The Ilma officially kicked off its maiden season for The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection earlier this week.

After being delivered by the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in mid-July, the 456-guest vessel received its first paying guests on Sep. 2, 2024.

On that day, the Ilma departed from Monaco for a seven-night cruise to France and Italy that is set to end in Rome.

The open-jaw itinerary features visits to Cannes, Saint Tropez, Livorno, Bastia and Porto Cervo, as well as Monte Carlo and Civitavecchia.

During its maiden season, the LNG-powered ship then offers a series of seven- to 12-night cruises to the Mediterranean, the Adriatic, and the Aegean.

Extending through late October, the program also features departures from Piraeus, Barcelona and Civitavecchia.

In November, the Ilma arrives in the Caribbean for a winter cruise season that features sailings from San Juan, Fort Lauderdale, and Bridgetown.

For its first cruise in the region, the ship offers a six-night itinerary departing from Puerto Rico that includes ports of call in St. Lucia, Guadeloupe, Antigua and the British Virgin Islands.

Before receiving its first guests earlier this week, the Ilma operated training voyages across the Mediterranean.

With over 350 crew members onboard, the 37,000-ton vessel underwent a series of preparations during the period while visiting ports in France, Portugal, Malta and more.

Debuting a new design, the Ilma became the largest ship in the fleet for The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, which also includes the 298-guest Evrima.

Currently under construction for the brand at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique Shipyard, the Luminara is also set to join the company’s fleet.

A sister to the Ilma, the vessel is scheduled to enter service in July 2025 ahead of an inaugural season in Europe.

The Luminara then marks Ritz-Carlton’s debut in Asia, offering ten new itineraries in the region between December 2025 and May 2026.