The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

Evrima

Overall Editor Rating
Allan Lynch November 13, 2023
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

Fodor’s Expert Review

Ship Overview

Cruise StyleLuxury
Ship SizeSmall
Price Range$$$$
Sails To

Car...iterranean

Caribbean and Mediterranean
Sails From

Car...iterranean

Caribbean and Mediterranean
Duration5-13 days

Evrima is unique in ocean options. The first hotel brand to go to sea, it offers a yachting lifestyle, not a traditional cruise experience. The CEO says his competition “is not another ship, it’s a villa in Tuscany.”Read More

There are no buffets or Broadway-style entertainment. An intimate ship, entertainment is flexible, frequent, and complementary to conversation. While a real luxury vessel, it is not a stuffy, formal experience; rather, it’s fun and carefree because Ritz-Carlton knows their guests have earned it.

While there will be some overlap in ports of call, Evrima’s smaller size allows it to focus on ports large cruise ships have to skip. It also lingers longer in port so guests can explore on their own or participate in Ritz-Carlton curated daytime and nighttime packages. This means no rushing back at 4 pm.

The yacht was built in a Spanish shipyard which specializes in highly technical, research vessels. Evrima is a technically advanced, energy-conscious vessel. COVID delayed the initial launch by three years. Evrima began service in October 2022 with a clean slate as far as the pandemic is concerned.

On-board pricing is an all-inclusive. Meals, drinks, in-suite champagne, Wi-Fi and personal concierge are included in the fare. Shore excursions are an additional charge.

Unlike most cruise ships, Evrima has no dress requirements beyond a collared shirt and closed-toe footwear. There are no formal nights, no captain’s table, no buffet and no theater shows. There are also no assigned meal times or tables. Guests dine when, where, and with whom they wish.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Pros
Cons
All-inclusive pricing includes drinks 24/7 everywhere on the yacht, not just wine at dinner
Ability to visit smaller ports and have late departures  
They have proper tea pots and treat tea drinkers with the same service and respect given to coffee crowd    
The library is still under development  
The pool is modest, don’t expect to do laps  
Bar stools in the Outlook Lounge are a challenge for shorter people to maneuver

What to expect on board

Staterooms & Cabins

Editor Rating
Cabins
Accessibility

This is an all-suite vessel. Suites range from 28 to 101 square meters (300 sq. ft. to 1091 sq. ft.). There are no inside suites. All have king beds and terraces. Bathrooms are marble, with heated floors. All the usual bath amenities are provided as well as vanity mirrors, hair dryers, slippers, in-suite safe, refreshment center with coffee machine and tea kettle, refrigerator, complimentary Champagne, flat screen TV. All suites have Frette bathrobes and bedding. Complimentary WiFi is available throughout the yacht. The yacht is also wired for European and North American devices and has USB charging connections in each suite.

Some of the 300-sq. ft. terrace suites, have movable air walls, which allow you to connect two suites into one.

The 429-sq. ft. signature suite has a dining and living area which opens to a terrace on one side and bedroom on the other.

The 611 sq. ft. loft suites are unique in that they are two levels on decks 4 and 5. Deck 5 has a large marble powder room, dining area, living room and terrace. Down the stairs on deck 4 is the bedroom, dressing area, five-piece marble bathroom, hallway and second entrance.

The owner’s suite (there are two) is 1091 sq. ft. It has a large living and dining room, secondary seating area, bedroom with walk-in closet, two full baths and a 635 sq. ft. terrace with private hot tub.

There are laundry facilities.

As a new vessel, the yacht is fully accessible. There are two sets of elevators at mid-ship and nearer the stern. There are no door lips or other barriers between rooms and suites. Bathrooms have appropriate supports.

The doors are all water tight, so can require some strength to open.

Food & Drink

Editor Rating
Dining
Bars

The Pool House, deck 5, is open for breakfast from 7 – 10 am, brunch from 11:30 – 1:30, and 2 – 6 pm for all day dining. This is a relaxed space adjoining the pool, two hot tubs and sun decks. The end walls open to provide inside and outside seating and service.

Talaat Nam, located on deck 6, is an Asian restaurant. It has a sushi bar, as well as inside and terrace tables. It is open for lunch from noon – 2 pm and dinner from 6:30 to 9 pm.

S.E.A. is by three-Michelin-starred chef Sven Elverfeld. With space for 30 diners, it is the smallest restaurant on the yacht. Reservations are required. Diners tend to dress up, which for men is a jacket and open collar. The yacht is a tie-free zone. S.E.A. is a fixed tasting menu experience, which varies by destination. It is an additional charge. It is open from 6 – 9 pm. It is on Deck 6, next to Talaat Nam.

