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Sleek and sophisticated, the intimate yachts of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection fuse the refined residential feel and legendary service of The Ritz-Carlton with the relaxed freedom of the yachting lifestyle.

A voyage with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection offers an unprecedented opportunity to be untethered. Sail into the heart of iconic cities and drop anchor off secluded island hideways. Explore the natural beauty of rugged Mediterranean coastlines. Here, freedom and flexibility allow immersion in life's most exceptional experiences.

We never forget that curiosity, awe and adventure are what make travel so transformative, both on land and at sea. At every opportunity, we’ve designed immersive experiences with The Ritz-Carlton sensibility in mind, whether that’s an evening of unexpected entertainment, a truly memorable meal, or a bespoke excursion ashore in one of the world’s most captivating destinations.

Each Ritz-Carlton yacht has been thoughtfully designed to marry a spacious, residential feel with the innovative design of the world’s most stylish yacht interiors. Our Ladies and Gentlemen ensure that your every need is met with genuine care and the legendary service that The Ritz-Carlton is known for. With every detail considered, you’re free to enjoy each moment of your all-inclusive journey.

Evrima was named for a word of Greek origin that means “discovery.” Explore five restaurants and six lounges; schedule a treatment at The Ritz-Carlton Spa; enjoy a day on the water from the aft marina; or dance under the stars in The Observation Lounge. 

Our newest yacht, Ilma — slated to set sail for its inaugural season in 2024 — takes its name from the Maltese word for “water.” Connect with the sea on your private terrace, in open-air lounges or via the yacht’s expanded marina. Savor new flavors in one of five restaurants, and indulge in rejuvenating treatments at The Ritz-Carlton Spa.

Explore celebrated yachting playgrounds and secluded coves best accessed by yacht, or go ashore to visit historic seaside gems.  

Bask in Caribbean sun, exploring cascading falls and aquamarine waters.

Drop anchor along the chic French, Italian and Dalmatian rivieras or island hop the Greek Isles.

Unplug from the stress of everyday life as you cross the vast ocean.

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The ultimate guide to The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

• The 298-passenger Evrima — the first ship in the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection — set sail in October.
• The all-suite yacht offers six types of accommodations — all with balconies and 24/7 room service.
• Enjoy fine food aboard: A three-star Michelin chef designed some dining experiences.

In one of my favorite movies, "Almost Famous," fictional groupie Penny Lane opined that "It's all happening!" The rock band closest to her heart was finally making it big and she could not contain her glee. I felt that same sense of enthusiasm when The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection finally set sail on Oct. 15, 2022.

It's been a long time coming. The launch of the line was delayed for three years due to a variety of circumstances that included slowdowns at the shipyard , the pandemic and moving its first yacht to a new shipyard for completion. So it was a thrilling moment when its first ship, Evrima, welcomed guests in Barcelona on Saturday.

Way back in 2017, executives at The Ritz-Carlton announced the development of a line of brand-new yachts that would supposedly change the face of luxury cruising — at least for Marriott loyalists and anyone that prefers a small-ship experience.

Whether you're road-tripping or globetrotting, the suite life is always better. Download the free TPG App to upgrade your travel!

Evrima is the first superyacht in the Ritz trio. Ilma and Luminara will join it in the future.

Luxury travel fans that love small-ship sailing with a focus on "greatest hits" cruise destinations, suite-style accommodations and Michelin-level dining want to know if The Ritz-Carlton is worth the wait. Read on for a guide to this brand-new cruise line.

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3 things TPG loves about The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

• The superyacht Evrima is intimate, accommodating 298 passengers.
• The aft Marina platform affords easy entry to the sea for swimming and nonmotorized water sports.
• An all-inclusive fare includes beverages, tips, all dining, Wi-Fi, a personal concierge and more.

What we could do without

• We wish the tie-in with Marriott Bonvoy's loyalty program was a bit more advantageous for elites. You need to be Marriott Titanium or higher to receive complimentary priority boarding and departure benefits. We'd love to see the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card add priority boarding as a benefit in the future.
• We'd also love to see some more unusual ports of call once the line hits its stride. For example, while Ritz's Athens (Piraeus), Greece round-trip itinerary with an overnight call on Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey plus Santoniri and Milos, Greece may entice new-to-cruisers, those who take several luxury cruises a year have probably already been to all of those ports of call — more than once or twice. (We know: first-world problems.)

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection's fleet

At the inception of the cruise line, the company announced it would sail three identical yachts. While three yachts are still the plan — Ilma and Luminara are set to join Evrima in 2024 and 2025, respectively — the ships will not have the same design.

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. Additionally, the next-generation ships will have a higher percentage of larger suites than Evrima.

According to the cruise line, it has an eye toward sustainability. In regards to Ilma and Luminara, it says "each vessel will be fitted with four dual-fuel engines and utilize liquefied natural gas (LNG) as its main fuel source, significantly reducing emissions as compared to traditional practices. Additionally, the yachts will include advanced water treatment systems, an efficient heat recovery loop, LED lighting, and more, with the goal of minimizing environmental impact."

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has an option to order two additional yachts from the shipyard. It will be interesting to see if the line sticks to its three initial ships or expands to a five-ship fleet.

Related: How to book a cruise using points and miles

Destinations and itineraries

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has solved a problem I've had for a long time with the luxury cruise market: the length of the sailings offered. Often, luxury lines program incredible voyages of 14 or more nights. Sure, they sound wonderful and I'd love to go ahead and book them. But, my husband is a small business owner, and my job is busy too; it's hard for us to take two weeks or more of vacation at once. We prefer high-end vacations that are on the shorter side.

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. But if you do have more time, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection can also accommodate you with back-to-back sailings. That makes it a snap to customize a longer sailing.

Evrima began its sailing career in October 2022 with plans for a series of five European itineraries before it is set to reposition to the Caribbean, Costa Rica and the Bahamas for the winter.

The yacht's inaugural "warm weather" season offers five-, seven-, 10- and 12-night itineraries, including:

• Bridgetown, Barbados round trips.
• Bridgetown, Barbados to Philipsburg, St. Martin (and reverse).
• Philipsburg to San Juan, Puerto Rico.
• San Juan round trip.
• San Juan to Bridgetown (and reverse).
• Bridgetown to Panama City, Panama.
• Panama City to San Jose (Puerto Caldera), Costa Rica.
• San Jose round trip.
• San Jose to Fort Lauderdale.
• Fort Lauderdale round trip.

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 ship then tours the Mediterranean through October 2023.

Related: The best Caribbean cruise for every type of traveler

You'll love this line if…

OK. You got us here. The line just started sailing and we haven't been on board just yet so we can't tell you exactly what you'll love about this line. But we can make some educated guesses based on The Ritz's track record, the marketing material we've seen so far and early reviews from other sailors.

The Ritz-Carlton brand is all about exemplary service. We expect this drive to deliver an authentic, above-average experience to find its way onto the yachts. The Ritz offers luxury but it's never stuffy or stodgy. Instead, the line and yacht offer modern and elegant decor (nothing fussy), personalized service and Michelin-star quality dining.

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.

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection fares include:

• ocean-view accommodations with a private balcony, which The Ritz calls a "terrace."
• a dedicated Personal Concierge.
• all dining at multiple restaurants as well as 24-hour in-suite room service.
• beverages (all nonalcoholic, bottled water, coffee and tea plus select wines and liquors) throughout the yacht and in your suite.
• onboard entertainment and enrichment.
• a marina-style platform with access to nonmotorized watersports while at anchor.
• onboard gratuities for housekeeping, dining and bar staff. (You will need to tip for salon and spa services.)

Related: The best credit cards for booking cruises

Cabins and suites

If you gravitate toward modern interior design with sleek surfaces, mixed textures and muted earth tones, you'll appreciate the suites aboard Evrima. (Each cabin type is referred to as a "suite" in The Ritz-Carlton yacht world even if it's not technically two or more rooms.)

The line tapped Tillberg Design of Sweden to envision its cabins. With a private yacht feel, akin to The Ritz-Carlton Residences in Florida's Sunny Isles Beach and Miami Beach, along with Los Angeles, the emphasis is on comfortable open-concept spaces and natural light.

Upon arrival at your suite, a chilled bottle of Moët et Chandon (Grande Marque Champagne, Brut Imperial, Non-Vintage, according to a publicist we spoke to) will greet you. Enjoy that out on your private balcony before getting to know the intricacies of your cabin. All suites offer a king-size bed with high-end Frette linens, digital flat-screen TV, a minibar stocked with your preferences (bottled water is Perrier) and an in-suite safe. Each suite has a Nespresso machine and a selection of complimentary specially roasted coffee and teas from Illy Cafè and Dammann Frères. If you want hypoallergenic pillows, those are available upon request.

The bathroom features a double vanity, luxury bath amenities, robes and slippers, a vanity mirror and a hair dryer.

You can order 24-hour room service. The All-Day Dining menu features influences from every dining venue on board and a Late-Night Dining menu will also be available.

Each suite is also assigned a personal concierge. According to Ritz-Carlton, this person "is your single onboard touchpoint to ensure a flawless, seamless journey from beginning to end."

Finally, the yacht also offers connecting and convertible suites for families and friends traveling together.

Related: The 5 best cabin locations on any cruise ship

Let's take a look at what the suites look like:

Terrace Suites

Entry-level cabins are called Terrace Suites. Ninety cabins in this category are 300 square feet with a 67-square-foot balcony. Two Terrace Suites are ADA-compliant (adhering to standards set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act).

Signature Suites

The next cabin category covers more floor space at 429 square feet and accommodates a king bed plus a convertible sleeper sofa. The balcony is 101 square feet. There are 27 Signature Suites and one is ADA-compliant.

Grand Suites

Are you the type that tends to overpack for a voyage? Then a Grand Suite — there are 14 of them on the ship — may be right for you since it offers dual walk-in closets. It also offers a king bed plus a convertible sleeper sofa. The suite interior is 587 square feet and the terrace is 108 square feet.

