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What It's Like On Board Evrima, The Ritz-Carlton's First Ship

What to expect on The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection's Evrima, a 149-suite ship with five restaurants, six lounges, and plenty of over-the-top hotel amenities.

Maya Kachroo-Levine / Travel + Leisure

“The great thing about yachting is you’re in complete control — whether you’re at anchor or at a dock,” said Doug Prothero, founder of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection . “We have the ability to make something up as we go along — and that is the yachting lifestyle."

We were drinking iced tea at the Marina, an indoor-outdoor venue hovering 10 feet above the water on the third deck of the Evrima . The yacht, named for the Greek word for “discovery,” was anchored in Alcúdia Bay, just off the northeastern coast of Mallorca, Spain. Stairs led down to a platform from which guests could dive directly into the sea. Prothero called the area, lined with sun loungers, “the beach.”

Maya Kachroo-Levine / Travel + Leisure

Prothero explained how The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection structures itineraries aboard the Evrima . Each all-inclusive sailing (with options for five-, seven-, nine-, 10-, 11-, and 12-night journeys) spends at least two days at anchor, affording guests the choice to stay lounging at sea or take a small tender boat to the nearest port (in this case, Alcúdia, Spain, where some visited the Old Town and one group of golfers even went ashore for a 7 a.m. tee time).

“We’re moving this resort,” Prothero said. “There’s never going to be a Ritz-Carlton in this place.” But there is right now.

The Inaugural Sailing

We’d left Barcelona Cruise Port the night before, on October 15, 2022, for Evrima’ s long-anticipated inaugural journey . We set sail with 220 guests, a handful of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection corporate team members, 245 Ritz-Carlton ladies and gentlemen (as the brand calls those working on board), 1,800 bottles of Moët & Chandon, and one Travel + Leisure editor (me).

Some guests had been waiting three years for this moment, having booked the original inaugural sailing, set for February 5, 2020. It was rescheduled eight times — the result of a shipyard bankruptcy, the COVID-19 pandemic, and myriad supply chain delays. And yes, I did meet travelers who had rescheduled every time, one of whom showed me eight confirmation emails over martinis at the Observation Lounge on deck 10.

Christopher Cypert / Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton

On the other hand, many passengers I met had no idea there were delays — including honeymooners who had booked this trip in January 2022 because it departed exactly a week after their wedding; a solo traveler in her 30s who I joined on a four-hour shore excursion filled with tapas and insights into the Gothic architecture of Palma, Mallorca; and a woman whose husband had surprised her with a 50th-birthday celebration aboard The Ritz-Carlton yacht she kept sending him articles about.

Once the ship sailed from Barcelona , no one was thinking about the ups and downs that preceded our voyage or how we got there. We were focused on where we were going. And it was Saturday night on Evrima .

Bars and Restaurants

I was off to The Evrima Room, the fourth-deck main dining room serving three meals a day. I ordered the charred octopus (all the fish and seafood on board are sourced locally from ports every three days), heirloom tomato risotto, and a lemon tart decked out with mini meringues and sugar-spun ornamentation.

There are four other dining venues (plus 24/7 in-room dining) on the 623-foot-long yacht: The Pool House, on the fifth deck, next to the infinity-edge pool; S.E.A., which stands for Sven Elverfeld Afloat, modeled after the chef’s Michelin three-starred restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg, Germany, on deck six; Talaat Nam, an indoor-outdoor Southeast Asian spot designed to physically wrap around S.E.A.; and open-air Mediterranean restaurant Mistral on deck eight. I polled about 20 ladies and gentlemen on their favorite restaurant, and Mistral was the overwhelming favorite. The focal point of Mistral is the pool in the middle of the venue — one of two pools on board — “Plus the sea,” Prothero quipped, “that’s the biggest pool."

All food and beverages are included in the sail price, save the curated 120-bottle reserve wine list, a collection of high-end spirits, and the seven-course tasting menu at S.E.A., which starts at $285 with wine pairings.

Amenities and Entertainment

I left The Evrima Room by 10:30 p.m. to see where people were congregating, first dropping by the fourth-deck Living Room, where a jazz trio was warming up.

There are six musicians on board, including a DJ, as well as local artists who continually rotate in. They play in different configurations, including as a pop group and a jazz trio. Guitarist Craig Stuart told me most had never met before coming together in July in Santander, Spain, where the ship was being finished, to spend the month rehearsing together.

With six lounges on board, nearly every space felt lively, but none too crowded. From The Living Room, we migrated to deck 10 where the cozy, 404-square-foot Humidor, outfitted with a The Macallan cart, Davidoff cigars, and an array of reserve-list whiskies, was — sorry, there’s no other way to say it — poppin’ off. 

The Observation Lounge had similar energy, and folks gathered around as the bartender, OJ, who garnered a band of loyal followers during our time on Evrima, strained my Negroni into a coupe, enclosed it in a glass covering, and pumped in smoke, purely for the spectacle — and to add a smoky je ne sais quoi to my nightcap.

