First Ritz Carlton Yacht Experience

A Great First Ritz-Carlton Yacht Experience

We were so glad we booked a Caribbean cruise as our first Ritz-Carlton Yacht experience.  Our cruise was just one part of a luxury Caribbean vacation planned with some great hotel stays before and after the cruise.  We boarded the Evrima after a short stay in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  And departed the ship for a short stay in Fort Lauderdale.  

Our customer service expectations were pretty high when we booked our cruise and the Ladies and Gentlemen of the Ritz certainly delivered.  We had fun on some cruise excursions but took several days off and just enjoyed this luxury ship.  

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Evrima definitely provided the pampering environment we enjoyed with lovely common spaces, low key entertainment and some fun special events.  Not everything was perfect but we still had a good experience.  As we cruised, we considered why this experience was often referred to as a “yacht experience” or sometimes as a “floating hotel”.  

The Ladies And Gentlemen Of The Ritz Delivered On The Brand Promise

Our experiences with the Ritz-Carlton Hotels brand set a very high bar for our customer service expectations when we cruised on the Ritz-Carlton Yacht.  We wondered if the same level of customer service could be delivered in a cruise environment.  And we were delighted when we found the focus on customer service excellence we expected.

From the moment we entered the cruise terminal, we were quickly escorted through the arrival process.  We were impressed throughout the cruise with the visibility of the senior and middle management leaders.  They stopped and continually engaged with the guests.  Input was sought and the feedback recorded. 

Almost without exception, the staff were friendly, helpful and genuinely interested in the guests.  We could count on restaurant staff for great helpful suggestions.  Our cabin team went out of their way to understand and deliver on our needs.  Everywhere we went we found the Ladies and Gentlemen of the Ritz! 

At every opportunity, the entire team wanted to deliver a delightful experience.  As a very small example of the focus on every detail …. The captain told us they walk the anchor to the edge and lower it quietly to reduce the typical noise heard on cruise ships when anchoring early in the day outside a port.  We knew from experience how nice this change was!

We had a few minor issues during our cruise.  But we found each was fully acknowledged and immediately a resolution was sought.  This amazing customer service recovery was what we took away and not the issues.  The customer service was exemplary on our first Ritz-Carlton Yacht experience.

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Was All Suites

Much like many of the luxury cruise lines, all of the cabins were suites with balconies.  There were many larger suites above the one we chose but we wanted to see what the base level cabin was like.  Unfortunately none of the larger suites were vacant on our cruise.  So we could not check out what larger suite we might want in the future. But every cabin came with Moet Champagne – also known as “Ritz water”.

We booked a Mid-Terrace Suite which was the entry level suite.  We debated different locations on the ship and finally chose a suite on Deck 6.  On this level the balconies were just a bit bigger and it was an easy walk to all levels in the ship.  Two chairs with ottomans were on the balcony.  

The layout of the cabin was quite typical.  A very large bathroom and shower was a very pleasant treat – although there was no bathtub at this level.  But the large bathroom came at the cost of a lost walk-in closet.  Even so, we had no trouble hanging all the clothes we brought. 

The one odd design feature was the lack of a small sofa.  There was just one chair and a stool under the mirror.  So when we both spent time in the cabin, one of us sat on the bed.

Overall the Ritz-Carlton yacht suite we booked was quite similar to what we found on most other luxury cruises we have done.  The staff’s attention to detail and customer service was consistently at the Ritz-Carlton standard.  And that did make a difference on our first Ritz-Carlton Yacht experience.

Staying Connected While Cruising

As a newer ship, Evrima was well outfitted with electrical outlets and had a smart interactive tv where all ship information was available.  A small tablet was also in each cabin with access to the same information as on the tv.  

We downloaded the Ritz-Carlton Yacht App before we left home.  This smart phone App could only be activated once we were onboard.  It was supposed to have the same information at the tv and tablet.  But we sometimes found the information there out of date.   

The ship used StarLink for satellite services and each passenger had their own login for basic WiFi services.  This was so much better than having to share one WiFi account for both of us in one cabin.  We found the WiFi adequate for the work we did onboard without paying for one of the upgraded packages.  Overall WiFi was a much better “free” service than on other ships we sailed. 

On our first Ritz-Carlton Yacht experience we had no trouble staying connected and sharing our voyage as we travelled.

The Yacht Provided A Lot Of Interior Space Per Passenger

Luxury cruise ships generally had a far superior passenger space ratio.  The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Evrima had a passenger space ratio even better than other luxury lines.