2-Story Loft Suites

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. The yacht features 12 Loft Suites.

View Suites

At first blush on the deck plan, the four View Suites may seem similar to the Grand Suites. But, there's an important difference: floor-to-ceiling windows throughout that offer incredible views of the ocean and port. Suites 732 and 733 are 544 square feet with an 86-square-foot balcony while suites 734 and 735 are larger, at 574 square feet with a 97-square-foot balcony. This cabin category features a king bed and a convertible sleeper sofa.

Owner's Suites

The ship's two Owner's Suites, at 1,091 square feet, are larger than most Manhattan apartments. There are two nice things about this accommodation: a second full bath and a 592-square-foot balcony. The terrace is outfitted with upgrades such as outdoor furniture (a full sofa, two chairs, a coffee table, two loungers and two cocktail tables) and a dining table for four. The piece de resistance, however, is the private hot tub.

Inside, you'll find plenty of room to spread out with a dining table for six, a sitting area with four chairs and a table and a second sitting area with a loveseat, coffee table and two chairs. Beds includes a king bed and a convertible sleeper sofa. One more extra amenity is a pair of high-end binoculars for guest use.

Restaurants and dining

Even though the yachts will only host up to 298 passengers at full capacity, there are several distinct dining venues — including S.E.A, designed by chef Sven Elverfeld of Aqua, the three-Michelin-starred restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg in Germany.

All venues feature fresh, local ingredients while serving cuisine influenced by the destinations the yacht visits.

Related: The 9 best cruise ship steakhouses and steak-serving restaurants

The Evrima Room

While Ritz yachts won't have main dining rooms the way you're used to seeing them aboard mega-ships — huge cavernous venues that pack everyone in tight during meal service — The Evrima Room is the ship's main restaurant. Here, you can dine as a couple or join other travelers in an intimate and relaxed setting. The restaurant is on Deck 4, aft, and the menu will change with the seasons.

This is one of the most romantic spots on the ship. On Deck 8, aft, in front of the pool, this laidback venue was designed for a lunch under the sun or a romantic alfresco meal in the evening. The Mediterranean-style menu features the local catch, and you can order prime cuts of meat from the grill. You can enjoy drinks here, too, as you take in the beauty of the yacht.

Every ship needs a sushi bar, and you'll find one aboard Evrima on Deck 6 at Talaat Nam, which also offers a family-style table experience and outdoor dining with a view of the ship's wake. While we haven't yet seen the sushi menu, a passenger shared the dinner menu and it looks fantastic.

Starters include a Thai mango salad, chicken satay, Vietnamese-style spring rolls, hamachi, gyoza, beef tataki, red miso soup and edamame. Entrees are appealing and include beef rendang, chicken adobo, Thai prawn curry, Thai red curry, pancit noodles, ramen, chicken laksa and kimchee fried rice. Desserts include one of my favorite flavors: pandan. The leaves of this aromatic plant remind me of coconut and vanilla. That's presented in a custard delicacy. You can also order mango sticky rice or an almond sago avocado concoction with coconut ice cream.

The Pool House

When you want to enjoy a more relaxed meal, be it an early-risers breakfast, lunch or late-night nosh, The Pool House — on Deck 5 directly in front of the aft pool — will punch the ticket. Menu items are prepared a la minute in this open-air space.

Passengers on the first sailing reported a breakfast menu that ranged from challah French toast with berries and syrup to a garden frittata, lobster omelet with Hackleback caviar, breakfast tacos, bagels with lox, avocado toast and more. Coffee is by Illy and tea by Dammann Freres.

Lunchtime and afternoon "to share" items looked yummy, too: guacamole, fried calamari, blistered shishito peppers, sticky chicken wings, Peruvian ceviche, baked cauliflower and wild mushroom flatbread.

More substantial menu items included burgers, buttermilk fried chicken, lobster and shrimp rolls, beer-battered cod, steak sandwiches, roasted salmon BBQ baby back ribs and four interesting salads. Dessert is limited but includes ice cream, chocolate fudge brownies and creme brulee.

If you're a fan of chef Sven Elverfeld of Aqua, his three Michelin-starred restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg, head to S.E.A., on Deck 6 where he's created a "specialty dining experience." In cruise lingo, that usually means it carries an extra surcharge and that is the case here. (We're reaching out to The Ritz to find out the exact cost, but a passenger reported it cost $625 for her and her boyfriend to dine there.) In terms of food, it's a "European tasting menu;" more details to come. Reservations are required.

The Living Room

Coffee drinkers and snackers need to memorize the location of The Living Room on Deck 4. It's a place to socialize or just sink into its comfy chairs to read a book from the library. Throughout the day and night, you can order freshly roasted coffees and espresso and pick up pastries and other treats.

The Marina Terrace

Just above the Marina, you'll find this spot that serves drinks and "light bites."

You'll no doubt spend plenty of time at The Bar. Kick-start each night of your voyage with a special cocktail or Champagne toast and stop by for a nightcap after dinner. Looking for something decadent? This lounge serves premium Champagnes paired with caviar.

In-suite dining

There is an All-Day Dining menu that can be served in your suite or on your balcony 24/7.

Entertainment and activities

Life aboard any yacht is naturally a bit more laid-back than the vibe you'll find on mega-ships that offer dozens of bars, a comedy club, Broadway-style productions, karaoke, casino games and more.

Theaters and shows

While there is no theater on board the ship, there are opportunities to enjoy live music. Initial reports from passengers indicate that evenings are a bit on the quiet side so far.

The Observation Lounge

As twilight descends, passengers seek out The Observation Lounge on Deck 10. With incredible sea views, it's the place to get to know your fellow passengers over a drink at sunset followed by late-night dancing.

As mentioned above, The Living Room does double duty. It's a library and coffee house during the day, but it morphs into a piano bar and dance hall at night. Enjoy live music here in the evening hours. It's expected to be the go-to cocktail lounge on the ship.

Other interior attractions and activities

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. Here are more details.

Forward on Deck 9, The Spa — open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily — is quite well equipped for such a small ship. Here you'll find all manner of salon and beauty services as well as treatments ranging from deep muscle to hot stone massage.

The complete spa oasis includes a Relaxation Lounge and outdoor relaxation areas, including a hot tub all the way forward on that deck. There also are separate "Heat Experience" facilities — aroma steam rooms and dry saunas — for male and female passengers. They're in the changing areas. The spa provides lockers, robes, slippers, shower caps, towels and all the other accouterments you'd expect.

Treatment prices are similar to what you'd find on land. In the beauty salon, a shampoo and style starts at $80 for short hair, $90 for medium and $100 for long. A haircut and style are a bit more expensive, starting at $100 for short hair, $125 for medium and $140 for long hair. Hair straightening or curling (with no wash) is a bargain at $55. If you want a manicure, the 45-minute "Supreme" will set you back $95. For men, a beard trim starts at $35 while a shave starts at $75.

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). After a day in port, you might want the hour-long black masque Leg Renewal Treatment ($130) that alleviates tired legs by reducing inflammation and encouraging enhanced circulation.

An array of facials are also available, including the 90-minute Ultimate Radiance and Renewal Facial ($320) that uses ESPA skincare-brand products.

If you plan to book several treatments, your best bet may be buying one of these packages:

If you didn't prebook a treatment before boarding, your personal concierge can assist you on board; otherwise, call or visit The Spa. A receptionist will explain the options and make your arrangements.

If you use Technogym equipment at home, you'll recognize the gear in the yacht's fitness center on Deck 9 near The Spa. You'll find treadmills, stationary bikes, ellipticals, free weights and more.

In addition to the exercise equipment, you can also sign up for personal training sessions (30 minutes starting at $75), private yoga sessions (an hour starts at $100) and fitness consultations (starting at $275). The Gym is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Talk with The Spa to make reservations.

Guests can also take advantage of complimentary group exercise programs and presentations on such wellness topics as nutrition. Consult the onboard activity guide for more details.

Note that the gym can only be used by passengers who are 18 and older. Sixteen and 17-year-olds can use the facility when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian (or upon filling out an authorized consent form).

The Humidor

Most luxury ships have a cigar bar, and Evirma is no different. The Humidor on Deck 10 offers premium cognac paired with hand-rolled cigars.

The Boutique

While you won't find a veritable shopping mall aboard Evrima in the style of Royal Caribbean's Royal Promenade, you will find The Boutique on Deck 4. The line promises leading luxury labels and artwork from local craftspeople.

Deck-top attractions

On Evrima, the deck attractions focus on the great outdoors. The aft Marina will wow anyone that loves watching the waves and jumping into the water to enjoy snorkeling or paddleboarding. Here's what you can expect on the deck of the Ritz-Carlton yachts.

While not on the top deck, The Marina is a standout feature of the yacht. It's on Deck 3 with direct access to the water. Here, you can borrow gear — like paddleboards, windsurf boards, kayaks, sailboats and snorkel equipment — for complimentary watersports. As with similar watersports platforms on other ships, the Marina will only open when weather conditions are right and local authorities permit its usage.

Even if you don't plan to get in the water, The Marina is an ideal spot to spend a sunny day. Multiple seating areas afford incredible views.

This deck is especially atmospheric at night with accent lighting that creates a beautiful blue glow.

Evrima has three pools. The main pool is on Deck 5, aft, near The Pool House restaurant.

A smaller pool is on Deck 8 near Mistral and the Ritz Kidz club.

A small, round pool — with a shade canopy — is located on Deck 9, forward, at The Spa Terrace.

Observation Terrace

The Observation Terrace is all the way forward on Deck 10, in front of the Observation Lounge. This is your perch for a bird's-eye view from the ship. Comfy seating areas abound where you can grab a drink and chat with newfound friends.

Children's programs

Where other cruise lines such as Viking and Virgin Voyages have barred children from their ships, Ritz-Carlton has no such limitations on its yachts. Children as young as 6 months can sail with the line.

