CLIA Certified (Cruise Lines International Association)
Vincent Vacations luxury travel consultant Aimee Byrd embarking on The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection's superyacht Ilma for a 7-night Caribbean voyage.
By Aimee Byrd
Certified The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Specialist"I have been in the travel industry for over 22 years and have sailed on 12 different cruises throughout my life. But sailing aboard The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection's magnificent Ilma this past April completely ruined me for big ships forever. From personalized butler service and five-star Michelin-caliber dining to intimate ports and spontaneous floating marinas, here is my honest, firsthand review of life aboard the world's most elegant superyacht."
Why The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection "Ilma" Spoiled Me for Big Ships Forever
If you've ever sailed on a traditional mega-cruise ship carrying 4,000 to 6,000 passengers, you know the drill: chaotic embarkation terminals, crowded pool decks, battling for sun loungers at 7:00 AM, and waiting in endless buffet lines. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection completely obliterates that entire model.
Sailing on Ilma—the second custom-built superyacht in The Ritz-Carlton fleet, measuring 790 feet with space for just 448 guests—feels like being invited aboard a billionaire friend's private yacht. With an astonishing nearly 1:1 guest-to-crew ratio, the level of intuitive hospitality is unlike anything else at sea or on land. The staff literally bend over backwards for you; they know your name and preferences by Day 2, and by the end of the 7-night voyage, they feel like genuine family.
Standing by the sleek, deep navy hull of the 790-foot superyacht Ilma.
Ilma docked beside a mega-ship—the ultimate visual proof of intimate yachting exclusivity.
The Seasickness Test: How Do Small Yachts Handle Rough Water?
One of the biggest concerns my luxury clients share when asking about yacht cruising is motion sickness. I will be completely transparent: I can get seasick easily on smaller boats. Before boarding Ilma, I was a little apprehensive about how a 448-passenger vessel would fare when Atlantic swells kicked up.
I am thrilled to report that I did fantastic! During our sailing, the Atlantic waters became quite choppy—in fact, rough seas prevented us from tendering into two scheduled island ports. Yet despite the rolling ocean outside, the advanced fin stabilizers on Ilma are so state-of-the-art that the yacht remained remarkably smooth and steady. I never felt nauseous or disoriented once. If you are prone to seasickness, you can book Ilma with absolute confidence.
Looking down from the upper deck across Ilma's tiered infinity pools into the Caribbean wake.
Suite Deep Dive: The Terrace Suite on Deck 6 (My Insider Secret!)
Every single stateroom on Ilma is an all-terrace, all-suite sanctuary featuring private oceanfront verandas, soaring ceiling heights, marble double-vanity bathrooms, walk-in closets, and customized espresso machines. We stayed in a Terrace Suite on Deck 6 (Suite 603)—and this is my #1 piece of insider advice for anyone booking this ship.
Our Welcome Aboard leather folio welcoming us to Suite 603 on Deck 6.
Spacious residential living room with floor-to-ceiling glass opening to our private veranda.
Why Deck 6? Because the private balconies on Deck 6 are twice the size of balconies on the other decks! While standard balconies feature a cafe table and two chairs, our Deck 6 veranda was so enormous that it accommodated two full-sized padded teak sun loungers in addition to the dining table and chairs.
Soaking in the afternoon sun on our private, double-sized Deck 6 sun lounger.
The expansive Deck 6 balcony easily fits two full loungers and an outdoor dining set.
I spent peaceful mornings out on the loungers sipping freshly brewed espresso in total privacy, and spent sunny afternoons laying out catching full rays without ever having to set foot on the public pool deck. Because seasoned luxury cruisers know about this secret, Deck 6 Terrace Suites sell out first on almost every voyage.
Personalized Butler Service: The "Crown Royal Black" & "Diet DP" Story
The service standard aboard The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection isn't about rigid formality—it is about genuine, personalized thoughtfulness. Every suite is assigned a dedicated Personal Concierge (Butler) who orchestrates your entire voyage.
