The Ritz-Carlton, Grand CaymanGrand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Read more on how The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, Seven South Penthouse has been dubbed the largest hotel suite in the Caribbean. The Seven South Penthouse and adjoining two-bedroom suites span nearly 18,000 square feet.

The largest hotel suite in the Caribbean recently opened its doors to the public at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. Dubbed Seven South, the sparkling penthouse and adjoining two-bedroom suites span nearly 18,000 square feet on the top floor of the hotel’s Ocean Tower.

The suite comes with nine bedrooms (a three-bedroom penthouse that costs $25,000 per night and the option to add three adjoining two-bedroom suites), a movie theater, a kitchen, a dining room, an office and an expansive deck overlooking the white sand and crystalline waters of Seven Mile Beach.

Inspiration for Seven South came from an unlikely place. The Grand Cayman hotel’s general manager, Marc Langevin, visited Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto and was struck by the design. He wanted to bring the same sense of simplicity to the penthouse, which is why it’s filled with natural elements like earthy woods, stone and glass. And it also sports lots of curves, from the ceiling cutouts to the dining room shape to the rounded edges of the plush fainting couch.

Designers at The Johnson Studio at Cooper Carry (whose other work include Fearing’s Restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas and Manzanita at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe also looked to yacht interiors when creating the palatial light-wood-filled penthouse.

“You can come from the beach in your bathing suit and feel comfortable,” Langevin says. “We were able to design something luxury and casual or natural.”

Most of the penthouse revolves around Seven Mile Beach. The sand and turquoise color scheme recalls the hues outside, the living room and three bedrooms have floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the beach, and a wraparound terrace with a circular daybed, loungers, a dining table, a fire pit and an alfresco shower provides a panoramic perch, especially at sunset.

While the water vistas are the undisputable main attraction, our favorite part of Seven South is the master bathroom (though it also has its own door and a balcony that faces the ocean). Azul macauba and Cipollino Cremo Tirreno marbles cover the space, and the swirling cobalt veins give the walls and double sink a delightful flowing effect. Take in the bold graphic marble from the white circular standalone tub or the sizeable glass-walled stall with two rainforest showers.

Other rooms may not be as vivid, but they are still striking. The kitchen mixes tan and gray stone counters with a sleek silver Gaggenau oven and built-in espresso maker. In the dining room, 14 white padded chairs line the oval herringbone wood table, and a chandelier resembling aqua beach glass hangs above it. Bolivian rosewood and volakas marble coat the rooms’ floors.

Seven South also comes with a host of other perks, including round-trip airport transfers, a private elevator, a beach cabana and a personal assistant. However, the most memorable extra may be the personalized souvenir you receive upon checkout.

The luxury hotel tapped Jamaican-born, Cayman-based artist Shane Aquârt, who goes by Dready, to create a digital artwork for the suite’s living room that captures the waterfront view from Seven South’s terrace. Dready got his start at the hotel’s Art Wall bridge — one of the island’s major galleries, the 300-foot walkway showcases local artists using a variety of media. He became the Art Wall bridge’s bestselling artist, and you can find a collection of his playful, vibrantly colored pieces depicting Caribbean life on exhibit there.

As part of your stay, Dready will customize a smaller 14-by-7-inch version of the same work on display in the suite, adding your party to the balcony scene, your name and the date. It’s a way to take that Seven South vista home with you. If only you could do the same with that exquisite blue bathroom.

One of the pillars of the Community Footprints program at the resort is hunger relief and through different outreach programs throughout the year, The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman supports different organizations in the Cayman Islands through the dona- tion of meals or fundraising for these programs. 
 
In an effort to continue supporting the community, the resort currently provides meals for Meals on Wheels of the Cayman islands on a weekly basis, the Cayman Islands Crisis Center and the Ladies and Gentlemen who are employed at the resort and are currently on the island during the resort closure. The fantastic line-up of chefs who lead the kitchens at Blue by Eric Ripert, Andia- mo, Taikun, Banquets and the rest of the resort’s outlets are currently supporting this wonderful initiative. 
 
2500 Weekly Meals Served 
 
Daily meals for the resort’s Ladies and Gentlemen Daily meals for the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre Weekly meals for Meals on Wheels of the Cayman Islands 
 
“One of the things we’ve been reminded of during this crisis is how important it is to support our community and to be more united than ever as a society. The opportunity to continue with our Community Foot- prints program by supporting Meals on Wheels and the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre is a true blessing and a wonderful way for us to support our island and those who need it most. I have been in awe of the solidarity that we’ve seen over the past month in our community as a whole and we are grateful that we are able to contribute to that. We will continue to do so for as long as we can.” 
- Marc Langevin, General Manager 
 
The banquets kitchen at the resort has transformed into a collaborative space where the entire team of chefs prepare meals for Community Footprints and the three programs they support. They have created a diverse and creative menu for the Ladies and Gentlemen and local organizations to enjoy daily or weekly. 
 
The meals are distributed by Food and Beverage Managers every day at the resort’s porte-cochère in the main driveway, where a drive-through has been set up for meal collection as well as well as daily surprises that include fresh produce, desserts, flowers and other delights. 

The Ladies and Gentlemen serving Ladies and Gentlemen program was created to provide economic relief for the resort’s employees during this uncertain times and ease their food costs at home. 
 

The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, the Caribbean’s first and only Forbes Triple Five-Star resort, is an oasis of memorable experiences. Outdoor activities include Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment, a Greg Norman-designed golf course, Starfish Cay water park, and The Courts Tennis Center. The resort also features The Ritz-Carlton Spa awarded Five-Star by Forbes. The property is home to six restaurants, with authentic culinary experiences, including the first and only Five-Star restaurant in the Caribbean, Blue by Eric Ripert. Accommodations include spacious suites, lavish amenities, and breathtaking views overlooking Seven Mile Beach.

Welcome to the unparalleled luxury of the Caribbean's First and Only Triple Five-Star resort, where the natural wonders and cultural richness of the Cayman Islands inspire every moment. This sun-filled Caribbean haven captivates with its elegant suites, reimagined culinary experiences, and the unmatched beauty of Seven Mile Beach, ensuring profound experiences and cherished memories at this iconic luxury resort in Grand Cayman. Spanning 144 acres sea-to-sea from world-famous Seven Mile Beach to the North Sound, The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman is a flagship of the Caribbean. The 369-room luxury resort features classic and elegant accommodations, the largest ballroom on the island, an interactive culinary studio, outdoor activities like Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment; a Greg Norman-designed golf course, and The Courts Tennis Center. The resort also features an exclusive Forbes Five-Star Ritz-Carlton Spa, providing an unmatched collection of experiences for guests. In addition, The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman is home to six restaurants on property, each offering authentic and unique culinary experiences, including the first and only Forbes Five-Star Restaurant in the Caribbean, Blue by Eric Ripert. Accommodations include luxurious suites, featuring a spacious layout, lavish amenities, and breathtaking views overlooking Seven Mile Beach.