Aman at Sea: what it is, how it works, and what to expect in 2027
Luxury cruise guide · Updated 2026 · Ultra-luxury · All-suite · Private terrace · Hotel-branded · Bookings open
Aman at Sea is the most anticipated entry into luxury cruising since the market began attracting hotel brands. With only 47 suites, a crew-to-guest ratio of two to one, suites starting at 530 square feet, and a design brief drawn directly from the ryokan aesthetic of Aman’s land properties, Amangati is positioning itself as something the cruise industry has never had before: a floating Aman resort.
This guide covers everything you need to know about the brand, the Amangati yacht, what is and is not included, the suite categories, four dining concepts, the Aman Spa at sea, the inaugural itineraries, and how it compares to the rest of the ultra-luxury field.
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A brief history of Aman and the road to Aman at Sea
Aman was founded in 1988 by Indonesian hotelier Adrian Zecha, who set out to build a small private resort for himself and friends on a coconut plantation in Phuket, Thailand. That property became Amanpuri, and its opening with rates reportedly five times higher than local competitors set the tone for a brand that has never apologised for its price or its exclusivity.
By 1992, Aman had expanded to Indonesia, Bora Bora, and the French Alps. Today the group operates 36 properties in 20 countries, each one characterised by a small room count, an extraordinary location, architecture that defers to its setting, and a ratio of approximately six staff per guest.
Vladislav Doronin, the Russian-born real estate developer, acquired Aman in 2014 for $358 million. Under his leadership the brand expanded into urban hotels with Aman Tokyo and Aman New York, launched the adjacent Janu brand for a younger audience, and extended the portfolio into skincare, fragrances, interior design, and private memberships. The maritime extension was a natural progression. Aman had already operated Amandira since 2015, a handcrafted two-masted phinisi sailing vessel in Eastern Indonesia carrying up to ten guests through the waters of the Komodo National Park and Raja Ampat. That vessel established a precedent: the Aman experience could function at sea.
Aman at Sea was announced in 2023 as a joint venture between the Aman Group and Cruise Saudi, the cruise development arm of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. The operating entity is Neptune Co., the vehicle created specifically for the project. Keel laying at the T. Mariotti shipyard in Genoa, Italy, took place in July 2023. The hull arrived at the Genoa quay in December 2025 for outfitting. Reservations opened in January 2026. Amangati, the first vessel, is scheduled for delivery and maiden voyage in May 2027.
Fleet expansion beyond Amangati has been confirmed by Aman at Sea’s CEO Jonathan Wilson, though timing has not yet been announced.
Amangati: the ship
Amangati takes its name from a Sanskrit phrase meaning “peaceful motion,” a reference both to the vessel’s movement through water and to the design intent behind every space on board. The choice of name is deliberate: this is not a cruise ship that happens to have good service, but a floating interpretation of the Aman philosophy, where stillness, space, and the quiet attention of skilled people define the experience.
The vessel is 600 feet (183 metres) in length, weighs approximately 23,000 gross tons, and spans nine decks. It will carry a maximum of 94 guests across 47 suites and a crew of approximately 190, producing a crew-to-guest ratio of two to one, the highest of any yacht currently operating or in development in the luxury cruise sector.
The exterior and interior design were developed by Sinot Yacht Architecture and Design, the Netherlands-based studio known for superyacht projects. The brief drew on traditional ryokan architecture: timber-toned finishes, ceilings reaching 2.5 metres (8.2 feet), natural materials, and a spatial vocabulary that prioritises calm over spectacle. Sinot has created a vessel that reads, from any angle, more like a private motor yacht than a cruise ship.
Propulsion is hybrid, incorporating battery power alongside conventional marine engines to reduce emissions, improve efficiency, and allow quieter operation in sensitive coastal and anchorage environments. The vessel will be Malta-flagged and is being constructed entirely at T. Mariotti in Genoa.
One access point deserves special mention. At 173 metres in length, Amangati falls below the 180-metre restriction that prevents all other vessels currently in the ultra-luxury hotel-branded category from entering Venice’s Grand Canal. Amangati will be the only commercial vessel of its type able to pass through the Grand Canal, giving it the ability to moor adjacent to Aman Venice, the brand’s property in the historic 16th-century Palazzo Papadopoli.
What is and is not included
Aman at Sea takes a different approach to inclusions than most ultra-luxury cruise lines, and understanding this clearly matters before booking. The model is partial inclusion, not comprehensive all-inclusive.
