In accordance with maritime tradition, the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has celebrated the milestone keel laying of its inaugural yacht at the Hijos De J. Barreras Shipyard in Vigo, Spain.
Representing a unique first for a luxury hotel operator, the collection brings the brand’s legendary service to the seas with a bespoke yachting experience and today, drew one step closer to its anticipated launch in late 2019.
“We are delighted to commemorate this milestone as we embark on our journey to bring the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection to life,” said Lisa Holladay, global brand leader, the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.
“The keel laying marks the realisation of a longstanding dream for the Ritz-Carlton brand as we bring our guest experience and service ethos to the seas through these highly unique luxury vessels and one-of-a-kind onboard amenities and experiences.”
Celebrating the official start of a ship’s construction, the keel laying ceremony was historically used to mark the initial placement of a central beam, which served as the vessel’s backbone.
Today, as ships are built in a series of modular components, the symbolic ceremony is used to mark the lowering of the first module into place in the building dock.
Reservations for the first of three lavish yachts in this series will open in May.
The inaugural ship will cruise a wide variety of destinations depending on the season, including the Mediterranean, northern Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America.
The specially designed, small capacity vessels will measure 190-meters and feature 149 luxury suites to accommodate up to 298 passengers.
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection will offer voyages ranging from seven to ten days, combining signature Ritz-Carlton service and amenities onboard with uniquely curated destination experiences.
The ships of the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection are also available for private charter.