Four Seasons is known for its luxury hotels, though the brand is now getting into the cruising industry, with the introduction of Four Seasons Yachts. While I’ve covered this in the past, there’s now a major update, as the first voyage has set sail, so this is now actually a real thing.
Four Seasons is taking a unique approach toward its journeys, because the whole concept almost seems designed for people who wouldn’t necessarily take cruises. So let’s take a detailed look at what guests can expect, but just to cover some of the very basics:
- Four Seasons Yachts offers an all-suite experience with just 95 accommodations on the ship, offering one of the most exclusive cruising experiences to date
- The best way to book Four Seasons Yachts voyages is through a Four Seasons Preferred Partner travel advisor, as they can add a shipboard credit, which you won’t get when booking direct
- Four Seasons Yachts is initially sailing the Caribbean and Mediterranean, offering five to 14 night cruises
- Four Seasons Yachts rates start at roughly $3,000 per suite per night, including breakfast, non-alcoholic drinks, light snacks, and gratuities; lunch, dinner, and alcohol, aren’t included
With the above out of the way, let’s take a closer look at the details.
What is the Four Seasons Yachts ship like?
Four Seasons Yachts is the name of Four Seasons’ new cruising venture, which is a partnership between the hotel group and Marc-Henry Cruise Holdings Ltd. The plan is to eventually offer multiple vessels — one is now sailing, and the second is expected to be in service within the next year.
The ships are being produced by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, with interiors by Tillberg of Sweden, and creative direction by Prosper Assouline. Each vessel has an estimated cost of around €400 million.
While I’ll talk more about the accommodations below, let me first cover some of the basics of the ship:
- The vessel is 207 meters (679 feet) long and 27 meters (89 feet) wide, and features 14 decks
- The vessel has just 95 accommodations, in an all-suite layout
- The ship features 11 different restaurants and lounges, to give guests a variety of options
- The ship features an onboard transverse marina, allowing guests easy access to water toys that you’d traditionally only find on privately owned yachts; this also offers tiered lounging decks
- The aft deck boasts a 20-meter (66-foot) salt water pool, making it one of the largest at sea; this can quickly be emptied and the floor can be raised, and converted into a multi-function area
- The ship offers nearly 50% more living space per guest than what’s currently available in the industry, and has a staff to guest ratio of roughly 1:1
- As a relatively small and intimate “cruise ship,” Four Seasons Yachts will, when possible, anchor and then tender guests into the port, as opposed to using a cruise terminal
- Kate McCue is the first captain of Four Seasons Yachts’ ship; she’s kind of a cruising legend, and probably the world’s most famous cruise ship captain
I want to briefly put into context just how spacious this ship it. For example, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is another luxury cruise line associated with a hotel group. The company’s first ship, Evrima, is 190 meters with 149 rooms, while this one is 207 meters with 95 rooms, which is a huge difference.
What are suites like on Four Seasons Yachts?
Four Seasons Yachts features just 95 accommodations, in an all-suite layout. The cabin layout here completely redefines what you’d ordinarily expect to find on a cruise ship, from the size of the entry level accommodations, to the absurdly over-the-top specialty suites. You can view all the details of the suites at this link.
First let’s cover the four suite categories of which there are multiple available, which make up 88 of the 95 suites onboard (all the square footage amounts include indoor and outdoor space):
- There are 42 Seaview Suites, offering 537 to 613 square feet, and featuring a spacious bedroom with a double-vanity marble bathroom and a private terrace; this can accommodate two adults and one infant
- There are 15 Superior Seaview Suites, offering 807 to 893 square feet, and featuring a bedroom with a large sitting area, a double-vanity bathroom with a soaking tub and walk-in shower, and a large outdoor terrace; this can accommodate two adults and one infant or one child
- There are 15 Ocean Suites, offering 893 to 1,011 square feet, and featuring a larger bedroom, a separate living room, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a private terrace; this can accommodate three adults, or two adults and two children
- There are 16 Grand Ocean Suites, offering 1,012 to 1,140 square feet in an “L-shape,” with a large living room, bedroom, and terrace; this can accommodate three adults, or two adults and two children
Beyond that, there are seven specialty suites, with the most impressive being the Funnel Suite, which is a four level suite that covers a total of 9,975 square feet. This has everything from a splash pool, to a private elevator, to an outdoor gym, to a private kitchen.
