The next Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection superyacht, Ilma, floated out of the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, marking a significant construction stage. Senior leadership and shipbuilders gathered for this nautical ritual in preparation for Ilma’s first contact with water, marking the beginning of the next construction phase before her maiden voyage in 2024.

Jim Murren, Executive Chairman and CEO, and Ernesto Fara, President and CFO, were present at the float-out celebration hosted by The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. Laurent Castaing, General Manager, and Arnaud Le Joncour, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, both from Chantiers de l’Atlantique, were present as well.

The yacht’s dry dock was filled with water as part of the float out, and the vessel was relocated to an outfitting dock, where it will remain until sea trials in April and the start of its inaugural season. Now that the ship has been launched, the last phase of the construction will focus on finishing the staterooms, restaurants, and other public areas so that guests may go on a new voyage of discovery at sea in a little over a year.

“As we mark this remarkable achievement, we are immensely proud of the dedication and craftsmanship by all those involved in the construction of Ilma,” said Jim Murren, Executive Chairman and CEO of The Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection. To grow our fleet and our ambition within the ultra-luxury category, we are overjoyed to have teamed with the team at Chantiers de l’Atlantique, and we look forward to moving into the next stage of building and outfitting in preparation for the yacht’s debut cruise next year.”

The second newly built superyacht from The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection will be named Ilma, which means “water” in Maltese. The yacht will be 790 feet long and have 224 spacious, light-filled staterooms with private decks, with the capacity to host 448 guests.

The Ritz-Carlton’s dedication to pioneering new forms of luxury travel is exemplified by this brand expansion, which ushers in a groundbreaking unique style of vacationing on the high seas. With one of the greatest space ratios at sea, Ilma’s luxurious public areas will set the stage for an unforgettable cruise.

State-of-the-art technology, five unique dining locations, and a Ritz-Carlton Spa® are just a few examples of how the onboard experience will mirror the extraordinary lifestyle and renowned service for which The Ritz-Carlton brand is known.

Ilma will join the company’s first yacht, Evrima, in visiting the most sought-after locations in the Mediterranean and Caribbean, with select ports of call in Central America and South America, depending on the season, and delivering carefully designed itineraries and extraordinary adventures for guests.

“We are thrilled to see Ilma’s float out. “Ilma embodies Chantiers de l’Atlantique’s commitment to ultra-luxury,” said Arnaud Le Joncour. “This milestone marks the beginning of the next phase of outfitting construction.” Our teams are united to meet the expectations of today’s most discerning luxury travellers, drawing inspiration from Ilma’s elegance, clean lines, and unique features.”