The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company is teaming up with Oaktree Capital Management for a new cruiseship venture.
It plans to launch three cruising yachts from the final quarter of 2019.
The company, part of Nasdaq-listed Marriott International, claims it is the first hotel brand to head out to sea.
It said the vessels have been created by its own team and maritime experts Douglas Prothero and Lars Clasen, in collaboration with Oaktree funds and Tillberg Design of Sweden.
