Toronto-based interior design studio CHAPI Design has unveiled its latest project, the Luminara, which is the third superyacht in The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection fleet.
Launched on July 3, 2025, the superyacht is a radiant evolution of the brand’s design-forward identity. Luminara, inspired by the Latin word for ‘light,’ reimagines what it means to travel by sea, pairing avant-garde aesthetics with the brand’s signature hospitality to create an experience that’s as emotionally resonant as it is luxurious.
Photographer: Edgardo Contreras;
With bespoke touches throughout, the yacht’s public areas were led creatively by CHAPI Design, marking a bold evolution in luxury hospitality at sea. With immersive spatial storytelling, layered materiality, a sensory-rich lighting scheme and built on deep collaborations with artisans, Luminara represents a new chapter in high-design seafaring – a floating world where guests feel deeply connected to their surroundings.
“Luminara is the vessel where light becomes language,” says Tatiana Sheveleva, founder of CHAPI Design, the studio behind the yacht’s visionary public spaces. “Every curve, texture and material was selected for its beauty and how it interacts with sunlight, moonlight and the shifting reflections of the sea.”
The superyacht measures 794 feet (242 metres) and accommodates up to 452 guests. In addition to 226 spacious suites, each boasting a private ocean-view terrace, a higher percentage of upper-suite categories, and superior guest amenities, the onboard experience features world-class dining, a wine vault, The Ritz-Carlton Spa® and an expanded marina providing direct access to the water.
Photographer: Edgardo Contreras
Born from the disruptive idea of bringing The Ritz-Carlton’s legendary land-based ethos to the ocean, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection made its debut with Evrima in 2022 and expanded with Ilma in 2024. Now, with Luminara, the brand completes a trilogy of superyachts – each one a floating expression of personalised, elevated living.
CHAPI Design’s poetic approach to interior design sets the tone, but Luminara is the product of a world-class collaboration. AD Associates anchors the spatial narrative in a masterful choreography of proportion and flow. The yacht’s sleek form and engineering pedigree come courtesy of legendary French shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique and Helsinki-based design studio, Aivan. Meanwhile, the lighting – both atmospheric and purposeful – is the result of a compelling creative synergy led by dpa lighting.
“The lighting inspiration was instantly there for us,” said Deeksha Surendra, dpa lighting. “Creating the atmosphere of a luxury residence of the highest quality reflecting The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s ethos was key to the overall lighting design approach.
“It was important for us to bring out the quality of the design, artwork, materials used, and detailing of the furniture using carefully planned lighting. The layered lighting enhances visual interest, while the decorative lights add a blend of soft ambiance, sparkle, and vibrancy to each space.
“The public areas are organised so the lighting, and the guest’s experience of the space, changes throughout the day. There is a bright and fresh feel to the public areas during the day, and then as the evening starts, the lighting softens to provide a warm, relaxing atmosphere. The outside decks deliberately have low levels of light so people can see the stars and the moon reflecting off the water at night. The experience continues in the sumptuous suites where the lighting enhances the guest’s time on board by creating elegance and functionality with intuitive lighting controls.”
Photographer: Edgardo Contreras.
It is this interplay and symphony of disciplines that gives Luminara its soul. Whether diffused through sculptural forms or sweeping across brushed metallics, the lighting unveils the yacht’s design with quiet drama – shaping a layered, sensory journey that shifts with time, mood, and light across every latitude.
CHAPI Design’s interiors of the public areas echo natural topographies: undulating forms, mineral hues and surfaces that shift in tone as daylight deepens. Reflective accents evoke water and sky. Tactile finishes speak in hushed tones – inviting guests to explore, to linger, to feel. This is design as atmosphere, not ornament.
Luminara dares to stir emotion. It’s not just about space – though the yacht boasts some of the most generous suites and public areas in the ultra-luxury category – it’s about sensation. From the serene, sculpture-lined Art Bar to artful moments woven into the spa and library, each space invites introspection as much as indulgence.
