Le Ponant Sailing Yacht
This 276-foot three-masted schooner built in France in 1991 and extensively renovated in 2020 became the first sailing yacht in history to earn a Relais & Châteaux designation, a standard that's put Paris townhouses and Tuscan villas on the map for decades. It accommodates just 32 guests across 16 cabins and suites, sailing with a crew of 34, meaning the staff actually outnumber the passengers. Jean-Philippe Nuel designed the interiors, threading French refinement through genuinely nautical bones, while 13,050 square feet of sail and a hybrid propulsion system keep the ship as clean as it is fast. Caribbean itineraries reach ports too shallow and too exclusive for anything larger, and a dedicated on-board chef ensures every meal is as considered as the itinerary. Some great hotels have a view of the water. This one takes you to sea.

