Luxury hotel chain Four Seasons is launching a cruise division that it says will bring its “legendary service to the seas”.
Four Seasons Yachts will be led by cruise industry veteran Larry Pimentel, former chief of Azamara, Cunard, Seabourn and SeaDream Yacht Club.
The new business extension is a partnership between luxury shipping experts Marc-Henry Cruise Holdings and Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, with the first Four Seasons vessel anticipated to set sail in late 2025.
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The order, which was announced in July, includes the option for two additional vessels and amounts to about €1.2 billion.
Four Seasons claimed its yacht would be marked by “bespoke craftsmanship, personalised service and a dedication to excellence, appealing to discerning guests looking to reimagine their love of travel by experiencing the splendour of modern sea voyaging”.
President Christian Clerc said: “Four Seasons Yachts represents the next chapter of Four Seasons’ long history of industry-leading innovation, and a milestone moment for our company as we continue to capitalise on opportunities to extend the world of Four Seasons.
“True vision rests in the ability to imagine the possibilities while always remaining loyal to one’s values. Our vision for this venture does just that.”
The first Four Seasons Yacht will be 207 metres long and 27 metres wide with 14 decks. It will boast 95 suites, each of which will cost $4.2 million to build, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, tall ceilings and large terrace decks.
Four Seasons Yachts claimed its first ship will offer nearly 50% more living space per guest than currently available in the luxury cruise market, providing “ultimate privacy, flexibility and spaciousness in an all-suite nautical residential setting”.
The largest residence will be the Funnel Suite which will be spread over four levels and will feature a private wading pool and a dedicated private spa area. The vessel will also offer a network of joining suite combinations.
The first Four Seasons Yacht will also house a range of restaurants, lounges and bar concepts as well as a full-service spa, salon and wellness programming.
A canoe-shaped aft will be home to an expansive pool deck, which will be able to transform into an outdoor movie theatre or private event space. The aft of the vessel will also host a marina where guests can sunbathe, enter the water or make use of the yacht’s aqua leisure toys and accessories.
A dedicated team will lead and staff the brand’s first vessel, with Four Seasons Yachts claiming it will have an “industry-leading” staff-to-guest ratio.
Pimentel said: “In partnership with Four Seasons, we are creating a new category of luxury lifestyle travel that appeals to discerning guests.
“We are bringing together the very best across industries to create the pinnacle yachting offering through world-class design, curated experiences and exceptional service.
“When we launch in 2025, there will be nothing else like it on the open seas. Our shipbuilding partnership with Fincantieri rounds out a triumvirate of industry leaders in this unprecedented luxury lifestyle project.”
Fincantieri chief executive and managing director Pierroberto Folgiero added: “We are excited to embrace this new opportunity with Four Seasons that will allow us to strengthen our global leadership position.
“With a reputation built on innovation and reliability, Fincantieri combines ground-breaking engineering and technology to create the finest vessels in the world, ensuring sustainability practices are integrated throughout the design and guest experience.”
Four Seasons Yachts said more of the vessel’s features and programme will be revealed in the coming months.