Yachting in Asia offers a sense of continuity unlike traditional travel, says Ernesto Fara, President and CEO of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. “Guests unpack once and move through an extraordinary range of cultures, landscapes, and cuisines while a team quietly takes care of every detail.”
That philosophy comes to life with the launch of Luminara, the brand’s newest superyacht, as it begins its inaugural Asia–Pacific season from Singapore. The third vessel in the fleet, following Evrima with 149 suites and Ilma with 224, Luminara embarked on its first voyage last December. It hosts up to 452 guests across 226 suites, each designed to blur the line between ship and sea.
Every suite features a private terrace and floor-to-ceiling windows, flooding the interiors with natural light and uninterrupted ocean views. From Singapore, Hong Kong or Tokyo, Luminara will sail on seven- to 14-night itineraries that balance iconic cities with secluded islands, often including overnight port stays that allow for deeper exploration. Journeys span Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand and South Korea, with stops in destinations such as Seoul, Phuket, Langkawi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang.
“Travellers across Asia-Pacific tend to value intention, balance, and how an experience makes them feel over overt displays of excess,” says Fara.
This sensibility is keenly felt onboard. Luminara also functions as a floating gallery, housing 731 works—from modern masters such as Henri Matisse, Paul Klee and Andy Warhol to contemporary commissions, nearly two-thirds created exclusively for the vessel.
“As guests move throughout the yacht, the art reveals itself gradually, creating moments of discovery that evolve along the way,” Fara explains. “Rather than commanding attention, it invites reflection, complementing the surrounding environment and the pace of life aboard.”
Dining is another highlight. With five dining venues, menus evolve with region and season, offering a sense of place through cuisine. In collaboration with Italian chef Fabio Trabocchi and American chef Michael Mina, Luminara features two exclusive restaurant concepts. Trabocchi helms Seta su Luminara, a tribute to the historic trade exchange between Asia and Venice, while Mina brings vibrant Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavours shaped by his heritage and global travels to Beach House.
On land, the experiences are equally considered. A seven-night itinerary departing Singapore, for instance, takes guests through the mangroves of Langkawi and the otherworldly caves of Kilim Karst Geoforest Park, before sailing past Phuket’s towering limestone islets and arriving at its world-famous sand beaches.
Luminara will sail to Alaska for the northern summer in May 2026 after completing its Asia-Pacific season. Custom itineraries and private charters are also available.
