The Ritz-Carlton Yacht collection’s second luxury superyacht Ilma made its inaugural call to Mariehamn on Wednesday 30 July. There were 299 passengers onboard, mainly from North and South America, and 373 members of crew.
A delegation representing the town of Mariehamn, the Port of Mariehamn, Visit Åland as well as Åland Agency went onboard to welcome the superyacht to Mariehamn for the first time to take part in the traditional Plaque Exchange Ceremony.
The superyacht was built at Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France. The maiden voyage sailed in September 2024 from Monte Carlo in Monaco to Rome, Italy.
The superyacht is named after the Maltese word for “water”. In the Finnish language, the word “ilma” means “weather or air”.
Measuring 790 feet long (242 metres), Ilma features 224 suites, all with a private terrace providing guests with views of the coastline and sea. The superyacht has 11 decks with 8 guest decks and can accommodate 468 cruise guests. Ilma is equipped with four dual-fuel-motors using liquified natural gas as fuel (LNG). Furthermore, the vessel has an advanced water treatment system, an efficient heat recovery loop and LED lighting to minimise environmental impact.Ilma’s exterior has been designed by Finland-based design studio Aivan, and the kitchen equipment, among other things, has been delivered by the Finnish ALMACO Group.
The owner, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is a subsidiary to Marriott International. The superyacht Ilma offers ultra luxury cruise experiences setting new benchmarks in luxury travel at sea. It has five different restaurants, nine bars and a marina that was set up in the Mariehamn harbor with kayaks and stand-up paddleboards for guests to enjoy.Ilma sails in the Mediterranean Sea and the Baltic Sea during the summer months and in the Caribbean during the winter months.
The cruise that brought Ilma to Åland began in Liverpool on 11 July and concludes in Iceland on 18 August. Ilma visited Helsinki and Tallinn before arrival in Mariehamn.
Shuttle buses transported guests between the ship and the Maritime Quarter in Mariehamn throughout the day. The cruise onshore programme offered a selection of Åland attractions and experiences: a number of guests took part in a tour to the island Klobben, which is a part of Silverskär Islands in the northern part of Åland, https://www.silverskar.ax/en. The archipelago is widely known for its unique surroundings, and the Silverskär Islands are part of a vast island system. The islands offer top-class food, drink, activities and accommodation, combined into perfectly-tailored packages and unforgettable getaways for groups of all sizes. Silverskär is also known for storing champagne at the bottom of the sea and Silverskär cooperates with the champagne house Veuve Clicquot.
Some guests took part in a sailing trip with the ship Albanus, a traditionally-built wooden sailing ship, and others in gin tasting at Åland Distillery, https://alanddistillery.com/, in the surroundings of the medieval Kastelholm Castle & Jan Karlsgården outdoor museum.
The superyacht Ilma’s visit to Mariehamn is a signal that Åland can play a role even in the most exclusive travel itineraries. It is also proof that smaller ports with a welcoming atmosphere, distinct character, and smooth logistics have an obvious place in the future of cruise tourism.
We were all happy to welcome the superyacht Ilma in Mariehamn and we hope to welcome her again in the near future! The port of Mariehamn will be prolonged and be able to accommodate up to 260 m long vessels from spring 2027 onward.
For further information on top attractions and events in Mariehamn, please visit:
Cruise Finland has a very good networking program ongoing with cruise lines and we are very confident for the future.