This meant that for a smaller ship, all of the common spaces felt large and airy.  The Living Room on Deck 4 had our favourite coffee bar and barista Vishal.  Every day Vishal delighted us with a new design on our cappuccinos.

There was plenty of seating well spread out in this area and it was a quiet spot to sit during the day.  This large space worked out perfectly since this was the area where day excursions gathered before leaving the ship.  On our “at sea” day, several social events were held in this area.

On the top deck we found the Observation Lounge.  This area was big enough to hold all 298 passengers for social events.  Again we found the seating to be well spread out.  There was additional seating outside and the views from the top were great.  

The well spaced interior spaces made everywhere feel very roomy.  Because of the design, it would be a bit hard to use these spaces for large educational presentations and there was no theatre-styled room.  But this yacht experience did not offer such events.  For the smaller group events we found on the Ritz-Carlton Evrima, the public spaces worked well.

We never had a problem finding quiet, elegant and inviting indoor spaces on our first Ritz-Carlton Yacht experience.

Outdoor Spaces For Fun And Quiet

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Evrima port schedule generally followed the warm weather from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean and back.  This meant that 3 of the 4 main restaurants had a large number of outdoor tables.  This gave us great views as we ate al fresco.  But when the weather turned nasty, the indoor restaurant space was at times squeezed.

We actually planned a few days with no excursions to enjoy the pool and loungers while many people were off the ship. There were several pool or whirlpool areas on different levels.  The pools were small plunge pools and the whirlpools were warm jacuzzis and not hot tubs. 

On Deck 9 we found a much larger deck with a whirlpool.  And a good supply of “Ritz water” for self-service. It was a great quiet spot to escape.  On that same deck we found lounge chairs along the side in the shade.  This was a great spot to sit with a book. And if we really wanted to relax there was always the spa!

There was definitely outdoor space on our first Ritz-Carlton Yacht experience to meet everyone’s needs.

The Marina Deck Was A Huge Bonus

The lower deck of Evrima was a huge platform used for outdoor water sports.  We had a Marina deck before when we cruised in the Caribbean with Windstar Cruises. And we even got to use the Marina Deck on the SilverSea Endeavour on our Antarctica cruise. So we looked forward to this treat. 

The Marina was only open when the ship was at anchor and only when the sea state was calm enough.  We were lucky to have the Marina open for two days on our cruise.

For access to this area, we signed an extensive waiver.  A very small area was roped off for swimming or really just bobbing because lifejackets were required by all.  

The Marina had regular kayaks, pedal kayaks and stand-up paddle boards (SUPs) for use by guests. There was also a small HobieCat sailboat although we did not see it used.  We had a lot of fun when we took the pedal kayaks out – even if we had to stay pretty close to the rear of the ship for safety reasons.

There were a few more lounge chairs on the water level that were claimed pretty early when the Marina was open for water sports.  We enjoyed the large bar and lounge area on this deck for our Marriott Bonvoy reception.  This was a quiet spot to enjoy when the Marina deck was open but no water sports were allowed.

Our first Ritz-Carlton Yacht experience was definitely enhanced when the Marina deck was open.

Special Experiences On Our First Ritz-Carlton Yacht Experience

When we got our cruising paperwork, we learned that there would be two special nights onboard.  The En Blanc night was a buffet and party night with passengers dressed in white.  The Havana night was a party night with much more colourful attire.  While some people did not read the emails or chose not to participate, we were delighted with how many people were fully prepared for the festivities.  And the ship was decorated to match the theme night.

As a Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite member we got a few special benefits.  Free laundry was certainly appreciated after we spent a few days in Puerto Rico before the cruise.  One day we were escorted with a few other Marriott Elite members for a bridge tour.  It was interesting to see the modern instrumentation used on this new ship.  

On another day our concierge Johanna took us out onto the bow of the ship.  While there was a vast open deck, this area was not accessible to passengers since access was through the crew corridors.  A bit strange after we spent so much time on the bow of the ship when we cruised in Antarctica.  

We loved the chance to participate in the special experiences on our first Ritz-Carlton Yacht experience.

Our Food Expectations Were Very High

We have been spoiled when we sailed with Oceania Cruises which is known for the “Best Cuisine At Sea”. Travelling on a bit bigger ships, we got used to many different venues with a lot of selection and food that looked and tasted great.  It was a high bar to meet as we moved to much smaller ships.

Our expectations for great food was also set by our stays at Ritz-Carlton hotels.  At the Ritz-Carlton Pinha Longa Resort in Portugal, we enjoyed a wide range of amazing food experiences on a resort with two Michelin rated restaurants.  A long weekend at the Ritz-Carlton Montreal provided us with food delights in the Maison Boulod restaurant.  And at the Ritz-Carlton Santiago we were treated to an amazing chef dinner with multiple courses of local food and drink.  

