When hyper-luxury travel meets meaningful design, unforgettable experiences unfold.

While cruises wouldn’t usually make most Gen Zers' bucket lists, the Ritz-Carlton stormed into the industry to flip the narrative. Referred to as <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/most-expensive-yachts-celebrities" target="_blank" rel="noopener">yachts</a> rather than cruises, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/travel-living/ritz-carlton-yacht-collection-superyacht-review" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection</a>’s fleet of three ultra-luxurious vessels—Evrima, launched in 2022; Ilma, in 2024; and Luminara, which debuted in 2025—proves that life at sea isn't just for families and older travelers. With former passengers and invited guests including Naomi Campbell, J Balvin, Kendall Jenner, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/colman-domingo-interview-the-running-man-euphoria" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Colman Domingo</a>, and <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/dakota-johnson-madame-web-movie-interviews" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dakota Johnson</a>, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection offers a whole new perspective on cruising—or should we say, yachting?
<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/florence-pugh-ambassador-bulgari-jewelry-news-movies-projects-2026-fashion-style" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bulgari</a> boutiques, Michelin-inspired restaurants, pickleball courts, exclusive hair salons, and rejuvenating spas are just some of the onboard amenities that <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/travel-living/kilometre-paris-ritz-carlton-collaboration-accessories-limited-edition-best-beach-bags-totes-for-summer-vacation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Ritz-Carlton</a> Yacht Collection offers across its multi-destination voyages. Whether you’re a <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/martha-stewart-parties-with-kendall-jenner-on-super-yacht-ritz-carlton" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mediterranean</a> lover or a Caribbean vacationer, you can make the most of your time at sea—whether that means lounging on one of the multiple pool decks, joining a sushi-making class, or dancing the night away at a disco-inspired soirée—all while being pampered by the most attentive crew of waiters and butlers.

With voyages ranging from 3 to 15 nights depending on the destination, The Ritz-Carlton understands that making passengers feel relaxed in a refined and elevated environment is of utmost importance. To achieve this, the travel titan joined forces with <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/resortwear-evolution-fashion-history-lofficiel-archives-vintage-vacation-outfits-beachy-coastal-fashion-inspiration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">resortwear</a> authority Johanna Ortiz to deliver the perfect merge of hospitality and design. Displayed exclusively aboard the Ilma vessel, most known for taking onboard amenities one step further, this exclusive partnership launched during the yacht’s Winter 2025–2026 Caribbean season and now continues through its summer Mediterranean voyages.&nbsp;
Curated for fashion lovers and dolce-vita-seekers alike, this dreamlike takeover takes place at Ilma’s pool deck and observation terrace, located on decks 9 and 10, where resort-inspired prints and soothing textiles invite guests to lie back and relax (and maybe order a margarita or two). While impactful use of color and bold textiles have always characterized Ortiz’s work, this takeover is envisioned as an extension of the destinations guests encounter ashore—capturing the best of tropical exuberance and Mediterranean serenity alike.
“The spaces are inviting and transportive, and I hope they become part of our guests’ memories, whether through a quiet moment overlooking the water or a conversation sparked by the space that encourages them to linger a little longer,“ states Gaby Aiguesvives, Chief Marketing Officer at The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. She also reflects on why the Colombian designer is the ideal creative partner for this project, as “she brings vibrance, elegance, and a love of craftsmanship without feeling overly formal, which speaks to both her audience and ours. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection guest and the Johanna Ortiz customer share an appreciation for thoughtful design, meaningful experiences, and a more personal way of seeing the world. They’re drawn to beauty with a sense of place, and to moments that feel memorable and emotionally connected to the journey.”

Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.

Because there’s not just one way of vacationing, the Cali-born designer crafted two distinct sailing moods. First, La Siesta, a design that invites voyagers into a moment of pause, peace, and restoration through tropical green prints featuring joyful palms and rich foliage, perfect for carefree lounging. On the other hand, for those who look forward to the vessel’s live entertainment and themed parties the most, La Rumba brings joyful movement and vibrant living to the elegant environment, led by deep coastal-inspired blues and knotted rope motifs. If these collaborative lounge spaces aren’t enough to enamor guests and transport them into a peak resort state, Ortiz also infused her favorite botanical flavors into an assortment of cocktails available on board. And, for those fashion-forward passengers, the yacht’s onboard boutique offers a prime assortment of Johanna Ortiz ready-to-wear to unbox immediately and wear throughout each destination on the itinerary.
As fashion and hospitality continue to blur the lines that once separated them, Ortiz’s partnership with the travel giant elevates the voyagers’ experience by transporting them into a playful oasis that, while not their everyday home, feels familiarly elevated and entirely relaxing, yet refreshingly novel. “The most memorable experiences are often the ones rooted in a specific story and place, which is an idea that Johanna’s designs reflect beautifully. That sense of place, artistry, and emotional connection aligns naturally with our vision of creating journeys that feel deeply personal and meaningful for each guest,” Aiguesvives affirms. “Fashion and design collaborations allow us to create new moments of discovery on board and bring a fresh point of view to the guest experience. Design has the ability to shape the mood of a space and influence how guests interact with it, from the way they gather to the memories they take with them.”&nbsp;
Having collaborated with fine homeware brand Ginori 1735 aboard its Evrima yacht earlier this year—in the form of custom furnishings, refined textiles, and handmade porcelain—for the luxury-savvy Ritz-Carlton frequent traveler, these creative collaborations just make sense. “We’re very aware that our guests already live at the intersection of fashion, design, food, and art. Travel brings all those elements together, and a yacht is a particularly compelling canvas because guests spend meaningful time on board and experience the design throughout the voyage,” Aiguesvives adds. “These partnerships are most successful when we work with creative voices that bring a distinct point of view and create a world guests can step into. That’s where the excitement lies for us, and it’s a direction we’re continuing to explore thoughtfully as we look for new ways to enrich the guest experience.”
Below, discover our conversation with Johanna Ortiz, as she reflects on this partnership, the creative process behind it, and what this chapter means for the Latin brand.

