The luxury cruise vessel Luminara, operated by The Ritz‑Carlton Yacht Collection, is preparing an expanded program of voyages for the 2027 season. The 794-foot yacht, which entered service in mid-2025, will sail new itineraries across Alaska and Asia while also undertaking trans-Pacific passages linking the two regions.
The announced schedule includes fifteen voyages to Alaska, four crossings of the Pacific, and two extended journeys that combine the northern waters of North America with Asian ports. The itineraries are intended to reach both established destinations and more remote harbors seldom included in larger cruise programs.
In Alaska, the voyages are planned to run between Vancouver and Whittier, lasting between 7 and 9 nights. Much of the navigation will take place along the Inside Passage, a channel extending for more than 500 miles through glacier-cut waterways bordered by forested coastline. Several itineraries will continue into Tracy Arm Fjord, where tidewater glaciers descend toward the sea; optional private flights are expected to offer closer aerial observation of the ice fields. Other voyages will enter smaller ports such as Wrangell and Klawock during the period of the salmon run, when bear activity along the shores is most visible.
The Asian program will include calls at several major and regional ports. Among them are Seoul, Tianjin—the principal maritime gateway to Beijing and the nearby Great Wall of China—as well as the Japanese ports of Otaru and Akita. One representative itinerary will run for 10 nights between Tokyo and Seoul, including views of Mount Fuji and visits to coastal temples. During a 2-day call in Beijing, passengers will have time ashore to visit the Forbidden City. Additional excursions will involve time in Osaka, including the well-known Dotonbori district, along with access to several sites listed as UNESCO World Heritage locations.
According to a statement issued by Ernesto Fara, president and chief executive of The Ritz‑Carlton Yacht Collection, the company indicated that the 2027 summer season aboard Luminara had been designed to emphasize exploration by sea. The statement noted that the program combines expanded Alaskan sailings with new Asian ports while maintaining the line’s emphasis on luxury accommodation and individualized service. The voyages, it added, were structured to allow passengers to encounter two geographically distinct regions within a continuous and carefully planned cruising schedule.
Luminara is the newest vessel in the fleet, joining its sister ships Evrima and Ilma. Delivered in July 2025, the yacht carries 226 suites, each equipped with a private terrace. On board are facilities typical of the brand’s maritime adaptation of hotel service, including a spa operating under the Ritz‑Carlton name, a marina platform with direct access to the water, several swimming pools, and multiple dining venues.
The vessel enters service at a time when other hospitality companies are also developing ocean-going fleets. Brands such as Four Seasons, Aman, and Orient Express have announced or are preparing cruise ships intended to extend their hotel service model to maritime travel. With the first ships from Four Seasons and Orient Express expected to enter service soon, Luminara and its sister vessels will soon share the seas with a new generation of hotel-operated cruise yachts.