Offer ID
800-367-5348
Caldwell Vineyard Wine Cruise
Join John and Joy Caldwell—among Napa Valley’s most notorious vintners—for a week-long exploration of Italy and Croatia aboard the Ritz-Carlton’s newest boutique uber-luxury yacht.
Caldwell Vineyard is a legacy winery rooted in rebellion, resilience, and extraordinary wine. With a history that includes revolutionizing North American vineyards by smuggling French clones into California, building the most genetically diverse vineyard in North America, and producing wines with a 100-point winemaker, their story is as interesting and juicy as the wines they create. Stands to reason someone’s making a documentary about it….
A trip designed explicitly for the joy of discovery, pleasure, and meaningful connection—between place, wine, food and each other.
All Aboard
The Ritz-Carlton’s luxury yacht, ILMA, redefines modern cruising. Designed to accommodate only 448 guests, this boat balances generous open spaces with intimate scale with 1:1 guest-to-crew ratio, ensuring personalized attention throughout your voyage.
Expect elegant suites, expansive decks, and a choice of refined restaurants to match the grandeur of the journey. It’s a perfect blend of extravagance with comfort, beauty, and presence.
It’s A Wine Cruise Afterall… In addition to land-based adventures designed to impress even the most jaded and well-traveled among us, JFC and Joy will host a series of intimate, curated wine events with plenty of free-form, unstructured time to break bread, raise glasses, and share ideas with people who love wine, and life, as much as they do.
Vintner Welcome Reception as we set sail from Venice, featuring the treasures John and Joy find during their pre-cruise travels around Italy.
Vintner Tasting Seminar, led by John (a.k.a. JFC) featuring a selection of wines he’s chosen to showcase the similarities and differences between their Napa roots and Italian inspirations.
Caldwell Vintner Dinner, a multi-course, foodgasmic journey of their wines (and a few surprises) with plenty of unfiltered storytelling
Vintner Farewell Reception…
Pre-Cruise Wine Treasure Hunting Trip
Anyone who’s met Joy Caldwell knows she doesn’t mess around or compromise on the details, especially when it comes to culinary adventure. So, in addition to Ritz Carlton’s excursions (which you’ll want to reserve soon because they book up fast), John and Joy are curating an informal Pre-Cruise Itinerary of their own outside Venice and the Dolomites that will include Michelin-starred restaurants, wine tastings, and off-the-radar places they’re eager to explore.
Guests can opt in or chart their own path—no pressure, no presets. Details available upon booking the cruise.
Ritz Carlton Yachts
Venice to Rome
Proprietors, Caldwell Vineyards
To & From: Venice to Rome Dates: June 1 – 10, 2026 Length: 9 Nights Ship: ILMA
SAVE THE DATES! F&WT Optional 5-night or 3-night pre-cruise Venice & Verona land program. Estimated release date: October 2025
F&WT Onboard Event: Caldwell Vineyard Vintner Welcome Reception
F&WT Onboard Event: Caldwell Vineyard Vintner Wine Seminar & Tasting “Crljenak Kastelanski vs Zinfandel”
F&WT Onboard Event: Caldwell Vineyard Vintner Dinner
F&WT Onboard Event: Caldwell Vineyard Vintner Farewell Reception
REQUEST PRICES FOR SINGLE/TRIPLE OR CATEGORY NOT LISTED.
PRICES ARE PER PERSON, BASED ON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY, AND INCLUDE SHIPBOARD ACCOMMODATIONS, $520 pp PORT TAXES(subject to change), MOST ONBOARD MEALS, GRATUITIES, UNLIMITED BEVERAGES ABOARD THE YACHT, F&WT SHORE EXCURSIONS IN SELECT PORTS, HOST WINES SERVED DURING ONBOARD WINE PROGRAM EVENTS AND LIMITED TRAVEL MANAGEMENT SERVICES. PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE ROUNDTRIP AIR AND TRANSFERS, F&WT’s OPTIONAL LAND PROGRAMS AND SHORE TOURS, CRUISE LINE SHORE EXCURSIONS, TRAVEL INSURANCE, OR ALL ITEMS OF A PERSONAL NATURE. F&WT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CORRECT PRICING ERRORS OR OMISSIONS. PRICES WILL NOT INCREASE AFTER DEPOSIT RECEIVED, EXCEPT FOR FUEL SURCHARGES AND ANY TAXES, CHARGES OR LEVIES IMPOSED BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.
ILMA
Click Here for ship’s deck plan
Inaugural Sailing: Sept. 2024 Capacity: 448 Guests Tonnage: 46,750
With the highest ratio of space per guest at sea, Ilma features just 224 airy, light-filled suites, all with private terraces. Five restaurants, six bars and a wine vault offer culinary experiences to please every palate. The yacht’s aft Marina includes expansive spaces where you can dine alfresco while admiring the seascapes or enjoy watersports directly from the yacht.
From elegant specialty restaurants to casual poolside eateries, the dining venues onn boar dIlma are sure to please every palate. Two award-winning chefs have collaborated to create innovative menus, inspired by local cuisines.
Click here for F&WT’s full Terms & Conditions