What is included in every voyage:
All meals at Alira, the main all-day restaurant
Soft drinks, coffee, tea, juices, and beer throughout the yacht and in-suite
Starlink Wi-Fi
Daily laundry service
Pool cabanas
Watersports from the marina platform
Gratuities
What is not included:
Wines and spirits (charged separately throughout the voyage)
Dining at Akari, Hiori, and Aman Grill (the three specialty restaurants are à la carte)
Spa treatments
Shore excursions
This structure is notably different from Seabourn, Explora Journeys, and the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, all of which include premium beverages and most or all dining venues in the fare. Aman at Sea is closer to the model adopted by Four Seasons Yachts, which also separates alcohol and specialty dining from the base fare.
The pricing context matters here. Entry-level five-night voyages on Amangati are priced from $38,500 per suite, with seven-night sailings reaching $54,600 for early bookings. These are per-suite rates, not per-person rates, which means that for two guests the nightly per-person cost begins at approximately $3,850 for a five-night sailing. As with any new luxury product at launch, pricing for peak summer dates, event sailings, and specific suite categories is considerably higher. The level of expenditure places Amangati at the very top of the luxury cruise market, above Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and in territory comparable to Four Seasons Yachts.
All suites, every terrace
Every one of the 47 suites on Amangati has a private terrace, floor-to-ceiling windows, and soaring ceilings of up to 8.2 feet. The interiors draw from ryokan principles: natural materials, restrained ornamentation, and an emphasis on the relationship between the interior space and the water visible through the glass. All suites include a walk-in shower, soaking tub, double vanities, and in-suite bar stocked with soft beverages. Each suite is attended by a dedicated Host, the Aman equivalent of a personal butler, who manages every aspect of the in-suite experience.
Deluxe Suite
The entry category, spanning approximately 530 to 560 square feet of interior space plus a private terrace of up to 171 square feet. This is a deliberately compressed entry point: Aman’s CEO has noted that the suite categories are intentionally close to one another, ensuring that every guest, regardless of category, occupies a beautiful space.
Other suite categories
Suite categories above Deluxe include configurations with progressively larger terraces and living areas. Several of the suites on Amangati are designed with flexible walls that can be removed to quickly create two- and three-bedroom configurations, a feature built specifically to serve the charter market and multigenerational groups. This flexibility is unusual in the sector and reflects the vessel’s dual role as both a scheduled itinerary yacht and a private charter platform.
The Aman Suite
The Aman Suite is the flagship accommodation, positioned at the stern of Deck 5 with over 3,800 square feet of total space: approximately 1,972 square feet of interior and 1,839 square feet of private terrace. The suite includes a dedicated private lift, an in-suite spa treatment room and sauna, a living and dining area seating eight, a king bedroom with floor-to-ceiling glass doors opening to the terrace and private jacuzzi, and a marble bathroom. It is among the largest private suite spaces ever offered on a yacht of this size.
The dining program: Four Restaurants and a Jazz Club
Amangati operates four distinct restaurants, three of which are charged à la carte and one of which is included in the fare.
Alira (included)
Alira is the main all-day restaurant and the heart of the daily dining experience on board. It serves open-air Mediterranean cuisine shaped by the regions and coastlines the yacht is visiting at any given time, with menus that change to reflect the seasonal produce and culinary traditions of each destination. Alira is open for breakfast, lunch, and casual dining throughout the day. It also serves as the social hub of the yacht during daytime, with tables accessible through open seating and flexible hours rather than fixed sittings. Casual food, including a gelato bar, poolside snacks, and lounge bites, is available throughout the yacht at no charge alongside soft drinks and coffee.
Akari (specialty, à la carte)
Akari is a Japanese restaurant built around the washoku culinary tradition, which UNESCO recognised as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2013. The concept honours the philosophy of presenting ingredients at their peak, with minimal intervention and maximum attention to provenance. The centrepiece is a seven-seat omakase counter offering bespoke tasting menus, alongside a dedicated Sake Bar with a curated selection of sakes and shōchū. Akari reflects the Japanese sensibility that runs through the entire Aman brand: restraint as a form of generosity.
Hiori (specialty, à la carte)
Hiori is the second Japanese concept on board and celebrates the art of teppanyaki, where the chef’s performance and the cooking process are integral to the experience. Dishes include wagyu beef preparations, fresh sushi, miso, grilled fish, and fried rice, all prepared at the counter by skilled teppanyaki chefs. On anchor days when a marina day is in operation, Hiori may open for a Japanese breakfast or tea service as a surprise for guests, at the captain’s discretion.
Aman Grill (specialty, à la carte)
The Aman Grill honours open-flame cooking as a culinary ritual. The menu centres on prime aged meats, whole fish, and seasonal vegetables, prepared with the directness and ceremony that defines great grill cuisine. Tableside rituals and sommelier-led wine pairings accompany the experience. When Amangati is at anchor, the Grill may open for lunch in addition to its evening service.
