Aman at Sea voyages are best booked through travel advisors, who can get you the best price possible, while adding extra perks. Ford and his team are happy to help with any requests, and can be reached at [email protected].
In 2027, we’re going to see the launch of a new ultra-luxury cruise line, as hotel group Aman is getting into the cruising industry, with the Aman at Sea concept, and its Amangati “superyacht,” as it’s called.
I’d like to provide an update about this concept, as sailings are now bookable well into 2028, so we have a sense of both the summer sailings in Europe and winter sailings in the Caribbean. If you think the recent entrants into the market are expensive, wait until you learn the details of this one.
It’s interesting to see the increasing trend of luxury hotel groups launching cruise lines, or perhaps more accurately, licensing out their names to partner on new cruising concepts. For example, in 2022 we saw the launch of Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, and in 2026, we’ve seen the launch of Four Seasons Yachts and Orient Express Sailing Yachts.
Aman gets into ultra-luxury cruising industry
Amangati (“peaceful motion” in Sanskrit) is expected to set sail in the spring of 2027, as Aman’s first superyacht. Yes, this marks the Aman brand getting into the luxury cruising industry, on a ship that’s being described as a “floating sanctuary.”
The 600-foot ship will be around 23,000 gross tons, and will have a hybrid propulsion system, using battery power to reduce emissions and improve efficiency. It’s currently being built in Italy’s T. Mariotti shipyard, and it will be delivered to Neptune Co., which is a joint venture between hotel group Aman and Cruise Saudi.
The ship is expected to feature a total of 47 suites, each with a balcony and floor-to-ceiling windows. The suites will be among the largest at sea.
When it comes to amenities, the ship will have four restaurants, a jazz club, a 52-foot pool, a beach club and marina, a spa with a Japanese garden, two helipads, and much more. Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design is behind the design, and the intent is to take cues from traditional ryokan architecture.
For those not familiar, Cruise Saudi is owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, and is intended to promote the cruise and tourism industry in Saudi Arabia. However, it doesn’t appear that the plan is actually for the ship to cruise in Saudi Arabia, at least for the foreseeable future. So it seems to primarily be part of the country’s larger investment in the cruising industry.
Here’s how Aman CEO Vlad Doronin describes the idea behind the ship:
“The vessel will embody the very essence of our brand’s DNA, providing exceptional privacy, best-in-class amenities, now synonymous with Aman, and our signature unparalleled service not yet experienced on the water. As construction progresses behind the scenes, our vision remains clear: to create a vessel that not only represents the highest standards of maritime engineering and design but that mirrors the tranquility of our land-based sanctuaries.”
Aman at Sea itineraries & destinations
Aman has published the inaugural voyages for Amangati, for sailings between May 7, 2027, and March 31, 2028. Unsurprisingly, the ship will spend summers in Europe and winters in the Caribbean, with transatlantic sailings in November and March.
In both summer in Europe and winter in the Caribbean, sailings will be five to eight nights each, and they’re roughly what you’d expect in terms of itineraries. You can either book directly through Aman at Sea, or through a travel advisor.
An eligible travel advisor will be able to add a minimum of a $500 shipboard credit, while paying the standard rate. You can generally expect pricing parity between all booking sources, so you won’t find discounted sailing prices anywhere. Ford and his team are happy to help with these requests, and can be reached at [email protected].
Aman at Sea voyage inclusions
Before we talk about the pricing for Aman at Sea, what’s included with journeys? It’s an interesting topic, because historically ultra luxury cruises have been all-inclusive. However, Four Seasons Yachts is countering that trend, by not including lunch, dinner, or alcoholic drinks.
With that in mind, Aman at Sea will include the following with the cost of sailings:
- Luxury suite accommodation
- In-suite breakfast
- On-demand Suite Host
- Unpacking and packing assistance
- Daily laundry and pressing
- Twice daily housekeeping
- All-day dining at Alira
- Light bites available throughout yacht
- Gelato Bar
- Soft drinks, coffees, and beer
- Fitness Studio access
- Marina platform and water sports
- Pools, sun loungers and cabanas
- Onboard entertainment and enrichment programming
- Cinema
- Youth Lounge
- Starlink Wi-Fi for reliable connectivity
- All onboard gratuities
As you can see, Aman is sort of taking a middle ground approach here. Alcohol aside from beer isn’t included, and neither is dining at the specialty restaurants.
