Ritz-Carlton yacht makes first voyage after 3-year delay

After a delay of almost three years the Ritz-Carlton yacht, Evrima, sets sail today.

Although there are no current plans to sail to premium Middle East hotspots such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, the high-end cruise experience aims to mimic the billionaire superyachts often seen in the region’s ports and private marinas.

Ritz-Carlton yacht much-anticipated

The 298-passenger Evrima will carry its first guests on a seven-night cruise from Barcelona to Nice on Oct. 15.

Stalled construction at Spanish shipyards and pandemic-exacerbated supply chain troubles caused the launch date to be pushed back eight times.

While thousands of passengers may have had their early bookings cancelled or delayed, the ship remains one of the most anticipated luxury ships in years, especially among Ritz-Carlton enthusiasts.

“We are moving into a space we believe many of the affluent consumers have wanted to go but have not had the brand to support them,” says Chris Gabaldon, senior vice president, luxury brands, for Marriott International Inc.

“The millions of Ritz-Carlton customers are ready for the next innovation of the brand, and they are demonstrating, in terms of bookings, that they are willing to come with us.”

The founder and chief executive officer of the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is Douglas Prothero, a longtime entrepreneur in the maritime industry, while the cruise company is a co-managed venture between the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company (under Marriott International) and Prothero’s Yacht Portfolio, a maritime investment group.

Oaktree Capital Management LP is the lead investor, and two additional 456-passenger yachts are on order from the Chantiers de l’Atlantique in France, for delivery in 2024 and 2025.

The owners are tight-lipped about construction costs.

The well-regarded maritime architecture and design firm Tillberg of Sweden worked with a team from the hotel company to create a floating Ritz-Carlton hotel.

“It’s taking Ritz-Carlton casual modern luxury to sea,” says Prothero. “It’s not trying to be something in cruise.”

Guests stay in suites with ceilings that are higher than the cruise ship norm, with king-size beds, double-vanity bathrooms, and private outdoor “terraces” overlooking the sea.

Also on offer are resortlike features such as a supervised Ritz Kids program with its own playroom ($45 per three-hour session) and a Ritz-Carlton-operated spa with indoor and outdoor treatment rooms—as well as indulgences such as a $395 non-surgical lift facial.

The 623-foot Ritz-Carlton yacht has more space per passenger than any other luxury cruise ship, according to Prothero. “You can be as quiet as you want or get together in a crowd, and there are a number of ways to do that,” he says. At one secluded table for 10, you can host your own dinner party.

From the marina, there are paddleboards, windsurf boards, kayaks, sailboats, and snorkeling equipment to borrow. Four plunge pools scattered around Evrima afford more intimate opportunities to take a dip with views.

The large Evrima Room, the main restaurant on the Ritz-Carlton yacht, features dishes inspired by the line’s destinations.

A five-course tasting menu was created by Chef Sven Elverfeld of the three-Michelin-starred Aqua at the Ritz-Carlton in Wolfsburg, Germany (and comes with an up-charge of $285 per person).

At the Talaat Nam restaurant, dine indoors or out on Southeast Asian dishes—or head to the sushi bar. Room service is available 24/7.

The luxury Ritz-Carlton yacht is not the only floating attraction. A five-star luxury hotel, the Kempinski Floating Palace, is expected to open in Dubai in 2023. The floating building will feature a glass pyramid-topped main building, which is structured in four parts.

Aside from accommodating over 150 guestrooms and suites, the hotel will also be home to 12 luxury villas, connected by “pontoons”. The two, three and four houseboats are for sale, but can also be rented out by hotel guests.