At MTY Luxury Travel, we began as true “never cruisers.” The kind of travelers who swore we’d never step foot on a cruise ship. Then, the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection changed everything. Seven nights in the Aegean on the Ilma transformed us from skeptics into frequent “yachters,” opening up an entirely new way to experience ultra-luxury travel.

Now, Ritz-Carlton is joined by icons like the Four Seasons, Orient Express, and Aman, ushering in a new era of intimate, yacht-style voyages. These are not traditional cruises. They are curated journeys at sea, designed for travelers who demand refinement, exclusivity, and surprise in every detail. And the ultra-luxury cruise stalwarts — Regents Seven Seas, Silversea, Seabourn, Ponant and Viking — are catching on and, to your benefit, rolling out smaller, more exclusive and more personalized ships.

At MTY Luxury Travel, we help long-time cruiser learn about these new, elevated offering and we help fellow “never cruisers” rethink their never. By focusing exclusively on the hotel-branded ultra-luxury “yacht” experiences and the newest ships from the ultra-luxury cruise icons, we curate seamless, highly personalized journeys that feel nothing like a traditional cruise and everything like the best decision you never thought you’d make. And, you can be confident in your choice knowing that at MTY Luxury Travel we’ll always give you our straightforward advice and honest feedback on all of the ships, including their strengths as well as any areas for improvement.

Let’s address one detail right away: you may notice that, when referring to the hotel-branded “yachts”, we often place the word “yacht” in quotes. That’s because while these hotel-branded ships are designed to deliver a yacht-like experience — intimate, elegant, and nothing like traditional cruises — they are not private yachts reserved exclusively for one family or group and their invited guests (unless, of course, you buy-out the entire ship). By using “yacht” in quotes, we acknowledge both the elevated, yacht-inspired journey you’ll enjoy and the distinction from privately owned vessels most people picture when they hear the word. Call them what you will — yachts, superyachts, ultra-luxury cruises, ultra-luxury ships — we won’t argue. What matters is knowing that this ultra-luxury alternative to traditional cruising exists, and that it can remove the barriers that once held you back from experiencing the beauty of the sea or, if you are already a world-cruiser, elevate your experience to new levels.

Are you ready to rethink your “never”?