My husband and I enjoy drinking Crown Royal Black. On our first evening, we noticed the ship's cocktail bars didn't stock that specific label. We casually mentioned it to our butler. Instead of saying "sorry, we don't carry that," he tracked down a full-sized bottle of Crown Royal Black and delivered it directly to our suite—completely complimentary! Furthermore, we love Diet Coke and Diet Dr Pepper, whereas the ship's standard provisioning is Pepsi products. Our butler immediately sourced our favorite drinks and kept our suite's customized refrigerator stocked with ice-cold Diet Coke and Diet Dr Pepper all week long.
Delightful welcome pastries, custom chocolates, and macarons awaiting us in Suite 603.
Morning coffee served with custom barista latte art wishing us a wonderful sailing day.
And let me tell you about the custom Ritz-Carlton king bed: it is hands down the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in at sea. Draped in custom 1,000-thread-count Frette linens with a plush down duvet and contouring pillow menu, you literally never want to get out of bed in the morning!
Our 7-Night Caribbean Itinerary: Fort Lauderdale, Nassau, San Salvador & Key West
Our sailing ran April 3–10, embarking out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Embarkation took literally 5 minutes from curbside to holding a glass of chilled champagne on board—zero lines, zero chaos.
Our first port was Nassau, Bahamas. From there, the original itinerary called for stops in Great Exuma and Bimini. However, Mother Nature had other plans: Atlantic ocean swells made tender operations into Great Exuma and Bimini unsafe. This is where small yacht luxury truly outshines mega-cruise lines. On a mega-ship, a missed port usually means getting stuck circling at sea with thousands of disappointed passengers. On Ilma, the captain and bridge team made two brilliant, spontaneous pivots:
Swinging in electric turquoise waters on the untouched island of San Salvador, Bahamas.
Spending a secluded beach day at Oasis Ocean 7 Beach Club in San Salvador.
Pivot #1: Untouched San Salvador, Bahamas
Instead of Great Exuma, the captain sailed us to San Salvador, Bahamas—a quiet, pristine out-island with powder-sugar beaches and gin-clear water. We spent the day at Oasis Ocean 7 Beach Club, swinging on over-water swings, sipping fresh coconut drinks, and walking miles of empty coastline. It ended up being one of the most magical highlights of the whole vacation!
Miles of untouched, powder-soft white sand beaches on San Salvador Island.
Pivot #2: The Legendary Deployed Floating Marina
Instead of Bimini, the crew anchored in a sheltered calm bay and deployed Ilma's hydraulic Aft Marina Platform! The crew set up floating blow-up daybed loungers right on the water, a floating netted ocean pool so guests could swim safely in the sea, sea kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and high-speed motorized water scooters. Waiters paddled out chilled champagne and cocktails right to our loungers. It felt like an exclusive Monaco yacht party!
Our final port of call was historic Key West, Florida, where we enjoyed strolling along Duval Street, visiting historic landmarks, and savoring fresh key lime pie before a smooth overnight sail back to Fort Lauderdale.
Culinary Mastery: Michelin-Caliber Dining at Seta & Beyond
The dining on Ilma is an absolute masterclass that rivals top restaurants in New York, Paris, or Rome. Every meal is made-to-order from scratch with fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
Dressed up for an unforgettable evening at specialty restaurant Seta.
Seta's intimate dining room curated by Michelin-starred Chef Fabio Trabocchi.
Specialty Restaurant Seta by Chef Fabio Trabocchi
While almost all dining aboard Ilma is included in your cruise fare, there is one specialty fine-dining venue: Seta, conceptualized by Michelin-starred culinary icon Chef Fabio Trabocchi. While Seta has an additional cover fee, let me be crystal clear: it was worth every single penny.
Piccolo Panino al Granchio: Toasted brioche King crab roll served on a sculpted hand.
Ricciola e Caviale: Croustade of Hamachi tartare with Imperial Oscietra Caviar.
