Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection ADA Accessible Suite Booking Guide
Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection ADA / Accessible Suite Booking Guide
The Definitive 2025 Resource for Guests Requiring Accessible Luxury at Sea
For many travelers, especially those with mobility considerations, the idea of cruising often raises a single, recurring question: “Will the ship actually accommodate my needs—elegantly, seamlessly, and without compromise?”
With The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, the answer is a confident yes. These yachts—Evrima, Ilma, and Luminara—combine ultra-luxury hospitality with thoughtful accessibility features and a guest-first mindset rarely seen in the cruise industry. Yet navigating the booking process, understanding ADA-compliant accommodations, and securing the correct suite category can be confusing, especially because inventory is limited and often sells out years in advance.
As Stars Desk, a leading global partner and Top Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Agent, we’ve prepared the most comprehensive, SEO-optimized guide available. This resource covers everything you need to know about booking accessible suites, traveling with mobility devices, embarkation logistics, service-animal procedures, and insider tips to ensure your voyage is smooth, dignified, and unforgettable.
Why Choose The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection for Accessible Luxury Travel?
The brand’s hospitality DNA means that accessibility is not an afterthought—it is intentionally integrated into every part of the yacht experience. Travelers with mobility needs consistently report that the atmosphere feels more like staying at a boutique luxury resort than a traditional cruise ship.
Key advantages include:
✔ Spacious, thoughtfully designed ADA suites
Extra-wide thresholds, step-free layouts, roll-in showers, and wheelchair-friendly furnishings come standard in designated accessible suites.
✔ Smaller yacht size = smoother movement onboard
With fewer guests (typically 298 on Evrima and 448 on Ilma and Luminara), the environment is peaceful and easy to navigate.
✔ Personalized service from a highly trained crew
Guests with accessibility needs receive attentive yet discreet assistance—never intrusive, always professional.
✔ Elevated port access and curated shore experiences
The yachts favor ports that are historically harder for larger cruise vessels to reach, giving guests more accessible itineraries, smoother disembarkation, and often direct pier-side docking.
Understanding ADA / Accessible Suites on Ritz-Carlton Yachts
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection offers a limited number of Accessible Suites, each designed to comply with ADA requirements while maintaining the brand’s signature residential luxury style. Because these suites are so limited—and not always visible on the public website—working with an expert agency like Stars Desk dramatically increases your likelihood of securing one.
What Makes These Suites Accessible?
The exact features vary slightly by yacht, but expect:
Extra-wide automatic or low-threshold doors
Step-free entry and open-plan layout
Roll-in shower with grab bars
Fold-down shower bench
Adjustable handheld showerhead
Raised toilet with surrounding support bars
Lowered closet rods and accessible storage
Strategic furniture spacing for wheelchair maneuvering
Accessible height for switches, outlets, and controls
Emergency call buttons
Every accessible suite includes the same elevated finishes as all Ritz-Carlton accommodations: warm wood cabinetry, plush bedding, high-end linens, and a private terrace.
Yacht-by-Yacht Breakdown of ADA / Accessible Suite Options
Evrima — Boutique Luxury on a Smaller Yacht
Evrima offers a handful of accessible suites, usually in the Terrace Suite category.
Features include:
Up to ~300 sq. ft. interior + 67 sq. ft. terrace
Step-free layout
Roll-in shower with safety rails
Dedicated turning radius for mobility devices
Sofa/bed configuration depending on suite location
Because Evrima carries fewer than 300 guests, accessible inventory is extremely limited and often sells out years ahead on popular itineraries.
Ilma — The New Standard for Ultra-Luxury Yachting
Ilma, the newest yacht, includes a redesigned set of accessible suites across multiple categories.
Guests may find ADA-compliant versions of:
Terrace Suites
Signature Mid Suites
Grand Terrace Suites
Ilma’s accessible suites include upgraded bathroom accommodations, wider terraces, and improved circulation space for mobility scooters or wheelchairs.
Luminara — Next Generation of Accessible Luxury at Sea
Launching with design refinements based on guest feedback, Luminara is expected to offer the most advanced accessible layouts in the fleet.
More details will become publicly available closer to launch—but guests can already place holds.
Stars Desk can request early-access suite configurations and floorplans on your behalf.
How to Book an ADA / Accessible Suite (Step-by-Step Guide)
This is the process we use at Stars Desk to secure the correct accessible accommodation for guests.
1. Identify Mobility Requirements Early
Not all accessible needs are the same. We will ask:
Do you require a roll-in shower?
Do you use a mobility scooter, rollator, or wheelchair?
Do you require assistance with embarkation or disembarkation?
Do you need a suite close to elevators?
Are there medical equipment needs (oxygen concentrator, CPAP, etc.)?
The more details we have upfront, the better we can secure the perfect suite.
2. Check ADA Suite Inventory (Not Always Publicly Visible)
Accessible suites do not always show in the online booking engine.
