By Tara Kennedy, Founder & Principal Advisor, Meridian Miles
In February, my husband Bobby and I set sail aboard Ilma, the second vessel in the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection fleet — and our first trip together since becoming parents. It was, in every sense, the right ship for the occasion.
As someone who believes deeply that travel should create space — for perspective, connection, and restoration — this voyage delivered exactly that.
Ilma — whose name means “water” in Maltese — is a 790-foot superyacht accommodating up to 448 guests across 224 all-suite staterooms, each with a private ocean-view terrace. Recognized this year as the world’s first Five-Star Cruise Ship by Forbes Travel Guide’s 2026 Star Awards, it has been conceived not as a cruise ship in the traditional sense, but as a floating luxury hotel. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection was built on exactly this premise: to bring the legendary service, design sensibility, and attention to detail of The Ritz-Carlton to sea — and Ilma may be its finest expression yet.
Our seven-night Caribbean itinerary wound through Barbados, Martinique, Antigua, the British Virgin Islands, and St. Barth. What follows is my honest account of the experience, offered as someone who has sailed in various forms — private yacht, expedition voyage, and ocean liner — and who advises clients on each.
The Space
If you have never sailed on a ship of this caliber, I want to prepare you: this will recalibrate your expectations entirely.
There were no crowds. We rarely passed another guest on the staircase. We never shared an elevator with anyone. Prime deck chairs near the pool were simply there, waiting — no early-morning reservation race, no towels draped over loungers at dawn. The restaurants never felt at capacity. The fitness center, the most animated space I observed, saw its peak traffic on the first port morning. Otherwise, every corner of the ship felt unhurried and spacious, even at high occupancy.
Ilma holds what is reported to be the highest space-per-guest ratio at sea, and you feel it in your bones from the first afternoon on board. The corridors are wide, wood-paneled, and deeply carpeted. The public areas breathe.
It is the rare ship on which you can genuinely feel alone — not isolated, but peacefully untethered. For Bobby and me, that spaciousness translated into something more meaningful: uninterrupted conversations, long unhurried meals, and the kind of mental stillness that is difficult to access in daily life.
The Dining
I am not someone for whom food is typically the centerpiece of a trip, which makes what I am about to say all the more meaningful: the dining aboard Ilma was extraordinary.
There are no buffets. Every dish is made to order, with dietary preferences considered as a matter of course. The Beach House offered bright, contemporary fare with an unmistakable freshness. Memori, the Japanese restaurant, became Bobby’s undisputed favorite. And Seta su Ilma — the ship’s signature Italian restaurant — offers an eleven-course tasting menu that warrants an evening entirely its own. On slower mornings, we took our time with in-suite dining from our private veranda — coffee, ocean air, and nowhere to rush.
The breadth and consistency of the culinary program is, by any measure, Michelin-caliber. The wine pairings are equally thoughtful. For guests with a sophisticated palate, this ship will not disappoint.
The Service
Embarkation alone told me everything I needed to know. There were no queues, no cattle calls, no fluorescent-lit holding areas. We were escorted individually to a private station — fresh drinks in hand, passports reviewed efficiently — and walked directly on board. The Ritz-Carlton approach to service, built on anticipation rather than reaction, was evident from the first moment and never wavered.
The guest services team helped us arrange a last-minute private tour of Barbados that became one of the brightest memories of the trip. Thoughtful amenities and personalized notes appeared throughout our stay — subtle gestures that made the experience feel considered rather than scripted.
Perhaps the most telling demonstration of the difference between Ilma and a traditional ocean liner came near the end of our voyage. High swells and adverse weather forced a rerouting, and we were unable to call at Virgin Gorda as planned. Rather than accept a quiet day at sea, the captain secured a berth in St. Barth — delivering a full extra day, and into the late evening, in one of the most coveted ports in the Caribbean. A vessel of any significant size simply could not have done this. The flexibility, and the willingness to use it on behalf of guests, spoke to everything that sets this collection apart.
A Few Notes for Those Considering
Dining reservations operate on a first-come, first-served basis — unless you are booked in a higher-category suite. Secure them as early as possible after boarding.
Suite selection warrants careful thought. Even within the same category, the nuances between specific cabins are meaningful. I had the opportunity to tour a considerable number of rooms during our voyage and am happy to walk you through the distinctions in detail.
This Voyage Is Well Suited For
Those celebrating a milestone — multiple areas of the ship can be privatized for a group.
Couples seeking genuine reconnection.
Travelers who have never cruised and are drawn to the idea of a hotel experience that simply happens to be at sea. Guests with a sophisticated palate for food, wine, and considered design.
Those who see value in visiting multiple destinations without the friction of logistics, and who appreciate service that operates at the level they have come to expect elsewhere in their lives.
And perhaps most of all, those who understand that true luxury is not excess — it is space. Space to think. Space to reconnect. Space to remember who you are outside of your obligations.
This Voyage Is Not For
Those seeking the theatrical spectacle of the largest ships — the roller coasters, the water parks, the casino floors. Ilma is deliberately, beautifully without those things.
Families traveling with very young children will also find it a poor fit: there is no robust children’s program, and the environment is not designed to hold the attention of little ones. (My daughters are two and four, and this is one of the rare experiences I would not bring them to — yet.)
We are grateful for the time we spent on board — researching, learning, and yes, genuinely resting — so that we can place this experience with the right clients.
At Meridian Miles, I believe travel should leave you changed in some small but meaningful way. Ilma offers that possibility — through refinement, not spectacle.
If you are considering the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, I would welcome the conversation. Reach out, and I will give you my honest guidance.
