The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection sits at the intersection of two worlds most luxury travelers keep separate: the all-inclusive ocean voyage and the Marriott Bonvoy ecosystem. Three ultra-luxury yachts — Evrima, Ilma, and Luminara — carry up to 452 guests each at a near 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio, with all dining, premium beverages, Starlink Wi-Fi, and crew gratuities folded into the voyage fare.
For Bonvoy members, the question is always the same: what does my status actually get me onboard? And for travelers wondering whether to book through a travel agency or directly: what do Marriott STARS benefits add on a yacht, and have they changed recently?
This guide answers both questions with the current benefit structure — because the STARS benefits for Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection have been updated, and several competitors are still publishing outdated information.
What Is the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection?
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is the ocean-cruising arm of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, operating under Marriott International. It is not a traditional cruise line. The fleet runs at superyacht scale — intimate, slow-paced, and designed around the same service philosophy as the hotels, with a focus on boutique ports rather than commercial cruise terminals.
The concept places the yacht in harbors where large ships cannot go: the private marinas of Saint-Tropez and Capri, the anchorages off the Amalfi Coast, the boutique docks of Jost Van Dyke and Bequia in the Caribbean. Days are structured around the destination rather than the ship, with the marina platform deployed at anchor so guests can access the sea directly by kayak, paddleboard, or snorkel gear.
The Three Ships — Evrima, Ilma, and Luminara
The fleet now operates three Evrima-class yachts, each with a distinct character and a slightly different footprint.
Evrima (launched 2020)
The original — and the most intimate. Evrima carries 298 guests across 149 suites and offers the closest experience to a private superyacht charter of the three. Entry-level Terrace Suites start at approximately 300 square feet. The smaller size lets Evrima slip into ports that even Ilma and Luminara cannot reach, and the feel onboard is quiet and unhurried. Ideal for guests prioritizing privacy and the original vision of the concept.
Ilma (launched 2024)
The evolution. Ilma carries 448 guests across 224 suites and is noticeably larger than Evrima in all the right ways: more open deck space, a significantly expanded marina platform, dual pools, and a broader range of public lounges and indoor-outdoor dining concepts. The space-per-guest ratio remains high. Ilma suits guests who want more of everything while keeping the boutique scale that makes this concept distinctive.
Luminara (launched 2025)
The flagship. Luminara carries 452 guests across 226 suites and has the highest space ratio in the fleet. The suite design introduces deeper terrace lounging layouts, sliding structural partitions for enhanced privacy, and sharper residential interiors. Luminara's culinary program is elevated further by a signature partnership with James Beard Award-winning Chef Michael Mina, bringing an upscale modern Middle Eastern dining concept exclusive to this yacht. Luminara also sails the broadest itinerary range in the fleet, including Asia-Pacific routes not served by Evrima or Ilma.
No difference in STARS benefit delivery across the three ships. The amenities and credits are applied identically regardless of which yacht you sail.
What's Included in the All-Inclusive Voyage Fare
Understanding what the base fare covers is essential before evaluating any add-on benefits.
Included:
- All suite accommodations with private oceanfront terrace
- Dining at all included onboard restaurants (multiple venues, open seating, no reservation requirements, no cover charges)
- 24-hour in-suite dining from the full menu
- Premium beverages throughout — fine wines, champagne, premium spirits, cocktails, specialty coffees and teas, and a stocked minibar in your suite
- Starlink premium Wi-Fi for all devices
- All onboard crew gratuities
- Marina watersports equipment when the yacht is at anchor — kayaks, paddleboards, snorkeling gear
Not included:
- Shore excursions (The Shore Collection — curated and bookable onboard)
- Spa treatments and products at The Ritz-Carlton Spa
- The Private Reserve wine and spirits menu (ultra-premium selections beyond the standard beverage program)
- Onboard boutique purchases
- Dining at S.E.A., the signature specialty restaurant (see below)
- Airfare, port taxes, and fees
A note on S.E.A.: S.E.A. was designed by three-Michelin-starred Chef Sven Elverfeld and operates as a premium surcharge dining experience. A full multi-course European tasting menu is priced at $289 per person, excluding optional premium wine pairings. This is one of the most common uses of Marriott STARS onboard credit.
Current Marriott STARS Benefits for the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
Marriott STARS is Marriott's official preferred partner program for accredited luxury travel agencies. QX Travel is an authorized STARS agency. The benefits below reflect the current structure — which has been updated recently, making several third-party resources out of date.
Onboard Credit (OBC)
$150 USD per guest, per sailing. For a couple in a standard suite, that is $300 USD in OBC. If a third guest occupies the same suite, the credit scales to $450 USD total. This is not a per-booking or per-suite credit — it is per person.
