With the Evrima, the hotel brand “The Ritz Carlton” wants to enter the cruise business in the ultra-luxury segment and promise “to create extraordinary experiences on unique routes”.
With the Evrima, the hotel brand “The Ritz Carlton” wants to enter the cruise business in the ultra-luxury segment under the label “The Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection”. Now the maiden voyage has started.
The 190 meter long yacht has room for 298 passengers and started in Barcelona bound for Nice. The Evrima is the first of three new buildings. The debut had already been postponed several times: First in October 2019 after problems during construction at the Spanish shipyard Hijos de J. Barreras shipyard in Vigo by four months from February to June 2020, then to April 2021, later again to July 2021.
A new chapter of the popular brand
In a press release marking the launch of the Evrima, Chris Gabaldon, Senior Vice President of the Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection, proclaimed “a new chapter in this beloved brand”. The Ritz-Carlton has long been at the forefront of innovation and service excellence, “guided by a philosophy of being a premier provider of transformative travel experiences. As we continue to evolve our iconic brand, we’re thrilled to be able to offer our guests the opportunity to experience The Ritz-Carlton in a whole new way,” continued Gabaldon.
The Evrima, like the sister ships Ilma and Luminara, which are still under construction at the French shipyard Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint Nazaire, are intended to “create extraordinary experiences on unique routes”. With stops in landmark locations, most voyages last between seven and 10 nights, with no two voyages being alike, allowing guests to combine itineraries without visiting a destination twice.
The size of the Evrima allows it to call at some of the most desirable ports
Depending on the season, the Evrima sails in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Central America and South America. Destinations on the cruise range from Spain’s Balearic Islands and coveted locations along the French Riviera to the shores of Aruba and the coasts of Costa Rica. According to the supplier, Evrima’s size allows it to call at some of the most desirable ports, allowing guests to experience a yacht-style cruise with destinations such as Mykonos, Saint-Tropez, and St. Barts.
At each destination, passengers can choose from a range of unique experiences from The Shore Collection to suit their interests, or use the services of Concierge Ashore to design their own private excursions. Experiences on land range from a guided tour of a world-class museum with its curator, a visit to a UNESCO World Heritage site, yoga on a private beach, high ropes in the rainforest, truffle hunting and more.
As the provider says it works with local tour guides who have been specially selected for their insider knowledge, guests can enjoy unique experiences, according to the press release. On select itineraries, guests can enhance their en-route experience with an overnight tour before re-boarding the yacht at their next destination.
149 suites like the Ritz hotels on land
The experience on board the Evrima reflects the comfort and service that The Ritz-Carlton stands for, according to the press release. The design of the 149 suites is one of the most striking features of the yacht. In addition to a large number of large suites, the Evrima also offers several two-storey loft suites. All accommodation on board has a private terrace and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Flexible walls also allow certain suites to be combined into larger open concept spaces, allowing for more flexibility in accommodation choices. All suites offer luxe amenities guests would expect at Ritz-Carlton hotels around the world, including king-size beds, bathrooms with double vanities, and luxurious linens.
Yachts can also be booked privately
Families can use the specially designed “Ritz Kids” area. The “Ritz Kids” offers are tailored to young guests aged four to twelve and target their curiosity and desire to explore, with an emphasis on marine conservation.
According to the Ritz Carlton, passengers can choose from a variety of dining options on board. Among them are locally inspired creations at The Evrima Room, creative interpretations of Southeast Asian kitchen and the sushi bar at Talaat Nam. The offer is supplemented by the “SEA”, designed by head chef Sven Elverfeld from the Aqua restaurant, the restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg, which has been awarded three Michelin stars.
The yachts in Germany can be booked through tour operators. For more information, visit www.ritzcarltonyachtcollection.com. According to the provider, the yachts can also be rented privately.
This article was written by Christoph Assies