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Evrima had several different restaurant areas.  Four of the restaurants were open to everyone at no additional cost – the Pool House, Evrima Room, Mistral and Talaat Nam.  Private rooms and cozy tables with a view were available within the Evrima Room. The S.E.A. restaurant was an extra charge and on a 7 day cruise with busy days we chose not to book this venue.

All of the restaurants were open for reservations from 6:30 until closing.  Reservations could be made online in advance for S.E.A. But for the others, reservations could not be made in advance on the online site.  So when we boarded, we handed our restaurant preferences to our concierge.  We got all the bookings we wanted with no issues.

Food Was Not The Favourite Part Of Our First Ritz-Carlton Yacht Experience

The menu at S.E.A. and Talaat Nam were fixed and never changed.  But the menus in the other restaurants changed a few items every 3 days. So for these venues we got at least some change in the menus during our cruise.

The great thing about dining on a cruise ship with variety in the menus was the ability to try things we might not normally have.  Some of our choices turned out to be big successes and were repeated.  Some choices were left on our plates uneaten. By the last few days we found we were repeating the few selections we really liked.  But we may be far pickier than others.  

One day Afternoon Tea was offered in the Evrima Room.  We loved to take our time with a leisurely Afternoon Tea service when we travelled.  We chose the sweet and savoury items we wanted from a menu.  But our favourite was the light buttery raisin scones.

One day we ordered room service for breakfast when we had an early excursion.  There was really no place in our cabin to set up a table and chairs for two people.  So it was a good thing the weather was ok for breakfast on the patio.  Lets just say this was not a Ritz-Carlton experience at all.

While there were a few fails in the food, the customer service in the restaurants was always exemplary. Food issues were recognized and addressed immediately. Staff took the time to help us through menus to select and order special requests for “no spice”. And there was always more food to offer when we needed to replace a selection.

Most of the time we ate well on our first Ritz-Carlton Yacht experience.  But we sadly were not wowed by the food.  Perhaps our expectations were too high.

Lots Of Areas For Socializing

We are not big drinkers and must admit we can’t share a lot of experience with the bars around Evrima.   But we know they were often busy social spaces.

Our first Ritz-Carlton Yacht experience had an all inclusive drink package.  We could have wine, beer, cocktails or good liquor at any time of day.  There were additional upper shelf liquors and an enhanced wine list available for extra charges too.

Since we drink so little, we knew we never got our money’s worth with drinking packages.  But it was nice to have a drink when we wanted.

For smokers there was a Humidor Room on Deck 10.  This was much larger with great views than many we found on other ships.  And when we looked in, it was a well-used social space.

If you wanted to drink and smoke, there was lots of space on the small ship Evrima.

Large Cruise Ship Entertainment Was Missing For Some People

We don’t look for big entertainment or casinos when we cruise.  In fact, we stayed away from the larger ships where each ship seemed to go bigger and better to draw new passengers.

The entertainment on the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Evrima was low key.  There was no Cruise Director leading activities around the ship daily.  And no overhead announcements to move people from event to event.  For our one sea day there were just a few small events publicized.  

The band leader Tom welcomed us onboard with his guitar and wide repertoire of songs while we had lunch at the Pool House.  At the En Blanc night, the band provided more live entertainment.  Tanya the DJ was a favourite with her lively tunes.

Several times a day one of the entertainment team provided live music.  But there was no stage show at night and no real venue for one if they wanted to provide one.  There was no casino on board either.  Although we were told the nightly trivia game became quite competitive!

The entertainment options were well publicized so it should not have been a surprise to any of the passengers.  But some might have missed having more choice or bigger productions.  We were perfectly entertained on our first Ritz-Carlton Yacht experience.

A Caribbean Cruise With A Good Itinerary, Ports and Excursions

We chose a Caribbean cruise from Puerto Rico to Fort Lauderdale for our first Ritz-Carlton Yacht experience.  It was easy to get to and from the ship ports.  And we added some luxury hotel stays on either end of the cruise.  

There were a number of good excursions offered for a cost for every port.  We planned a mix of port excursion days and left other days free to just enjoy the ship.  And we only had one sea day on this cruise.  

On our stop in Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) our excursion took us first for a land tour for panoramic views of the islands.  And then we took a boat trip and saw Virgin Gorda from the water.

Jost Van Dyke was our second port in the BVI.  We had a sunny and mostly calm as we headed out for a snorkelling excursion.  