The OBC can be applied toward:
- Treatments and products at The Ritz-Carlton Spa
- Shore excursions
- The Private Reserve wine and spirits list
- Onboard boutiques
- Specialty dining (including the S.E.A. surcharge)
- Enrichment activities
Restrictions: The OBC is non-refundable, non-transferable, and cannot be used toward the base cruise fare, port taxes or fees, or travel insurance.
Welcome Amenity
A personalized culinary confection — a custom sweet — paired with an upgraded bottle of champagne or wine from the Private Reserve list, delivered to your suite upon or shortly after embarkation. Your preferences are collected in advance and coordinated between QX Travel and the yacht's shoreside guest services team, so everything is waiting when you board.
Bon Voyage Welcome
A personalized welcome note from the General Manager, VIP status granted upon arrival with an in-person warm welcome, plus access to a private bridge tour. The bridge tour remains at the Captain's discretion — governed by port security protocols, weather, and navigation schedules — and cannot be guaranteed at booking.
Suite Upgrade Advantage
One of the most valuable and least-publicized STARS benefits for RCYC: 30 days prior to embarkation, STARS guests receive early access to an exclusive suite upgrade rate, frequently up to 50% off the standard upgrade pricing, subject to availability. This is the window to move from a Terrace Suite to a Signature or Grand Suite at a significant reduction if availability exists. Your QX Travel advisor monitors this and contacts you when the window opens.
Room Priority and Waitlist Access
STARS guests receive first priority for their requested suite category, bed type, rollaway beds, and connecting suites — a significant advantage for families or multi-generational groups requiring specific configurations. If a sailing is sold out, STARS bookings are also placed first on the waitlist, ahead of standard direct bookings.
Wi-FiComplimentary Starlink premium Wi-Fi is included — though this is also included in the standard all-inclusive fare for all guests.
Stacking with promotions
STARS amenities cannot be combined with other travel agency network programs (Virtuoso, Amex FHR). However, they stack fully with:
- Marriott Bonvoy elite recognition onboard
- RCYC's 5% Rebook Savings (for guests who rebook onboard or post-voyage)
- 5% Back-to-Back Voyage Savings (consecutive sailings)
- 5% Ritz-Carlton Residence Owner discount (for qualifying property owners)
Marriott Bonvoy Benefits Onboard
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection participates in Marriott Bonvoy, and your status travels with you onboard. STARS benefits and Bonvoy recognition are not mutually exclusive — they stack.
Earning points
Members earn 5 Marriott Bonvoy points per $1 USD spent on the cruise fare and any pre- or post-hotel packages booked directly through RCYC. Points are not earned on onboard incidental spend (spa, shore excursions, boutique), and elite tier point multipliers — the bonus earning rates that apply at Marriott hotels for Platinum and above — do not apply to cruise fares.
Earning elite nights
You earn 1 Elite Night Credit for every night you personally occupy your suite. For a 7-night voyage, that is 7 nights toward your Bonvoy tier — meaningful if you are working toward Platinum (50 nights) or the transition to Titanium (75 nights).
Ambassador qualifying spend
The cash portion of your cruise fare counts toward the $23,000 annual spend threshold required to maintain or earn Ambassador Elite status. On a $10,000+ voyage, that is a meaningful contribution.
Onboard elite recognition by tier
TierBenefitsSilver EliteInvitation to the Marriott Bonvoy Elite Reception onboardGold EliteElite Reception + in-suite welcome giftPlatinum EliteAll above + complimentary first-evening laundry pressingTitanium EliteAll above + priority boarding and departureAmbassador EliteAll above + early access to specialty dining reservations + complimentary laundry service throughout the entire voyage
Redeeming Bonvoy points toward your fare
Points can offset the cruise fare at a fixed rate: 180,000 points equals $1,000 USD in savings. After that, you can redeem in increments of 90,000 points for $500 savings each. Points can be applied to cover up to 100% of the cruise fare, but cannot be used toward port taxes, fees, or onboard incidentals.
Which Itinerary Is Right for You?
Mediterranean (May–October) — strongest case for RCYC's unique proposition
The small footprint of the fleet unlocks exclusive yachting harbors that large cruise ships bypass entirely: Portofino, Capri, Positano, Hvar, Patmos, Saint-Tropez, Antibes, Cassis. Standard 7-night itineraries operate around the Greek Isles, Italian Riviera, French Riviera, Croatia, and the Turkish coast. For a first-time RCYC guest, a 7-night Greek Isles or Amalfi Coast sailing in summer is the strongest introduction: boutique ports, full marina days at anchor, late-night departures, and outdoor dining at its best.
Caribbean (November–April) — accessible entry point
Caribbean sailings focus on smaller, harder-to-reach islands: St. Barths, Bequia, the Grenadines, Anguilla, Virgin Gorda, and the Tobago Cays. Voyage fares sit at the more accessible end of the pricing range, making a 7-night roundtrip from San Juan or Bridgetown a natural starting point for guests new to yacht-scale luxury cruising.
