Four Seasons Yachts, the new luxury cruise line launched by the hotel group, has celebrated the keel laying for its first vessel, Four Seasons I.

The keel laying, which marks the official start of assembly of a vessel, was celebrated by officials from Fincantieri and Marc-Henry Cruise Holdings LTD, the joint owner/operator of Four Seasons Yachts.

During the event, three specially chosen coins were welded onto the bottom of the ship for good luck and a traditional shipyard godmother blessed the vessel. 

The first ship in the fleet is being built at Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard and is due for delivery at the end of 2025, with her maiden passenger voyage scheduled for January 2026.

A further four sister ships have been ordered, with delivery dates that are yet to be announced.

Four Seasons I will be 34,000 gross tons and 207 meters long, with 95 custom designed suites. Each will include terrace decks from 6 to 13 square meters for the Seaview Suite and nearly 457 square meters for the Funnel Suite, the yacht’s most exclusive accommodation.

The staterooms will feature 50 percent more living space per guest than is currently available with any competitor at sea, according to Four Seasons. All accommodations will offer floor-to-ceiling windows, in addition to double vanity bathrooms with spacious showers and closets.

Four Seasons I will offer 11 dining options, a spa and wellness area, a state-of-the-art transverse marina, and a stern pool, set to be one of the largest in the industry at nearly 19 metres long and 5 metres wide (65 feet long and 18 feet wide). 

Its unique hydraulic lift design will allow the pool deck to level out, creating an expansive outdoor space for weddings, celebrations and other events.

The ship will also be equipped with the latest environmental protection technologies.

Her inaugural itineraries will explore more than 130 destinations across more than 30 countries and territories from January to March 2026. The first Grand Mediterranean voyages will begin in March 2026, sailings through Croatia, Gibraltar, Montenegro, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Türkiye. 

The Mediterranean itinerary will also highlight the Greek Isles, with stops in Athens, Ios, Santorini, Milos, and under-the-radar islands steeped in culture and history, offering a variety of experiences that go above and beyond the ordinary of Mediterranean sailings.