What is dining like on Four Seasons Yachts?
Four Seasons Yachts features 11 distinct restaurant and bar concepts, so there’s no shortage of choice. While I’ll talk more about inclusions in a bit, let me emphasize that only breakfast, snacks, and non-alcoholic drinks are included with these sailings, so lunch, dinner, and alcoholic drinks, come at an extra charge. With that in mind, here are the venues:
- Terrasse is the all-day dining venue, serving coastal Mediterranean cuisine
- Miuna is open for lunch and dinner, serving a Japanese omakase experience
- Sedna is open for lunch and dinner, serving as the fine dining restaurant
- Salon is the all-day lounge area, serving drinks, snacks, afternoon tea, and more
- Bar Piscine is the all-day pool bar, serving cocktails, meals, and more
- Champagne & Caviar is open in the evening, serving champagne and caviar with a view
- Horizon Lounge is open for lunch and in the early evening, as an adults-only venue with a beach club vibe
- Marina Bar is the all-day snack bar, serving light bites, like smoothies, sandwiches, and more
- Cigar Lounge is open in the afternoon and late into the night, with a selection of spirits, cigars, and more
- Bar O is open in the afternoon and late into the night, embracing the cocktail culture of the 1960s and 1970s
- Pistachio is the all-day cafe, serving coffee, fresh pastries, and more
How expensive are Four Seasons Yachts journeys?
Obviously Four Seasons Yachts is going after the high-end of the cruise market, and the company is largely targeting people who might otherwise consider chartering a private yacht.
Nonetheless, pricing is actually more attractive than most people had assumed. The first thing to understand is that pricing is per suite, rather than per guest. Most cruise lines have a per person cost based on double occupancy, while in the case of Four Seasons Yachts, you’re simply paying for the suite, regardless of how many people are in them (up to the occupancy limit).
Four Seasons Yachts journeys start at roughly $3,000 per suite per day. The exact cost varies by journey, but you’ll pretty regularly find entry level pricing within that range. Furthermore, as you’d expect, the premium suites can go for a lot more, with the Funnel Suite regularly costing $200K+ per journey.
You can look up the cost of sailings directly on the Four Seasons Yachts website. Just look up any journey, and then look at the section listing suite types and fares. The taxes and fees beyond what’s listed are typically minimal.
When the concept of Four Seasons Yachts was first announced, many people assumed a cruise would cost six figures for any kind of suite. So the pricing ended up being much lower than that (though obviously still at the top end of the market).
What’s included with Four Seasons Yachts journeys?
Four Seasons Yachts is taking a different approach than other cruise lines when it comes to inclusions. When some people think of a cruise, the thought of a floating all-you-can-eat buffet might come to mind. Four Seasons is going exactly the opposite direction. With Four Seasons Yachts:
- All rates include daily breakfast, a selection of non-alcoholic drinks, some light snacks throughout the day, and gratuities
- Lunch, dinner, and alcoholic beverages, are available at an additional cost
- All meals and beverages for children 12 years of age and under are included in the fare
On the surface, it might seem a little strange for what might just be the world’s most luxurious cruise line to also have among the most a la carte pricing. But I can also see where they’re coming from:
- Four Seasons wants to create a resort experience at sea; just as Four Seasons doesn’t have all-inclusive resorts on land, it also doesn’t have it at sea
- I would think Four Seasons assumes that many guests specifically want to dine off the ship in many of the destinations that are served (like in the Mediterranean), so including all meals is kind of silly
Obviously this is a tradeoff. Everyone would rather have something included than not. But at the same time, I think the cruise costs are lower than many expected, but with an a la carte component.
