Honestly, the term "cruise" feels like a bit of a lie when you're talking about the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. If you’re picturing 4,000 people shoving for a buffet spot or a neon water slide towering over the stern, you’re looking at the wrong brochure. By 2026, this fleet isn't just a side project for the hotel giant—it’s a full-blown takeover of the ultra-luxury segment.
We now have three ships in the water: Evrima, Ilma, and the brand-new Luminara.
Most people think these are just floating hotels. They aren't. They’re basically 600-to-800-foot superyachts that happen to sell tickets. For the 2026 season, the expansion is aggressive. We’re talking about the first-ever foray into the Pacific, a massive summer presence in the Mediterranean, and a surprisingly deep dive into the rugged landscapes of Alaska.
The New Player: Why Luminara Changes the Game in 2026
The big news for the 2026 calendar is the arrival of Luminara. It’s the third sister, and she’s headed straight for Asia and Alaska.
While Evrima pioneered the "yacht" feel with its smaller footprint, Luminara and Ilma are slightly larger, though they still keep the guest count remarkably low—around 448 to 452 passengers. That’s a tiny fraction of a standard mega-ship.
In early 2026, Luminara officially homeports in Hong Kong. It’s a move that signals Ritz’s intent to capture the high-end Asia-Pacific market. You’ve got these 10-to-14-night itineraries hitting places like Ho Chi Minh City, Koh Kood, and even a maiden call in Hong Kong that happened just this January.
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Later in the year, things get even more interesting. Luminara heads north for the summer of 2026. Alaska. But it’s not the "gold rush and gift shop" Alaska most travelers know. Because the yacht is smaller, it can wiggle into places like Icy Strait Point and the Misty Fjords where the 15-deck monsters simply can't fit.
Specific 2026 Alaska & Asia Highlights:
- Whittier to Vancouver (May 2026): An 11-night stretch on Luminara that avoids the usual "cattle call" ports.
- Tokyo Roundtrips: Specifically the March 20, 2026 voyage which hits Hiroshima and Busan, South Korea.
- The South Pacific Pivot: By late 2026, Evrima and Luminara will be bouncing between French Polynesia and Hawaii.
Ritz Carlton Cruises 2026: The Mediterranean Reimagined
The Mediterranean is usually a mess in the summer. Crowded ports, sweaty tours, and overpriced gelato. Ritz is trying to fix that by focusing on "yacht-only" ports for the 2026 summer season.
Take the Evrima’s June 2026 run from Lisbon to Dublin. It sounds like a standard transit, but they’ve baked in two days in Bordeaux. Most ships dock miles away at the industrial port of Le Verdon. Ritz? They’re aiming for the city center. You wake up, walk off the ship, and you're at a vineyard in 20 minutes.
The 2026 Mediterranean season includes 44 new voyages. They are calling them "Masterpieces" and for once, the marketing fluff might be earned. We’re seeing more overnights in spots like Saint-Tropez, Seville, and Monte Carlo.
You haven't lived until you've stayed overnight in a port and realized you don't have to rush back for a 5:00 PM "all aboard" call. You can actually have dinner on land.
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What It Actually Costs (The Reality Check)
Let’s talk money. This isn't cheap. If you’re looking for a bargain, look elsewhere.
For the 2026 season, a 4-night Caribbean "taster" cruise from Miami on Ilma (hitting the Bahamas and Bimini) starts at around $5,100 per person. If you want the big Asian expeditions on Luminara, you’re looking at $22,300 and up.
Is it worth it?
Well, it’s all-inclusive. And I mean actually all-inclusive. You aren't being nickel-and-dimed for Wi-Fi or a glass of decent Champagne. Most suites have private terraces, and the "entry-level" rooms are larger than the master bedrooms in most New York apartments.
Wait, what about the service?
Every suite has access to a Personal Concierge. They aren't just there to book your dinner; they basically manage your life for a week.
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The Caribbean Winter Expansion
When the weather turns, the fleet migrates. For the 2026 winter season, Ritz-Carlton is doubling down on San Juan and Miami.
They are introducing shorter voyages—three to five nights—which is kind of genius. It caters to the "executive getaway" crowd who can’t take two weeks off but wants to disappear to St. Barths for a long weekend.
One standout is the March 14, 2026 itinerary on Ilma. It’s a 5-night loop from San Juan hitting Virgin Gorda and St. Martin. It’s short, sharp, and hits the "greatest hits" of the Caribbean without the fluff of sea days.
Why 2026 is Different
The 2026 season marks the first time all three yachts are fully operational and distributed across the globe simultaneously.
- More Variety: You aren't stuck with just the Med or Caribbean.
- Luminara's Design: It builds on the feedback from Evrima. The flow is better, the dining venues are more diverse, and the "Marina" (the platform at the back of the ship for swimming) is more accessible.
- New Ports: We are seeing "first-ever" stops in places like Naxos, Greece and Waterford, Ireland.
It’s worth noting that these ships sell out. Fast. Because they only hold 450-ish people, the popular 2026 Alaska and Japan routes are already seeing heavy booking activity.
Actionable Steps for Booking Ritz-Carlton Cruises in 2026
If you’re serious about snagging a suite on one of these yachts, you can't wing it.
- Book 12-14 Months Out: Especially for the Alaska and Asia routes. These are the "it" destinations for 2026 and inventory is surprisingly thin.
- Use a Marriott Bonvoy Strategy: You can actually earn and redeem Bonvoy points on these sailings. It’s one of the few ways to make the high price tag feel a bit more manageable.
- Check the "Marina Day" Itineraries: If you love the water, look for voyages that specifically list a "Marina Day." This is when the ship drops the back platform in a calm cove and you can kayak or paddleboard directly off the boat.
- Target the "Shoulder" Voyages: The trans-oceanic trips (like the crossing from San Juan to Lisbon in April 2026) are often significantly cheaper on a per-day basis than the port-intensive cruises.
The 2026 season isn't just about more ships; it's about the Ritz-Carlton finally proving that their "hotel at sea" concept can work on a global scale. Whether you're chasing the midnight sun in Iceland or the neon lights of Tokyo, the focus remains on the "unhurried" pace—a rare commodity in the travel world these days.