The line purposely carved out space aboard each vessel for a Ritz-Kids club on Deck 8 aft. Children ages 4-12 are welcome to attend the programs in the club, which range from educational to arts and crafts. The program will be beefed up during the summer and holidays. There will be a nominal fee for each session.

While guests have access to Ritz-Kids, babysitting services are not offered.

A limited number of cribs are available upon request.

What to know before you go

Here are some big-picture details you should know before you cruise with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.

Dress codes

The line says it focuses on the "casual freedom of a yachting vacation," so you don't need to worry about packing formal wear. There are no formal nights on Ritz yachts. 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.

Even so, when packing for your Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection cruise, keep these two dress codes in mind:

Yacht Casual: At breakfast and lunch, shirts, shoes and bathing suit cover-ups are required unless you're at the pool. Then you can go barefoot and you don't need to cover up your swimsuit.

In the evening, put away the sleeveless T-shirts and bathing suits. Shirts and shoes are required throughout the yacht in the evening, even if you're sitting by the pool.

Yacht Sophisticated: If you plan to dine at chef Sven Elverfeld's specialty restaurant, collared shirts — though not required — are highly recommended.

Required documents

All passengers must bring aboard a passport that's valid at least six months after the voyage's disembarkation date. Visa requirements vary by destination, and it's up to you to determine what paperwork you need to sail. The line recommends that passengers coordinate visa requests with Pinnacle Travel Document Systems at 1-888-838-4867.

There is no need to tip the staff on The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection vessels. A service charge — except for spa treatments and salon appointments — is included in the cruise fare. Of course, feel free to tip any crew member that goes above and beyond during your voyage.

Related: Cruise ship gratuity, service charge and tipping guide

Wi-Fi is included in the cruise fare. Early reports indicate that it's stable and some have even taken Zoom calls from their suites.

Carry-on drinks policy

You can bring wine aboard the yacht. However, there will be a $20 corkage fee if you enjoy it in a dining room. You can't bring liquor aboard.

Smoking policy

There is only one place to go on the ship if you want to smoke (and that includes e-cigarettes): The Humidor on Deck 10. You can't smoke anywhere else — not even on an open deck. If the smell of smoke is detected in your suite, you will be tagged with a $1,000 cleaning fee.

Pressing, laundry and dry-cleaning services are available upon request through in-suite services for an additional cost. A self-service Guest Launderette is located on Deck 9, where an iron, washer, dryer and detergent will be available at no additional cost.

Related: Everything you need to know about cruise ship laundry services

Electrical outlets

Suites have both 230v and 120v outlets plus USB charging capabilities.

The U.S. dollar is the official currency of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. When you board, you'll put down a credit card to which all of your onboard purchases will be charged.

Drinking age

According to the line's ticket contract, "Guests must be at least 18 years old to be served wine and beer, and at least 21 years old to be served alcoholic beverages other than wine and beer. When docked or anchored in U.S. ports, or within the U.S. territorial sea, guests must be at least 21 years old to be served any alcoholic beverage."

The loyalty program

You can earn and burn Marriott points on Evrima sailings.

The good news first: Marriott Bonvoy members earn 5 points per $1 spent on cruise fares as well as hotel packages at participating Marriott hotels booked through The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.

You'll also earn one elite night credit for each night you sail. Note that the passenger paying for the cruise will earn the points and elite night credits.

Now for the not-so-hot news: Redemption rates aren't terrific. Redeem 180,000 points for $1,000 off your cruise fare. You can then spend increments of 90,000 points to get an additional $500 off.

TPG values Marriott points at $0.84 each. That means we'd prefer to use 180,000 points for redemptions that would cost $1,512 or more in cash. The offer to use points on a sailing is below our preferred threshold.

However, sometimes RCYC will offer a more lucrative special promotion; for example, book select sailings and earn 75,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points in addition to what you'll earn per dollar paid on the cruise fare. Check the "Offers" tab of the line's website to check for deals like that.

If you are a Marriott elite, here's what you can expect onboard.

Related: The award traveler's guide to Marriott Bonvoy

What it costs

As you may imagine, you can't book a yacht experience on a shoestring budget, but there are some good values to be had during The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection's first sailing season. For a luxury experience of this caliber, expect to pay about $700 to $900 per person per night for Caribbean sailings and from about $1,100-plus per person per night for Mediterranean itineraries.

Maybe this will change in the future, but the line's cruise fares aren't solo traveler-friendly. All suites carry a 200% single supplement (i.e., you will pay double the per-person rate based on double occupancy when you travel in a cabin alone).

Staterooms can accommodate third and fourth guests at a rate of 50% of the first and second berth rate. Those additional guests must be under 14. Note that a limited number of roll-away beds are available upon request.

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. Children under the age of 5 cannot board the Zodiacs.

Related: 15 ways cruising newbies waste money on their first cruise

How to book

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. Travel agents also often get access to special reduced cruise fares or perks that can add a lot of value to your sailing. If something goes wrong, you've got an ally that can work directly with the cruise line on your behalf for a resolution.

If you don't use a travel agent, you can book directly through The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. Just give them a call or shoot them an email, and they will match you with an internal cruise adviser.

Or, you can book your voyage online. There are all sorts of online travel agents and discounters from which to choose.

You can even book a Ritz-Carlton yacht adventure through Delta's SkyMiles Cruises. For example, at press time, you can book a seven-night Central America voyage aboard Evrima for $5,400 per person. Bonuses include $1,000 in travel credits to get to/from the ship (that can be used on things such as an upgrade to first-class seats, a limo transfer and pier parking), and you can earn up to 10,000 SkyMiles.

No matter which method you use to book your voyage, maximize your credit card points when paying for the sailing by using a credit card that offers extra points for travel purchases . This could be the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , which offers 3 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on travel and dining (excluding the annual $300 travel credit). There's also the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , which brings 2 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on travel and 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on dining.

And, of course, you may want to use the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card , Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card or Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card .

Related: 6 tips for booking your first cruise

Bottom line

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.

More stories to help you plan your next cruise:

• Which cruise brand is best for you? A guide to the most popular lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your first cruise go smoothly
• Cruise ship restaurant nirvana: The 7 best meals at sea
• The best Caribbean cruises for every type of traveler
• What to pack for your first cruise

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FIRST LOOK: Inside the Ritz-Carlton yacht that costs $10,000-a-week

After eight delays spanning almost three years, the ritz-carlton yacht collection’s evrima is finally here. the 298-passenger ship was named on november 5 in lisbon before setting out across the atlantic, bound for barbados for a winter season in the caribbean..

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is a collaboration between The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, part of Marriott International, Oaktree Capital Management, and The Yacht Portfolio, an investment group owned by entrepreneur Douglas Prothero, founder and CEO. It’s the first in a string of moves by luxury hotel groups into small-ship cruising. Four Seasons enters the fray in 2024, and Aman is due to follow in 2025 with the 50-suite Project Sama. Meanwhile, German-owned hotel group Seaside Collection has just acquired Crystal Mozar t, with plans to relaunch the luxury vessel as Riverside Mozart in April.

Making the move into luxury shipping makes complete sense; Ritz-Carlton not only has its own vast database of wealthy customers to tap but those of all the other upscale brands of the Marriott portfolio, from St. Regis to Edition and W. As such, 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; supply chain issues continue to dog the line and the Owner’s Suites and View Suites, the two top categories, are still not ready.

Needless to say, all of these hotel groups are distancing themselves from the word “cruising”. Ritz-Carlton’s mission is “to blend the lifestyle of the Ritz-Carlton resorts with the casual freedom of a yachting vacation”. Prothero insists: “It’s the biggest superyacht in the world, not a cruise ship.”

Evrima certainly has the spacious, sleek feel of a superyacht, with two infinity pools, oversized clamshell loungers, high-ceilinged suites with deep balconies, and the superb Marina Terrace, a beautiful space for sunbathing, snacking, and launching water toys when the ship is at anchor in yachtie hotspots like Bequia and St Tropez. Half the crew is from luxury hotels and the rest from luxury cruise lines, and service feels both intuitive and confident. Rather than a butler, each guest has a Personal Assistant to act as a fixer and arrange activities ashore.

There’s no buffet; not even a glimmer. Instead, five restaurants offer anything from Asian fusion to the Mediterranean. For an eye-watering US$285 per person, guests can sample the wares of Sven Elverfeld, chef at the three Michelin-starred restaurants at The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg, in Germany, in the exclusive S.E.A. room.

Will Evrima work? It’s more expensive than lines like Silversea and Seabourn, at upwards of US$1,000 per person per day, but Prothero insists that his competition is “a villa in Tuscany or a luxury safari, not cruise lines”. At this stage, the operation is very small, although two bigger superyachts are on order. Regardless of whether you see it as a superyacht or an upscale cruise ship, this bold, stylish project is bound to make other lines sit up and take a look.

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An inside look at The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s first ship

Douglas Prothero on why partnerships have been pivotal in creating the luxury cruise yacht's interiors

Douglas Prothero tells Susan Parker why partnerships have been pivotal in helping The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection to create the interiors of its first luxury cruise yacht

By Susan Parker | 29 July 2019

This article was first published in the 2019 issue of Cruise & Ferry Interiors . All information was correct at the time of printing, but may since have changed.

When The Ritz-Carlton Collection decided to launch its first cruise ships, it chose Tillberg Design of Sweden (TDoS) as the lead designer, largely because the company already had experience of working on the Ritz-Carlton brand’s hotels. This fact alone marks The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection out from the majority of the cruise industry.

“Being the largest hotelier in the world brings a whole lot of resources that you could never afford to have at a big cruise line, never mind when you’re building your first yacht,” says Douglas Prothero, CEO of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.

