Four Seasons Yacht I - Full Review
Ryan Walker | 29/50 Overall Score
Overview
Ryan Walker reviews the Four Seasons Yacht One — the luxury hotel brand's first entry into ultra-luxury cruising and the most anticipated launch of 2026. Reviewed across a seven-day voyage against five categories worth 50 total points. Ryan paid full price ($26,000 base rate for six nights) with no brand affiliation.
Scoring Categories: Ambiance | Room | Dining | Service | It Factor
Ambiance — 7.5/10
The Ship & Public Spaces
- Cost nearly half a billion dollars to build; stunning exterior presence in port
- Deck 5 (main deck) centers around the Piscine Pool — rarely used in practice
- No jacuzzi anywhere on the ship; atmosphere feels sterile rather than social
- No poolside service staff visible; no running track
- Deck 6 elevated experience: cigar lounge (Bar O), fine dining restaurant Sedna, caviar and champagne outdoor area
- Design consistency throughout; artwork quality mixed (some pieces compared to SpongeBob)
Check-In Experience
- Chaotic embarkation: bags handled roughly through security, no clear direction for guests
- Minimal welcome ceremony once aboard
- Described as "baptized by fire"
Spa — La Oceana (Deck 4)
- Beautiful mosaic tiling; standout aesthetic on the ship
- Signature treatment: Four Seasons Miracle Broth Facial — 90 min / $620
- No welcome drink, snack, or water at spa check-in
- Amenities: dry sauna with ocean view, steam hammam, cold plunge, cryotherapy chamber ($110/3 min)
- Facial itself was thorough and impressive
Fitness & Activities
- Gym: small, compact, all Technogym equipment; often crowded
- Personal training available at $200/hour
- Only one fitness class daily — 30-min morning stretch; no HIIT, core, or additional classes
- Daily schedule heavily music-focused (multiple guitar/piano sets, DJ sessions)
- No trivia, competitions, or activity programming
- Theater on Deck 4 with occasional performances (sparse)
Marina Day (Deck 3)
- Opens the ship's sides for a sea/marina day once per voyage
- Itinerary rerouted multiple times to accommodate marina day — weather still unfavorable on the day
- Staff appeared confused; guests stood around with nothing to do
- Interesting concept; poor execution
Ship Infrastructure
- 360-degree rotation capability; can "crab walk" parallel to docks
- Stabilization technology: gyroscopic stabilizers ("airplane wings") — one of the standout features
- Bridge (Deck 11): clean, well-organized; captain interview conducted
- Medical center (Deck 3): hours 9–11am and 4–6pm only; most beautiful medical center reviewer has seen; features Four Seasons bedding on medical beds
- McLaren Design Center–inspired interior
Room — 6/10
The Suite (Base Level)
- 95 total suites; base rate $26,000 for six nights (~$4,300+/night)
- Largest base-level suite currently on the ocean; surpasses Ritz-Carlton Yacht
- Visually stunning: ambient lighting, high-quality materials, cohesive color palette
Highlights
- Four Seasons bed (visually); balcony on every suite with extraordinary views
- Transparent $30,000 TV — world first, fascinating concept
- Complimentary champagne on arrival; welcome amenity (Four Seasons cookie, truffles, fruit)
- Wi-Fi included; speed test: 222 Mbps download / 26 Mbps upload
- Lavazza espresso machine; complimentary non-alcoholic mini bar items; Made Good snacks
Issues
- Water smells and tastes like sewage — confirmed by random guest; potential health code violation
- Previous guest's water left in kettle and Lavazza machine — not cleaned by stateroom attendant
- Toenail clipping found on floor from previous guest
- Transparent TV: picture quality compromised by see-through design
- Balcony door extremely heavy; difficult to open
- Curtain motor broken on one side
- Air conditioning did not work properly — room became very hot overnight
- Hot water available only ~50% of the time; shower fails review despite good pressure and size
- Bed mattress noticeably different (lower quality) from land-based Four Seasons properties
- Turndown service minimal: bed made, waters not replaced, lights barely dimmed
Presidential Suite (Deck 11)
- Two floors, spiral staircase, full private deck at bow of ship
- Price: ~$250,000 for one week
- Still under construction at time of sailing; unsellable; being worked on during the voyage
- Exemplifies how rushed the launch was
Dining — 5/10
Note: Marketed as 11 dining establishments; in practice, approximately 5. Not all-inclusive — breakfast and Wi-Fi only. Lunch, dinner, spa, excursions, and activities all cost extra.