The Jazz Club
Inspired by The Jazz Club at Aman New York, the onboard Jazz Club opens to a large terrace and serves as the evening social space for late-night bites, craft cocktails, and live performances. It is the one venue on the yacht where the atmosphere shifts from serene to vibrant. A Cigar Lounge, a 12-seat cinema, and a Youth Lounge complete the entertainment spaces.
In-suite and private dining
In-suite dining is available around the clock. A dedicated Private Dining Room is available for intimate meals for small groups, with bespoke menus arranged in advance through the Host.
The Aman Spa at sea
The Aman Spa occupies Deck 8 and is one of the most developed spa spaces ever designed for a yacht of this size. It is built around a Japanese serenity garden and features eight ocean-facing treatment rooms, each with its own private terrace and a whirlpool bath. The treatment menu includes Aman’s signature wellness rituals as well as a Banya, a Russian-style steam room where birch branches are used for traditional exfoliation, and a Hammam bath. All eight treatment rooms offer direct views of the sea.
The spa also includes a full fitness centre equipped with contemporary gym equipment and space for private training. Wellness aboard Amangati is conceived as an integral part of the voyage rather than a supplementary amenity, consistent with the deep wellness culture that has defined Aman properties on land for over three decades.
Spa treatments are charged separately and are not included in the base fare.
The Beach Club and marina
At the stern of Amangati, a dedicated Beach Club provides direct access to the sea at water level. The marina platform offers complimentary watersports including paddleboarding, kayaking, and swimming directly from the yacht. Two helipads, located fore and aft, allow helicopter transfers and airborne excursions in destinations where such access is possible. The 52-foot (16-metre) main pool, positioned aft on Deck 6 with sun loungers, private cabanas, and the Pool Bar adjacent, is the primary outdoor social space on the ship.
The inaugural itineraries in 2027
Amangati’s maiden voyage departs Palma de Mallorca on May 7, 2027 and arrives in Nice on May 13, covering six nights. The inaugural summer season runs from May through early October 2027, with five- to eight-night itineraries in the Mediterranean. Destinations include the French Riviera, the Dalmatian Coast, the Greek islands, Turkey, Malta, and the Italian coast, with a strong emphasis on smaller and more intimate ports that larger vessels cannot access: Beaulieu-sur-Mer, Porto Cervo, Ponza, and Gozo among them.
Several sailings are timed to coincide with major cultural and sporting events: the Cannes Film Festival in May, the Monaco Grand Prix in late May and early June, and various Mediterranean festivals through the summer. The Venice Grand Canal passage, the only commercial transit of its kind at this category of yacht, is available on select itineraries.
Post-October 2027 deployment has not yet been announced, but Caribbean winter sailings and further expansion of the itinerary network are expected.
All voyages are available as both scheduled itineraries and full private charters, with the charter product offering complete customisation of itinerary, programming, and dining across all venues.
How Aman at Sea compares to other luxury cruise lines
Aman at Sea
Best for: The absolute minimum in guest count, the maximum in per-guest space and staff attention
47 suites, 94 guests, a two-to-one crew ratio, suite entry at 530 square feet, ryokan-inspired design, and access to the Venice Grand Canal. The most private and intimate commercial yacht experience currently in development. Partial inclusion model: specialty dining and alcohol charged separately.
Four Seasons Yachts
Best for: Comparable intimate scale with a different inclusion model
95 suites with entry at 473 square feet. No cover charges at any restaurant, but alcohol and lunch/dinner are also not included in the base fare. Entered service in 2025. Very similar positioning to Aman at Sea: hotel brand, superyacht scale, ultra-high per-night pricing.
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
Best for: Hotel brand familiarity with broader itinerary access and Marriott Bonvoy integration
Three ships (298 to 452 guests), more varied pricing, the Forbes Five-Star-rated Ilma, Sven Elverfeld dining, and Bonvoy loyalty integration. More comprehensive all-inclusive model than Aman at Sea, with beverages included. Larger ships with more guests than Amangati.
Seabourn
Best for: Proven service heritage and the most generous all-inclusive model at this level
Six ships, the deepest all-inclusive model (beverages, all dining, gratuities all included), Thomas Keller dining at no supplement, and a polar expedition capability. Over three decades of operating at this level. Ships carry 264 to 600 guests, larger than Amangati.
Explora Journeys
Best for: Contemporary design, nine dining options, and the strongest wellness inclusion
Ships carry 922 guests, largest of this comparison. All-inclusive with thermal spa access included in the fare. Nine culinary experiences with eight included. A completely different scale to Amangati, though with a similar emphasis on design and wellbeing.
