Martha Stewart, Naomi Campbell and other A-listers take the amenity-filled, 792-foot Luminara out for a spin in the Mediterranean Sea. Here’s what to expect onboard.
It’s fitting that the Ritz-Carlton’s newest superyacht, Luminara, is named after the Latin word for “light,” seeing as how the ship’s maiden voyage was graced by Kendall Jenner, Naomi Campbell, Orlando Bloom and some of the entertainment world’s other brightest names.
The boat’s godmother, Bridgerton star Simone Ashley, christened the ship on June 26 with the customary champagne bottle broken across the bow. It marked the start of the inaugural season for Luminara, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s third ship since launching Four-Star Evrima in 2022.
The celebration continued a few days later as the yacht sailed from Rome to Malta, where the aforementioned stars joined Tom Brady, Patrick Schwarzenegger and Tessa Thompson for the high seas festivities. During the two-day cruise, Martha Stewart hosted a sunset aperitif, Janelle Monáe lit up a DJ set, Sting gave a surprise performance and a drone show illuminated the Sicilian coastline, providing endless fodder for what felt like every A-lister’s Instagram Stories feed.
As the yacht departed from Monte Carlo for its first official itinerary on July 3, one thing proved clear — the glitzy opening celebration and the ship’s ultra-glamorous digs are a natural fit. The 794-foot liner, the biggest in The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s fleet, accommodates 452 passengers in 226 suites. The cabins rival many hotel rooms on land, with a personal terrace, integrated lighting, floor-to-ceiling windows, dark oak walls, Emperador marble-clad bathrooms and a dedicated butler on call 24/7.
While design firm AD Associates is responsible for the suites’ swankiness, Chapi Design Luxury Division oversaw the ship’s equally stunning public spaces. The interiors feature neutral color palettes, ample blond wood and airy fabrics, creating an atmosphere of effortless elegance. This aesthetic is reminiscent of what the designers did with Luminara’s predecessor, Ilma.
The five onboard restaurants could not be further from the rudimentary buffets found elsewhere on the high seas. Following the success that star chefs Michael Mina and Fabio Trabocchi had onboard Ilma, the Ritz-Carlton wisely tasked the two with re-creating culinary magic aboard Luminara. Mina’s Egyptian heritage inspires the alfresco Beach House while Trabocchi offers an elevated eight-course Italian tasting menu at Seta su Luminara.
The culinary collection also includes Haesu Bit, which features elevated Asian cuisine; Mistral, an eatery influenced by Mediterranean coastal flavors; and Azur on Luminara, which delivers a destination-driven menu. The overall effect on the vessel is that of a trendy West Hollywood neighborhood where, no matter which establishment you choose, you’re destined for a memorable meal. And if you need a drink, choose from seven bars or the wine vault.
Outside of dining and drinking, passengers will find even more extravagance in the superyacht. The onboard art collection rivals any museum, with more than 730 pieces by contemporary icons such as David Hockney, Alexander Calder, Henri Matisse and Andy Warhol. Many of the works play with the light theme. A full-service Ritz-Carlton Spa provides destination-inspired treatments using products from ESPA, 111SKIN and Pisterzi. And like the brand’s hotels, a Ritz Kids club will keep little ones occupied while you get pampered at the spa.
A floating lounge platform, complete with a pool, allows guests to swim in the ocean and make use of kayaks, paddleboards, electric foiling boards and other essential equipment for some fun in the sun. Along with exclusive outlets from Cartier and Piaget, an exceptionally curated boutique will feature brands such as Hermès, Chanel and Johanna Ortiz.
The yacht’s itineraries are no less glamorous. Following its inaugural season in the Mediterranean (with stops in Cannes, Livorno and Portofino), Luminara will start sailing in December across the Asia-Pacific region, a first for the fleet, to destinations such as Ha Long Bay, Vietnam; Osaka; and Bangkok. Next summer will be spent exploring the outer reaches of Alaska and Canada in search of glaciers and wildlife, another first on The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s bright horizon.
This article was originally published on forbes.com.
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