MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The Luminara, the biggest and youngest superyacht of the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, will be docking in Mossel Bay tomorrow, Saturday, 22 November.
It left the Cape Town Harbour on Thursday 20 November and has plans to stop in Mossel Bay, Durban and Gqerberha on its way to Mauritius, sailing over a period of 13 days.
At 790 feet (241m) in length and 95.5 feet (29.1m) in width, the superyacht features 226 suites complete with private terraces for guests, as well as five restaurants, seven bars, a wine vault, spa, gym, swimming pool, boutique and kids programme.
The Luminara made its first official voyage earlier this year with a cruise on the Tyrrhenian Sea west of Italy, between the mainland and the island of Sardinia.
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection's biggest and youngest, the Luminara. Photo: Edgardo Contreras/The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
A trip on the Luminara from Cape Town to Mauritius does not come cheap; fares vary, depending on which of the 10 suite-types guests opt for.
A stay in the Terrance Suite, the cheapest available, costs $19 400 (over R300 000) per person. Those willing to pay extra will have to spend $93 100 per person (over R1.6m) for the Owner's Suite, the Luminara's most expensive accommodation.
All of the suites offer a view of the surrounding ocean, personalised services and amenities and spacious accommodation.
Several celebrity guests, including Kendall Jenner, Kate Hudson, Sofía Vergara, Ricky Martin and more have reportedly enjoyed its luxury amenities.
Guests onboard the Luminara have a list of excursions to choose from, specific to each of the ports where the yacht docks at.
A unique itinerary catered for guests' preferences can also be crafted via the Ritz-Carlton's Custom Private Excursions.
To keep the journey local to Southern Africa, the Luminara will explore South African culture such as artwork honouring Nelson Mandela along Route 67 in Gqeberha, visiting the Valley of a Thousand Hills outside Durban and embarking on game reserves to search for lions, elephants, giraffes and other wildlife.
Across the Mozambique Channel, guests can experience Madagascar which is home to rare flora and fauna.
The seating area of the Owner's Suite, the most expensive accommodation of the Luminara yacht. Photo: Edgardo Contreras/The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
The Luminara is expected to arrive at the Port of Mossel Bay at 07:00 tomorrow, depending on the weather and swell of the ocean, and will depart at 17:00.
Upon its arrival, Mossel Bay Tourism will be welcoming guests at a hospitality desk inside the newly launched Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) Cruise Reception Facility at the port.
A R22m investment of TNPA, the reception facility is a designated space for the passengers of luxury cruise ships when they dock in Mossel Bay.
It is expected that guests onboard the Luminara will embark on a tour of Mossel Bay before resuming their 13-day journey to Mauritius.
The Luminara's arrival falls under Mossel Bay's 2025/26 cruise season, which kicked off earlier this month with the arrival of the Swan Hellenic Diana cruise ship. The cruise season takes place from now until May 2026.
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