Marriott launches The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, offering ultra-luxury cruises

Marriott International Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is finally taking its ultra-luxury accommodations to the high seas. The Bethesda hotel giant on Monday announced it has launched The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, which it bills as a combination of its high-end luxury hotel brand and the joys and exploration of a yachting vacation. The Evrima, a luxury vessel flying The Ritz-Carlton flag, left Saturday from Barcelona on a route to Nice on the French Riviera. It’s the first of three vessels planned as part of the collection — a collaboration between veteran cruise industry executive Douglas Prothero, Los Angeles investment firm Oaktree Capital Management and Marriott’s high-end brand portfolio. The yacht collection was first announced in 2017 but shipyard issues and Covid-19-related delays and supply chain troubles pushed its inaugural voyage several times before its first launch.