A Week Aboard Ilma Sailing the Mediterranean From Rome to Venice
AD | This blog post is sponsored by The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.
Six nights, four ports and one day at sea - experiencing Italy and Croatia with the ease of returning each evening to the same yacht.
What does it feel like to sail the Mediterranean aboard Ilma? For us, it meant waking to a new coastline each morning, returning to the same private retreat each evening and discovering that the hours at sea could be every bit as memorable as the destinations themselves.
Our six-night voyage with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection sailed from Rome to Venice, calling at Sorrento, Dubrovnik, Hvar and Zadar, with a full day at sea along the way. The itinerary brought together Italy’s iconic coastline, Croatia’s historic cities and islands, and the ease of traveling without repeatedly packing, unpacking, or arranging travel between places.
Aboard Ilma, the yacht is not just a means to reach the next destination. It is part of the experience: mornings on a private terrace, afternoons by the pool, five distinct restaurants and the freedom to let the day unfold at your own pace.
The Voyage in a Nutshell
Yacht – Ilma, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
Route – Rome (Civitavecchia) to Venice
Length – Six nights
Ports of call – Sorrento, Dubrovnik, Hvar and Zadar
Time at sea – One full sea day
Accommodation – An all-suite yacht, with a private terrace in every suite
Dining – Five restaurants, bars and lounges, plus 24-hour in-suite dining
Onboard highlights – Two pools, The Ritz-Carlton Spa®, fitness spaces, The Marina and expansive outdoor decks
Shore experiences – Pre-Designed Private Excursions: Amalfi Coast by Boat in Sorrento; Breathtaking Plitvice Lakes & Lunch in Zadar
Sailing From Rome to Venice
There is something special about experiencing the Mediterranean from the water. The coastline gradually appears, and every morning brings a different view. One day, the Italian coast is outside your window. The next, there is nothing but open sea. Later in the voyage, the islands and historic waterfronts of Croatia come into view.
Sailing from Rome to Venice allows you to experience several destinations, while Ilma remains a familiar retreat throughout the journey. There is no need to repack after embarkation or to navigate the logistics of traveling from one city to the next. Your suite travels with you; your favorite places on board remain close; and each arrival begins at the water.
That balance became one of our favorite parts of the voyage. We could spend the day walking through a historic city, traveling inland to a national park or exploring the Amalfi Coast by boat, then return to Ilma for dinner, a sunset on deck and an evening in familiar surroundings.
First Impressions of Ilma
Stepping aboard Ilma feels like entering a world of its own. Its interiors are modern and spacious, with soft colors, considered details and a strong connection to the sea. Floor-to-ceiling windows bring the view into the restaurants and lounges, while expansive decks create plenty of space to spend time outdoors.
Although Ilma is a superyacht, life aboard feels remarkably personal. There are lively spaces for drinks and dinner, as well as smaller corners for reading, coffee, or watching the horizon uninterrupted. The atmosphere is polished without feeling overly formal, making it easy to settle in from the first day.
The yacht has two pools on separate decks, The Ritz-Carlton Spa®, a gym, cycling studio, Pilates reformer and stretching room, as well as a salon, boutiques, bars and lounges. On select days while Ilma is at anchor, The Marina may also offer direct access to the sea and water sports, depending on the itinerary, local permissions and conditions.
A Suite With a Changing View
Every suite aboard Ilma has a private terrace, creating a personal connection to the sea throughout the voyage. Ours became the place where we began slow mornings, returned after exploring ashore, and watched the light change before dinner.
The contemporary interiors, neutral tones and floor-to-ceiling windows create a restful atmosphere, while the terrace extends the living space outdoors. Some mornings began with coffee and breakfast in the suite as a new coastline appeared. On our day at sea, it became a private place to read, play cards and watch the Mediterranean stretch towards the horizon.
That continuity is one of the greatest pleasures of traveling by yacht. The view changes from one port to the next, but there is always a familiar space waiting when you return.
