Ritz-Carlton enters cruise sector with plans for three ships

Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company is entering the cruise sector with its Yacht Collection. It has struck a contract with Hijos de J Barreras to construct a luxury cruise ship with options for two more vessels.

This contract also marks the Spanish shipbuilder’s entry into the cruise market.

The cruise yacht – designed by Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Tillberg Design and Barreras – will have an overall length of 190m and 23.8m beam, and will accommodate 544 people, including 298 passengers in 149 suites and 246 crew members.

Its itineraries will be in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Europe and North America and it will be operational in the fourth quarter of 2019, with a completion time of 30 months.

Barreras’ orderbook includes ferries, fishing vessels and offshore vessels.