On-board Luminara, the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Asian debut

I’ve never been a fan of cruises, having been hauled onto more than my fair share by a cruise-crazy family.

So when I was invited aboard the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Luminara sojourn from Phuket to Singapore, I was curious. Would a cruise positioned closer to a superyacht than a liner finally change my mind?

Because this is not a John Grisham novel and I doubt you’re deeply invested in the suspense, the short answer is yes. Unequivocally, yes.

I had ample time to think about why this experience felt so different: while lounging by the pool; sipping Chablis over a languid, Middle Eastern lunch at the Beach House; kayaking across the emerald-green Andaman Sea; easing into a spa treatment; stargazing under a lights-off sky; and, especially, watching the kind of sunsets that make you pause mid-sentence. The reasons, it turns out, are many.

First, this is an offshoot of the Ritz-Carlton brand, and the service and standards are exactly what you would expect from the hotel group. 

There are only suites on board, and each suite comes with a private terrace overlooking the sea. That’s not standard, even at the luxury end of cruising, and it quietly changes how you experience time on board. 

The top-of-the-line Owner’s Suite ranges between 741 to 1,047 sqft, and features a hot tub in the terrace.

The suite itself is generously sized and thoughtfully designed: separate dining, living and bedroom areas, plush furnishings, lavish marble accents, two walk-in wardrobes, a proper bathroom with tub and separate shower, and complete blackout curtains that actually do what they promise. Plus, an in-house butler, discreetly on hand throughout the voyage. A chilled bottle of Moët awaits on arrival, the minibar is included, and it’s properly stocked with Perrier and fresh juices.

The balcony of the Owner’s Suite.

That attention to detail is a recurring theme. Yes, the crew remembers your name after meeting you once—something I’ve experienced at other top hotels, too. What stood out more was how willing they were to bend over backwards to make each moment feel effortless, or as The Ritz-Carlton calls it, to create a “wow moment”. The staff ratio is almost one-to-one, so the service is incredibly personalised. But importantly, it’s also nuanced, and the crew has been trained to read each guest’s expectations, whether they need a little extra TLC or space.

There are only 226 rooms on-board, and each of them are suites.

At dinner, I ask to taste three different wines to find the one I like, without a flicker of impatience. When I check whether the mint tea is caffeine-free (the teabag reads thé vert, green tea), I am reassured—but three minutes later, a pot of fresh mint tea appears. I mention, almost in passing, that I don’t take sugar and will skip dessert; moments later, a sugar-free, gluten-free dark chocolate gelato arrives at the table. Receiving something you didn’t even know you wanted is perhaps what makes an experience feel truly special.

What stands out is how deliberately curated the experience feels. Luminara has around 226 suites and a capped guest count of roughly 450, which immediately explains why it never feels crowded, rushed or chaotic. No queueing, no fighting for deck chairs, and no needless activities that take up more brain space than necessary. 

Dining options are plentiful on the Luminara.

There are no sprawling buffets—thank goodness—not even at breakfast. Instead, there are distinct restaurants, each with a clear identity. Beach House is relaxed and sun-drenched, with a small infinity-edge window overlooking the sea—not a pool you swim laps in, but a beautiful place to linger. Mistral, on the upper deck, handles casual dining with ease with a Mediterranean inspired menu. Azure steps things up a notch with its Italian fare, with a changing menu inspired by the destinations the yacht travels to.

The Mistral is a casual outdoor-indoor restaurant that serves Mediterranean fare.

The undisputed highlight, though, is the seven-course tasting menu at Seta Su Luminara, the yacht’s fine-dining restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Fabio Trabocchi. With dietary preferences thoughtfully accommodated, the seafood-led menu is elegant and precise. A standout is the squid-ink scallop with risotto, alongside a deceptively simple milk bread served with seaweed butter and olive oil. 

Azure serves Italian fare, imbued with influences from local cuisines that are on route.

By the time we reach Langkawi, I realise something else has shifted: for the first time on a cruise, I don’t feel the need to disembark to feel like I am “doing” something productive. I make a conscious decision to stay on board rather than head ashore, and I don’t regret it for a second. The afternoon unfolds at the marina, where sea activities are carefully organised: lounging in the sun, dipping into a natural seawater pool and swimming alongside fish, kayaking out into open water with jungle-dotted islands all around. Jet skis and other options are available, but there’s no pressure to do everything—or anything—at all.

That ebb and flow—moments of activity followed by deliberate stillness—defines life on board Luminara.

One small surprise is that, despite Luminara being a brand-new ship, the wellness offerings are relatively pared back, especially in an era where even condominiums boast ice baths. Still, the Technogym-equipped gym is excellent, and I make it a point to work out daily. One morning is reserved for the spa, which delivers exactly the kind of calm you hope for at sea. I opt for the Luminara Signature Treatment, where Alexia seamlessly combines hot stone therapy with an oil massage. Two warm stones are placed in my hands, designed to heal and ground. At the end of the session, she notes some lactic acid build-up in my back and suggests a few simple recovery practices, including time in the sauna and steam room—conveniently located within the spa itself.

That sense of ease extends beyond individual experiences; it’s embedded into how Luminara has been conceived as a whole.

The spa feature products from Espa.

Luminara marks the first time the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has come to Asia. Of its three yachts, the others typically sail the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and the US; for the year ahead, Asia will be its focus, with itineraries including Hong Kong and beyond. Luminara is designed for longer, more immersive itineraries, with slower pacing and more time at anchor, which suits Asian routes and sensibilities far better than the “port-hopping” rhythm common in the Med or Caribbean.

The moment I feel most at peace comes during a 10pm stargazing session. With the lights switched off and the constellations unusually bright—a rarity in much of Asia—I listen as a professor of astrology points out stars and planetary positions through a headset. I’ll admit I can’t orient myself well enough to spot most of them, but that hardly matters. I simply lay back, switch off my overactive brain, and feel quietly grateful to be there.

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