As a top agency, Stars Desk has:
Direct access to internal inventory
Yacht-level support teams
Priority waitlist access
Ability to request exception holds
This often makes the difference between securing an accessible suite vs. being told none are available.
3. Place a Courtesy Hold
Holds are typically valid for:
72 hours
During this time, no payment is required while we confirm all accessibility needs.
4. Submit Accessibility & Medical Forms (If Applicable)
These forms ensure the crew can prepare your suite and assist as necessary.
They may include:
Mobility device specifications
Emergency contact information
Service animal documentation
Medical clearance for specific conditions
Requests for refrigerator storage for medication
Stars Desk coordinates all paperwork with the yacht’s Guest Accessibility Team.
5. Finalize Shore Excursions
Some ports are more accessible than others. We help determine:
Wheelchair-friendly tours
Barrier-free transfers
Ports requiring tendering (and tender safety requirements)
Private drivers in more complex destinations
This ensures the full journey—not just the yacht—is accessible.
6. Pre-Cruise Concierge Planning
We will confirm:
Lounge access
Accessible hotel rooms pre-/post-voyage
Private accessible transportation
Early boarding requests
Dietary or medical requests
Suite layout preferences
7. Embarkation Day Support
Ritz-Carlton staff provide:
Priority boarding for accessible guests
Assistance with mobility devices
An escorted pathway to your suite
Luggage delivery with care for medical equipment
As a Stars Desk client, you receive elevated handling and direct contact with senior yacht personnel.
Traveling with Mobility Devices: What to Know
Wheelchairs & Scooters
The yachts accommodate:
Collapsible wheelchairs
Standard electric wheelchairs
Most mobility scooters
Important:
Scooters must fit through the suite doorway and navigate the corridor—dimensions vary by yacht and suite type. We verify this for you before booking.
Storage & Charging
Accessible suites include:
Dedicated charging outlets
Open floor space for indoor parking
Roll-under desk areas
Medical Equipment
Approved equipment includes:
CPAP machines
Travel oxygen concentrators (with notification)
Refrigeration for medications
Most compact medical devices
Service Animals on The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
Service animals are permitted, but the process requires:
Advance registration
Signed health and vaccination documents
Customs paperwork for every country
Designated relief area arrangement
Stars Desk manages all documentation to prevent port-of-entry issues.
Are Shore Excursions Accessible?
Yes—although accessibility varies widely by port.
We help guests determine:
✔ Wheelchair-friendly city tours
Flat routes, accessible vehicles, and minimal cobblestones.
✔ Private touring
Perfect for guests needing slower pacing or customized routes.
✔ Tender ports
We identify which tender ports allow safe boarding and which may restrict mobility devices.
✔ Port substitutions
If a port is known to be challenging, we propose better sailing dates or alternative itineraries.
Common Mistakes Travelers Make (and How to Avoid Them)
❌ Assuming accessibility features are the same on all yachts
Layouts differ between Evrima, Ilma, and Luminara.
We verify exact floorplans before booking.
❌ Booking the wrong suite category
Not all terrace suites are ADA-compliant.
Some have bathtubs or step thresholds.
❌ Booking too late
ADA suites often sell out 12–24 months before sailing.
Early planning is essential.
❌ Not filing mobility or medical forms early enough
Late submission can delay boarding or limit equipment approval.
❌ Choosing itineraries with many tender ports
We help steer you toward the most accessible journeys.
Insider Tips From Stars Desk (Top Ritz-Carlton Yacht Agent)
Book Mediterranean itineraries if accessibility is a priority—more docked ports, fewer tenders.
Travel off-peak (April–May or October) when ADA suites are most available.
Ask us to confirm bathroom photos—we can request actual suite photos from onboard teams.
Consider back-to-back voyages—you keep the same accessible suite for two voyages.
If traveling with a caregiver, we can book connecting suites near your ADA suite.
Always reserve shore excursions early—accessible vehicles are extremely limited.
Why Book With Stars Desk? (The Difference You Can Feel)
As a Preferred Top Producer for The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Stars Desk offers:
✔ Priority access to accessible suite inventory
Often before it appears online.
✔ Direct communication with yacht operations
We speak with accessibility coordinators, not call centers.
✔ VIP documentation handling
Service animal forms, medical requests, mobility approvals.
✔ Pre- and post-cruise travel planning
Hotels, transportation, airport escorts, and more.
✔ Pricing transparency + exclusive agency amenities
At no additional cost to you.
✔ Peace of mind
You will have the right suite, the correct accessibility accommodations, and flawless logistics.
Ready to Book an Accessible Ritz-Carlton Yacht Suite?
Whether you're planning a Mediterranean summer escape, a transatlantic repositioning, or a Caribbean winter getaway, accessibility should never feel like a limitation—it should feel like freedom.
At Stars Desk, we ensure every client with mobility considerations receives the highest level of care from planning to boarding to sailing.
Let us secure the right accessible suite and handle every detail for you.
