobster, caviar, and other premium ingredients.
All restaurants have menus that rotate every three days beyond staple items.
Memori, the sushi bar, stands out as the strongest dining venue. The intimate counter seating and skilled chefs deliver quality preparations. The fish was fresh, rice properly seasoned, and specialty rolls balanced creativity with traditional techniques.
Beach House serves Latin inspired cuisine in a casual setting overlooking the pool deck. Mistral serves Mediterranean fare, accompanied by live music during dinner service.
Seta Su Ilma is their fine dining option, with an Italian tasting menu curated by Michelin-starred chef Fabio Trabocchi. We enjoyed our food, though not as much as we might have hoped given the hefty price tag; however, if you book your sailing with us, you’ll get this nine-course meal as a complimentary perk!
The Pools
One of the advantages of sailing yachts instead of larger boats are desginated marina days. Our marina day in the Abacos was well-executed—the platform lowers to sea level, providing access to water sports equipment including kayaks, paddleboards, and jet skis. Inflatable seating and sun covers create a large floating patio.
Wind conditions can vary day to day throughout the year, and little to no wind makes these marina days really enjoyable. Our marina day was just windy enough that we opted for the spa instead.
The single pool on the top deck is adequate, surrounded by loungers but we preferred the aft pool where one could enjoy lunch from the Beach Club restaurant of fusion Latin specialties.
The aft pool off of the Beach Club restaurant was pleasant, but I was sad there was no hot tub in this area. The loungers fill up and get taken by the early risers.
Family Programming and Entertainment
Here’s where the parents need to be realistic about what family friendly means.
The Ritz Kids Club is only offered on Evrima for ages 4 to 12, while the Ilma and Illumina offer a sparse list of activities for ages 6 to 12. The Ilma and Illuminara ships have age-appropriate activities like art workshops, cooking classes, and marine biology sessions, but programming is limited and not continuous. You will need to plan on being your children’s primary entertainment.
The entertainment situation for all guests is similarly sparse. Trivia programs on our sailing ran only thirty minutes and were frequently scheduled during dinner, making participation nearly impossible. There are no pool tables, no bar games, no theater productions, and limited group activities beyond live music in lounges and occasional lectures.
The lovely lounge has a large collection of board games to play, and I saw parents on our sailing attempting to make the best of a family backgammon game one afternoon. I’ll state the obvious, this is not a Disney cruise.
This minimalist approach works for adults who prefer conversations and cocktails and quiet evenings, but for families, this creates a burden that many won’t want to shoulder throughout a week-long voyage. Pack family favorite games or a really challenging Lego set for your cabin.
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Wellness Facilities
The fourth-deck spa, salon, and fitness area is impressively thorough for a vessel this size. Given the ship’s scale, these wellness facilities don’t feel compromised—they’re as complete as you’d find on much larger vessels.
The spa is spacious and thorough in its offerings, with a comprehensive treatment menu and skilled therapists offering skin care and massage treatments.
The salon provides full services, and the fitness center is notably well-equipped with modern machines and ample space, not the cramped afterthought you sometimes find on small ships. I did miss exterior windows to the sea during my workout, however.
The fitness center is genuinely spacious with modern equipment and ocean views, making workouts more tolerable.
One notable omission: there’s no hot tub anywhere on the ship—not in the spa, not by the pools. For a vessel at this price point, this is a puzzling gap. After port days or in the evenings, a hot tub would be a natural gathering spot and relaxation option.
Final Thoughts OF MY RITZ CARLTON YACHT REVIEW
The minimal entertainment and limited family programming remain significant drawbacks for families with kids who are not yet 16 and into wellness to entertain themselves. For the same intimate luxury experience with better options for families, Explora Journeys I feel still offers a more compelling package without needing to jump to big ship lines like Disney or Royal Caribbean.
Yet, Ilma delivers consistently strong service, reliably good dining across all restaurants, very comfortable (if impersonal) accommodations, and impressive wellness facilities for its size. These are meaningful strengths. Ilma works well for couples or close friends who need nothing beyond conversation and good meals, a spa, and a great gym. It’s a perfect break.
I’d say the Ritz Carlton Yacht is truly the ultimate girls’ getaway trip which is why we’re hosting one in 2027! Interested, get on the list for details!
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