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Luxury Cruises
Exceptional Cruises: A New Way to Travel at Sea
Luxury cruising is being reinvented. From private yachts and intimate ships to high-end expeditions in the polar regions, a new era of sea travel has arrived, one where refinement and exclusivity shape every moment.

Long perceived as standardized vacations, cruises once suffered from a somewhat outdated image. Today, they are transforming into true luxury experiences, where intimacy, refinement, and personalization reign supreme. A new generation of ships is breaking the mold, captivating the most discerning travelers. Far from the imposing ocean liners, these luxury yachts and ships adopt the codes of private yachting and contemporary palaces, offering stops designed as promises and onboard moments worthy of exceptional interludes. Welcome to the world of next-generation luxury cruises, where each journey becomes a full immersion in elegance and adventure.
Why Choose a Luxury Cruise?
Choosing a luxury cruise means boarding exceptional ships, designed as floating hotels where refined design, generous spaces, and ultra-personalized services combine to offer absolute comfort. Beyond the sumptuous setting, these voyages provide carefully orchestrated immersive experiences that inspire wonder: diving into the crystal-clear waters of the Maldives, exploring majestic fjords, admiring the Northern Lights from the deck, or discovering exclusive stops accessible to only a privileged few.
The Renewal of Luxury Cruises: The Art of Traveling at Sea Differently
The world of cruising is undergoing a quiet revolution. More than a mode of transport, these intimate yachts and ships become true floating hotels, designed by the finest architects and decorated like contemporary palaces. Spaces are open, suites are vast and bright, often extended by private terraces reminiscent of the most beautiful seaside villas. Onboard gastronomy rivals the finest Michelin-starred restaurants, spas draw inspiration from the most refined holistic rituals, and the service, discreet and attentive, cultivates the rare art of anticipation.
This new generation of exclusive cruises no longer talks about standardized itineraries but about immersive experiences: diving into the crystal-clear waters of the Maldives from your balcony, exploring the Norwegian fjords at sunrise, or marveling at Antarctic icebergs aboard a vessel designed to navigate the most extreme conditions.
Brands Redefining Luxury Cruising
Explora Journeys and the Explora III: Mediterranean Elegance

With Explora Journeys, MSC Group aimed to create a brand entirely dedicated to luxury travel. The Explora I, launched in summer 2023, immediately captivated with its private-yacht lines and ocean-facing suites. A year later, in 2024, the Explora II was celebrated in Málaga with an Andalusian atmosphere. And soon, in 2026, the Explora III, powered by liquefied natural gas, will complete the trilogy as a manifesto of sustainable refinement.
Following the success of the first two ships, the arrival of the Explora III crystallizes all expectations. Designed as a floating resort, it offers a subtle balance between contemporary elegance and a warm atmosphere. Its fluid lines evoke a private yacht, while its 461 ocean-view suites embody intimacy and serenity.
Onboard, each space feels like a destination in itself: six restaurants with menus inspired by local terroirs, a fine wine cellar worthy of a Parisian palace, wellness areas conceived as true sanctuaries, and immersive experiences crafted for each stop, whether Mediterranean markets or meetings with local artisans. Explora combines contemporary resort luxury with transformative travel.



The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection: Prestige Hospitality at Sea

The Ritz-Carlton signature instantly evokes hospitality excellence, and its extension to the seas delivers on that promise. With The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, cruising becomes an intimate journey, reserved for only a few hundred passengers. The atmosphere is private, almost confidential, as if traveling aboard a personal yacht.
The Evrima, the first yacht launched in 2022, set the course. The Ilma, launched in 2024, continued the experience with added refinement. In 2025, the Luminara will elevate the collection to its peak.
Onboard, the cruise feels like a private residence: only 228 suites, all with terraces, a personal-to-passenger ratio akin to a private home, and an exclusive marina providing direct access to crystal-clear waters. Itineraries favor the unique: Mykonos at dawn, secret Caribbean coves, Nordic villages of the Baltic. Restaurants feature menus by Michelin-starred chefs, spas draw from global rituals, and discreet piano bars cater to a cosmopolitan clientele who treasure rarity.



Orient Express Corinthian: The Revival of a Legend

An enduring symbol of travel artistry, the Orient Express is reinventing itself at sea with the Corinthian. True to its heritage, the ship blends Belle Époque elegance with modernity. Onboard, everything recalls the sophistication of grand journeys: precious woodwork, suites resembling Parisian apartments, and highly personalized service.
The Corinthian promises high-end cruises where time seems to stand still: cultural crossings in the Mediterranean, itineraries marked by historical and artistic discoveries, as if each stop were a literary interlude. Its keel was laid in January 2025, launched in June, and will sail in 2026, first in the Mediterranean, then on a long Caribbean voyage.
This 220-meter floating palace, powered by SolidSail rigid sails and LNG, will house only 54 suites, true apartments marked by Belle Époque elegance: wood, brass, and a cozy atmosphere. Gastronomy will be led by multi-starred chef Yannick Alléno, bringing culinary daring onboard. Evenings offer a choice of grand ballroom-style dinners, intimate cabaret, or private cinema screenings. Sailing on the Corinthian reconnects travelers with the precious art of slowing down, where each stop becomes a literary chapter.