The collaboration with TDoS in respect of the 298-guest yachts began six years ago: “We’d worked together before and it’s been a partnership the entire way,” says Prothero. “We did a lot of focus group work with luxury travel agents and luxury travellers so that we could define where we belong in this space. We included our designers in those groups because we think of them as partners in our guest experience. For example, TDoS spent several days with us at the Aqua restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton Wolfsburg hotel in Germany to get inspiration for the ship’s restaurant.”

Cutting corners is not an option when it comes to this level of luxury and the interiors are no exception. TDoS has taken inspiration from the clean lines of Scandinavian design, so there will be no cluttered interiors.

“The art of creating beautiful interiors is in the design, so we’re really talking about spending money on the accents,” says Prothero. “You have to put good quality materials into it, but you really spend the money on the accents.”

To get these accents right, the brand created mock suites and then tweaked them to perfection. “Our mock suites are much better than the renderings,” remarks Prothero.

Noting that no design can be accomplished without a dedicated outfitter, Prothero adds that family-owned Spanish company Martinez Otero is helping with the suites. “Martinez Otero is close to the shipyard, builds Louis Vuitton and Prada stores, and has done a lot of work at Ritz-Carlton hotels, so we know they’re great,” explains Prothero. “The team is so excited and it’s a big deal for the company to have won this contract with the shipyard. We’re yet to reveal the outfitter for the public spaces, but we’ll have different companies handling the spa and the food and beverage areas.”

Making guests feel at home in all of the public spaces and accommodation is an important part of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection product offering. Prothero cites The Ritz-Carlton hotel in Wolfsburg as a source of inspiration.

“The hotel is amazing and while I was there, I noticed that when I was in a public space, I felt like I was in a friend’s living room and when I was in my room, I felt at home,” he says. “That’s the feeling we want to create on the first ship and her sisters.”

Art will play a big role in helping to create the ship’s ‘personality’. Art consultancy and provision agency Enterprise & Art has been engaged in this respect, however the company will be doing something “very different” to what it has done at sea before. “We will do a reveal later this year, but our programme is going to be off the charts and it’s going to be fun to work on,” Prothero says. “We can’t build beautiful suites and then have the art interrupt the flow of them, so we’ve carefully orchestrated our partnership with Enterprise & Art to make sure we get it right.”

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection's first ship is set to debut in February 2020 and Prothero is delighted with the progression of the building project at Hijos de J Barreras in Vigo, Spain, particularly because the first inspection at the shipyard went well. “We got everything together with the yard, the outfitter and the designer and showed the senior brand team,” he says. “I doubt they’ve ever experienced a first inspection like that.”

Despite the ship’s small size, Prothero is confident that his team has included as many luxury venues and amenities as physically possible. “Some people may ask where the casino or show lounge are, but we have a spa, five dining venues, a marina and more, so I think they’ll be happy with what we have to offer,” he comments. “After all, the vessels will be the only all-terrace suite ships of this size.”

Personally, Prothero is looking forward to visiting the first ship’s marina. “It’s designed to take guests very close to the sea,” he says. “There’s also a terrace above the marina and it will be a pretty magic spot in the evenings.”

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Tags: Tillberg Design of Sweden     interior design     The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection     Azora

Susan Parker

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The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection's First Ship Sets Sail in October — and We Got a Sneak Peek Inside

Evrima sets sail this fall on the Mediterranean Sea.

Two-story lofts, floor-to-ceiling windows, private balconies, and high ceilings may sound like features of an ultra-luxe residence in a city like New York or London, but it is actually what awaits travelers that board Evrima , the first ship in The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection . The hospitality company will make its long-anticipated debut into the yachting space this October when Evrima sets sail on its inaugural voyage in the Mediterranean.

The 623-foot-long Evrima will feature 149 spacious suites with a contemporary look reminiscent of The Ritz-Carlton Residences in Sunny Isles, Miami Beach, and Los Angeles. In addition to the sleek interiors, all suites will have higher ceilings resulting in expansive, light-filled guest rooms. And if you're traveling with family, you'll have the option to combine neighboring suites into larger, open-concept spaces. Signature Ritz-Carlton amenities such as king-size beds, double-vanity bathrooms, and luxury linens will make guests feel like they are checking into their favorite Ritz-Carlton property.

"Thoughtful, anticipatory, and genuine service is a hallmark of our brand and plays a vital role in translating The Ritz-Carlton experience to sea. It is also important to us that our guests feel at home when staying with us, so Evrima was designed to perfectly blend the lifestyle of one of our resorts with the casual freedom of a yachting holiday," Donna McNamara, vice president and global brand leader for The Ritz-Carlton, told Travel + Leisure .

The onboard experiences will be just as exclusive as the suites. Evrima's signature restaurant, S.E.A, led by acclaimed chef Sven Elverfeld will treat patrons to a European tasting menu in a sophisticated setting. The ship's facilities also include a tranquil spa where travelers can indulge in beauty and wellness treatments while enjoying the stunning ocean views.

Voyages will venture to the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America, and most journeys will be sail for seven to 10 days. Each itinerary includes a variety of shore excursions led by local guides. Experiences include truffle hunting in Croatia, exclusive tours of the Picasso Museum in Barcelona, and exploring the glamour of the French Riviera in a vintage car.

"The debut of Evrima signifies an incredibly exciting moment for The Ritz-Carlton brand. Over the past several years, we have been thoughtfully expanding and evolving our portfolio, continuing to create the type of exceptional experiences that the modern luxury traveler is seeking," McNamara said.

"An important element of that evolution is our brand extensions," McNamara continued. "With the launch of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, travelers will be able to experience the brand in an entirely new way. In fact, many of the bookings have come from those who are entirely new to the cruising space. I find this particularly exciting because it illustrates a desire for innovation and deep trust in the brand. The Ritz-Carlton has always led the way in luxury hospitality, and we are thrilled to be the first to offer luxury accommodations both on land and at sea."

The hospitality company recently announced that it is already working on two more superyachts with renowned French shipyard Chantiers de l'Atlantique. Ilma and Luminara , slated to set sail in 2024 and 2025, respectively, will each feature more than 200 suites with private terraces. London-based design studio AD Associates has teamed up with Finnish yacht stylist Aivan to work on both vessels' interior and exterior design. The yachts will also feature five restaurants, six bars, a wine vault, and a Ritz-Carlton Spa, among other facilities.

Prices for a room aboard Evrima may vary depending on the voyage, and the ship is also available for private charters. A seven-day Caribbean voyage aboard Evrima starts from $5,100 per person in a double-occupancy suite.

My Experience on the Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection’s Evrima

• February 28, 2024
• 41 Comments

My review of the Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection’s new luxury yacht, Evrima, and what you can expect. Plus 8 tips to help plan your luxury cruise adventure.

We recently returned from a 5-night Caribbean cruise with Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection.

Aboard the Evrima .

Can I tell you about it?

Oh good, because you know I’m dying to …

This article includes affiliate links; if you click on a shopping link and make a purchase I may receive a commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Jim’s been following the launch of the Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection for several years.

And last year he booked us on a 5-night Caribbean cruise aboard the Evrima .

Come along as I relive our amazing experience.

Evrima , the first yacht of the collection launched in 2022, is a 149 cabin, 298 passenger ship.

Excuse me, yacht.

One does not refer to the yacht as a boat or a ship.

Now that we’ve got that straight, let’s talk more about the Evrima yachting experience.

GETTING THERE

First things first, we had to make our way to San Juan Puerto Rico. We flew American Airlines from San Francisco through Miami to San Juan arriving the evening prior to departure. We checked into the La Concha Renaissance Hotel, recommended by Ritz Carlton, using Bonvoy points for our one-night stay.

The next morning we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast on our balcony overlooking the ocean and made the easy transition to island time.

By noon we were in the hotel lobby being ushered into a waiting car to be whisk away to board the yacht at the Pan American Dock. The boarding process was a breeze and before we knew it we were making our way up the gangway, enjoying a welcome cocktail and exploring our suite.

Jim and I have very different approaches to settling into a new environment. While I sipped my welcome cocktail and took in the view, Jim set about getting a handle on the technology situation.

THE YACHT – EVRIMA

Evrima set sail in October 2022 under the direction of Captain Kevin Falconer of Scotland (currently residing in Kansas City, when not captaining the yacht.). The yacht has five restaurants, six lounges, at least two pools, a spa and fitness center, cigar humidor/smoking room, boutique and, when at anchor, a marina with kayaks, paddles boards and other water toys available to enjoy right off the back of the yacht. And so much more.

The main gathering spaces are The Living Room and The Observation Lounge. Both popular spots to enjoy morning coffee, lunch, afternoon tea and, of course, after dinner and late night drinks and music. There are four or five really great musicians onboard who played solo and together, as well as a DJ. We were well entertained.

The yacht is elegant and understated, but the vibe onboard is friendly and casual. The dress code is ‘yacht casual’ and three of the restaurants suggest ‘yacht sophisticated’ attire. Interpretations vary. Widely.

Yacht Journey is an onboard app for guests to keep track of their cruise itinerary, maps for navigating the yacht, onboard activities and events, shore excursions, spa appointments, etc. What it does not do is update dining reservations which are booked once onboard the yacht. The app only functions onboard when connected to the yacht’s wifi. The app leaves a lot to be desired, but not to worry, a good old fashioned bulletin is deposited in each suite during evening turndown service and everything you need to know about the next day’s adventures (except dining reservations which you need to keep track of yourself) can be found there.

Evrima doesn’t have a cruise director so to speak. Andrew Kim is the yacht’s General Manager, and there are many concierges always available by phone or in the Living Room gathering space to assist with anything you need.

We booked a Signature Suite located on the 6th deck, roughly mid-ship. I loved everything about it and would choose the exact same room again.

Nothing says welcome like a chilled bottle of French bubbles.

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.

All our clothes fit easily into the his and her closets with plenty of room to spare. We packed way too much and I’ll discuss that in part two, What I Packed and Wore, next week.

