Saturday, April 13, 2024

The ultimate guide to The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection ships and itineraries

ritz carlton cruise reviews

On balmy evenings, a DJ is stationed on a raised circular area, and the party goes on till late if the crowd's in the mood. There’s a jazz trio in The Living Room, too, which passengers love, but this is such a big space it’s hard to imagine it having an intimate, after dinner feel. Some 90 percent of the bookings so far are from customers who have never cruised before -- a figure other luxury lines can only dream of -- and Evrima is sailing almost full (in the suites that are ready, that is). The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua rooms are among Maui's most luxurious, even if they're a tad smaller than those at other luxury resorts.

THE RESTAURANTS & LOUNGES

Also, upon checkout, the spa attendant told me my Body Balancer treatment came with a special gift pouch stocked with the Espa products used in my treatment. It was a sweet touch that topped off a nicely indulgent spa visit. I was lazy after a long travel day and decided to order room service for my first meal on the property. It did not disappoint — I got a beautiful tomato salad with pesto, avocado and mozzarella and a side of fries. The hotel's features are concentrated on what's actually a stunningly massive property -- the larger Kapalua Resort has 100 miles of walking trails, including a coastal trail directly in front of the resort and several village trails, and two golf courses. A free on-call shuttle will take guests to any Kapalua resort location from early in the morning until late at night.

Story Loft Suites

When the ship is at anchor, the whole back of deck 3 opens up to create a stylish sunbathing area, right at water level, as well as a platform from which to launch the water toys. There’s more; big panels also fold out each side, creating more sunbathing space, while the covered area, protected from the sun but now open to sea breezes, serves as a bar with snacks. You won’t find Broadway shows on Evrima, or comedians, quiz shows and magic acts. The focal point of nightlife is the Observation Lounge, a stylish bar and lounge with doors that open onto a chic deck area, dotted with loungers and giant clamshell beds.

View Top Offer For This Hotel

Excursions on the Europe circuit include historic city-center tours, winery visits, and workshops like perfume-making and cooking classes. On sea days, enjoy programming like high tea and live entertainment while the shoreline whizzes by. All meals and drinks (with some exceptions; see below) are included on Evrima. In between there’s the elevated-casual Mistral for al fresco Mediterranean favorites like rack of lamb and seared scallops; the Evrima Room for white-table-cloth dining with wine pairings; and Talaat Nam for Thai-fusion and sushi options. There’s also the Living Room for pastries, coffee, and snacks (plus high tea once or so per sailing), in-suite dining all day long, and the Observation Deck champagne bar for drinks near the adjacent whiskey-stocked humidor. During the day on a sailing with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, a “Yacht Casual” dress code is enforced.

The next cabin category covers more floor space at 429 square feet and accommodates a king bed plus a convertible sleeper sofa. One of the appealing things about The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is its all-inclusive fares — something it will have in common with many luxury cruise lines. If you love transatlantic sailings, check out Evrima's 13-night April 14 itinerary that departs San Juan and arrives in Lisbon, Portugal with calls on Hamilton, Bermuda; Horta and Ponta Delgada in The Azores; plus nine sea days. The line tapped Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France, to build ships two and three, and Ilma and Luminara will be much larger than Evrima. They'll be 171 feet longer than their sister ship and measure 46,750 gross register tons compared with Evrima's roughly 24,000 gross register tons. Like Evrima, the second and third ships will be all-suite ships, but they will feature 228 suites instead of 149.

The Ritz-Carlton Spa

San Juan is a wonderful city with a rich history and many places to explore. We would love to have extended our vacation by a few days, but it wasn’t in the cards. We booked an excursion to the Virgin Gorda Beach Baths where we traversed the caves made by massive granite boulders forming ‘baths’ between two beautiful beaches.

Pool

Because the new cruising arm of Ritz-Carlton and its shipyards (yes, plural) had so many issues, but also so much extra time to work on the new cruise product, we had no idea whether Evrima's debut sailing would be perfection ... When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. You'll pay 25% of the first and second berth for infants and toddlers 6 months to 2 years old when reserved as the third berth in a suite. A parent or guardian who's 21 or older must accompany any child. Note that on voyages with three or more consecutive days at sea, the minimum age for children is one year.

A journey on the Ritz-Carlton Yacht - Cruise Passenger

A journey on the Ritz-Carlton Yacht.

Posted: Mon, 17 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

It’s perfect for those who dream of a Below Deck-style getaway with enough space to make new friends. But it still manages to feel special, especially in its quiet spaces and the moments between tiring yourself out ashore and getting a nightcap amid the Observation Deck’s rowdy piano bar singalongs. The ship’s infinity pool is surrounded by a spacious sun deck with loungers and water misters. Guests can order frozen drinks or lunch from the nearby restaurant, The Pool House. The Signature is a 429-square-foot room that has a separate sitting and dining area as well as a sleeper sofa and a soaking tub with a separate shower.

