Big on style, low on crowds, these new vessels are among the most anticipated launches in luxury cruising.

An artist’s impression of Luminara, the newest vessel from The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. — An artist’s impression of *Luminara*, the newest vessel from The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.

Looking for a high-end cruise with a superyacht vibe? This crop of new entries on the global cruising scene—two backed by top-tier hospitality brands—is redefining luxury at sea with sleek designs, all-suite accommodations, and guest counts under 500.

Just launched in July, Luminara is the latest addition to The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, with 226 elegant suites featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, bespoke furnishings, and private balconies. It promises the full Ritz-Carlton experience at sea, complete with five restaurants and seven bars, plus a spa delivering treatments by Espa and 111Skin. There’s also a collection of over 700 artworks including pieces by Joan Miró, Andy Warhol, and David Hockney. Now sailing in the Mediterranean, Luminara will relocate to Asia in December, with Singapore and Osaka listed as future ports of call.

Meanwhile, Star Seeker—boutique line Windstar’s first-ever new build—will cast off for its maiden voyage on December 28, departing the Spanish port of Málaga for a transatlantic crossing to Miami ahead of its inaugural season in the Caribbean. Social spaces range from the Yacht Club, a daytime café that doubles as a venue for cocktails and live music after dark, to the Mediterr-Asian restaurant Bamboo + Basil, a new concept slated to replace Spanish venue Cuadro 44 across the Windstar fleet. Other amenities like a full-service spa and a watersports platform with direct sea access complement Star Seeker’s 112 suites.

And coming in January 2026 is Four Seasons I, the debut vessel from Four Seasons Yachts. This 14-deck, all-suite ship will offer a 1:1 staff-to-guest ratio and standout dining and drinking venues, including Sedna, which will host chefs-in-residence from Four Seasons restaurants worldwide, and Soleil, an adults-only champagne and caviar bar. Of its 95 staterooms, the crown jewel is the Funnel Suite, a four-deck, three-bedroom penthouse offering 280-degree views of the sea. Another key feature is the “transverse marina,” a set of retractable floating platforms on both sides of the ship, linked by an interior bar and lounge. Four Seasons I will offer weeklong Caribbean itineraries before heading to the Mediterranean in spring.

A rendering of the pool deck aboard Four Seasons I. — A rendering of the pool deck aboard *Four Seasons I*.

An artist’s impression of the Yacht Club lounge on Windstar’s Star Seeker. — An artist’s impression of the Yacht Club lounge on Windstar’s *Star Seeker*.

This article originally appeared in the August/September 2025 print issue of DestinAsian magazine (“Making Waves”). Buy a single issue or subscribe here.

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