The entry hall contains lots of storage with hooks, shoe shelves, and a bench. As well as a desk space, espresso machine, a nice selection of coffee pods and teas, a mini-fridge, electric kettle, ice bucket, and coasters. All the things.

While the sitting and dining areas are nice to have and make the room feel more spacious, we spent very little time using them. The table functioned more as a drop zone, and buffet table for our morning breakfast tray. The sofa converts to a bed but I can’t imagine traveling with more than two people in this suite.

The terrace is spacious with a couple of chairs, small tables and one chaise lounge. I wish there were two chaises … I hogged ours and spent quite a bit of time on the terrace with my book. I read Anderson Cooper’s Astor: The Rise and Fall of an American Fortune over the course of the voyage.

The very best part of the room, the king size bed. The most comfortable bed ever. Ever. We slept like babies and we chatted with other guest who said the same thing. I took a peek at the mattress, it’s Matermoll. Upon further investigation it appears this is a brand specifically for cruise ships and yachts. I’m sure the Frette bedding added to the comfort level. Speaking of Frette, the yachts bathrobes are the softest and coziest I’ve ever experienced. Same goes for the towels … also Frette. Whatever the cost, they’re worth it.

While we’re on the topic of bathrobes and towels, the suite bathroom was a nice surprise. Double vanity, plenty of storage, rain head shower and separate, full-size bathtub. The water closet contains another sink … as well as a second door opening into the entry hall (think Jack & Jill) which I guess makes it a powder room. A nice feature if entertaining others in your suite. I also appreciated the lighted makeup mirror … there’s also a large, lighted pull-up mirror in the bedroom’s vanity.

Leave your hair dryer at home. There’s a hairdryer in the bathroom, in a drawer and plugged in behind so you can’t move it around. I was unable to book a blow-out in the salon mid-cruise so I brought my hair dryer brush along. Unfortunately, the plug is too large for the available outlets near mirrors in the suite, so I used the hairdryer provided and it was fine. My curling iron plugged in without any issues.

THE RESTAURANTS & LOUNGES

Let’s talk about the food. It’s very good. There are five restaurants on the yacht (but no main dining room like a traditional cruise). We enjoyed all the restaurants multiples times. Except for S.E.A. which I’ll talk more about later. Restaurant reservations are made after boarding the yacht. Do this immediately, especially if you’re particular about your dining time.

The Pool House – the most casual restaurant on the yacht overlooking the main pool. It offers breakfast, lunch, dinner at late night dining. The taco trio is delicious and my favorite thing on the menu … that I ordered on repeat. They have a really good burger too.

Mistral  – Mediterranean style cuisine, serving lunch and dinner.

Talaat Nam – serving southeast Asian food, Talaat Nam was our favorite restaurant for dinner. The spring rolls are amazing. Everyone on the yacht raved about them.  Hot tip – they’re available on the in-room dining menu too. Jim said their sushi was excellent.

The Evrima Room – the largest restaurant on the ship and has the feel of a main dining room. We had dinner here the first night, and it was very good, but it’s all indoor seating and we didn’t return. Had we been on a longer cruise we definitely would have gone back.

S.E.A. – is the only restaurant with an additional charge of $289 per person, plus wine pairings for a five-course European tasting menu designed by Chef Sven Elverfeld of Ritz Carlton’s three Michelin-star restaurant, Aqua. This is the only restaurant that offers advance (before departure) reservations.

The Living Room – The Living Room, on the main deck, serves as a community gathering spot and there are nibbles available throughout the day. This is really nice especially to grab something on your way back from an exhausting day onshore. Afternoon tea is served around 3:00pm and I recommend partaking at least once. And after dinner guests head here to socialize, play board games, listen to live music, dance and enjoy a nightcap.

The Observation Lounge – The Observation Lounge on the top deck is also a gathering spot with amazing views, but for whatever reason we spent more time in The Living Room.

The Bar – At the entrance to Mistral and Talaat Nam

Marina Terrace – on the third deck overlooking the marina  is the Marina Terrace that I never made it too. Jim got down there while we were anchored at Virgin Gorda. 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 Humidor – On the top deck just before entering The Observation Lounge is the Humidor. Jim visited The Humidor a couple of times for a cigar and nightcap. I would have joined him just to be sociable, but cigar smoking (any kind of smoking) is only allowed inside the Humidor, and not on the adjacent deck. I didn’t want to get my clothes and hair all smokey.

In addition to the restaurants and lounges, in-suite dining is available 24/7. We opted for breakfast in our suite each morning and placed our breakfast card out before bed every night. Our breakfast always arrived right on time and we ate on our terrace.

All meals and beverages are included in the cruise fare, except S.E.A. There’s a standard wine and spirits menu which is wide ranging and quite good (so says Jim). In addition, specialty spirits and rarer wines are also available at an additional charge.

OUR ITINERARY

We chose a 5-night itinerary. Which is just the right amount of time for a cruise in my opinion. Any longer and I’d have to be carried off the ship in a food induced stupor.   Evrima’s itineraries vary from cruise to cruise both in duration and ports of call. The yacht traverses the Mediterranean and the Caribbean depending on time of year. And I believe they offer repositioning voyages. The yacht can also be chartered and the cruise after ours was an 8-day corporate charter. Crew members told us that the yacht has been chartered for weddings, family reunions and other events. How nice!

Ritz Carlton’s The Shore Collection offers a limited number of excursion options in most (not all) ports that can be booked about 30-days before sailing. Make sure to make you reservations right away because they fill up fast.

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO

Our boarding time was 12:30pm so we weren’t able to spend any time exploring San Juan. I’ve visited San Juan in the past and highly recommend a pre or post cruise stay at one of the fabulous resorts on the island. The El Morro fortress in Old San Juan is not to be missed. I suppose we could have asked for a later boarding time, the ship didn’t depart until 7:00pm, and spent the day in San Juan but this was our first Ritz Carlton Yacht adventure so we went with the flow.

Our concierge led us to our suite where we took a quick tour and made our way to The Pool House for lunch. By the time we returned from lunch our luggage had arrived so we unpacked and set off again to explore the yacht.

A Welcome Aboard reception kicked off in the Observation Lounge. Champagne and other cocktails flowed and the Captain and ships officers circulated before scurrying back to the bridge. By 7:00pm we were seated for dinner in The Evrima Room as the ship got underway.

SANDY GROUND, ANGUILLA

We woke up the next morning at sea and enjoyed breakfast on our terrace before anchoring at Sandy Ground around noon.

The yacht’s daily bulletin suggested a couple of nearby destinations and restaurants and The Shore Collection offered excursions to Savi Beach or a snorkeling adventure (these are booked way in advance and most excursions were fully booked). The Marina was also open to guests wanting to snorkel, paddle board or use any of the other toys available off the back of the yacht. We opted to take the day as it came and took a tender ashore, wandered down the beach ending up at the Elvis Beach Bar. The Elvis is a total dive bar experience. Fabulous. We ordered ice cold beer, a couple of tequila shots and scored a couple of chaise lounges on the beach where we were happy to stay put for a couple of hours. We made our way back to the ship in the late afternoon in time to enjoy afternoon tea in The Living Room. A perfect first day.

GUSTAVIA, ST. BARTHELEMY (ST. BARTHS)

We opened our curtains on day two in Gustavia Harbor … and wowza! Jim said the harbor looked like an Oligarch convention in progress … the size of the yachts anchored around us was astounding. And looking toward the shore was the most charming Caribbean architecture … white buildings with red tile roofs surrounded by lush greenery. We were truly in paradise.

We booked a day at the Le Barthelemy Hotel & Spa. One of two hotel-day pass options offered by The Shore Collection. The second group went to The Rosewood Le Guanahani which was pretty much next door. We compared notes once we were back on the yacht and it’s hard to say who had the more amazing experience.

While waiting to board our transportation to the hotels, we were all oh-my-gawding over the fabulousness that is the Gustavia port. This is not your average cruise port bustling with local vendors and tchotchke’s galore. No, this is a town full of hoity-toity designer boutiques … think Chanel, Dior, Cartier, Bulgaria, Hermes, Louis Vuitton. You get the idea. On our way to the hotels everyone plotted their plan of attack for our return. The yacht didn’t depart until 11:00pm, so we were free to book dinner reservations in town or shop to our hearts content. And many did exactly that. Later than night as we were enjoying a night cap in The Living Room we were highly entertained when a group of women traveling together (perhaps a birthday or bachlorette) stumbled off the last tender laden down with designer shopping bags and in very high spirits.

But back to the Le Barthelemy Hotel & Spa . It was about a 30-minute drive to the other side of the island where we passed many more charming towns packed with high-end shops, restaurants and fabulous villas. We passed the Eden Rock St. Barths, owned by Pippa Middleton’s in-laws, and wondered why they weren’t offering day passes to the lowly Ritz Carlton cruise passengers. Anyway we arrived at the Le Barthelemy Hotel & Spa and were ushered through the open air lobby to the infinity pool where we chose between umbrella covered chaises around the pool or on the Grand Cul de Sac beach. We opted for the beach and settled in for the day.

Our adventure included a leisurely 3-course lunch at Amis, the hotel’s French-Mediterranean restaurant. It was amazingly delicious and the bread was out of this world. Almost as good was the people watching at neighboring tables, guests parading up and down the beach, and table-side fashion show by the hotel’s boutique. We enjoyed seeing the French speaking servers traipse back and forth carrying magnums of chilled French rose. Jim wasn’t shy about waving them over to our table.

After lunch we took a walk down the beach and made our way back to our chaises before we reluctantly returned to the yacht. Before leaving we took a stroll through the Gypset La Boutique and Jim bought a fun shirt which he later regretted when he figured out he’d miscalculated the currency exchange. I was tempted by the cutest woven bag, but surprisingly I resisted. This is exactly how I want to spend everyday of vacation.

Here’s a page from Evrima’s St. Barths activity bulletin.

