Ilma's yachty differences shine in Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection debut

Ilma sports a yacht profile and cascading open aft decks PHOTO: THE RITZ-CARLTON YACHT COLLECTION

Everything — from the profile and cascading open aft decks, to the design details, the menus, programming and activities, the itineraries and the service style — deliver a yacht experience distinct from cruising.

Ilma stayed two days in Saint-Tropez, giving travelers the freedom to come and go, play and luxuriate in the sea via the largest AquaBana on a ship and savor the sunset from water level beside the fold-out marina.

Scenes at anchor off Saint-Tropez including SeaDream, top left, an Ilma pool, Marina Terrace wing open to the sea and oysters fresh from ashore PHOTOS: ANNE KALOSH

Connected to the destination

'Saint-Tropez is famous for the experience at night, the restaurants and parties,' RCYC President/CFO Ernesto Fara said, sipping an espresso aboard Ilma after testing the AquaBana. 'It's part of the yachting concept. Yachting is personalization. It's about enjoying the experience in a different way — closer, connected to the destination.'

And Ilma's openness to the sea 'comes from that yachting world,' Fara said.

In the Marina Terrace, where the design and furniture could easily be on a superyacht, the side wings are opened to the sea when Ilma's at anchor. During the Saint-Tropez overnight, stations served caviar, and fresh oysters brought from ashore.

Casually elegant couples sipped cocktails on the terrace while a few people drifted down the staircases that curve to the water level marina where they mingled, Champagne flutes in hand.

Basking in the sunset, they watched the lights twinkling on ashore. A SeaDream yacht sailed past, all alight, reminding of the yacht-cruise concept's origins as Sea Goddess in the late 1980s and how far things have come.

Per Bjørnsen on a wing of Ilma's Marina Terrace PHOTO: ANNE KALOSH

'I came on board with high expectations and was completely blown away,' said Per Bjørnsen, CEO, V. Ships Leisure. Based in Monaco and an avid sailor, he knows yachts.

'This is the best. It's setting a new standard,' Bjørnsen said, adding: 'Others are coming: Four Seasons, Orient Express.'

Creating a yachting experience

Ilma measures a sizable 46,750gt and carries 448 passengers, so 'to create a yacht atmosphere was the challenge, but they've done that,' Bjørnsen said, citing numerous elements.

The spaces close to the sea, the materials, the furniture, the colors, the freshness. The crew, who interact with guests in a very personal, individualized way. The yacht-quality standard. The itinerary design (anchoring overnight so travelers can savor the nightlife, 'like a yacht'). The menus synced to the destinations. The casual but elegant vibe.

'The guests create that atmosphere, too,' Bjørnsen continued. Because of the Ritz-Carlton brand and the high price point, Ilma will draw very discerning clientele. And with all of its open-seating dining options, 'It's a very nice atmosphere to meet other people like yourself. You make friends,' he said.

'I don't want to leave'

'I don't want to leave. It's so comfortable.'

Bjørnsen, whose company provides technical operations, crewing and other support to RCYC, was particularly awed by Ilma's build standard.

'Chantiers de l'Atlantique is a good yard but this is amazing,' he said. 'It's so well done, with such quality materials that will last and be easier to maintain.'

He pointed to the glass balconies with stainless steel fittings, noting that on most ships, these would be painted railings that have to be repainted over and over.

'It's a different feeling, a different level,' Bjørnsen said of Ilma.

Fresh from the market

The dining 'felt like it came in fresh from the market, like you were on a yacht,' he added.

Seta su Ilma PHOTO: ANNE KALOSH

Ilma highlights include partnerships that brought Seta su Ilma by the noted Italian chef Fabio Trabocchi, with a stunning 12-course menu and wine pairings, and the Beach House, a chic, open-air eatery with a pan-Latin and Caribbean menu created in collaboration with Michael Mina. Both Trabocchi and Mina were aboard.

Chef Michael Mina created a pan-Latin and Caribbean menu for Ilma's Beach House PHOTOS: ANNE KALOSH

Their concepts complement the intimate Memorī, which serves contemporary pan-Asian dishes; Mistral, a sweeping, open-air casual restaurant with Mediterranean flavors; and Tides, presenting regionally inspired menus (currently with French, Italian, Spanish and North African dishes).

Bjørnsen deemed Memori 'the best Asian food at sea — unbelievable,' following his meal of sashimi, grilled octopus, fried rice with bone marrow, ribeye and black cod — admittedly 'excessive but amazing.' And his 12-course dinner in Seta su Ilma, also 'amazing.'

Ilma's standard suites are designed for greater privacy. For example, the Signature Suite has a long entrance hall with the rooms off of that, not opening directly into the corridor. The living and bedroom areas are separate, affording more privacy. The big windows stretch from floor to ceiling and wall to wall, giving what Bjørnsen called a 'proper panoramic view.'

384 crew from 70,000 applicants

Ilma's team shines, not only instantly learning guest names but also chatting pleasantly, with a more personalized manner and function, such as the new suite ambassador role that's like a butler/concierge rolled into one. And, of course, all crew are the 'ladies and gentemen' of Ritz-Carlton legacy. 

Some of the ladies and gentlemen of Ilma — at left, maitre d's Cata and Donovan, at right, suite ambassador Memory PHOTOS: ANNE KALOSH

'The challenge is not to find people. They find us,' Bjørnsen said. RCYC has a hybrid arrangement with V.Ships, helping to screen applicants, a colossal task given that 70,000 people sought crew roles.

RCYC's Jens Gorka, SVP shipboard operations, said department heads are involved in the selection, too. 

Ready for curtain time

This week Ilma completed its fourth short shakedown cruise since the July 12 delivery before the inaugural voyage from Monte Carlo to Civitavecchia (Rome) on Sept. 2.

All this practice was serving the goal of a 'beautiful introduction,' in the words of Jim Murren, executive chairman and CEO, RCYC. He's been aboard with Tim Grisius, global officer, M&A, business development and real estate, Marriott International; Tina Edmundson, president of luxury at Marriott International, and other shore-based leaders. 

This week's cadre of international media and influencers followed a trip for the sales team hosting their travel advisor partners, and one for Ritz-Carlton team members, friends and family. The first to taste the experience were Chantiers de l'Atlantique partners.

Many of the media, from major lifestyle, design, architectural, art, and food and wine publications, had never cruised before. They seemed impressed.

A full report on Ilma will follow.