By
Laura Hyde |
Luminara, the third superyacht from The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, made its maiden call in Hong Kong on 13 January 2026.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) welcomed the yacht into Victoria Harbour for its inaugural arrival in the city, which it will use as a turnaround port for Asia-Pacific itineraries over the coming months.
Once docked at Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, Luminara’s guests were welcomed with dragon and lion dances, as well as a water salute. The cruise brand hosted an onboard welcome ceremony and luncheon, which was attended by with Rosanna Law, Hong Kong’s secretary for culture, sports and tourism; Angelina Cheung, commissioner for tourism; Anthony Lau, executive director of HKTB; and various representatives from The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection in attendance.
An onboard ceremony, attended by officials from the Hong Kong Government as well as representatives from The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and the Hong Kong Tourism Board, welcomed Luminara to Hong Kong
“Hong Kong saw a total of 189 cruise ship calls in 2025, marking a 26 per cent year-on-year increase,” said Law. “These included vessels from 22 cruise brands worldwide. The total cruise passenger throughout for the year was around 630,000, with 430,000 being inbound visitors. Both figures have shown an increase of 20 per cent from the previous year. I am delighted to welcome the maiden call of a luxury cruise vessel from a leading international brand to Hong Kong as the new year begins. This demonstrates that Hong Kong not only attracts large and well-known cruises, but has also drawn super-luxury vessels targeting high-end international visitors to our city, testifying Hong Kong’s diversity in cruise tourism. Looking ahead, the Tourism Commission and HKTB will continue to fortify Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s cruise hub. We will also work closely with the industry partners to drive the development of cruise tourism in Hong Kong.”
Luminara, which launched in July 2025, will operate turnaround cruises between Hong Kong and Singapore or Tokyo, Japan, until mid-April. It will call at Osaka in Japan, Bangkok in Thailand, Incheon in South Korea, and Ha Long Bay and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.
“With Luminara, we have raised the bar once again, uniting legendary service, elevated design, and an extraordinary onboard experience to further define our distinct approach to ultra-luxury travel at sea,” said Ernesto Fara, president and CEO of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. “Our Asia-Pacific itineraries invite guests to experience the region in a more intimate and unhurried way, pairing marquee cities with more secluded islands and offering opportunities for overnights that allow for deeper exploration ashore and by water. Expanding into Asia-Pacific marks an important step in how we continue to thoughtfully grow in the region and around the world.”