ST. JOHN’S, ANTIGUA 

Antigua is the only port (besides San Juan) where we docked and could walk on and off the yacht.

Two large scale cruise ships were also in port … not mega-ships, but we were dwarfed in comparison.

We wandered through the town and found our way up the hill to St. John’s Cathedral.

After touring the church and grounds we found a taxi to Casa Roots a beach bar and restaurant on Runaway Beach. We didn’t have a reservation which caused a moment of anxiety, but we were early and managed to snag one of the best tables in this totally enchanting location. I ordered a Painkiller, Jim a sparkling rose and we settled in for another delicious lunch.

Afterwards we took a few steps out onto the beach where the restaurant has a secondary bar and rows of chaise lounges. We wandered up and down the beach before returning to the yacht.

Back on board we headed to the spa for hot stone massages. Heavenly.

SPANISH TOWN, VIRGIN GORDA, BVI

Last stop, Virgin Gorda. 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. The seas were rough with red flags warnings so there was no swimming. Back on the yacht it was too rough for the Marina to open up. The Baths is a very popular destination and it was packed. Not exactly a tranquil experience.

Another downside, the tour concluded with a too sweet drink at a restaurant at the top of the hill and we were there way too long. Despite it all, we had fun and I’m glad we went.

The last night of a cruise can be somewhat of a shock when you’re asked to pack your bags and leave your luggage outside your suite by 11:00pm. We knew from past experiences that this is standard operating procedure, but wondered if it might be different on the yacht. Sadly it was not. So we packed our bags before heading off to dinner. After dinner we went to The Living Room for a fun night of music with all the musicians on board getting together to form a band. Then it was time to make our way back to the suite.  We pushed our luggage into the hallway at 11:00pm on the dot. It was the first time we’d seen many of our neighbors also out in the hallway suffering the indignity of this inhumane procedure.

SAN JUAN PUERTO RICO

Our vacation is over. What a rude awakening. No sleeping in, no room service … suites must be vacated by 8:00am. What?! We pushed the 8:00am deadline a bit and made it to The Living Room around 8:30am where we enjoyed our final croissants and pastries before disembarking. Everyone must be off the yacht by 9:30am. We headed down the gangway with 15 minutes to spare, claimed our luggage, found our car and were whisked back to where we started, La Concha Renaissance. The disembarking process was every bit as smooth and hassle free as boarding.

PRE & POST CRUISE

Ritz Carlton offers air and land packages both pre-and post cruise. 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.

Had we known we had to be off the ship by 9:30am we would have booked an earlier flight and headed straight to the airport. But we didn’t know so we arranged for a room at the La Concha Renaissance for the day using Marriott Bonvoy points. This is where we stayed the night before the cruise as recommended by Ritz Carlton. It’s an okay hotel but I would not recommend it for an extended stay. We arrived at the hotel before 10:00am, dropped luggage in our room, took a walk on the beach, and had lunch by the pool before heading to the airport.

What would we do differently? Well … not much other than book through a speciality travel agent who might have advised us about booking earlier flights, options for shore activities, and provided a clearer picture on what to expect onboard on onshore. Also providing us with a consistent and reliable point of contact. You don’t know what you don’t know and it would have been nice to have had an experienced source to guide us. And that is my number one tip:

• Book through a travel agent. Preferably a cruise specialist. Ritz Carlton’s booking services were frustrating and inconsistent. We were disappointed.
• Book air travel directly or through a trusted travel agent. Ritz Carlton’s air/land desk quoted us airfares at twice the rate we could purchase them directly. For the exact same flights.
• If your cruise departs from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Uber, and Lyft are readily available and significantly less expensive than Ritz Carlton arranged transfers. Significantly less.
• Start following the Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection Instagram account, and the Instagram account of Evrima’s 1st officer, Jack Ramsay . Jack offers glimpses into the yacht’s whereabouts and behind the scenes. Also follow hashtags like #ritzcarltonyachtcollection and #evrima to see what other passengers are saying, doing and wearing onboard.
• Book Shore Collection excursions, spa and salon appointments and S.E.A. reservations as soon as they are available. We received an email announcing that bookings were open about 30 days before sailing. Everything books up fast.
• Book dinner reservations early to get your choice of best tables. All restaurants open at 6:30pm, if you book between 6:30-7:00pm and show up 5 minutes early, you’re golden.
• If you’re not a Marriott Bonvoy member, consider becoming one so you can accrue points for your cruise. Being a member will also give you access to some additional benefits onboard.
• There is no ATM onboard, so bring some cash. U.S. currency is readily accepted in all the ports we visited. And we wanted to leave cash tips for our room stewards and a few others who went above and beyond during our voyage. Otherwise, tips are included in the fare and not expected, except in the spa and salon.

FINAL THOUGHTS

This was our first luxury cruise experience so we have nothing to compare it too. We’ve both been on larger ships, before we met, and one cruise together. That cruise was on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas and we were accompanied by a posse of 10 kids ages 20 – 25 (Kyle, the nieces and one friend each). I thought it was great, so did the kids. Jim thought it was too darned big (although he seemed to be having a grand time).

The Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection’s second yacht, Ilma , sets sail later this year. I believe they’re already taking reservations. Larger than Evrima , Ilma has a 456 guest capacity. A third yacht, Luminary,  is expected to debut in 2025.

I asked Jim to share his thoughts … and favorite thing and he said …  ‘the humidor, obviously, but aside from that the trip exceeded my expectations in every way. From the size of the yacht that made it an intimate experience, never crowded, super low key, and great food, I loved the smaller, intimate feel of the yacht, favorite port St. Barths.’ He’s already looking for our next itinerary … maybe the Greek islands. Or back to the Caribbean?

So there you have it, a review of my Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection experience.

I’ll be back next week with part two of our Caribbean adventure …

Everything I and Wore on the Cruise

If you have questions, by all means drop them in the comments section.

Until then, cheers from Snowberry!

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what a fun trip and review Juliet! Rod and I are in desperate need for sun. Ironically we leave for Scotland/ Ireland in May with family ( not exactly a tropical destination).

Happy Leap Day

Oh my gosh, you’re going to have the best trip and maybe you’ll see some sun … and beautiful rainbows. I envy you … Scotland and Ireland are on my bucket list. Hopefully sooner rather than later. Can’t wait to hear all about your travels. xo

I really like your travel posts, pictures and little details. Your wit about other passengers dealing with the inhumane 11pm suitcase in hallway practice, funny! I like you two have fun together be it dive bar w cold beer and tequila shots or classy dinner. We’re more beach resorts vs cruising but the diversity of adventures is tempting.

Hi Carol, thanks for reading and appreciating my sarcasm. We’re totally beach resort people too and that’s why it’s been such a long time we considered a cruise. Jim’s been fascinated with Ritz Carlton’s small ship concept and I have to say, other than some booking frustrations, they’ve really pulled it off. I love unpacking once and letting my floating hotel room take me to many fabulous beach resort locations. And one of the great things about cruises is you don’t have to go tromping around on tours with the masses, you can go straight to one of the beautiful island resorts and spend the day lounging pool – or beach – side. Have an amazing day! xo

This morning we got an email about the Ritz Carlton Cruise Collection, and we also go the email with this overview. SO helpful! Thank you!! I can’t wait to see what you packed!

Hi Judy, Two RC emails this morning … could it be a sign?!!!! I hope so! xo

” Ritz Carlton’s booking services were frustrating and inconsistent. We were disappointed.” I had the same experience with Princess and canceled because of it. I kept giving them “one more chance” and they kept failing to meet basic expectations. I just felt like they did not care about the passengers. I am going to give Ritz yatch collection a serious consideration. The large ship did we were booked on, did not thrill me. To quote again “too darned big”. Thank you for your review, looking forward to reading more!

Hi Linda, I think booking through a travel agent, an experienced one, is key. It doesn’t cost anymore and the benefit it adds can really make or break a vacation experience. Once we were on the ship, the service was wonderful … everything about it was wonderful. So, I’m we persevered … but next time my first call will be to an experienced travel professional. Part two … coming next week. I hope. Ha! xo

Juliet, your trip looks amazing! I love all of the details and honesty about the service. Always good to know when booking a trip. I’ve only been on 2 cruises, one big ship(Caribbean)and one small in the Mediterranean and preferred the smaller one. Of course that could have been the location as well. Looking forward the the next post!

Good morning, Elizabeth … the size of the ship does make a difference. Although I love cruises, hard stop. This one was unique and special. And I’m so glad Jim talked me into it. xo

Well this sounds heavenly. I have never been remotely tempted by a cruise, but the greek isles! Great review!

Hi Cindy! I used to think the same thing. … then I took a cruise and changed my mind. The idea of unpacking only once, while my hotel room takes me to different and fabulous places was a key selling point. The Greek islands are too. Ha! xo

FABULOUS write up! I’m so happy I found you (have been following from your start:-) Looking forward to Part 2

Hi Sherry! Thank you so much for being here from the beginning. It means so much to me. I’d better get busy on part 2 and not drag my feet like I did with this on. Ha. Have a beautful day! xo

Looks like a fantastic trip. I’ve been on several cruises but they were the “big ship” cruises. Never done anything like this and it looks amazing!!! Your pictures are beautiful!! Thanks for the tips and tricks!! By the way, I read “Astor” and loved it!! I thought it was better than “Vanderbilt.” Have a blessed day!

Hi Robbin, I recently started Vanderbilt, and agree with you. As for the cruise, the difference between it and a big cruise was pretty amazing … lots of similarities too. Wishing you a beautiful day! xo

Hi Juliet, It sounds like you both had a swell time. You two know how to have fun together. You gave such detailed information I think you would be well suited as a travel agent. The views looked pretty and the food looked yummy. Look forward to what you have to share next. On a side note thank you so much for creating a much darker print to leave in the comment section. My eyes aren’t the best. Now I can see what I’m typing.