Breakfast — Taras
- Mini buffet + à la carte
- Mold found on raspberries at buffet
- Quinoa bowl: pleasant flavor, not elevated to Four Seasons standard
- Generally underwhelming
Breakfast Room Service
- Eggs Benedict + black coffee: $30 (no service charge or tip)
- Arrived 10 minutes early ✓
- Yolk slightly overcooked
- Hollandaise served in pressurized spray bottle — exploded on delivery, destroyed the dish ✗
Lunch — Horizon Lounge
- Mediterranean menu, changes by destination
- Tea: Twinings bags (~$7/box) — well below luxury standard; missed opportunity
- Chicken souvlaki: disappointing presentation, underwhelming flavor
- Roasted cauliflower: standout dish, best item outside of Mayuna
- Atmosphere pleasant; outdoor seating near pool
Specialty Dinner — Mayuna (Omakase Sushi)
- Only bookable specialty restaurant; fills up most nights
- Open sushi bar; intimate space
- Standout dishes: lemongrass ponzu sashimi, brown butter oyster, truffle wagyu (near-perfect)
- Server presented fish sourcing and origin details — genuine culinary experience
- Highest point in the entire dining segment
Café — Pistachio
- Specialty coffees and espresso; beans refreshed every two days, glass pre-warmed
- Beautiful desserts (sculpted apple with compote)
- Popular with guests; strong positive for dining
Fine Dining Dinner — Sedna (French-rooted, modern, à la carte, white tablecloth)
- Amuse-bouche (fried oyster with caviar): fried exterior overpowered everything
- Parmesan parfait with egg: too many competing textures; triggered reviewer's gag reflex
- Locally caught sole: flavorful, slightly overcooked
- Chocolate dome dessert: strong finish, textures worked well
- Dinner bill: $222 (parfait $66, sole $72)
Allergy Management — Major Failure
- Reviewer declared bean/legume allergy on Day 1
- Received bean-containing dishes three times on Day 1 alone
- Staff not logging allergy information to guest file
- Significant liability concern at sea
Service — 4.5/10
General Observations
- Ship at ~50% capacity (100 guests vs. 200+ capacity); staffing ratio should be 1:1
- Staff caught smoking on duty, sitting down, on phones while in uniform
- Language barriers created awkward situations (e.g., balcony being sprayed while guest was on it)
- One staff member candidly told reviewer the cruise isn't worth the price — should not be shared with guests
- Accounting, infrastructure, and front-of-house interface issues compound the experience
- Many individual staff members warm and genuine; systemic training lacking
Service Test
- Reviewer called to order risotto (known to contain beans) to see if allergy had been logged
- Staff member did not ask about allergies on the call
- Result: dish arrived without beans — allergy had been updated in the system ✓
- Described as a "big recovery" and the high note of an otherwise poor service week
It Factor — 6/10
Unique Nature
- Four Seasons' first-ever yacht; world-first transparent TVs; exceptional stabilization
- Ship stability is the single biggest standout feature — frequently forgot he was at sea
- Many spaces and experiences genuinely unlike anything else available
Location & Ports
- Smaller ship size allows access to ports unavailable to large cruise ships
- Approximately half the ports were breathtaking; other half felt like filler stopovers
- Itinerary rearranged multiple times due to weather — added uncertainty throughout
Value
- Base rate: $26,000 / six nights
- Add-ons required: all meals, room service, spa, excursions, activities, personal training
- On-board charges for the week (all filmed content): additional $2,150
- Compared unfavorably to all-inclusive luxury alternatives at similar price points (e.g., Ritz-Carlton Yacht, Ritz-Carlton Masai Mara)
- Presidential suite at ~$250,000/week still unfinished at launch
Final Scores
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Ambiance | 7.5 / 10 |
| Room | 6.0 / 10 |
| Dining | 5.0 / 10 |
| Service | 4.5 / 10 |
| It Factor | 6.0 / 10 |
| Total | 29 / 50 |
Verdict
"I love the Four Seasons brand. I think they absolutely dropped the ball on this yacht."
Ryan does not recommend the Four Seasons Yacht One in its current state. Sewage-tasting water, cold showers, a half-finished presidential suite, allergy mismanagement, exploding hollandaise, and undertrained staff undermine what is otherwise a genuinely stunning and historically significant vessel. He acknowledges the ship will improve with time, but advises waiting before booking.