st john ritz carlton
The new Ilma ship.
Caribbean

Ritz-Carlton’s New Luxury “Yacht” Is Now In San Juan, Puerto Rico for the Season 

By: Guy Britton - November 26, 2024 - 6:05 pm

Don’t call it a cruise ship. Ritz-Carlton’s new luxury “yacht” is officially in the Caribbean, with its new “Ilma” making its inaugural call in San Juan, Puerto Rico. 

The ship will be home-porting out of San Juan this season, with a total of 11 different sailings between now and March 2025. 

The luxury megayacht has five eateries, six different bars and lounges and a boutique capacity for just under 450 passengers. 

The all-suite ship is what Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection calls a “private oasis at sea.” Rooms range from the 294-square-foot “terrace” suite to the 1,033-square-foot “owners suite.” Suites come with king bed “sleep systems” as standard, along with bathrooms with modern showers and double vanities. You also get an espresso machine in your room, a mini bar and access to a personal concierge. 

It’s the second yacht for Ritz-Carlton, which made its first foray into luxury small-ship cruising with its Evrima yacht. 

“The inclusion of San Juan in the itineraries of these iconic vessels strengthens our tourism sector and contributes to the Island’s economic growth by diversifying and expanding our luxury travel offerings,” said Carlos Mercado Santiago, the executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, in a statement provided to Caribbean Journal. 

So what does Ilma cost? 

Prices start at $9,700 per person for a seven-night itinerary out of San Juan, stopping in Caribbean ports including St John, St Maarten, St Kitts, Guadeloupe and Martinique. 

Bear in mind that you’ll have to fly to San Juan to take the cruise. 

You can find more here

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