Five Restaurants and a World of Flavors
Ilma has five restaurants, each with its own culinary identity. Over six nights, dining became another way to experience the voyage's variety, from contemporary Italian cuisine and Mediterranean favorites to Pan-Asian dishes and the vibrant flavors of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Seta su Ilma
Seta su Ilma is the yacht’s intimate fine-dining experience, created with Michelin-starred Chef Fabio Trabocchi. Its contemporary Italian tasting menu makes it especially suited to a celebratory evening. Reservations are required, and an additional fee applies.
Beach House
Beach House has the relaxed energy of a stylish seaside restaurant. Its Pan-Latin and Caribbean-inspired menus were developed in collaboration with James Beard Award-winning Chef Michael Mina. We enjoyed lunch here on our sea day, surrounded by open views of the Mediterranean.
Memorī
Memorī offers contemporary Pan-Asian dining, with sushi, sashimi and dishes inspired by cuisines from across the region. Its menu and atmosphere provide a distinct contrast to the Mediterranean settings outside.
Mistral
Mistral is an open-air restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Mornings begin with an à la carte breakfast, while later menus feature Mediterranean favorites such as pasta, salads and pizza. The sea views and relaxed setting make it an easy place to return to throughout the voyage.
Tides
Tides takes inspiration from the regions Ilma visits, with seasonal menus that reflect the journey. It brings a sense of place to dinner on board while allowing the culinary experience to evolve as the yacht travels.
There are also bars and lounges for coffee or a glass of wine at sunset, along with 24-hour in-suite dining for the moments when staying in feels most appealing. Deciding where to eat becomes part of the pleasure: a light lunch after returning from shore, a longer dinner after a sea day, or breakfast on your terrace as the next destination comes into view.
A Day at Sea, Entirely Your Own
A day at sea aboard Ilma can be as restful or as active as you want. With no destination on the agenda, there is time to enjoy the yacht without watching the clock.
Our morning began with coffee on the terrace and breakfast served in our suite. We spent a few hours by the pool, followed by lunch at Beach House. The afternoon was deliberately simple: card games, a good book, coffee and something sweet delivered and served in the privacy of our suite and terrace. Later, we watched the changing light over the water before getting ready for dinner.
You could just as easily spend the day at The Ritz-Carlton Spa®, work out in the fitness studio, swim, or settle into one of the lounges. The appeal lies in not needing to fill every hour. With views of the sea from nearly every deck, even the simplest moments feel connected to the journey. By the end of the day, we understood why time at sea can become a highlight rather than a pause between ports. It offers the rare pleasure of having nowhere else to be.
From the Amalfi Coast to the Adriatic
Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast by Boat
We embarked aboard Ilma in Rome (Civitavecchia) and spent our first afternoon discovering the yacht before sailing towards Sorrento.
From Sorrento, we joined a Pre-Designed Private Excursion by The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection to explore the Amalfi Coast by boat. Seeing the coastline from the water revealed its dramatic cliffs and colorful towns before we stepped ashore in Amalfi and Positano.
We later stopped for lunch in a small bay near Nerano, reaching the restaurant by tender. Naturally, we ordered the local specialty, Spaghetti alla Nerano, a pasta dish with zucchini unlike any version I had tried before. Back in Sorrento, we spent our final hour wandering the streets and taking in the view across the coast.
A Full Day at Sea
After Sorrento, Ilma spent a full day sailing towards Croatia. It created a natural pause in the itinerary and gave us time to experience the yacht itself—from breakfast on our terrace and hours by the pool to an afternoon with no plan at all.
Dubrovnik’s Historic Waterfront
Dubrovnik came into view with its historic stone walls, terracotta rooftops and the blue Adriatic beyond. We explored independently, walking through the old town, finding viewpoints and trying local flavors along the way.