Four Seasons Yachts: The Ultimate Exclusivity
In January 2026, Four Seasons will raise its first maritime flag. More than a ship, it is a true floating hotel. The brand, a global reference in hospitality, finally transposes its universe to the oceans.
This first luxury yacht was designed as a sanctuary: 14 decks, 95 ocean suites, and a spectacular four-story penthouse Funnel Suite with private pool and panoramic terrace, a $4.5 million architectural marvel.
Onboard, cuisine will be led by Four Seasons chefs, the spa conceived as a holistic retreat, and a floating marina offering access to private water sports. Itineraries, from the Mediterranean to the Bahamas, are ultra-confidential. Passengers will not be mere travelers, but insiders immersed in a world where every detail, from scents to suite lighting, extends the Four Seasons spirit.
More than a cruise, Four Seasons Yachts promises total immersion in the art of living: gourmet cuisine, exceptional spas, and obsessive attention to guest desires.



Aman at Sea – Amangati: The Aman Spirit at Sea

Aman enthusiasts know the uniqueness of Aman hotels: minimalist retreats designed as havens of peace. With Aman at Sea, soon renamed Amangati, launching in 2027, the brand brings this philosophy to the ocean. Contemporary lines, serene design, deeply spiritual experiences: Aman at sea promises a journey where luxury meets calm and introspection.
Clean lines, noble materials, suites opening onto infinity: everything invites contemplation. The experience program focuses on inner well-being: sunrise yoga on deck, guided meditations facing the horizon, simple yet refined dinners inspired by local traditions.
Traveling with Aman prioritizes introspection over spectacle, silence over frenzy. Here, ultimate luxury is the luxury of suspended time.



Luxury Expedition Cruises: The Ultimate Exploration
Today’s luxury is not limited to material refinement. It is also defined by access to the unprecedented, the rare, the inaccessible. Expedition cruises embody this quest for the exceptional, combining extreme adventure with ultimate comfort. These specialized ships push the boundaries of travel, taking passengers to the poles and the most remote regions of the globe, where nature rules supreme.
Ponant – Le Commandant Charcot: Polar Vanguard

With the Commandant Charcot, Ponant delivers a masterpiece of innovation and sustainability. The first hybrid electric LNG-powered icebreaker, it is designed to navigate Arctic and Antarctic ice while respecting fragile ecosystems. Onboard comfort rivals the best hotels: elegant suites with private balconies, gastronomy by starred chefs, and Scandinavian-inspired spas. Each expedition is guided by scientific experts, oceanographers, and naturalists, offering an enlightened perspective on these extreme environments.



Selar: Intimacy Above All

Lesser-known to the general public, Selar caters to travelers seeking intimate and ultra-confidential cruises. With small-capacity ships, it prioritizes extraordinary itineraries, exploring unknown and often inaccessible areas. Here, there are no crowds, only the rare feeling of traveling like a modern explorer in a friendly, discreet atmosphere. Each stop is a privileged interlude, whether meeting an isolated community or anchoring in a pristine bay. Selar perfects the art of exclusive travel, where the richness of the experience outweighs ostentation. Onboard, time stretches with the scenery, offering the privilege of a journey designed as a true cultural and natural immersion. It’s an intimate cruise, more personal adventure than organized tour.



Where to Find the Finest Luxury Cruises?
For those dreaming of this new era of cruising, Stay Some Days is the ideal passport to exception. More than a selection, it is a true insider’s guide, where each itinerary is chosen with the same exacting standards as the world’s finest hotels. Discover inspiring cruises designed as life experiences: a private yacht gliding at dawn through secret Mediterranean coves, a journey punctuated by Michelin-starred dinners under Caribbean skies, or a polar expedition at the edge of Antarctica, where silence and ice create eternal memories.
With Stay Some Days, it’s not just about traveling but entering an exceptional interlude, a way of experiencing the world differently. Each cruise becomes a life stop, a suspended moment where luxury and emotion intertwine. True refinement no longer resides in ostentation but in the intimacy of a rare experience, the unique feeling of being in the right place at the right time, facing the vastness of the world.
Luxury Adrift… by Choice
Premium cruises are no longer just a mode of travel; they embody a philosophy. The art of slowing down, savoring every moment, exploring the world through a new lens. They appeal to a generation of travelers seeking authenticity over spectacle, subtle beauty over ostentatious grandeur.
Forget everything you thought you knew about cruising. The future of travel is already written at sea, at the intersection of refinement, adventure, and wonder. Next-generation luxury cruises redefine the art of travel, combining exclusivity, intimacy, and unforgettable discoveries.

Images Courtesy Explora Journeys, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Orient Express Corinthian, Four Seasons Yachts, Aman at Sea – Amangati, Ponant – Le Commandant Charcot, Selar, Stay Some Days.
Article updated on August 29, 2025