The tasting menu was pure art: from chilled heirloom tomato gazpacho with olive oil gelato to toasted brioche King crab rolls served on sculpted porcelain hands, Hamachi tartare crowned with Imperial Oscietra caviar, and vintage bottles of Gavi dei Gavi La Scolca. It was one of the finest meals of my life.
Freshly grilled sweet lobster tail served over handmade pasta.
Tender charred Spanish octopus with sea salt and grilled lemon.
Across the other inclusive dining venues—The Restaurant, The Beach House, Mistral, and Tides—we savored prime filet mignon steak frites with silky béarnaise, charred Spanish octopus, seafood paella brimming with mussels and shrimp, and decadent warm chocolate soufflés paired with house-made vanilla bean gelato.
Melt-in-your-mouth prime tenderloin steak frites with béarnaise sauce.
Freshly baked warm chocolate soufflé with molten center and vanilla bean gelato.
The Social Atmosphere: Making Lifelong Friends on a Superyacht
One of my favorite surprises about sailing with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection was how wonderfully social the ship was. On mega-ships, the crowds are so vast that it can feel impersonal. On Ilma, you naturally cross paths with fellow travelers who share your passion for luxury, fine wine, and adventure.
Making wonderful friends and laughing in the infinity pool on a sunny sea day.
Enjoying evening live music, cocktails, and great conversation with our new friends.
By Day 3, we had formed a close-knit group of friends. Even on the days when weather prevented us from going ashore, we spent the entire afternoon lounging by the infinity pool with frozen cocktails, sharing stories, and laughing. In the evenings, we met up for cocktails in the Living Room lounge, dined together at dinner, and listened to live jazz under the stars.
The Ritz-Carlton Spa & Wellness at Sea
No review of Ilma would be complete without highlighting The Ritz-Carlton Spa. Spanning a dedicated wellness deck, this sanctuary features indoor and outdoor relaxation areas, steam rooms, saunas, cold plunge showers, and an outdoor private terrace overlooking the open sea.
The serene marble entrance to The Ritz-Carlton Spa on Ilma.
Padded daybeds on the private spa deck for open-air post-treatment relaxation.
Adjacent to the spa is a full-service salon and an ocean-facing fitness studio equipped with the latest Technogym gear, Peloton bikes, and panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows that make working out feel like floating across the water.
Photo Gallery: Life Aboard The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection's Ilma
Here are more glimpses of the architecture, poolside relaxation, and culinary artistry from my 7 nights aboard Ilma:
Sun-drenched pool deck with plush cabanas.
Glass-edge infinity pool hovering over the ocean.
Golden hour sunset over the Caribbean.
Unwinding on a sea day on Ilma's pool deck.
Sunset cocktails on our private Deck 6 veranda.
The sculpted stern design of superyacht Ilma.
Gourmet poolside burger with crispy fries.
Artisanal European cheese selection.
Caramelized banana cheesecake dessert.
Why Book Your Ritz-Carlton Yacht Vacation with Aimee Byrd & Vincent Vacations
Booking an ultra-luxury superyacht voyage is an investment in your cherished vacation time. Choosing the right deck, knowing which suite category has double the outdoor balcony space, and securing exclusive consortia amenities requires genuine firsthand knowledge.
Firsthand Yacht Knowledge
I have sailed aboard Ilma and inspected its suites, dining venues, and marina platform. I know the exact stateroom numbers on Deck 6 to book for the largest verandas.
Top 20 Signature Status
As a Top 20 Agency with Signature Travel Network, Vincent Vacations passes our premier status and perks directly to my clients, providing exclusive onboard shipboard credits, VIP recognition, and priority dining reservations.
Full Concierge Planning
From premium international first-class flights and luxury pre-cruise hotel stays to private airport transfers and travel protection, every detail is seamlessly managed.
Ready to Experience The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection?
Let luxury travel advisor Aimee Byrd design your unforgettable yachting escape aboard Ilma, Evrima, or Luminara. Contact us today for personalized concierge planning, insider cabin selection, and exclusive perks.