Aman at Sea per-suite pricing
How much are Aman at Sea rates? Pricing is per suite rather than per guest. As it currently stands, I see five-night journeys starting at $32,500, while I see seven-night journeys priced as high as $54,600. So we’re looking at somewhere around $6,000-8,000 per night for an entry level suite. You’ll generally find that Caribbean sailings are a little cheaper than European sailings.
Admittedly these suites are massive by ship standards, but that’s definitely on the very high end of the market, and easily 50%+ more than Four Seasons Yachts is charging (though with some more inclusions).
How does the Aman cruise concept compare to the competition?
Prior to 2026, I hadn’t taken a cruise since I was a kid. However, this year I’ve given all three of the luxury cruise lines associated with hotels a try, and I’ve shared my thoughts on Four Seasons Yachts, Orient Express Sailing Yachts, and Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. I’ve even done a direct comparison of the three concepts, based on my firsthand experience.
Let me of course acknowledge that these cruise lines are all at the very top end of the market, so I’m not claiming or suggesting that they’re the best value options out there. Instead, I’ve taken such an interest in them because I find the crossover between hotels and cruise lines to be so interesting, and also find it noteworthy how these are all cruise lines targeted at people who historically haven’t considered cruising.
With that in mind, here’s how I’d broadly sum up the experiences offered by the three existing players:
- Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is the all-around best value of the three, given all that it includes, and it also has some interesting itineraries beyond just Europe and the Caribbean; admittedly this isn’t as exclusive as the other cruise lines, as the ships are the largest, the standard suites are the smallest, etc.
- Four Seasons Yachts definitely takes design to the next level, and the ship is gorgeous, with large suites, an incredible pool, and a very family friendly experience; however, compared to its two competitors, the lack of inclusions is a bit disappointing, especially given that there’s room for improvement with food quality
- Orient-Express Sailing Yachts is really the current top end of the market, with unbelievable design, amazing service, and the most inclusions of any of the existing player; if you can swing it, this is definitely the concept to go with
In general, I’d expect Aman at Sea will probably be closest to Orient-Express Sailing Yachts in terms of exclusivity, while probably being more like Four Seasons Yachts in terms of design (since it’s not a sailboat). I will say, given the price point, I do find the lack of inclusions to be a bit frustrating. Then again, the standard suites will be absolutely massive.
Is the demand there for this amount of luxury cruising?
The concept of luxury cruising is nothing new. However, there’s no denying that the industry is evolving a bit:
- We’re seeing luxury pushed to new levels in terms of the exclusivity of ships, the pricing, etc.
- We’re seeing cruising positioned differently; these luxury cruise lines are no longer just for rich retirees, but these cruise lines are also now targeting a younger crowd that might not typically consider cruising
Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is the only one of the concepts that has now been in service for some time, and based on what we know, the financial performance has left a bit to be desired. And that was before the cruise line expanded to three ships, and it’s before three competitors entered the industry.
Ultimately the success of these ventures comes down to whether they can convince people that cruising is “cool.” I don’t think these cruise lines will be cannibalizing brands like Silversea, but instead, I think they’re going after those who would otherwise vacation on land.
The other thing worth keeping in mind is that at some point, these cruise lines are competing with the concept of just chartering a yacht, which is a concept that will have more appeal for many people.
Obviously $6K+ per night is a massive amount to spend on a cruise. But the reality is that people easily pay that kind of money for peak season rooms in place like Saint-Tropez. Can these hotel-branded cruise lines convince people who want to “see and be seen” that it’s as cool to be on a ship as it is to be in the South of France? It seems like a tall order, but I guess time will tell.
Ironically, I think the volume of new entrants into the market is actually quite helpful in building demand, since cruises are finally being talked about more among non-cruisers. While they’re all competing for the same types of guests, I know a fair number of people have tried one of these cruise lines, then rebooked on another cruise line, etc.
Bottom line
Aman will be getting into the luxury cruising space in the spring of 2027, with the launch of its 600-foot Amangati superyacht. The ship looks incredible, and it seems like we’re seeing the luxury hotel groups all one-up each other.
The pricing is at the very top end of the market, which doesn’t come as much of a surprise. Will there be enough people willing to pay $6K+ per night for Aman’s cruising concept to keep these ships full, especially without most alcohol included? Only time will tell.
What do you make of Aman getting into the luxury cruise industry?
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