Cruises and Yachts: A New Pace of Travel

In the world of elevated travel, a quiet transformation is underway. One not powered by velocity, but by deliberate deceleration. While the world accelerates, the most discerning travelers are casting off from crowded terminals and high-speed itineraries. They’re stepping aboard vessels where time stretches and the horizon feels infinite — unhurried, immersive, and impossibly refined.

Welcome to the new frontier of exploration — not across land, but across water. This is not cruising as you know it. This is the floating renaissance — where rivers become roads, yachts become homes, and the next destination is wherever the tide carries you.

Why High-End Travelers Are Reclaiming the Water

For years, “luxury” travel was measured in penthouse check-ins, culinary itineraries, and fast-lane passports. But the truly seasoned have begun seeking something else — not more, but less. Less speed. Less noise. Fewer crowds. And above all, more time.

Enter the world of private yachts, boutique cruises, and bespoke barges. This isn’t cruising, rebranded. It’s an entirely new frontier: floating estates, itinerant sanctuaries, and epicurean journeys that unfold slowly, intimately, and beyond the reach of traditional travel.

From the coral-ringed isles of Indonesia to the lavender-scented canals of Provence, this new genre of travel isn’t about seeing more — it’s about feeling more.

Les Bateaux Belmond: A French Daydream, Unfolding Afloat

There are few places where time slows more seductively than rural France — and fewer still that offer such a seamless union of indulgence and introspection as Les Bateaux Belmond. These are not boats. They are private floating manors, where each glide along the water unveils a scene worthy of an Impressionist canvas.

Coquelicot, Champagne

Drift past vine-draped hillsides and centuries-old villages as you sail from Sillery to Épernay. At every stop, discover a new cellar, a new vintage, a new toast. Onboard, Champagne continues to flow as twilight paints the deck in hues of pink and gold.

Fleur de Lys, Burgundy

On this belle époque jewel, the journey from St-Léger to Dijon becomes a floating ode to Burgundy’s storied terroir. Golden hillsides. Châteaux peeking through trees. Every stop curated. Every moment steeped in flavour.

Napoléon, Provence

Provence was made for seduction — and Napoléon is its chariot. Ideal for private charter, this barge redefines intimate gatherings: sunrise bouillabaisse by the canal, golden-hour cocktails under olive trees, midnight laughter echoing beneath Provençal stars.

Aman at Sea: Remote Indonesia, Redefined

Now imagine setting sail not through vineyards, but through jungle-topped islands and coral-ringed atolls. For three decades, Aman has defined quiet luxury on land. Now it whispers its magic across the sea with Amandira — a handcrafted, two-masted Phinisi yacht exploring Indonesia’s most secret archipelagos.

From Komodo’s dragon-guarded shores to Raja Ampat’s kaleidoscopic reefs, Amandira unlocks a marine world few will ever know. Led by expert dive masters and marine naturalists, guests can dive, snorkel, paddle, and explore — then return to a waiting cocktail and warm shower onboard.

Amandira includes a full-time spa therapist. Indulge in bespoke treatments in your suite or greet the rising sun with yoga on deck. As for dining — Indonesian satay, Japanese omakase, Mediterranean mezze — no request is too ambitious with two private chefs on board. Here, every meal is a performance and a pleasure.

What’s Next?

In 2027, Aman will launch a 50-suite superyacht, designed by SINOT, blending expeditionary spirit with the brand’s signature serenity. Expect itineraries across the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, and beyond — where every suite is a sanctuary and every horizon your private gallery.

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection: Cosmopolitan Cruising Reimagined

With its debut fleet — EVRIMA, ILMA, and LUMINARA — The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has created something rare: a yachting experience that feels at once cosmopolitan and elemental, urbane yet unbound.

Onboard, life is elevated. The suites? Sublime. The dining? Michelin-calibre. The spa? A sensory sanctuary inspired by global traditions. But it’s the sense of discovery that defines the experience — voyages that dive deep into the soul of each destination, from the fjords of Iceland to the sun-drenched coves of Polynesia.

