Austin Way Magazine - GreenGale Publishing - There is a place beyond the crowds, beyond the ropes, where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. You are invited.
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hile fans of ocean cruises have certainly had their fair share of experiences to crow about, starting in 2019, acionados—as well as the uninitiated— will have a compelling new excuse to set sail. e Ritz-Carlton will enter the scene as the rst ve-star hotel company to oer branded bespoke yachting experiences on a grand scale, dubbing the program e Ritz- Carlton Yacht Collection. In collaboration with maritime experts Douglas Prothero and Lars Clasen, the rst of three lavish cruising vessels will debut toward the end of 2019, but the vessel and its sister ships to follow are not your average cruise ships. Expect exquisitely modern interiors (by famed ship design rm Tillberg Design of Sweden) to accommodate just 298 guests in 149 extra-large deluxe suites (each with its own balcony), as well as two 1,485-square-foot duplex apartment accommodations. e entirety of the vessels will also be available for private charter takeovers, according to the company. By comparison, typical luxury liners can accommodate as many as 4,000 guests (along with the water slides and tiki bars) and tend to overwhelm any ports of call they visit. Reservations open May 2018, and plans are in the works for seven- to 10-day itineraries in a wide variety of ports, depending on the season. Because of the vessel's smaller size, more relaxed and intimate ports of call will be included. ink locations like Capri; Portono, Italy; St. Barts; and Cartagena, Colombia, that can't accommodate large-scale ocean liners. Of course, e Ritz-Carlton's signature curation will extend well beyond the fresh design and unique itineraries. A restaurant from chef Sven Elverfeld of three-Michelin-starred Aqua at e Ritz-Carlton's own Wolfsburg, Germany, property will grace the rst ship. Facilities oering rituals from the hotel company's award-winning spa programs are a natural accompaniment to water-born travel as well. A striking Panorama Lounge and wine bar will oer a nerve center for onboard socializing and entertainment. Port- of-call programs will incorporate exclusive activities with local chefs, musicians and artists so guests can authentically experience each destination and really feel they have "arrived." Prices upon request, ritzcarlton.com/en/yachts THE NEW CRUISE The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company has big plans to revolutionize the luxury cruising market with a fleet of new modern yachts and a more elevated and intimate approach to hitting the high seas. By Mike Espindle From top: A rendering of Tillberg Design of Sweden's planned aft beach deck and "marina" for The Ritz- Carlton Yacht Collection ships; the new ships' spacious observation-lounge design. 8 4 A U S T I N W A Y L A T E F A L L 2 0 1 7 | M O D E R N L U X U R Y . C O M T R A V E L & R E C R E A T I O N y a c h t s