Asia (year-round on Luminara) — for the adventurous Bonvoy traveler
Luminara's Asia itineraries connect Japan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and Singapore on voyages of 7 to 14+ nights. For travelers who have maximized the hotel circuit through Southeast Asia and Japan, this offers the same destinations with full predictability and Ritz-Carlton service standards removed from the complexity of multi-city hotel logistics.
Transatlantic crossings — for onboard immersion
Crossings run 10 to 14+ nights with limited or no port stops. These are suited to guests whose primary goal is shipboard decompression — spa access, fine dining, sea days, enrichment programming — rather than destination exploration. Per-night fares on crossings often run 30–40% below peak-season Mediterranean rates.
What Does a Voyage Actually Cost?
Pricing is quoted per person based on double occupancy.
Caribbean sailings: 5 to 7-night voyages in a Terrace Suite typically range from $3,200 to $7,500 per person.
Mediterranean sailings: 7-night voyages in a Terrace Suite typically range from $9,000 to $15,000+ per person at peak summer demand.
The STARS value in context: On a 7-night Mediterranean sailing at $12,000 per person, a $300 OBC for two guests offsets a spa treatment, a shore excursion, or a full evening at S.E.A. The structural value of a STARS booking lies primarily in the suite upgrade window — early access to 50% off mid-tier upgrades 30 days prior to sailing can represent a saving of several thousand dollars on a Signature or Grand Suite move — alongside the contribution to Bonvoy elite night and Ambassador spend accumulation.
How to Book Through QX Travel
QX Travel is an authorized Marriott STARS agency. Bookings are made through our inquiry form, where you share your preferred voyage, dates, party size, and any special considerations — anniversary, connecting suites for a family group, a post-cruise hotel stay, or coordination with flights.
All STARS inclusions — the OBC, welcome amenity, Bon Voyage Welcome, and suite upgrade eligibility — are reflected in your booking confirmation documentation. There are no surprises at embarkation.
We can also coordinate air in business or first class, ground transfers between airport and port, and pre- or post-cruise hotel stays at Ritz-Carlton, EDITION, or other STARS-eligible properties in the embarkation city. For guests combining a Ritz-Carlton hotel stay with an RCYC voyage, both bookings are managed under one plan.
The voyage rate is the same as booking directly through Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. STARS benefits are layered on at no additional cost.
Frequentlyasked questions
What Marriott STARS benefits do you get on the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection?
Current Marriott STARS benefits for the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection include: a $150 USD onboard credit per guest (up to $450 for three guests in one suite) usable toward the spa, shore excursions, specialty dining, the Private Reserve list, onboard boutiques, and enrichment activities; a personalized culinary confection and Private Reserve champagne or wine delivered to your suite; a welcome note from the General Manager with an in-person warm welcome; a private bridge tour at the Captain's discretion; early access to an exclusive suite upgrade rate 30 days prior to embarkation; first priority for your requested suite category, bed type, and connecting suites; and first priority placement on waitlists for sold-out sailings.
Do you still earn Marriott Bonvoy points on a Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection voyage?
Yes. Members earn 5 Marriott Bonvoy points per $1 USD spent on the cruise fare and RCYC-booked hotel packages. You also earn 1 Elite Night Credit for every night onboard, and cruise fare spend counts toward the Ambassador Elite annual qualifying threshold. Note that elite tier point multipliers do not apply to cruise fares, and points are not earned on onboard incidental spend.
Can Bonvoy points be used to pay for a Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection cruise?
Yes. Points can be redeemed to offset the cruise fare at a rate of 180,000 points for $1,000 USD off, then in increments of 90,000 points for $500 off. You can apply points to cover up to 100% of the fare, but they cannot be used toward port taxes, fees, or onboard incidentals.
What is the difference between Evrima, Ilma, and Luminara?
Evrima is the original and most intimate yacht, carrying 298 guests and offering the closest feel to a private superyacht charter. Ilma carries 448 guests and introduces expanded deck space, a larger marina, and dual pools. Luminara is the newest and largest, carrying 452 guests, with the highest space-per-guest ratio in the fleet, a signature Chef Michael Mina culinary partnership, and the broadest itinerary range including Asia-Pacific. Marriott STARS benefits are identical across all three yachts.
Is breakfast included on Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection voyages?
Yes, all meals — breakfast, lunch, and dinner at included onboard restaurants — are part of the all-inclusive voyage fare for all guests. Unlike Ritz-Carlton hotels, where complimentary breakfast is not available through Bonvoy status and requires a STARS booking, breakfast is already included on every RCYC voyage regardless of how you book.