L'OFFICIEL: What made The Ritz-Carlton the right partner for Johanna Ortiz?
JOHANNA ORTIZ: As someone who works in fashion but also creates a lifestyle brand that can be endless, when I think about a good place where I can be treated well and have a nice hospitality experience, that’s probably The Ritz—and, more specifically, this beautiful Yacht Collection that they have. So, when they wrote and asked about a collaboration where we could put a little bit of our festive prints and bring a little bit of the tropical lushness that we love, it just felt right, you know?&nbsp;
Because their team knows really well all the codes of what they are as a brand and because my team really enjoys doing something that we normally don't do, it felt like a really nice collaboration. I'm sort of a frustrated interior designer myself (laughs). I already print a lot of my fabrics and use them at my house, so I really enjoyed working with the Ritz on this project and deciding what we wanted the Rumba and the Siesta decks to look like. When designing the fabrics, it was really nice to know they were not only going to live in a dress, but it was also going to live in rooms, in moments, and in prints that are going to last in many ways.
L’O: Tell me both about these two different universes you created aboard the Ilma.
JO: It was pretty nice to see how they came together. One ambience is La Siesta: a little bit calmer, a little bit more relaxed, a place where people can meditate and absorb the ocean or have a little nap—just be there, be present.&nbsp;
And then the other one, La Rumba, with the biggest pool, the complete bar, the floats, there's just a lot more enjoyment. It's probably where people want to see and meet other people. Done in a beautiful indigo, dark Mediterranean blue, it felt really true to the essence of the Ilma. It was pretty fun doing this naval version of Johanna Ortiz.
L’O: How did designing these environments differ from designing a fashion collection? What surprised you the most about working in hospitality?
JO: I always start my collections with a complete mood board and research. I envision this woman: Where is she going? What is she doing? If she's at the age of 20, or if she's at the age of 25, at 30…What is she discovering? Where does she want to travel? Where is she invited? Am I friends with this woman? I'm always storytelling. I design for joyful moments; I design for people to imagine themselves having fun and being a little bit effortless.&nbsp;
So now, I was thinking how I would interpret this in a yacht, or in a pool. I always try to make it a little bit personal. Because it's also about being around other people, just wanting to connect and having a nice conversation with somebody that you have not met. I think this is an opportunity to share different perspectives and get together.
It's also been a collaborative experience and a back-and-forth between the people that are knowledgeable about the space and the creative team because there’s a lot of things I didn’t know about. What you can and cannot do on a boat, keeping in mind fire, or weight—everything needs to be heavy enough so that it doesn't blow away with the wind, but it also has to be light enough for the crew to be able to transfer it to a storage facility every night. The Ritz team—they are all wonderful women—they were always like, "I love your idea, but…” you know? (laughs).
L’O:&nbsp; What do you hope The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection travelers feel when experiencing these lounge spaces aboard the Ilma?
JO: For me, boating has something that really connects me to the sea. Being here, where I don't see any land, makes me feel so connected. And I think being outdoors and at the pools and the decks and seeing these magnificent views of the ocean while you're yachting and cruising, it's just amazing. It's being in the moment. And that's part of real luxury right now: it's being present, enjoying, and disconnecting from your mobile but connecting to yourself. Also, this yacht makes you feel like a home away from home—how everybody treats you, how everyone makes you feel so welcome in every space you go, it’s all quite enjoyable. And this is not an exception on the two pool decks.&nbsp;
L’O: Obviously, everything you do is deeply connected to Latin heritage and tropical exuberance. So how do you translate that vision into the Ritz-Carlton’s Mediterranean trips, or wherever the Ilma goes outside the Caribbean?&nbsp;
JO: Since Johanna Ortiz is so strong with everything artisanal and heritage, there comes a point where, just like fashion can be seasonless, it all translates very well into coastal living, and how all of us women are traveling and enjoying resortwear.
For me, when I'm in Italy, I feel comfortable wearing a little bit more color, especially when seeing these beautiful Italians all dressed up with a lot of jewelry and accessories. In Taormina, for example, I style the corals and local materials with Johanna Ortiz pieces. I make my own interpretation of wherever I go. And that's what I think that most women do, you know? They have their view, their styling, and then when they add something from a destination, it makes them get that personality.
L’O: Lastly, would you consider yourself more a La Siesta or La Rumba type of traveler?
JO: I'm probably La Siesta in the afternoons, but I also like La Rumba in the nights (laughs).

How The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and Johanna Ortiz Redefined Resort Living at Sea

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