I recently embarked on my first cruise in over two decades, and I must say, my expectations were thoroughly surpassed! I hadn’t really thought about cruising for a long time, but I’ve been intrigued by the new trend of luxury hotel brands entering the cruise market (or at least lending their names to such ventures), prompting me to try one out. The industry is becoming quite competitive — while Ritz-Carlton led the charge, similar offerings are soon to launch from Four Seasons, Orient Express, and Aman.
Anyway, I digress. We just sailed with Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Evrima, which is the company’s inaugural and smallest vessel (there are two further ships in development that are significantly larger). We selected the shortest, most economical cruise available, aiming to “test the waters” of the cruising experience, so to speak.
I’ll be releasing a comprehensive review soon, but first, I’d like to share some initial impressions, in no specific order. For what it’s worth, we secured a three-night cruise from San Juan with stops in St. John and St. Barts, and we spent $3,100 per person for a basic suite.
As a reminder, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is part of Marriott Bonvoy. Moreover, if you intend to book a journey, ensure that you go through a travel advisor linked to Marriott STARS. This significantly enhances value, which I’ll elaborate on in a separate post, but I was surprised by how few fellow travelers took advantage of this option and missed out on added benefits.
Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Evrima is a cozy vessel
As previously mentioned, we cruised on Evrima, which was launched in 2021, measures 624 feet in length, and comprises just under 150 suites, accommodating about 300 guests. Therefore, while I find it somewhat exaggerated to label this a “yacht,” it is only a fraction of the size of today’s largest cruise ships.
I have to say, the ship’s dimensions were perfect for our needs. It resembled a medium-sized hotel, with truly abundant dining options and deck space, making it feel perpetually uncrowded. We hardly ever encountered wait times for anything, including boarding or disembarking the ship, getting on the tender, etc.
Admittedly, due to the smaller dimensions of the ship, it lacks some of the amenities found on the enormous vessels, but that’s intentional. So, if you’re looking for water slides, shopping malls, and roller coasters, this clearly isn’t the ship for you.
I adored the vast deck space; it never felt congested anywhere. There were numerous spots to sit, unwind, and soak in the views, regardless of the atmosphere you desired.
I must mention, if you enjoy pools, you might be slightly let down, as there’s just one main pool on the ship, which isn’t particularly large. Personally, that didn’t bother me (I likely wouldn’t have used it anyway), and the smaller pool also signifies that this is a considerably smaller ship than the others, which I view as a benefit.
Nonetheless, there are some well-placed hot tubs, and my favorite feature: the marina. On days where the ship uses tenders and there’s ample time, they set up this fantastic deck at the back lower part of the ship, which is so enjoyable and something you wouldn’t find on a much larger vessel.
Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Evrima features stunning suites
Cruise ship accommodations are typically known for being compact and making numerous compromises compared to hotel rooms, but the lodgings on Evrima impressed me. All accommodations onboard are referred to as suites (which might be a stretch if you’re accustomed to hotels, but…), and they are beautifully decorated.
The terrace suite serves as the standard room, with an interior space of about 280 square feet (26 square meters) and a terrace reaching up to 75 square feet (seven square meters). The bathroom is quite nice as well, featuring double sinks, a soaking tub, a walk-in shower with excellent water pressure, and more.
Just to illustrate further, a few categories above that is the grand suite, which has around 570 square feet (53 square meters) of interior space and a terrace of up to 118 square feet (11 square meters). It also includes double sinks and a soaking tub.
The food and drinks were plentiful, and mostly quite good
Honestly, the aspect I was most eager to explore was the food and drinks, as I was curious about their quality. For one, there are the obvious logistical challenges in food preparation on ships. Beyond that, though, with the