Each vessel features an Observation Lounge — a sky-scraping salon for cocktails, stargazing, or live music — and an infinity pool deck with whirlpools, misting sprays, and all-day sun-soaked serenity.

Voyages span the South Pacific, Polynesia, Asia, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and Northern Europe, including the breathtaking Baltics.

Four Seasons Yachts: The Art of Sea-Bound Living

Few names evoke trust and refinement like Four Seasons. Launching in 2026, its inaugural fleet takes the brand’s legendary warmth and precision onto the open sea — reimagining yachting through the lens of comfort, creativity, and culture.

This all-suite marvel redefines what it means to feel at home on the water. Designed by Prosper Assouline, the interiors echo the colours of the sea and sky, with floor-to-ceiling windows, spa-like bathrooms, and terraces that transform each suite into a floating villa.

A first-of-its-kind transverse marina brings the ocean to your feet — whether for a moonlit swim or a private party. Suites can be connected both vertically and horizontally, creating fluid residential-style spaces never before seen at sea.

Itineraries span some of the Mediterranean’s most evocative coasts — from the glamour of the Rivieras, journeying between Portofino and Monte Carlo, to the charm of the Istrian Discovery route through Dubrovnik, Hvar, Rovinj, and Venice. For those drawn to deeper mystique, the Eastern Mediterranean offers a voyage from Mykonos to Marmaris, tracing the ancient contours of Crete and the Turkish Riviera.

Orient Express Corinthian: A Legacy Returns to the Sea

140 years after revolutionising luxury rail travel, Orient Express returns — this time at sea. Introducing the Corinthian, the world’s largest sailing yacht, where romance and refinement sail side by side.

This isn’t merely a vessel. It’s a floating time capsule — infused with modern elegance and golden-age glamour. With just 54 suites, the experience remains personal, poetic, and wholly transportive.

Explore the French Riviera from Marseille to Saint-Tropez, where you might toast at Palais Bulles or hunt truffles in a vintage car. Or set sail along the Adriatic, dining atop Dubrovnik’s ramparts and stargazing over Montenegro’s mountainous coast.

Upcoming Journeys Include

French Riviera: From the cinematic glamour of Cannes to the bohemian elegance of Saint-Tropez, capped by a Studio 54-style fête at Palais Bulles.

06 Jun 2026 – 12 Jun 2026

Amalfi Coast & Sicily: Pompeii, Capri, Stromboli, Syracuse. Music, myth, and Michelin-worthy meals — one wave at a time.

03 Aug 2026 – 11 Aug 2026

Adriatic Grandeur: Croatia’s jewel-toned ports, Montenegro’s coastal cliffs, and sea-view lunches in Italian grottos.

06 Sep 2026 – 13 Sep 2026

Satori: The Final Chapter of 2025

For those who understand that timing is everything, the final 2025 sailing of Satori is your last chance to claim a singular journey.

This handcrafted schooner — all polished mahogany, silk linens, and cinematic flair — is built for those who value character as much as comfort. With five immaculate cabins (one convertible to a private spa), a gourmet open-view kitchen, and a cinema beneath the stars, Satori is less a yacht than a floating estate.

And the destination? Greece. From Athens to the Aegean, through secret beaches and storied isles. Every element — from your skincare line to your sunset aperitivo — can be tailored pre-departure, including a full Seed to Skin wellness program from the Tuscan hills of Borgo Santo Pietro.

A Time to Drift

So why now? Why has this moment — post-pandemic, post-hyperconnectivity — become the perfect time for a floating renaissance?

Because this isn’t just escape. It’s return.

Return to rhythm. To ritual. To wonder.

Whether gliding through Burgundy’s canals with a glass of Pinot Noir in hand or diving with manta rays in the Flores Sea, water travel doesn’t just rewrite the map — it reawakens the soul.

The pace here is different. No rush hours. No deadlines. Just open water, and endless invitation.

Step aboard. The world is waiting — and it’s time you met it at its own, sublime speed.