Who Aman at Sea is best suited for
Aman at Sea works best for a very specific traveller, and that specificity is even more pronounced than for other luxury lines.
Existing Aman loyalists, often called Amanjunkies, who collect Aman properties and have been waiting for the brand to extend its philosophy to sea
Guests who place an absolute premium on privacy and the lowest possible guest count at sea, and for whom 94 fellow passengers is the point, not a compromise
Travellers who value space per person above all else and are willing to pay at the top of the market for suites that start where most competitors’ premium categories end
Design-conscious guests who respond to the ryokan aesthetic, natural materials, and the quiet visual language of the Aman brand
Those interested in smaller Mediterranean ports, culturally timed sailings (Cannes, Monaco Grand Prix), and the Venice Grand Canal access that no competing vessel can offer
Groups and families open to charter, given Amangati’s flexible suite wall configurations and strong charter programme
Aman at Sea is less suited to travellers who expect a comprehensive all-inclusive model with beverages included, those looking for a wider itinerary network beyond the Mediterranean in the short term, or those who prefer a brand with a long track record in maritime operations. Amangati is, at this moment, an anticipated product with exceptional credentials but no operational history at sea yet.
Frequently asked questions
When does Amangati begin sailing?
The maiden voyage departs Palma de Mallorca on May 7, 2027. Reservations for the 2027 inaugural Mediterranean season opened in January 2026 and can be made through the Aman at Sea website, by phone, or through a travel advisor.
How many guests does Amangati carry?
A maximum of 94 guests across 47 suites. This makes it the smallest commercial yacht in the hotel-branded luxury segment by guest count, with a crew-to-guest ratio of two to one.
Is Aman at Sea truly all-inclusive?
No, not in the traditional ultra-luxury cruise sense. The fare includes all meals at the main restaurant Alira, soft drinks and beer, Wi-Fi, daily laundry, pool cabanas, watersports, and gratuities. Wines and spirits, specialty restaurant dining at Akari, Hiori, and Aman Grill, spa treatments, and shore excursions are all charged separately.
What are the entry-level suite prices?
Five-night voyages start from $38,500 per suite (not per person). Seven-night voyages have been priced as high as $54,600 for early bookings. These are launch prices; peak summer sailings, event dates, and premium suite categories are priced higher.
What makes Amangati’s access to Venice unique?
Amangati measures 173 metres in length, which falls below the 180-metre maximum imposed by the City of Venice for vessels transiting the Grand Canal. Every other ultra-luxury hotel-branded yacht currently sailing or in construction exceeds this limit. Amangati is the only vessel of its category that will be able to pass through the Grand Canal and moor adjacent to Aman Venice in the historic Palazzo Papadopoli.
Who are the owners of Aman at Sea?
Aman at Sea is a joint venture between Aman Group and Cruise Saudi, the cruise development arm of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. The operating entity is Neptune Co. The vessel is being built at T. Mariotti in Genoa, Italy.
Is Amangati available for private charter?
Yes. The full yacht is available for private charter with complete customisation of itinerary, programming, and dining. The vessel’s flexible suite wall configurations allow two- and three-bedroom arrangements to be created quickly, making it particularly suited to corporate and multigenerational group charters.
How does Aman at Sea compare to Four Seasons Yachts?
The two products are the closest competitors in the market: both are hotel-branded, both carry fewer than 100 suites, both are priced at the very top of the luxury segment, and neither includes alcohol or specialty dining in the base fare. Four Seasons entered service in 2025 and already has operational history.
Aman at Sea debuts in 2027. Four Seasons entry suites start at 473 square feet vs. Amangati’s 530 square feet. Aman carries 94 guests vs. Four Seasons’ 190, making Amangati the more intimate product. Aman has the Venice Grand Canal access advantage. The choice between them often comes down to brand affinity: Aman loyalists already have a deep relationship with the Aman identity that Four Seasons has not yet replicated in the cruise context.
Planning your Next Cruise Vacation with ÆRIA Voyages
Every traveller’s ideal Amangati voyage looks different depending on the sailing, the suite category, and what they are hoping to experience. I help clients navigate those choices, from selecting the right itinerary for cultural events like Cannes or Monaco, to advising on suite categories and understanding exactly what the pricing covers.
If you are curious about the 2027 inaugural season, current availability, or whether Aman at Sea is the right fit for your travel vision, I would be glad to talk it through.
Yvan Junior Blanchette
Travel & Cruise Specialist
ÆRIA Voyages📩 yvanblanchette@aeriavoyages.com
📞 1-888-460-3388
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