Arriving by sea gives the city a memorable sense of scale. The fortified walls and harbor first appear from the water, then become the setting for a day spent among narrow streets, limestone façades and centuries of history.
An Unhurried Day in Hvar
Hvar offered a different expression of the Croatian coast. Its waterfront promenade, lively harbor, pale stone streets and island landscape created a relaxed Mediterranean atmosphere.
We spent the day walking through the town and along the shore, stopping at viewpoints and allowing the island to set the pace. It was the kind of port where an unstructured afternoon felt like the best way to explore.
Zadar and Plitvice Lakes National Park
From Zadar, we joined another Pre-Designed Private Excursion and traveled inland to Plitvice Lakes National Park. Its turquoise lakes, waterfalls and autumn foliage offered a completely different view of Croatia from the coast we had been sailing along.
After returning to Zadar, we also had time for a short walk through its historic center. Experiencing the national park and the city in one day highlighted the range of landscapes within reach of the port.
A Final Arrival in Venice
Our voyage concluded in Venice, where we disembarked Ilma and spent a final few hours among canals, historic palaces and winding streets. Arriving at the end of a Rome-to-Venice voyage felt fitting: one final city shaped by its relationship with the water.
What we loved most about the route was its variety. Each destination had its own character, yet the experience remained cohesive because Ilma traveled with us throughout the journey.
Exploring Beyond the Ports
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection offers several ways to explore ashore. Select Group Excursions may include guided city visits, cultural experiences, and local food, while Pre-Designed Private Excursions offer a planned itinerary in a private setting. Custom Private Excursions can be tailored more closely to individual interests.
We experienced two Pre-Designed Private Excursions during our voyage. From Sorrento, we explored the Amalfi Coast by boat, going ashore in Amalfi and Positano before lunch near Nerano. From Zadar, we traveled inland to the lakes and waterfalls of Plitvice Lakes National Park.
Both experiences allowed us to see beyond the immediate port without having to organize every transfer and detail ourselves. That ease was valuable, particularly when the experience involved traveling farther afield or coordinating boats, vehicles and reservations.
The Experience of Sailing Aboard Ilma
For travelers who want to experience several Mediterranean destinations while returning each evening to the ease of the same yacht, a voyage aboard Ilma offers a compelling balance of discovery and time to unwind.
After six nights on board, what stayed with us was not one single port or restaurant. It was the rhythm of the experience: coffee on a private terrace, a new coastline appearing in the morning, an afternoon without plans and the feeling of returning to Ilma after a full day ashore.
The journey brings together destination-rich days, thoughtful service, varied dining and space to slow down. You can see more of the Mediterranean without feeling as though every moment is spent in transit.
Perhaps that is the greatest appeal of traveling this way. The yacht carries you forward while giving you time to be fully present—for the cities and coastlines, but also for the smaller moments that happen at sea.
FAQs About Ilma
How long is the Rome-to-Venice voyage aboard Ilma?
Our Mediterranean voyage aboard Ilma lasted six nights, sailing from Rome (Civitavecchia) to Venice.
Which destinations are included on the itinerary?
The voyage called at Sorrento in Italy and Dubrovnik, Hvar and Zadar in Croatia, with one full day at sea before concluding in Venice.
Does every suite aboard Ilma have a private terrace?
Yes. Ilma is an all-suite yacht, and every suite has a private terrace overlooking the sea.
How many restaurants are aboard Ilma?
Ilma has five restaurants: Seta su Ilma, Beach House, Memorī, Mistral and Tides. The yacht also offers bars, lounges and 24-hour in-suite dining.
What can you do during a day at sea?
Guests can spend time at the pools, visit The Ritz-Carlton Spa®, use the fitness facilities, enjoy the restaurants and lounges, or relax in their suites and on their private terraces. Available activities may vary by voyage and conditions.
Are shore excursions available?
Yes. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection offers Select Group Excursions, Pre-Designed Private Excursions and Custom Private Excursions. Availability varies by destination and voyage.