Swanky soirees, tasty meals and gleeful splashes in shimmering seas are the stuff of unforgettable European summer holidays. To experience it with the swish Ilma, the second ship to be launched under The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection , sets a very high bar for future cruises. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection debuted in October 2022 with the 149-suite superyacht Evrima.

The second vessel Ilma officially launched in September before which CNA Luxury was on a three-night media preview voyage from Barcelona t o Monte Carlo, with an overnight stop in Saint Tropez. In 2025, the Ilma will embark on itineraries in the Baltic Sea and northern Europe, visiting cities like Amsterdam, Stockholm and Reykjavik. A third ship, the 226-suite Luminara, is launching in July 2025 and will make its way to Asia by year end starting with a 14-night, Singapore to Hong Kong voyage.

At 790 feet, Ilma is comparable or even larger than competitors such as the latest ones under Regent Seven Seas, Oceania and Seabourne. But it has far fewer rooms and one of the highest staff-to-guest ratio (almost 1:1). There are only 224 suites for 448 guests, so it never felt crowded whether I was lounging by the main pool, having coffee at Deck 5’s Living Room, or dining in one of the five dining venues.

The sleek blue-and-white vessel felt like the residence of sophisticated art-loving owners who can’t wait to throw a fun pool party at every chance. Bright and seamless indoor-outdoor spaces are enlivened by pops .