The Port of Riga will welcome the first visit of the US company The Ritz-Carlton’s luxury cruise ship ILMA. The vessel is not a traditional cruise ship, but a superyacht from The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, where passengers are offered the brand’s characteristic excellent client service during sea voyages.

ILMA will call at the Port of Riga as part of a Baltic Sea cruise that begins on July 31 in Stockholm and ends on August 7 in Oslo. Riga is the only Baltic port included in the superyacht’s itinerary: Stockholm – Visby – Riga – Warnemünde – Copenhagen – Gothenburg – Oslo. In the framework of this voyage, the superyacht ILMA will bring 246 cruise passengers to Riga.

The Ritz-Carlton cruise yacht ILMA’s first call at the Port of Riga will be marked, as always, with a special ceremony, during which the ship’s Master and representatives of the Port of Riga will exchange commemorative gifts. The ceremony will be attended by Riga Deputy Mayor Māris Sprindžuks and the Freeport of Riga Authority CEO Ansis Zeltiņš.

“Meaning “water” in Maltese, ILMA pays homage to the sea – the scenic pathway that carries you to the world’s celebrated yachting destinations,” explained cruise operator The Ritz-Carlton, describing the yacht ILMA.

ILMA is significantly smaller than a traditional cruise ship, providing luxury on an intimate scale. She boasts 10 decks and 224 luxury suites that can accommodate up to 448 guests. Compared to other superyachts of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, ILMA stands out with its higher space-to-guest ratio, as well as more spacious outdoor recreation areas and an innovative aft Marina with direct access to the sea.

The yacht’s interior meets The Ritz-Carlton brand’s legendary standards of luxury, combining high-quality materials with thoughtful design. Spacious suites with private terraces, open-air lounges and an aft Marina right on the water are all designed to connect travellers with the seascapes and the seaside harbours. The yacht passengers can enjoy exquisite meals at five different restaurants and pamper themselves at the Ritz-Carlton Spa.

Currently The Ritz-Carlton collaborates with award-winning chefs to provide cruise passengers with an exclusive dining experience. Chef Michael Mina offers menus inspired by the flavours of Latin America and the Caribbean, while Chef Fabio Trabocchi of the Michelin-starred restaurant Fiola brings his expertise to contemporary interpretations of Italian cuisine.

This season, 49 ships have already visited the Port of Riga, bringing 59,000 guests from more than 120 countries around the world, with the largest numbers coming from the US, Germany, and the UK. During the 2025 season, 84 cruise ships are scheduled to call at the Port of Riga, which is almost a third more than last year.