Hi Katherine, I’d love to be a travel agent but I think I’m too opinionated and bossy for that. I’d love all the freebie travel adventures though! Glad the comment section is working for you … keep those comments coming!!! xo

What a heavenly trip! Thanks for the vicarious sunny vacation!

Good morning, Molly … as I look out the window to another rainy day, I wish I was back in the islands! Thanks for stopping by. xo

I’ve been waiting for this post. The trip and yacht sound amazing!

Hi Leila … it was truly amazing! Thanks for checking in. xo

Juliet, I was looking forward to your review, since I researched this ship/yacht when you mentioned your upcoming trip. Some varied comments for sure. It looked like a very special itinerary. I am a fan of PONANT, a French line initially out of Brittany ( flying the Breton flag…stripes like the sweaters) . The Explorer ships, all fairly new with award winning interiors , have wonderful itineraries and only 92 cabins ,all with balconies, max 184 passengers. I do not like crowds, so perfect for me. On the three cruises I have enjoyed, there were less than 130 on board. The food, service and amenities are excellent. If booking early on , you can have a 25-30 % reduction. I went to the Caribbean, but I prefer sailing around Atlantic France and Great Britain. Because of the size of these smaller ships, one amazing perk is sailing under Tower Bridge on the Thames and tying up next to the HMS Belfast, a remaining warship opposite the Tower of London. Viking is way down the Thames , as are other ships. One itinerary that I’d like to choose sometime is sailing the Baltic from Stockholm across to the UK with stops in several ports in between. I love history, so this would be a good one, and know little about Denmark, Norway and Sweden. A funny story…a passenger packed up after the last dinner, got her suitcases collected at about 4:00 am while she slept. In the morning, after changing out of her nightie, she was horrified to find she’d neglected to leave out her clothes for that morning and leaving the ship! Ooops!

Hi Cath … oh my gosh, that’s too funny. Well, funny if you’re not the one left stranded without clothes. Oh no!!! PONANT is new to me, I’ll have to check it out and I’m going to forward your comment to Jim as he will be fascinated about these other options to explore. I always think of cruising as sort of a warm-weather resort style vacation … and I’ve never cruised in Europe but it certainly sounds appealing and a wonderful way to see many countries while moving around in high style. Thanks for all this great info. xo

I have to pick my jaw up off the floor. Looks so amazing. Thanks for the tour!

MA! You make me laugh. It was pretty cool. xo

What a wonderful post! Very informative! I will definitely look at that ship. We enjoy small ship cruises but are still very cautious.

Thanks, Kate. We really had a great time and I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it. Jim, who drove our decision to take this trip, can’t wait to do it again. xo

Juliet, I thoroughly enjoyed this post and all your details! I felt like I was on the trip with you , which I love. How awesome you got to see Saint Barts this way. The room on the ship look like a dream too. I like how it wasn’t crowded and you had different restaurants to go to. Sort of reminds me of Bora Bora. Thanks for all the tips at the end about booking with an agent and stuff. Max and I would’ve done the same as you and have no clue.

Now I’m looking forward to seeing what you packed you next!

Thanks, Kim … live and learn, right?! I know you’re not a cruise person, but this was very uncruise like … but still on a boat. Ha. That makes no sense. xo

I have been looking at the Ritz Carlton cruises- they look fabulous!! We have cruised with Seabourn-and did a 2 week cruise- it’s so great to not have to repack to go home , quite so quickly!! We just booked Silverseas to go to Alaska for Bob’s 70th!!! We are tying it into our time at the beach house, and was lucky to find a cruise that left out of Vancouver and met our time requirements!! Your vacation looked wonderful!! Currently pictures!

Marha! That sounds wonderful and to be able to go to and from Vancouver is great. Alaska will be so beautiful, and you’re right, the best part of a cruise is unpacking once and taking your hotel room to fabulous places. xo

That should have said cute pictures!

Thanks so much for taking us along! What a wonderful review!

Thanks, Leslie! xo

this was so helfpul, thank you, booked on Evrima for next week, based on my experience so far I am totally agreeing with you and appreciate the tips for the next steps!!

Oh my gosh, next week! Is that the last Caribbean cruise of the season? So excited for you … please keep me updated. Bon voyage! xo

Katie (Preppy Empty Nester) sent us here today and I’m so glad she did. What an experience!! I can feel the sunshine through your pictures and descriptions. Thank you for your advice at the end – those little tidbits are always so valuable and only something an “insider” can give.

Hello Jenni, Welcome! I adore Mrs. Katie Clooney and I’m so happy to have you here. Thank you for your kind words, the trip was amazing and I’ve heard from many others that they’re considering similar adventures. Are you planning any warm weather vacations soon?! xo

Fantastic, thorough review, Juliet!

We’ve sailed on Crystal (previous Hong Kong owner, not Abercrombie & Kent, the new owner), both ocean and river, and enjoyed those a lot. We sailed Viking river in France, which was a bit crowded and competitive for seating, so we will not do that again.

I wonder if RC is already thinking the smaller ship model of Evrima is less viable than 500 guests?

Hi Joan, you’ve certainly had a lot of luxury cruise experience. What fun! I think RC planned there three yachts from the beginning. I really liked the size of Evrima and would probably pick her again over the new slightly larger ships. xo

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Ritz-Carlton's new luxury cruise ship will sail in 2024 starting at $6,800 per person — see inside the 456-guest 'yacht'

• The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection opened bookings for its second upcoming cruise vessel, the Ilma.
• The 456-guest ship will enter service in September 2024 starting at $6,800 per person.
• The cruise line's first ship has been "booking quite well," the company told Insider in 2022.

Ritz-Carlton has opened reservations for its newest cruise vessel following the success of its first floating hotel.

But if you're looking to travel on the upcoming Ilma, you'll have to be patient.

The cruise ship — which the brand affectionately calls a "superyacht" — won't enter service until 2024.

The Ilma will embark on its first six Mediterranean sailings in September 2024 starting at $6,800 per person.

These itineraries will range from 7 to 13 nights, bringing travelers to destinations like Spain's Balearic Islands with overnight stays in locations like Alexandria, Egypt.

All six of these cruises will have at least one sailing day with no port of call.

To some, this could be the most boring day of the vacation. But at least travelers will get to spend it in a 790-foot-long floating Ritz-Carlton.

The luxury vessel is no mega cruise vessel — There's no rock climbing wall, rows of waterslides, or loud mini-golf courses for bored children.

However, it does have a pool deck, a separate aft infinity pool, five restaurants, six bars, several lounges, and a spa.

If you're already familiar with the cruise line's first vessel, the 623-foot Evrima, you'll probably recognize some of the amenities aboard the upcoming Ilma.

Like its predecessor, the new vessel will have a marina with a new adjacent terrace, giving guests direct access to the water and water toys while the ship is anchored.

At most, the vessel can accommodate 456 guests with a nearly one-to-one staff-to-guest ratio.

And there's need to fear a dingy interior stateroom when aboard the ship: All of 228 of its suites will have private balconies or terraces.

These suites will range from almost 300 square feet to over 1,000 square feet, not including the balconies.

Source: The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

In typical Ritz-Carlton fashion, the floating hotel rooms will be decked out with luxurious amenities like bathrooms with double vanities and a complimentary bottle of Champagne.

If the hotel brand's first ship is any indication of how well this second vessel will sell, the Ilma could see plenty of success.

The luxury cruise market has been "off the charts," UBS analysts said in a note in October 2022. As for the Ritz cruise line itself, it's operated by the same Ritz-Carlton that operates the hotel chain, which is owned by Marriott.

Source: Insider

The Evrima is "booking quite well" for its 2023 season while its summer Mediterranean cruises only have "limited space" left, the cruise line told Insider in October 2022.

At the time, 2024 bookings were already "pacing well and exceeding expectations."

Ritz-Carlton isn't the only hospitality brand with a new arm in the cruise market.

Over the last year, Four Seasons, Aman, and Orient Express have all announced new ultra-luxury cruise lines as well.

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The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Unveils Summer 2025 Itineraries for a Luxurious Seafaring Experience

• January 10, 2024

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has revealed its summer 2025 itineraries across its impressive fleet – Evrima, Ilma, and the newest addition, Luminara. This marks a significant milestone in the brand’s expansion into the cruising category, providing luxury travelers with unparalleled experiences at sea. With bookings now open for the inaugural season of Luminara, the renowned hospitality brand continues to set new standards in the world of superyacht travel.

Derived from Latin origin, meaning “light,” Luminara pays homage to contemporary craftsmanship and refined design. Measuring an impressive 794 feet (242 meters) and accommodating up to 452 guests, Luminara offers an extraordinary onboard experience. From spacious suites with private ocean-view terraces to world-class dining, a wine vault, and The Ritz-Carlton Spa®, the superyacht redefines luxury at sea. The elegant exterior design, envisioned by Helsinki-based design studio Aivan, draws inspiration from private yacht aesthetics, emphasizing sophistication and grace.

Internationally acclaimed design firms AD Associates and Chapi Chapo Design, along with lighting designer DPA, have curated a serene color palette of soft brown oak, Calcutta marble, and leather accents. Touches of rich red, navy, and green create an oasis at sea, providing passengers with an atmosphere of elegance and comfort. The layout, favoring circular silhouettes over geometric edges, ensures a seamless design, evoking a sense of limitless space in each area.

Spanning from April to October 2025, the summer season boasts 53 carefully curated itineraries across the three superyachts – Luminara, Ilma, and Evrima. With new ports of call, standout shore excursions, and exclusive voyages, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection invites guests to explore the world’s most sought-after destinations.

Highlights of 2025 Summer Itineraries Aboard Luminara

July 31, 2025 | 7-night rome round trip.

Embark on a journey from Rome, exploring Tuscany, the Ligurian coast, Côte d’Azur, Corsica, and Porto Cervo. Activities include truffle hunting, climbing the Tower of Pisa, and enjoying scenic views by kayak and helicopter.

