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

Popular Posts all-inclusive sandals barbados

This All-Inclusive Resort Has Swim-Up Suites, White Sand, and the Longest Pool in Barbados

The moment you step out of your transfer, you feel it. The salt-tinged Caribbean air carries the soft fragrance of frangipani and the faint hum of waves rolling ashore. The sand glows white in the late afternoon sun, leading to […]


Historic Puerto Rico Hotel Returning as a Marriott in $35 Million Revival 

puerto rico ponce marriott

Puerto Rico has launched a $35 million project to restore and reopen the historic Hotel Ponce Intercontinental, which will return under Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio brand as The Continental Hotel. The project will revitalize the original structure, preserving its tropical modernist […]


The All-Inclusive Dreams Playa Esmeralda Resort Just Opened in the Dominican Republic 

all-inclusive dreams esmeralda

Dreams Playa Esmeralda, the family-friendly sister resort to the already-launched Secrets Playa Esmeralda, is now open in the Dominican Republic’s burgeoning hotspot of Miches.  Like the Secrets, it’s home to 500 rooms, with a beachfront setting on one of the […]


Related Posts st barth le barthelemy hotel

This Caribbean Festival Has Rare Rhum Agricole, Luxury Villas, and Sunset Parties

The Caribbean’s most spirited celebration is returning to St Barth this fall — and it’s already shaping up to be bigger than ever. The eighth annual edition of the Caribbean Rum Awards St Barth brings together the world’s best rums, […]


This Luxury All-Inclusive Resort Has Oceanfront Rooms, Adults-Only Privacy, and One of the Caribbean’s Most Beautiful Beaches

galley bay

The first thing you notice when you arrive at Galley Bay Resort & Spa is the sound: a symphony of shaking trees, signing birds and rolling waves. Then comes the views: the sugar mill, the lagoon, the perfect beach. The […]


Casa de Campo Is the Only Luxury Resort in the Caribbean With Its Own American Airlines Flight

casa de campo beach

You board your American Airlines flight in Miami, knowing that this isn’t just a trip to the Dominican Republic — it’s a direct journey into Casa de Campo’s world. The plane lands not in a busy capital city, but at […]