Not Your Average Cruise: Inside the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Experience

After a morning sun shower, a rainbow appeared over the Caribbean waters, with the romantic green and blue phosphorescence of St. Kitts in the distance. This view from my lounge bed on a private terrace wasn’t from a hotel, but aboard Evrima—part of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. In today’s travel market, with airports and airlines focusing on elegance and business class cabins rivaling the shiniest of hotel suites, the cruise industry was bound to follow with glamorous offerings luring highfliers to the high seas.

Photo: Courtesy of Eden Herbstman

Ritz-Carlton is the first luxury hotel brand to enter the cruise market, and Evrima is a glossy temptress capable of converting cruise sceptics into enthusiasts. Showcasing The Ritz’s signature approach to hospitality, this ship could accurately be called a floating hotel.

The Itinerary

My itinerary took me from Aruba to San Juan, gliding through the Caribbean’s ABC islands, with stops in Bonaire, Curaçao, St. Martin, St. Kitts, and Virgin Gorda. Other itineraries can whisk travelers to ports in the Mediterranean or the Asia-Pacific, or even provide a transatlantic crossing.

As I arrived at Aruba’s cruise terminal, anxiety crept in when I saw the port filled with travelers. I had my documents (Ritz-Carlton’s team provides you with voyage information well in advance), but I wasn’t sure what the boarding experience would be like. To my delight, the driver whizzed past the port entirely. We arrived directly in front of Evrima—it was truly door-to-gangway service.

Photo: Courtesy of Edgardo Contreras

Evrima can easily be mistaken for a mega-yacht docked in St. Barth’s Port de Gustavia or Monaco’s Port Hercule; indeed, during the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix, the Mercedes Formula One team booked Evrima for a private event. Sweden’s Tillberg Design, which created interiors for Evrima, is also designing the first yacht collection for Four Seasons, launching early next year.

Evrima, which holds 298 guests, is the smallest of the collection’s fleet of three, with sufficient crew for 1-1 service. My voyage had almost 90 passengers, which enhanced the feeling of privacy. Ten decks contain restaurants, lounging areas, refreshing pools, and a wellness center. Guests access each deck via elevators or a grand staircase.

Grand Suite / Photo: Courtesy of Ritz-Carlton

Departure was incredibly easy and stress-free. Evrima’s “lobby” on Deck 4, which functions as the main entry and exit point, holds a lounge area and bar, curated library, food counter for quick bites, and two concierge desks. At cocktail hour, this level becomes a gathering space, with live music one night and a magician the next. (Evrima also has a guitarist and DJ—entertainment is abundant for those who can’t sit idly.)

My luggage went through onboard security and was brought to my suite. Check-in concludes by receiving a voyage ID card/room key, which also acts as an access card for disembarking onto shore. (It lists Evrima’s phone number in case guests need to reach the crew while on land.) And like most hotel room keys, I misplaced this card plenty of times, but the concierge happily printed new ones.

Observation Room / Photo: Courtesy of Ritz-Carlton

My accommodation was a Deck 8 Grand Suite, a stellar location for its proximity to a small swimming pool, lounge chairs, deck space, and restaurant Mistral.

The Grand Suite lived up to its moniker—spacious with the brand’s signature elegance, it contained a large dining table, sofa, television, plush king bed, and marble bathroom with double sink, bathtub, and rain shower.

Courtesy of Starlink Wi-Fi, I was able to send and receive emails faster than in my office. Each guest is also assigned a personal ambassador who is just a phone call away for any need. Come morning and evening, they provide itinerary documents outside your accommodation.

Restaurant Mistral and Pool on Deck / Photo: Courtesy of Ritz-Carlton

I chose Deck 10’s Observation Lounge for pre-dinner drinks and sunset views. Bartenders became friends and knew my South African chenin blanc order by day two. (The global staff overall was consistently kind and knowledgeable.) Guests flocked to Deck 10 for post-dinner entertainment, with live music that continued later than most NYC bars would allow nowadays.

It’s known cruise lore that food and beverages are paramount. Voyage fare includes dining and drinking, apart from top-shelf liquor brands and special culinary experiences. Five restaurants exceed expectations with impeccable dishes and service. The Evrima Room is a low-lit steak house serving filet mignon, grilled lamb chops, and coconut-crusted halibut, with starters like foie gras or a chilled shrimp cocktail.

Scallop dish from S.E.A. / Photo: Courtesy of Eden Herbstman

Talaat Nam offers casual Thai-forward options such as flavorful curries, rice dishes, and hand-cut omakase-level sashimi. For an additional charge, guests can enjoy S.E.A.’s fine-dining tasting menu, featuring nine delicate dishes served by maître d’ Nuno Martins.

The menu begins with light fare like crisp artichoke and tuna tartare before progressing to inventive entrées with star ingredients such as ibérico pork cheek and Japanese Wagyu A5. After dinner, chef Moritz Jonaitis offered insight into Evrima’s culinary philosophy, stating that they source the best-quality food so the floating kitchens can match any elevated restaurant on land.

Lobster Pasta from Restaurant Mistral / Photo: Courtesy of Eden Herbstman

After long days onshore, the perfect dinner was just steps from my suite at Mistral. This Mediterranean alfresco café delights with an impressive menu of fish and pasta, but can also offer grilled lobster tails on order.

A few hiccups: I was disappointed that the ship did not anchor at sea and tender guests to shore. In St. Martin, we were sandwiched between two large cruise ships, with Evrima looking odd among these larger vessels. Why, on a busy day, we couldn’t have been tendered to shore away from the mayhem remains a mystery.

With travelers expecting a mega-yacht experience, the line should go the extra nautical knots to avoid these scenarios. Additionally, maybe it’s a St. Martin curse (Saul Bellow famously loathed the island), but the concierge shouldn’t advise guests looking for a sandy spot to venture to Maho Beach—a strip where airplanes fly overhead.

If guests don’t go onshore, they can swim in the open water, paddleboard, kayak, or simply absorb the natural splendor from The Marina on Deck 3.

Photo: Courtesy of Ritz-Carlton / Edgardo Contreras

A full day at sea provides an opportunity to experience the wellness center, which is better than at most resorts. The Sauna and steam rooms are toasty, a robust treatment menu includes 111Skin masks, and the relaxation room is a tranquil atmosphere for naps or reading, with teas, coffees, infused waters, and champagne—for those who want to retox after detox.

Best For

A cruise experience that doesn’t feel like a cruise, with excellent food, beverages, and hospitality. Health-conscious travelers can retain their home routines thanks to the wellness programming, which I didn’t know one could experience on a cruise.

Verdict

The pricey fare is well worth it to travel by water to dreamy destinations. For all the pomp and circumstance, service isn’t stuffy, the staff is friendly, and the accommodations are ultra-luxurious. On the concierge front, I hope they can work out some kinks to better research onshore recommendations. Passengers can use Marriott Bonvoy points to book.