Four Seasons CEO Reveals Plans To Transform Luxury Yachting

The official definition of a superyacht is a hotly debated topic. It’s widely accepted that to warrant such a title, yachts must be privately owned, sized in the region of 24-120m (78-400ft), and employ a full-time crew, however the rise of luxury hotel-branded ‘yachts’ is challenging convention.

Four Seasons is one such hospitality group. Next year, the brand will launch its first ‘yacht’, a residential-style ship with 95 suites including a striking four-level 9,500ft ‘Funnel Suite’. Promising to delivery everything that their guests love about their favourite hotels but at sea will offering different view every day, it’s an enticing proposition – particularly for those new to cruising.

“As we’ve done with the other businesses, we want to create a best in class, unparalleled experience,” says Alejandro Reynal, President and CEO of Four Seasons. “We do that in our hotel and resorts so now we are replicating the same at sea. When you look into into the design of the vessel itself, we’re taking all the considerations to make the guest and product experience incredible. The size of the suites, for example, will be twice the size of the closest competitor.”

Four Seasons, which renowned for its personalized service, plans to bring this service to the ocean by committing to a one-to-one guest-to-employee ratio. “This is something that you will not see on a on a normal cruise. It’s really hard to achieve but it’s an investment that we’re making to deliver that personal experience,” Reynal says.

The group also plans to leverage its global network to offer itineraries that resonate with Four Seasons guests – and incorporate stays at Four Seasons properties before and after cruises. “We’re thinking a lot about the itineraries and we best leverage the most sought-after destinations in the Caribbean and in Europe, and leveraging Four Seasons as well. I think the more connections we make to our core business, the better in terms of providing that experience to the guests,” Reynal says.

Cabins and communal areas have been designed like high-end hotels, but Four Seasons has taken inspiration from the yachting industry when it comes to amenities. The vessel will, for instance, be kitted out with a range of ‘toys’ and features traditionally seen on superyachts, including a garage packed full of watersports toys as well as tenders for exploring the coast. There’ll even be a swimming pool that transforms into a dance floor at the push of a button – a feature previously seen on leading superyachts including 354-foot Benetti motor yacht Luminosity, designed by Zaniz.

The group also plans to incorporate some of the flexibility enjoyed by superyachts, compared to cruises, when it comes to daily schedules. Like cruise ships, the vessel will have an itinerary to follow, but how a resident spends their time, from meal times to excursions to use of facilities, will be more flexible in comparison to the traditional hotel experience.

“We’re really thinking about this as something really special and different that ultimately is going to be truly appreciated as a yacht experience rather than a cruise experience,” Reynal says.

Reynal reveals that the new offering isn’t looking to compete with the traditional superyacht charter business but bring new people into the industry. “Some of our guests venture out into certain countries because they feel comfortable staying with Four Seasons and they know they have that guarantee of an excellent service. Similarly in this situation, maybe they’re never done yachting before but because they’re trying it with a brand they’re guaranteed to have a great experience, so I think that may happen.”

He reveals that the final piece of the Four Seasons puzzle is to create a seamless experience between the group’s hotels, private jet journeys and cruising offerings. “If people had the time and the desire to do so, they could do the Four Season Private Jet Experience, finish in a particular destination, and continue the Four Seasons experience at sea,” he says. “Once we have finalised the itineraries for the year, we will think about ways of linking the two, potentially.”

The first Four Seasons Yachts vessel is set to launch in 2025 with a second vessel to follow in 2026 – both will go into competition with other world-leading hospitality groups including Ritz-Carlton, Aman and Orient Express which are planning their own seafaring ventures.

The question remains as to whether any of these vessels can accurately claim to be a ‘superyacht’, but if they deliver on their promises of personalised service, innovative design and incredible itineraries, they could be the next best thing.