The New Art of Cruising by Yacht

Aman at Sea

The floating sanctuary

For the Aman devotee, there is perhaps something wonderfully inevitable about Aman taking to the water. The brand has built its reputation around privacy, serenity, understated design and a feeling of being beautifully removed from the everyday. Its first ocean-going yacht, Amangati, is designed to bring precisely that philosophy to sea.
Launching in 2027, Amangati will accommodate just 94 guests across 47 suites, creating an experience that is closer in spirit to a private yacht than a traditional cruise. Aman describes the vessel as embodying its hallmarks of peace, privacy and genuine hospitality, with expansive suites, immersive wellness and journeys across the Mediterranean and beyond.

And that sense of calm is perhaps the greatest part of the appeal.

Imagine waking to the soft movement of the sea, breakfast without anywhere you need to be, and a day shaped entirely around your own inclination. Perhaps you wander ashore, perhaps you retreat to the spa, or perhaps you simply find a quiet corner and watch the coastline slip past.
Aman is likely to appeal most to those who value privacy above all else, travellers accustomed to beautifully secluded resorts, private villas and a level of service that feels almost invisible. It is less about entertainment and more about space to breathe; less about seeing everything and more about experiencing somewhere deeply.
There is also a sense of anticipation. Amangati has yet to make her maiden voyage, making her arrival one of the most intriguing developments in luxury hospitality at sea. And for those who want something even more intimate, Aman already offers Amandira, its 52-metre traditional Indonesian Phinisi yacht, with just five cabins and a dedicated crew, exploring the remote islands of the Flores Sea, including Komodo and Raja Ampat.

Four Seasons Yachts

The hotel you never have to leave

If you adore the intuitive service of Four Seasons, but have always wondered what it would be like to take that experience with you, Four Seasons Yachts offers a rather beautiful answer.

Four Seasons I made its maiden voyage in March 2026, bringing the brand’s signature hospitality to the sea for the first time. At 207 metres, it has 95 suites, each designed with generous indoor-outdoor living, and a one-to-one guest-to-staff ratio. Many suites feature expansive terraces and private plunge pools, while the design takes its cues from the romance of the golden age of yachting.

What makes the experience distinctive is the feeling of residential living at sea.

Rather than simply moving between destinations, Four Seasons I is designed as somewhere you might genuinely want to spend the day. Floor-to-ceiling windows bring the ocean into view, while terraces blur the line between suite and sea. There is a sense of openness throughout, with spaces designed for lingering rather than simply passing through.

And, naturally, service sits at the heart of it. Four Seasons has brought its instinct for anticipating the guest’s needs into a yacht setting, alongside an emphasis on culinary experiences, integrative wellness, art and design.

For someone who has never cruised before, this is an important distinction. You are not being asked to embrace the traditional cruise experience; you are being invited to experience Four Seasons from a different perspective.

It is perhaps the natural choice for the traveller who loves the familiarity of exceptional hotel service but wants to add something new: waking somewhere different without having to change hotels, watching a Mediterranean sunset from your terrace, then deciding on dinner as the mood takes you.

A second yacht, Four Seasons II, is due to launch in 2028 with just 79 suites and new residential-style accommodation, further expanding the brand’s interpretation of life at sea.

Orient Express Sailing Yachts

The romance of the journey

Some journeys are about the destination. Others are about the delicious anticipation of what lies beyond the horizon.

Orient Express has always understood the romance of the journey, and its arrival at sea feels like a natural continuation of that story. Yet Orient Express Corinthian is perhaps the most theatrical interpretation of yacht cruising.

The 220-metre sailing yacht carries just 110 guests in 54 suites and is, remarkably, the world’s largest sailing yacht in service. Her three immense solid sails create an unmistakable silhouette, combining contemporary naval innovation with the decorative elegance and French craftsmanship associated with Orient Express.

And then there is the sailing itself.

There is something wonderfully romantic about travelling under sail, watching the canvas rise, feeling the yacht respond to the wind and becoming aware of the sea in a way that can be lost on a conventional motor vessel. Orient Express describes Corinthian as a yacht guided by the rhythms of sailing, offering a freer and more intimate way to experience the coast.

Her itineraries currently focus on some of the Mediterranean’s most evocative shores, including the Adriatic, Greek Islands and Rivieras, with destinations such as Venice, Dubrovnik, Portofino, Capri, Palermo and the Côte d’Azur. Every suite has panoramic sea views, ensuring that the scenery remains very much part of the experience.

There is also an artistic sensibility running through the experience, from the design of the yacht itself to its culinary and wellness offerings. A partnership with Guerlain brings a particular focus to wellbeing at sea, while the overall aesthetic feels distinctly French without becoming overly formal.

For the luxury traveller, Orient Express is romantic and design-led – for those who enjoy a sense of occasion, who appreciate craftsmanship and who believe that the journey itself should be part of the story.

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

The freedom to simply go

There is something particularly appealing about The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection for the traveller who wants to dip a toe into yacht cruising without feeling that they have to reinvent the way they holiday.

With three yachts, Evrima, Ilma and Luminara, the collection is now an established presence at sea. Evrima accommodates 298 guests across 149 suites, while Ilma and Luminara each carry fewer than 500 guests, retaining the intimate scale that distinguishes the collection from traditional cruise ships.

The proposition is beautifully straightforward: Ritz-Carlton service, yacht-style freedom and an extraordinary choice of destinations.

The yachts offer all-suite accommodation, private ocean-view terraces, multiple dining venues, a spa and a signature Marina that gives guests direct access to the water. Dining, premium beverages, Wi-Fi, gratuities and water sports are included, creating an experience designed to feel wonderfully uncomplicated once on board.

But perhaps the most compelling reason to choose Ritz-Carlton is the breadth of its itineraries.

The collection travels through the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, while also venturing much farther afield. Upcoming journeys include French Polynesia, Hawaii, the South Pacific and Asia-Pacific, with itineraries designed around both celebrated destinations and smaller, less-visited ports.

There is a lovely sense of possibility here. One day you might be exploring a Greek island; another, stepping ashore in a tiny harbour or kayaking directly from the yacht’s Marina. Some journeys linger overnight in destinations, allowing guests to experience a place after the day-trippers have disappeared. Others are designed around particular passions, from wine and golf to food, culture and adventure.

For someone who has never cruised, this can be the easiest introduction of all. There is no need to compromise on the standards you expect from a luxury hotel, but there is an entirely new way of seeing the world waiting beyond your terrace.