Where luxury seems endless!
Four seasons builds exclusive yachts
When it was first announced last year, the Four Seasons Yacht generated a lot of excitement among cruisers and loyal fans of the hotel brand alike. But few details on what would be aboard the 14-deck luxury yacht, which is slated to launch at the end of 2025, have been available—until now.
The vessel will be built around “immersive luxury experiences,” Four Seasons’ president and CEO Alejandro Reynal said in a statement. “The inaugural yacht is a manifestation of this vision, offering a world-class Four Seasons experience, at sea and on land, marked by the genuine, personalized service that our guests know and love.”
On board, there will be a total of 95 suites, the crown jewel of which will be The Funnel Suite: an expansive, four-story penthouse space that is set to be one of the largest suites available on any cruise ship. Across its four levels and its huge outdoor terrace, it will offer more than 9,500 square feet of private space for up to six guests. The Funnel Suite will be located on the ship’s highest decks—where a traditional “funnel” or smokestack would be on a steamship—ensuring optimal privacy and solitude.
The suite’s defining design feature is its curved, wraparound glass windows that will stretch from floor to ceiling and offer sweeping 280-degree views of the sea. The curved glass is a “one-of-a-kind engineering innovation [that] is nothing short of remarkable, from its steel web frame support structure to its double glass thermal performance,” says a company statement. (Four Seasons says it’s the largest piece of contiguous glass at sea and cost $4.5 million to build and install.)
The penthouse suite will also offer a private wading pool on the terrace and a private area dedicated to in-suite spa treatments.
Elsewhere on the yacht, the suites might not be as colossal, but they’re no less luxurious. Each one offers an average of about 580 square feet of space and comes with its own private veranda, measuring at least 100 square feet. No matter where guests stay there's sure to be plenty of pampering, with crew set to outnumber the amount of passengers on the ship.
Sure to be just as stunning are the public spaces throughout the yacht. On the vessel’s aft deck will be a pool area, featuring lounge chairs and a large 66-foot pool, which is modeled after Aristotle Onassis’ iconic yacht Christina O. The pool’s design means that its saltwater can be quickly filled or emptied and its floor raised to be level with the deck and provide a multi-purpose space for events like parties or weddings on board.
For passengers who prefer swimming in the ocean, the Four Seasons Yacht will have an innovative marina, built especially for swimming and water sports. Activities like private sailing, snorkeling, and windsurfing will be offered, as well as “rentable custom crafted sea limousines designed for transfers and coastal grand touring.” There will be dedicated marina crew to tend to guests’ every need, and beach ladders for direct dips in the ocean when the ship is on anchorage.
In a first-of-its-kind design, the marina area will stretch the entire width of the ship and include large platforms and tiered lounging decks for relaxing in the sun after splashing in the water. Overlooking the marina will be a sophisticated lounge with al fresco seating, the perfect place for a glass of Champagne at sundown.
As far as itineraries, Four Seasons will prioritize exploring destinations traditionally popular with private yachts, including the Caribbean and the Mediterranean.
When reservations for the first voyages open in January 2024, they will first be available on an invitation-only basis for loyal Four Seasons guests and other travel partners → Yacht Cruise Company. The exclusivity is “driven by the need to manage extraordinary demand” with scarce inventory, according to the Four Seasons statement. But don’t worry, the yacht will also have an online waitlist that cruisers can join by contacting Yacht Cruise Company in hopes of being part of the glamor.
© Condé Nast Traveller