SLOW MOTION

Following a preview of one luxury accommodation group's newest vessel, we explore how hotel brands are embracing—and investing in—the slow travel trend

- By Coco Marett

“By all means, move at a glacial pace; you know how that thrills me,” Miranda Priestly—the sharp-tongued editor-in-chief played by Meryl Streep—famously snarled in The Devil Wears Prada (2006). Well, it turns out moving “at a glacial pace” is now very much in vogue—at least in the world of travel. The world’s leading hotel brands are investing in modes of slow travel, from superyachts to sleeper trains, to make the experience as much about the journey as the destination itself—and evoking a sense of thrill in globetrotters who view time as the ultimate luxury.

In 2022, Ritz-Carlton launched its Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and its inaugural ship Evrima, with a vision to redefine traditional cruising by offering all of the perks—seamless travel to coveted destinations, all-inclusive packages—with none of the tackiness that makes many travellers, myself included, wince at the thought of signing up for a cruise: wasteful buffets, conga lines, swimming pools that look like they belong in a theme park, et cetera. Instead, guests find themselves on board a stylish floating hotel, with exquisite facilities and interiors—you’ll find an art collection featuring works by the likes of David Hockney and Andy Warhol; the suites are comparable to the best Ritz-Carlton accommodation all with private balconies; and the high standards of service that the brand holds itself to. In September this year, it debuted its second vessel, Ilma, an inky midnight-blue ship that boasts 224 guest rooms. Even though the ships are exponentially larger than even the most super of superyachts, they’re surprisingly intimate and still small enough to offer the freedom and exclusivity of yachting while providing the amenities of a five-star hotel.