The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has taken delivery of its second luxury superyacht, Ilma, in a handover ceremony at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.
The 240m Ilma is the second vessel to join the Ritz-Carlton fleet, following the 190m Evrima, which hit the seas in 2022. The fleet will also include the 242m Luminara, which is expected to launch in 2025.
The Ilma ceremony included several maritime traditions, including the changing of flags onboard the yacht and a celebratory toast on top of the pool deck. Ilma’s maiden voyage from Monte Carlo, Monaco, sets off on 2 September, 2024.
The event was attended by The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection executive chairman and CEO, Jim Murren, and its president and CEO, Ernesto Fara. Also present were representatives of Chantiers de l’Atlantique, including general manager Laurent Castaing, and senior vice president of sales and marketing and project director, Arnaud Le Joncour. Captain Steve MacBeath and more than 350 of the yacht’s crew were also in attendance.
“Today marks the culmination of a shared vision and the relentless pursuit of excellence, a testament to the craftsmanship and dedication of all those involved,” Murren said. “We are deeply grateful to the exceptional teams here at Chantiers de l’Atlantique, whose hard work and passion have brought this vision to life.”
“Ilma represents a collaboration of two likeminded organizations committed to excellence, offering the best in both hospitality and shipbuilding,” Le Joncour said.
“The design and construction of Ilma has been a distinctive project for Chantiers de l’Atlantique that has elevated the highest luxury standards in terms of guest experience, technical innovation, and craftsmanship. We are incredibly proud to deliver an ultra-luxury cruise product that achieves both elegance and performance.”
Ilma, named after the Maltese word for “water,” can accommodate up to 448 guests in its 224 suites. It features interiors designed by London-based firm AD Associates and lighting designer DPA, while exteriors were created by Helsinki-based design firm Aivan. The ship includes five restaurants, seven bars, a wine vault, The Ritz-Carlton Spa and an expanded Marina with a mezzanine feature, along with three distinct fitness spaces.
The superyacht is powered by four dual-fuel engines using LNG as its main fuel source. Ilma is additionally equipped with an advanced water treatment system and energy efficiency technologies.