The hotel is approximately a one-hour drive from Kahului Airport. Though the property is vast, the facilities themselves take a more modest approach than resorts like the Grand Wailea or Fairmont Kea Lani, which can overwhelm guests with waterpark-like facilities and endless amenities. Instead, the Ritz seems to favor quality over quantity, and encourages families to learn about the surrounding culture and ecology with programs led by Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ambassadors of the Environment. Its expansive, gorgeous vistas attract daily handfuls of nonguests, who walk the resort trails, have drinks at the lobby's Alaloa Lounge, or splurge on a fabulous meal at the signature Banyan Tree restaurant. One of our favorite Mediterranean voyages runs from 20 March to 28 March 2026, with fares starting from $29,500 per suite per voyage in USD and routing from Malaga — Menorca — La Joliette — Saint Tropez — Isola Di Ponza — Trapani — Gozo — Valletta. The first Caribbean itineraries feature seven nights of exploration through the most exciting yachting destinations, including Saint Barthélemy (St Barths), Nevis, the Grenadines, St Lucia, Barbados, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Curaçao and Aruba.

The onboard boutique showcases luxury goods as well as branded items. In select ports, local artisans that partner with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection are invited onboard to share their creations. Relax completely with a massage, facial, or locally-inspired treatment in 1 of the 5 private rooms, or enjoy ocean views while getting pampered outside.

It’s hard to believe that on a relatively small ship there are many things I missed or didn’t have time to see … bottom line, it never gets boring. The suite has a long entry hall, small dining and sitting areas, a nice bedroom with good storage and fairly spacious outdoor terrace … we couldn’t ask for anything more. Oh, the bathroom was a nice surprise too … more about that in a bit.

ritz carlton cruise reviews

The onboard team is trained to a very high standard and hails from both luxury hotel and cruise backgrounds. Guests returning after a day ashore are greeted with refreshing cold towels and iced mint water and every stateroom is assigned a Personal Concierge to act as a point person for whatever the guest might need. For a small ship, Evrima has a varied range of dining options with five restaurants, 24-hour in-suite dining and a constant supply of culinary snacks in the Living Room that change depending on the time of day or night. Despite the ship's intimate stature, it offers the amenities you'd expect of a luxury cruise ship. You'll find a spa, fitness center, cigar bar and boutique. The Ritz yacht offers a nice mix of voyages that span four to 12 nights, making it much easier for working professionals to book them.

Pairing The Ritz's long history in the luxury hospitality market with small-ship cruising is a big win for cruisers. The line's participation in the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program further sets it apart from other lines that don't have a points partner in the hotel space. While the redemption rate isn't amazing, we still call it a win to be able to book a cruise with points. At TPG, we recommend that travelers always use a travel agent that specializes in cruise travel to book their cruises. Using a knowledgeable travel agent won't cost you a penny, and it can provide many advantages. First and foremost, travel agents understand the nuances of each cruise line and ship and can recommend the best options for you, from which stateroom to select to the perfect itinerary.

The line says it focuses on the "casual freedom of a yachting vacation," so you don't need to worry about packing formal wear. Passengers on the first sailing report that some gentlemen are wearing sportcoats in the evening while others aren't. Women are donning flowing palazzo pants and pretty blouses as well as cocktail dresses and sundresses. But it's the spa treatments most people get excited about. Aboard the yacht, there are several massage options, such as the 60-or 90-minute signature "Evrima" massage (starting at $255), where light to moderate pressure is paired with aromatherapy essential oils. Also available are deep muscle massages (starting at $205) and piedras calientes therapy treatments, which use warmed stones (starting at $275).

All-day and all-night dining in cabins (or on their terraces) can be ordered from the 24-hour room service menu (items from all onboard dining venues), as well as during regular hours from the MDR menu. It’s almost like you’re spending the night in someone’s home (which just so happens to be a 624-foot mega yacht). There were some service issues on the inaugural sailing that I joined (no doubt the result of staffing and sourcing shortages) but each snag was met with a graceful recovery or some spell-binding experience that would make you forget. The yacht's 611-square-foot, bi-level Loft Suites are interesting because they separate the living space (upstairs) from your sleeping quarters (downstairs). The plus is that you can enter the suite from hallways on both levels.

The bathroom situation is also upgraded, with a double vanity master bathroom that includes a soaking tub and a separate shower (on the lower level) and a powder room on the upper level. Adding a bit of privacy, the convertible sleeper sofa in this stateroom is on the upper level that's otherwise devoted to living/dining space. The terrace is also on the upper level, at 76 square feet, and downstairs features a panoramic picture window for sea views. Clear focuses on cuisine, relaxation, and small entertainment offerings like live music trios and high tea make this feel like a luxury hotel you never want to leave—one that just so happens to be floating at sea.

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