Evrima Room, deck 4, is a more traditional city-style, high-end restaurant with carpets, upholstered chairs and lots of art. It has ocean views, but no terrace. There is a wine tasting area as well as a private dining room for small parties. The menu features beef, lamb and pasta dishes. Their breakfast begins with a tea-like three-tiered tray of pastries, prosciutto and cheese, yogurt and fresh fruit as an appetizer for a hot breakfast. Open 8 – 10:30 am and 6:30 – 9 pm.

Mistral, on deck 8, is a highly popular outdoor seafood restaurant/bar. Tables wrap around the side and rear decks. In the covered center bar and tables area are ceiling heaters to take any chill away. Those at uncovered tables will be offered blankets should the evening breeze require.

Marina café–deck 3–is only open when the yacht is moored in port. It offers snack and pub-style menu and has a bar. Seating is inside, on terraces which slide out in port as well as the stern marina recreation area.

There is also 24-hour in-suite dining available. The menu changes between day and night.

The Pool Bar opens from 10:30 am to 6 pm. Guests can sit at the bar and watch a game on the massive screen or have drinks delivered to their sun lounge or table.

The Bar is a small holding area for S.E.A. and Talaat Nam. With only six seats at the bar and four tables for two this is a quieter place for drink. The lower guest numbers make it a great place to order and sample exotic cocktails. Noon – 2 p.m. and 6 – 9 p.m.

The Living Room is one of the yacht’s primary gathering spaces. Located on deck 6 near the gangway, guest services reps, and boutique, it offers early morning serve-yourself-fresh pastries as well as bar seating and tables spread across the yacht’s largest enclosed space. In the late afternoon and evenings, there is usually live music. There is also afternoon tea with the usual tiered trays of finger sandwiches, cookies and pastries. Service from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. (midnight).

The Observation Lounge on deck 10 is open from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. This is where most people gather after dinner. Bar seating is popular as are the tables and sofas in the yacht’s second largest indoor space.

The Humidor, which has separate deck access, is the yacht’s 10-seat cigar lounge, featuring a fine selection of cigars.

Outside but covered is Mistral Bar. Heat lamps ensure passengers will be comfortable even when the ocean breeze brings a chill.

Evrima also has a resident sommelier and a 15,000-bottle wine cellar.

Entertainment

Editor Rating

There are no magicians or Broadway-styled shows in a huge auditorium. Entertainment is provided by six musicians, who perform solo or pair up to perform as duets or trios that tend to get the crowd dancing.

The yacht has a program to bring in artists associated with the ports and waters called on with each voyage. The artists create works inspired by the area and deliver talks and workshops. The art concierge gives tours on the yacht’s 400-piece art collection.

Plans to develop a speaker series is underway.

Spa & Fitness

Editor Rating

The gym is at the front of the yacht on deck 9. This bow-shaped floor-to-ceiling glass space gives endless ocean views to those doing cardio or working with the machines. Although the gym isn’t very big, it’s well equipped and a fine size for the number of passengers aboard. A large deck in front of the gym features lounge chairs and the yacht’s highest hot tub.

There’s also a yoga studio: Guests can partake in sunrise and sunset stretch and meditation sessions. Those not wanting to sacrifice their regular fitness routine can consider booking sessions with the yacht’s personal fitness instructor.

The gym is next to the Ritz-Carlton Spa. There are five treatment rooms, each with a terrace, so guests have the option of being inside or outside. The men’s and women’s locker rooms have sauna and steam rooms. Adjacent to the spa are a barber shop and hair salon.

Key cruising tips

Health & Safety

For  medical issues, deck 9 medical center is staffed by a doctor and registered nurse. It has a reception area, office, treatment room and two-bed ward. The doctor can treat all aliments short of major surgery.

Dress Code

Evrima is a relaxed environment. There are no formal nights or dressing for dinner. Basically, smart casual is the dress. Some people dressed up for a special anniversary or birthday, otherwise, a shirt with a collar, covered shoulders and closed-toe shoes meet the standard.

Junior Cruisers

There is a Ritz-Kids area and program and babysitters available.

Service

This is Ritz-Carlton. The standards of their land-based hotels and resorts are translated to the yacht. Every morning staff meet at 10:15 to go over guest needs. There is a 14-person guest services team, plus a three-person land team and a personal concierge are available for each guest.

Again, the small number of guests means no line ups on board or to participate in a shore excursion, reboard or for Customs.

Tipping

On-board gratuities are included in fare. That said, a number of guests did slip something to various crew who did special favours.

QUICK FACTS

SHIP STATS
Entered Service
2022
Number of Cabins
149
Passenger Capacity
298
Crew Members
243
Passengers to Crew Ratio
1.23
Gross Tons
25400
Width
78 feet
Length
624 feet

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