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 Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection brings the brand’s legendary service to the seas with a bespoke yachting experience.
“We are delighted to commemorate this milestone as we embark on our journey to bring The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection to life. The keel laying marks the realization 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 on-board amenities and experiences.” – Lisa Holladay, Global Brand Leader, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company
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.
As part of this exciting occasion commemorative coins were unveiled and welded to the hull. Representing a symbolic process in the keel laying, the coins are meant to bring good fortune during construction and throughout the ship’s travels.
“The keel laying is a significant moment in the ship building process and signals that we are well on our way to redefining luxury at sea with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. The intimate size of our ships and compelling itineraries will give our guests the opportunity to explore unexpected destinations, all while enjoying the legendary Ritz-Carlton service. This is an exciting new venture and we look forward to celebrating the many more milestones to come.” – Douglas Prothero, Managing Director of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
Reservations for the first of three lavish yachts in this series will open in May. The inaugural ship, which is expected to be delivered late 2019, will cruise a wide variety of destinations 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.
For more on the luxury service and timeless Ritz-Carlton style at sea visit “The Ritz-Carlton to offer luxury hotels at sea“.
The ships of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection are also available for private charter.