Four Seasons I Sets Sail From Málaga on Debut Mediterranean Cruise

Four Seasons Yachts has begun operations with the maiden voyage of Four Seasons I, which departed Málaga, Spain, on March 20 for its inaugural Mediterranean sailing.

A new entry in boutique yachting

The 679-foot vessel is Four Seasons’ first move into the yachting sector through Marc-Henry Cruise Holdings Ltd., the joint owner and operator of the venture. The debut also aligns with Four Seasons’ 65th anniversary year, and Four Seasons founder and chairman Isadore Sharp and his wife, Rosalie Sharp, were named godparents of Four Seasons I.

Alejandro Reynal, President and CEO of Four Seasons, positioned the launch as a continuation of the company’s hotel and resort approach. “Four Seasons Yachts is a continuation of the pioneering ambition on which Four Seasons was built,” Reynal said, adding that it will reflect “genuine care, service excellence, and exceptional moments” associated with the brand.

Where Four Seasons I is sailing in its debut year

Four Seasons I is scheduled to operate 32 voyages across 52 sailings, calling at 130 destinations in more than 30 countries and territories. The inaugural program centers on Mediterranean itineraries during the summer, followed by winter sailings in the Caribbean and the Bahamas.

In Europe, the yacht’s itineraries blend marquee destinations with smaller harbors that are typically out of reach for larger cruise ships. Stops highlighted in the inaugural Mediterranean season include Santorini, Greece, and Saint-Tropez, France, alongside calls in France, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Montenegro, and Turkey. Plans also call for an Atlantic crossing later in 2026 to transition into winter voyages.

Built by Fincantieri, with a design team drawn from hospitality and residential interiors

Four Seasons I was built by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and delivered to Marc-Henry Cruise Holdings in February, with reporting specifying late February for the handover. Ahead of the first paying guests boarding in Spain, the vessel spent more than a week underway as engineers conducted final testing after it departed the Fincantieri yard in Ancona, Italy.

The yacht’s overall design was led by Tillberg Design of Sweden, with Martin Brudnizki Design Studio responsible for public spaces. Prosper Assouline contributed guidance for the interiors of the suites and residences, with the design direction aimed at a contemporary, residential feel with nautical cues.

Capacity, staffing, and the onboard concept

Four Seasons I has 95 suites and is described as designed to host up to 190 passengers, while also being configured for 200 passengers, alongside a 1:1 guest-to-staff ratio. The onboard concept emphasizes space, privacy, and layouts that can be adapted for different types of travelers, including guests booking multiple suites together.

Ben Trodd, CEO of Marc-Henry Cruise Holdings Ltd., said the goal is to combine private-yacht flexibility with a hotel-style service model. “What sets the experience apart is the combination of privacy and flexibility guests associate with private yachting together with the service, design, and hospitality standards of Four Seasons,” Trodd said.

Trodd also framed the approach as different from traditional cruise positioning: “Very few of our guests identify themselves as cruise ship guests, so they are expecting a personalized experience closer to a yacht,” he said. “This design reflects our promise to create intimate spaces and flexible layouts that make the experience feel truly bespoke.”

Signature features, from the marina to the spa

Four Seasons I is built around several elements intended to support direct access to the sea, varied dining, and resort-style amenities.

• Marina design: A transverse marina is designed to open near the waterline for tendering and, in favorable conditions and ports, direct sea access for swimming.
• Dining and lounges: The yacht features 11 restaurants and lounges spanning formal settings and smaller-scale venues.
• Wellness facilities: L’Oceana Spa includes a thermal suite and treatments such as cryotherapy, with reporting also citing infrared beds.
• Pool deck: A 66-foot swimming pool is designed in a resort-style format.

Suites designed as expansive residences

Accommodations are positioned as more residential than conventional cruise ship staterooms, with floor-to-ceiling glass, private terraces, and indoor-outdoor living areas. Two headline suites anchor the mix.

The Funnel Suite is arranged across four decks around the yacht’s stacks and is described as the largest accommodation onboard, with three bedrooms, multiple indoor-outdoor spaces, and a private plunge pool. Reporting on size places it at about 10,000 square feet.

The Loft Suite spans nearly 8,000 square feet and includes three bedrooms, an outdoor terrace overlooking the ship’s pool, a splash pool, and a private sauna.

Trodd said the design process prioritized sea views while meeting ocean-going engineering requirements. “We were obsessive with the glass,” he said, describing a panoramic section engineered for clarity while meeting structural needs.

A rotating Chef-in-Residence program shapes dining from voyage to voyage

The yacht’s culinary program includes a rotating Chef-in-Residence concept designed to vary by sailing, rather than presenting a single, fixed offering across the season. One venue, Sedna, is tied to the rotating chef program, with chefs from Four Seasons restaurants contributing menus and culinary events on specific voyages.

Chefs named for the program include Christian Le Squer (Le Cinq at Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris), Luca Piscazzi (Pelagos in Athens), Guillaume Galliot (Caprice in Hong Kong), and Paolo Lavezzini (Il Palagio in Florence).

Shore experiences built around smaller-scale planning

Shore programming is designed around pre-arranged activities that can be tailored to guest preferences, including guided cultural visits, private dining experiences, and active options such as diving and hiking. The overall aim is to match the smaller scale of the yacht experience, including transportation planning in port.

Competition in the luxury yacht category and what comes next

Four Seasons I enters a niche segment that includes Ritz-Carlton’s Evrima and Aman’s Amangati, with additional launches also anticipated from brands such as Orient Express. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has already built a three-ship fleet, setting a benchmark for the category’s growth.

Four Seasons has said its approach is to blend its land-based hospitality model with flexible itineraries that can incorporate smaller, remote ports. A second vessel, Four Seasons II, is under construction with a targeted launch year of 2027.

Bookings for Four Seasons I are available via fourseasonsyachts.com, with seven-night voyages starting at $22,900 per suite, as the yacht continues its Mediterranean season before shifting to winter itineraries in the Caribbean and the Bahamas.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Where did Four Seasons I start its maiden voyage?

Four Seasons I began its first guest voyage from Málaga, Spain, on March 20.

How large is Four Seasons I and how many suites does it have?

The yacht is 679 feet long and has 95 suites. It has been described as designed to host up to 190 passengers, and also as configured for 200 passengers, and it operates with a 1:1 guest-to-staff ratio.

Who built Four Seasons I and when was it delivered?

Fincantieri built the vessel in Italy and delivered it to Marc-Henry Cruise Holdings, the joint owner and operator of Four Seasons Yachts, in February, with reporting specifying late February for the delivery.

What regions will Four Seasons I visit in its first year?

The inaugural year features Mediterranean itineraries in the summer, followed by winter voyages in the Caribbean and the Bahamas. The schedule is built around 32 voyages across 52 sailings, calling at 130 destinations in more than 30 countries and territories.

Are additional Four Seasons yachts planned?

Yes. A second vessel, Four Seasons II, is already under construction with a targeted launch year of 2027.