Hotel brand Four Seasons hopes to bring its luxury standards to the high seas and raise the bar across the cruise industry with the launch of its first yacht.
The 14-deck, 679-foot-long and 88.6-foot-wide superyacht will debut in late 2025, with its first itineraries focusing on the Mediterranean and Caribbean. The ship’s oversize pool deck will have the capacity to transform into an outdoor movie theater and host private events. The vessel’s full-service spa, salon and wellness center will ensure passengers need not leave their self-care routine on land.
The 95 suites will feature design choices that maximize spaciousness — they will have nearly 8-foot ceilings; streaming, unobstructed natural light that pours through the floor-to-ceiling windows; and access to terraces — providing the comforts of a hotel rather than the often-cramped ship accommodations. Many suites will connect, allowing a large party to travel together with the ease of a typical residential stay. The yacht’s most extensive accommodation, the four-level, 9,600-square-foot Funnel Suite, will come equipped with a private plunge pool and spa area — essentially, a villa on the sea.
Christian Clerc, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts’ president, speaks to the potential of the luxury brand’s new venture: “Together with our partners at Marc-Henry Cruise Holdings LTD, we are creating something extraordinary that combines their expertise with what Four Seasons does best — delivering unmatched quality and excellence, surrounded by beautiful acts of service and love for our guests.”
The Four Seasons culled a team of industry stalwarts to take charge of the ship design — lead architect Tillberg Design of Sweden for the exterior and guest suites, Martin Brudnizki Design Studio for communal areas and Prosper Assouline to oversee the creative direction.
The most recent luxury hotel brand to dip its toes into cruises, Four Seasons Yachts will share the high seas with The Ritz-Carlton’s line of superyachts. The Ritz-Carlton’s first ship, Evrima, will make its first voyage sometime this year. The 623-foot Evrima will hold 298 guests and 235 staff members, a ratio that ensures the premium experience expected of the brand. Two more superyachts, Ilma and Luminara, are under construction to join the fleet and will set sail in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
In addition to opening hotels everywhere from Las Vegas to Glasgow, Richard Branson launched Virgin Voyages sails in 2021. The adults-only cruise line aims to appeal to those who do not consider themselves typical “cruise people.” Ships like the Scarlet Lady (which travels to the Caribbean and Mexico with a home port in Miami) and the Valiant Lady (which cruises throughout the Mediterranean) offer chic design and a boutique hotel feel.
Forbes Travel Guide is yet another hospitality company that plans to enter the cruise industry. Started in 1958, FTG is known for rating luxury hotels, restaurants and spas, and it will unveil its inaugural cruise ratings in 2023.
