On March 20, 2026, the Four Seasons I set sail from Málaga, bound for Valletta.
The date was no coincidence. That day marked the 65th anniversary of Four Seasons. The company had opened its first hotel on the first day of spring in 1961.
From a brand-image standpoint, it was the most carefully orchestrated launch the company had staged in decades.
And the most ambitious: for the first time in its history, Four Seasons was taking to sea.
A Project Years in the Making
The idea of taking Four Seasons to sea had been discussed internally for years before it finally became a reality.
The launch of Four Seasons Yachts reflects not only the growth of the luxury cruise segment but also a broader strategy of moving the brand toward ever more personalized and exclusive experiences.
“It is a continuation of Four Seasons’ pioneering ambition,” said the company’s CEO, Alejandro Reynal, when the project was announced.
The result is the Four Seasons I, built by Fincantieri, the Italian shipyard responsible for some of the most sophisticated cruise ships in the world.
The vessel is the first developed under Fincantieri’s Navis Sapiens program, an integrated digital architecture that uses artificial intelligence and real-time data to enhance safety, operational efficiency, and technological flexibility.
At 34,000 gross tons and 679 feet long, the ship is the size of a midsize cruise liner, yet it offers something radically different.
95 Suites, No Interior Cabins
The design is the work of Sweden’s Tillberg Design, with social spaces by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio and creative direction by Prosper Assouline.
The ship has no interior cabins. All 95 ocean-view suites feature private terraces and, in some cases, private plunge pools.
The design evokes the golden age of ocean travel, drawing inspiration from the legendary superyacht Christina O and reinterpreting it for today.
Inside, the suite technology includes the world’s first transparent television installed on a ship — developed exclusively for Four Seasons Yachts by Bang & Olufsen and LG — which can be rotated to any angle and becomes invisible when not in use.
Categories range from the 474-square-foot Seaview Suite to the Funnel Suite, which spans four levels, totals 5,059 square feet, and features a private kitchen, indoor and outdoor gyms, and a steam room.
The ship maintains a one-to-one crew-to-guest ratio, making the experience feel more like a private yacht than a conventional cruise.
The Transverse Marina: The Defining Feature
The yacht’s transverse marina opens on both sides of the hull, creating a private retreat with direct sea access, water sports, and excursions tailored to each destination.
A marina of this scale is exceedingly rare at sea, making the Four Seasons I one of only a handful of vessels worldwide to offer such immediate, immersive access to the water.
These are what the company calls Marina Days: days when the ship anchors in calm waters, opens its platforms, and puts the sea within arm’s reach.
No port calls at crowded cruise terminals. No tourist crowds. The entire concept is the antithesis of a traditional cruise.
Itineraries: The Mediterranean in Summer, the Caribbean in Winter
During its inaugural season, the Four Seasons I is sailing the Mediterranean. The itinerary combines well-known destinations like Saint-Tropez and Bodrum with lesser-known stops such as Hydra and Kotor, including routes through the Greek islands and the Croatian coast.
In total, the Four Seasons I offers 32 itineraries covering 130 destinations across more than 30 countries — Mediterranean sailings in summer and Caribbean and Bahamas routes in winter.
Caribbean itineraries start at $19,900 per suite for seven-night routes that include destinations like St. Barts, Nevis, the Grenadines, St. Lucia, Barbados, and Aruba.
At the top end, the Funnel Suite runs upward of $24,000 per voyage, according to USA Today.
What’s Next: The Four Seasons II Arrives in 2027
This launch marks the beginning of a global expansion. The Four Seasons II is scheduled to debut in 2027.
The brand aims to carve out its own category within the ultra-luxury market — one where prestige is defined not by the size of the vessel, but by the quality of service and the depth of exclusivity.
In an industry where rivals are typically judged by spa square footage and restaurant variety, Four Seasons is betting on something far more difficult to replicate: taking to sea what it has spent 65 years perfecting on land.