Keep in mind that if you book through a travel advisor affiliated with Four Seasons Preferred Partner, you can receive a shipboard credit, which can at least help offset some of the costs incurred onboard.
How do you book Four Seasons Yachts cruises?
The best way to book a Four Seasons Yachts itinerary is through a travel advisor affiliated with Four Seasons Preferred Partner. There’s no markup when booking through a travel advisor, and they can help you sort through all the details, and can even add a shipboard credit (which varies based on the length of the itinerary and type of suite that you book).
Ford and his team are happy to help with Four Seasons Yachts bookings, and can be reached at [email protected]. They have experience with booking Four Seasons Yachts, and belong to the Preferred Partner program.
So, what are the logistics of booking like? For most suite types, your itinerary can be placed on a 24-hour hold. Then a 25% deposit is required to lock in the booking, with the balance due 150 days before the sailing. Up until that point, you generally have the ability to cancel, minus an administrative fee. You’ll want to check with an eligible travel advisor to learn the exact terms, as they do vary.
Where do Four Seasons Yachts itineraries go?
Four Seasons Yachts will sail in the Caribbean in winter, and in the Mediterranean in summer. While the journeys are anywhere from five to 12 nights, you’ll notice that the itineraries aren’t the same week-to-week, which is intended so that people can take longer journeys while visiting different destinations.
For example, the ship is initially operating in the Mediterranean, with the following itineraries (all in 2026):
- Saint-Tropez & Trapani, Grand Mediterranean (nine nights, starting at $28,500); March 20 through March 29
- Mykonos & Marmaris, Grand Mediterranean (seven nights, starting at $23,500); March 29 through April 5
- Santorini & Yalikavak, Greek Isles (seven nights, starting at $23,500); April 5 through April 12, April 19 through April 26, May 3 through May 10, May 17 through May 24
- Göcek & Kos, Greek Isles (seven nights, starting at $23,500); April 12 through April 19, April 26 through May 3, May 10 through May 17, May 24 through May 31
- Santorini & Mykonos, Greek Isles (five nights, starting at $19,000); May 31 through June 5
- Monemvasia & Tivat, Ionian & Dalmatian Coast (nine nights, starting at $33,500); June 5 through June 14
- Hvar & Rovinj, Adriatic (seven nights, starting at $25,200); June 14 through June 21, June 28 through July 5, July 12 through July 19
- Opatija & Korčula, Adriatic (seven nights, starting at $25,800); June 21 through June 28, July 5 through July 12, July 19 through July 26
- Brindisi & Gozo, Grand Mediterranean (seven nights, starting at $25,100); July 26 through August 2
- Ischia & Saint-Cyr, Grand Mediterranean (seven nights, starting at $24,800); August 2 through August 9
- Porto Cervo & Saint-Tropez, The Rivieras (seven nights, starting at $25,000); August 9 through August 16, August 23 through August 30, September 20 through September 27, October 18 through October 25
- Cassis & Portofino, The Rivieras (seven nights, starting at $25,000); August 16 through August 23, August 30 through September 6, September 27 through October 4
- Bonifacio & Positano, The Rivieras (seven nights, starting at $24,900); September 6 through September 13
- Capri & Viareggio, The Rivieras (seven nights, starting at $25,100); September 13 through September 20
- Portovenere & Bandol, The Rivieras (five nights, starting at $19,100); October 4 through October 9
- Argentario & L’Île-Rousse, The Rivieras (nine nights, starting at $28,400); October 9 through October 18
- Sète & Valencia, The Rivieras (seven nights, starting at $24,000); October 25 through November 1
- Casablanca & Lanzarote, Grand Mediterranean (seven nights, starting at $24,000); November 1 through November 8
Then the ship will move to the Caribbean in winter, with the following itineraries (in 2026, going into 2027):
- Santa Cruz & Dominica, Grand Atlantic Crossing (11 nights, starting at $22,800); November 8 through November 19
- Tobago & Grenada, Lesser Antilles (10 nights, starting at $25,400); November 19 through November 29