In Grand Turk in Turk and Caicos we got off the ship for a short walk in the cruise port and in San Salvador in the Bahamas  we never left the ship.  We used these two days to really enjoy the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Evrima while many others were on excursions.  And we were delighted when we could visit my best friend on our stop in Nassau, Bahamas.

This Caribbean cruise was planned as a relaxing break from a busy travel year in 2023.  We were glad we got some good shore excursions mixed with time to enjoy the ship.  

Was It A Yacht Experience On A Floating Ritz-Carlton Hotel?

We were not really sure what to expect when many people said the Ritz-Carlton Yacht was a different luxury cruising experience that provided a “yacht experience” and not a “cruise ship experience”.  We did not have a lot of experience with private yachts.  But we did have some great Ritz-Carlton hotel experiences.  Reflecting on our trip, there were some things that perhaps were quite different on this first Ritz-Carlton Yacht experience from other luxury cruises we did.

1) Ship Environment

The decor of this particular Ritz-Carlton Yacht was indeed much more like a luxury hotel than cruise ship. In talking to senior staff, much of the decor was special-ordered to be unique.  We were sure that the wooden floors would likely not be on any future ship.  It reminded us of many Ritz-Carlton hotels we stayed at.

Other than groups of boisterous people having fun, we found the ship environment quiet and relaxing.  The larger indoor spaces buffered sounds.  Music was generally at a lower volume around the ship.  

2) Less Structured

We found there was almost a total lack of overhead announcements to move people from event to event. The Captain only did an announcement when he apologized for being late into port when the winds were too high to dock when we arrived.  This made for a very quiet and less structured cruise experience.  Although new cruisers might have wanted a little more direction.

3) Dress Code 

When we started to cruise with SilverSea Cruises, we struggled a little with the number of nights that required quite formal dress. Travelling with Oceania Cruises, we liked the “Country Club Casual” that required some level of appropriate clothing for night dining venues. In fact, one night David was sent to change his shoes when he showed up for dinner with his expensive sandals on!

While on the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Evrima there was a “Yacht Sophisticated” dress code, it was never enforced.  People wore what they wanted to any venue.  Many people chose to dress up.  Many others felt totally comfortable in public spaces in swimwear.  It was a very casual “come as you choose” atmosphere.  The yacht felt like many other high end beach resorts we visited.  And was perhaps more like a Ritz-Carlton resort than hotel.

4) Good Itinerary But No Unplanned Stops

The smaller size of the Ritz-Carlton Yacht meant that much smaller ports were visited.  But we still had a fixed itinerary.  

We were a bit surprised that there were no little diversions for interesting sights as a true yacht might offer.  This was very different than our expedition cruise to Antarctica where the excursion leader and Captain had quite a bit of liberty to choose great spots for excursions every day.

5) No Butler Service

When we booked luxury cruises, we generally had a butler shared with other cabins.  While there were cabin attendants to make up rooms, the butler provided personal services. 

We are not really butler people and generally had few demands. But if we had room service, they set a proper table and sometimes even served course by course.  Daily canapés and special treats were delivered daily.  And the butlers never forgot that David is a chocoholic! We even had a butler who escorted us to dinners.  And another who kept a supply of my favourite ice cream as a treat every day!

On the Ritz-Carlton Yacht, there were no butlers at our cabin level. Instead we had a shared concierge who was considered a “personal assistant”.  Our concierge checked in with us periodically but it did not appear she actually provided any services directly.  We were not sure what if anything we could ask of her.  Or if this service was different if we had a larger suite.  This concierge role seemed similar to Customer Experience roles we found at other Ritz-Carlton resorts.

Wonderful Memories From Our First Ritz-Carlton Yacht Experience

We were so glad we finally got our first Ritz-Carlton Yacht experience.  It was something we wanted to do since the first ship was launched.

It was great to escape Canadian winter for a few weeks on our luxury Caribbean vacation.  We explored some new cruise ports and had some amazing outdoor experiences.

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Evrima team delivered exemplary customer service and set a new bar for our cruising expectations.  The ship was luxurious and spacious.  The experience was laid back and we sure enjoyed our time onboard.  Some parts of our cruise did not exceed our luxury cruising expectations.   But on balance, we were very happy with our Caribbean cruise from San Juan to Fort Lauderdale with the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Club.  

We know there are exciting expansion plans for the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Club.  New ships, expanded itineraries and innovative concepts would would sure lure us back to experience this amazing level of customer service.

Have you had a first Ritz-Carlton Yacht experience?  Did the experience make you a convert?

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