August 7, 2025 | 7-Night Rome Round Trip

Indulge in a rooftop dining experience in Malta, contrast Sicily’s ancient theaters with Pompeii’s ruins, and cruise along the Amalfi Coast, exploring blue grottoes.

August 21, 2025 | 7-Night Barcelona Round Trip

Discover Rome’s iconic landmarks, kayak the Ligurian coastline, and explore the scenic countryside around Collioure, inspired by artists like Matisse and Picasso.

Highlights of 2025 Summer Itineraries Aboard Ilma

June 29, 2025 | 9-night lisbon to portsmouth.

Wine connoisseurs can sip port in Portugal, taste Rioja in Spain, and explore Bordeaux’s renowned vineyards. Cultural marvels include Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum and the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel.

July 24, 2025 | 7-Night Copenhagen to Stockholm

Explore UNESCO-protected treasures around the Baltic Sea, shop for Baltic amber in Gdansk, and savor Swedish pancakes and smoked salmon in Mariehamn.

August 17, 2025 | 7-Night Reykjavík Round Trip

Circumnavigate Iceland, experiencing waterfalls, thermal baths, remote villages, and sailing as far north as the Arctic Circle.

Highlights of 2025 Summer Itineraries Aboard Evrima

April 24, 2025 | 10-night lisbon to barcelona.

Sail from Lisbon to Barcelona, exploring Moorish fortresses, UNESCO-protected Alcázar royal palace, and the unrivaled beaches of the Balearic Islands.

June 5, 2025 | 7-Night Venice Round Trip

Immerse yourself in Adriatic culture, cuisine, and history, exploring Kotor, Zadar, Dubrovnik, and the Venetian palace in Koper’s historic center.

June 27, 2025 | 9-Night Athens Round Trip

Experience Istanbul’s wonders, visit the ancient Greco-Roman city of Ephesus, and go Greek island hopping through Skiathos to Mykonos.

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• A First Look at The Ritz-Carlton Residences in West Palm Beach

The luxury brand’s first-ever standalone residential project in West Palm Beach will include 144 ocean-view homes.

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The building, featuring a striking glass facade with curved edges and soft lines, was collaboratively designed by the award-winning architecture firm Arquitectonica and the global design firm Rockwell Group. There will be a total of 144 luxury residences, ranging in size from 1,400 square feet to 3,000 square feet. The sumptuous interiors feature a neutral color palette, artful furnishings, custom Italian cabinetry, soaring ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows that flood each residence with natural light. The breezy open-plan layouts feature a lovely kitchen with an eat-in island, a formal dining area, and a large living room. No matter where you turn, you’re immediately connected to the outdoors and have views over the Atlantic Ocean, as well as all of the West Palm Beach waterfront.

“The West Palm Beach market has undergone tremendous growth in recent years, but momentum is only just getting underway,” Isaac Toledano, founder of BH Group, said in a press statement. “Projects like ours bring a new level of design, service, and exclusivity and offer a rare opportunity to own a piece of what is already becoming one of South Florida’s most desirable neighborhoods and communities.” 

While branded residences are nothing new, they seem to be flooding West Palm Beach’s prime market. In addition to the Ritz-Carlton, Cipriani recently announced its new hotel and branded residential project, Mr. C Hotel and Residences West Palm Beach, opening in 2026.

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Inside Knife Italian, the restaurant at Irving’s Ritz-Carlton, formerly Four Seasons

Texas doesn’t have any Michelin-starred restaurants , but Irving’s new Ritz-Carlton hotel is about to have a new Italian steakhouse with Michelin pedigree.

Knife Italian, Dallas chef John Tesar’s newest restaurant, is slated to open Tuesday, March 19, 2024. Some of its menu is inspired by the steak and seafood dishes at Knife & Spoon in Orlando, Tesar’s restaurant that won a Michelin star in 2022 .

Dallasites might recognize some of the pastas and steaks from Tesar’s 10-year-old Knife restaurant on Mockingbird Lane.

The hotel was once Four Seasons Resort at Las Colinas, but was rebranded as a Ritz-Carlton in January 2024 . (D-FW’s other Ritz is in Uptown Dallas.)

Knife Italian will serve steak, seafood, pizza and pasta inspired by the chef’s upbringing in New York. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and Tesar’s aim is for any meal to feel “elaborate.”

The Irving/Las Colinas hotel restaurant will also sell the Ozersky, Tesar’s cheeseburger with red onion named for the late food writer Josh Ozersky. A cheeseburger makes sense at a ritzy hotel in Texas, Tesar said.

Tesar has been a friend to well-known people in the food world like Anthony Bourdain, but he was also called Dallas’ “ most hated chef ” by D Magazine in 2011. He described himself to The Dallas Morning News as a former “rageaholic.” In the past decade or so, he appeared on Bravo TV show Top Chef and opened restaurants in Dallas, Plano, Orlando and near Laguna Beach, Calif.

He said in 2022: “For me, I’ve always been the underdog — the bad boy.”

That doesn’t feel like the case in Irving/Las Colinas. Tesar understands the assignment at the luxurious, rebranded Ritz, and the restaurant has a bold design, with 10-foot-high art swirled in hot pinks and oranges, and purposefully mismatched tables that give the dining room a modern air.

Knife Italian looks like a jet-setting vacationer wearing an expensive sun hat and shades.

Diners can opt for oysters with cucumber mignonette or yellowtail crudo with Texas grapefruit to start, the chef said during a walkthrough of the restaurant. Pastas include gnocchi with blue crab, squid ink bucatini and lobster agnolotti. Then there’s pork chop Milanese and grilled whole fish as two main-course options. Those who appreciate Tesar’s dry-age steaks at Dallas restaurant Knife might be dazzled by options of beef both small (6 ounces) and large (32 ounces), and dry-aged as long as 240 days. The Bistecca a la Las Colinas is a honking 48-ounce porterhouse.

A separate bar and pizza room seems like a good place for solo travelers to eat: Chefs will put on a show as they place pizzas in a roaring oven. Beyond the expected pepperoni pizza, Knife Italian will also sell a white clam pizza and a potato, truffle and duck egg option.

The lunch menu calls for Italian-inspired dishes with a more casual vibe. Options include a muffaletta and open-faced lobster sandwich.

Knife Italian is inside the main entrance of the newly rebranded Ritz-Carlton at 4150 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving. Reservations available on OpenTable . Two private rooms can be reserved and seat 10 and 16 guests. Knife Italian is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and closed from 2-5 p.m. daily.

Why doesn’t Dallas have any Michelin-starred restaurants?

The Michelin Guide is considered one of the highest levels of culinary excellence. Anonymous inspectors award up to three Michelin stars to the world’s best restaurants.

Importantly, France-based Michelin designates parts of the world where it sends its inspectors. Texas is not and has never been on Michelin’s map, meaning that no restaurant in Dallas-Fort Worth or beyond is eligible to receive a Michelin star. It is, however, a designation that many fine-dining chefs wish were available in Texas; a Michelin nod brings serious cache — and customers.

Read Claire Ballor’s story about why chefs want Michelin to look at Texas . In it, she explains how visitors’ bureaus in cities like Orlando paid Michelin to start a guide in parts of Florida. Could Texas be next?

For more food news, follow Sarah Blaskovich on X (formerly Twitter) at @sblaskovich .

©2024 The Dallas Morning News. Visit dallasnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Related, BH launch sales of Ritz-Carlton condos in West Palm Beach

Units start at $2.5M; Douglas Elliman is leading sales

Related Group and BH Group launched sales of Ritz-Carlton Residences, West Palm Beach, adding to a growing pipeline of planned luxury condo developments in the city. 

The 28-story, 144-unit project at 1717 North Flagler Drive will mark the fifth new Ritz-Carlton-branded development that’s planned or under construction in South Florida. The North Flagler project will also be the first branded luxury condo on the waterfront in West Palm Beach , according to Nick Pérez, president of Related’s condo division. 

Pérez said the project has received a “tremendous amount of interest over the past few days,” with more than 30 appointments at the sales center since it opened on Friday. The project is accepting reservations that would later be converted to contracts. 

The developers tapped Douglas Elliman to handle sales and marketing, according to a press release. Unit prices start at $2.5 million. The units will range from 1,400 square feet to 3,000 square feet, and all will have ocean views. 

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Arquitectonica is designing the tower, with interiors by the Rockwell Group. Amenities will include a pool and deck, fitness and wellness center, spa and other Ritz-Carlton hotel services, though the project will not include a hotel. The tower will front the Intracoastal Waterway, overlooking Palm Beach. 

The development will mark the first Ritz-Carlton-branded building for Miami-based Related Group in South Florida. Other Ritz-Carlton condominium projects in the works include Dan Catalfumo’s development in Palm Beach Gardens; Fortune International Group and Chateau Group’s project in Sunny Isles Beach; Fortune and Oak Capital’s development in Pompano Beach; and the Ritz-Carlton Residences, South Beach , the latter of which is being redeveloped by the Lowensteins’ Lionstone Development, the Kanavos family’s Flag Luxury Group and the Ben-Josefs’ Ben-Josef Group. 

Branded condominiums are booming across the region, with the largest concentration in Miami-Dade County and a growing number in West Palm Beach. David Martin’s Terra and the Morrison family’s Sympatico Real Estate plan the 25-story Mr. C Hotel & Residences West Palm Beach at 320 Lakeview Avenue. That project will also include a hotel. 

Both Miami-based Related Group, led by Jorge Pérez and his sons, Jon Paul and Nick, and New York-based Related Companies, owned by Stephen Ross, are active in West Palm Beach. 

Related Group also plans to develop a boutique waterfront Apogee-branded condo building at 4906 North Flagler Drive. In December, a West Palm Beach board voted to recommend denial of the developer’s plans for that building. Nick Pérez said Related has been meeting with neighbors and is revising its plans for the site. Apogee is a Related brand.