- Nevis & Saint Martin, Lesser Antilles (seven nights, starting at $20,200); November 29 through December 6
- St Barths & Martinique, Lesser Antilles (seven nights, starting at $20,200); December 6 through December 13
- Anguilla & Antigua, Grand Caribbean (seven nights, starting at $20,100); December 13 through December 20
- St Barths & Marie-Galante, Grand Caribbean (seven nights, starting at $23,200); December 20 through December 27
- British Virgin Islands & Guadeloupe, Grand Caribbean (14 nights, starting at $42,700); December 20 through January 3
- Nevis & Exuma Sound, Grand Caribbean (seven nights, starting at $23,200); December 27 through January 3
- Exuma Sound, Bahamas (five nights, starting at $17,300); January 3 through January 8, January 8 through January 13, January 13 through January 18
- Tobago & Dominica, Grand Caribbean (13 nights, starting at $29,600); January 18 through January 31
For more information, check out the voyage finder for Four Seasons Yachts, which gives you the details on all of the itineraries. Sailings are currently available well into 2028, so you can book at least a couple of years out.
Are Four Seasons Yachts voyages worth it?
It’s an interesting time for the luxury cruising industry. While there are plenty of well established ultra luxury cruise lines, we’re increasingly seeing luxury hotels get into the industry, at least in terms of licensing their names. Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection was first, now we’re seeing Four Seasons, and in the next couple of years we’ll also see the launch of Aman and Orient Express ships.
With the inaugural sailing having just kicked off, I don’t yet have any insights into what the experience is like, though I do have a voyage booked for this summer, so I look forward to reporting back. I do have a few thoughts on the general concept and value proposition, though.
First, Four Seasons Yachts is absolutely priced at the top end of the market, while including less than competitors. I do think the pricing is fair for what it is, though the question is just how big the potential market is.
Having such a massive cruise ship with fewer than 100 suites really offers an amount of space for each guest that we’ve never seen before, and that of course comes at a cost. As I see it, the challenge is that if you’re traveling as a group, you’re getting to the point where you can charter a decent yacht for the same price as a cruise, and that gives you unlimited flexibility. In some ways a private yacht is more luxurious, while in some ways, this might be more luxurious (in terms of space, amenities, dining options, etc.).
Pricing aside, I do think the lack of inclusions is going to be really controversial, and I’m curious if that policy sticks around. I recently sailed with Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, my first cruise in over 20 years. So I’m not a traditional cruiser, but rather, am typically more of a hotel guest.
While I don’t often stay at all-inclusive hotels, I have to say, there was something really lovely about having everything included, from gratuity to all meals and drinks. In an era where it feels like hotel pricing has gone so high, plus the constant nickel-and-diming, to me it was one of the aspects of cruising that I most enjoyed. It’s not just about the money, but also about everything feeling a little less transactional, not having to sit around waiting for a check, etc. Obviously it’ll be a very different feeling on Four Seasons Yachts, where you’re charged for most things.
Ultimately these ultra-luxury cruise lines associated with hotels have to be able to convince traditional hotel guests that cruising is “cool,” and can have a bit of a scene. It remains to be seen how successful they are with that.
Bottom line
Four Seasons is now in the luxury cruise business, with the introduction of Four Seasons Yachts, and the inaugural journey has just set sail. It’s exciting to see Four Seasons get into the cruising business — the brand is known for its great hotels, so hopefully it can deliver the same experience at sea. There’s no denying Four Seasons is taking an unconventional approach, though, in terms of inclusions.
What do you make of Four Seasons Yachts?