Even the ninth-deck Spa Terrace (one of Prothero’s favorite spots because “when we’re moving, you can see the front of the ship, so the view is amazing”) had a small crowd in the whirlpool. I didn’t linger on the Spa Terrace, but came back the next morning for a deep-tissue massage in one of the five treatment rooms and a sumptuous nap in the indoor-outdoor relaxation area. 

The Staterooms

I ended my night on my private balcony wrapped in a Frette robe, transfixed by the waves of the Balearic Sea rhythmically foaming and curling against the ship. There was plenty of space inside my 429-square-foot Signature Suite to sprawl — a full tub and double vanity in the bathroom, a sitting area, a dining table, and a king-size bed.

Room options range from the entry-level Terrace Suites to the 1,000-square-foot Owner’s Suite, with a private whirlpool. Each of the 149 guest rooms has its own balcony. While the two two-story Lofts and their vast 81-square-foot terraces were the top-tier offering on the inaugural sailing, the two Owner's Suites and four View Suites have since been completed, and are now the swankiest rooms on the yacht. 

Francisco Martinez / Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton

A personal concierge is assigned to each suite, though with schedules printed daily (and posted on The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection app) detailing onboard happenings, like sunset stretch and meditation on deck nine, and personalized itineraries, I rarely reached out to mine.

An Impeccable Team

As I met concierges, chefs, the two-person wine team (pro tip: always befriend the sommeliers), and shore excursion pros, I was impressed by their expertise. Of the 245 staff members on board, about half come from the world of luxury hotels and half from the world of high-end cruising. That’s how you bring a hotel concept to sea.

I talked luxury hotel shop with Theo Lakkas, a food-and-beverage lead who opened Matild Palace, a Luxury Collection , in Budapest. Executive chef John Suley came from Stephen Starr’s team and very seamlessly worked a “Wolf of Wall Street” quote into conversation. I learned about head sommelier Sebastian Pacheco’s vision for the reserve wine list — he wanted to pick up a highly sought-after case from every port city to bolster the already-expansive selection. He came from Francis Ford Coppola’s Inglenook in Rutherford, California, and was working there the last time I visited the Napa Valley winery in 2019. 

Sotheby’s-educated art concierge Rafaella Vitale, from the London art advisory world, gushed about the private tours she was planning to do with guests and the mini-auctions she’d curate for each sailing. I watched as Pacheco and Vitale ping-ponged ideas off each other for art-and-wine events they could put on during an upcoming transatlantic crossing, all while sipping Ruinart sparkling rosé from the bottle the three of us were sharing. That particular transatlantic voyage was slated to leave from Lisbon after Evrima’s christening on November 5, sail to Tenerife, Spain, spend seven days at sea, and wind up in Bridgetown, Barbados. Vitale planned to have the Bahamian artist behind the ship's upcoming rotating art exhibit, Lynn Parotti , on board for the crossing and Caribbean sailings.

Guest Rewards

As if it weren’t already apparent that this vessel is, in fact, a luxury hotel at sea by the classic light-blue Ritz-Carlton key cards, Frette robes, Diptyque bath products, and signature oils in the spa used at each of the 108 Ritz-Carlton hotels worldwide, the clearest sign came on our second evening. The ship hosted the “first-ever Marriott Bonvoy member reception at sea,” according to Marriott CEO Anthony Capuano, who Zoomed in for the occasion.

The Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program functions for The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection much in the the same way it would on dry land: Guests can earn five points per dollar spent on their cruise fare; they can redeem points to reduce the cost of their sailing, with some limitations (an initial redemption of 180,000 points saves you $1,000, and you may then continue to redeem at a clip of 90,000 points for each $500 of savings).

Members will also earn one Elite Night Credit per night (which counts toward Marriott Bonvoy elite status ) and can enjoy a private members-only reception. The higher your status, the more perks you'll have access to, including priority boarding and departure, complimentary laundry services during your cruise, and early access to reservations at S.E.A., among others (depending on your level of status).

Where Evrima Sails — and New Ships on the Horizon

Evrima continued sailing the Mediterranean until the aforementioned transatlantic crossing, after which the yacht spent five months in the Caribbean, visiting idyllic ports of call in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Barbados, and Turks and Caicos, among other islands, before heading back across the Atlantic to the Mediterranean in mid-April 2023. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has two more vessels in the works: Ilma , coming in 2024, and Luminara , coming in 2025, each with a 456-passenger capacity.  While The Ritz-Carlton is now the first luxury hotel brand at sea on this scale, Four Seasons and Aman will soon launch ships of a similar size. In 2022, Four Seasons announced a 679-foot, 95-cabin yacht , designed by the same company that worked on the Evrima , Tillberg Design of Sweden , coming in late 2025. Like Evrima , it will summer on the Mediterranean and winter in the Caribbean. Aman’s 50-suite yacht, Project Sama , also slated for a 2025 delivery, is in partnership with Cruise Saudi and will explore the Middle East.

Christopher Cypert / Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton 

I disembarked on Mallorca halfway through the seven-night inaugural sailing, which concluded in Nice, France, on October 22, 2022. When Evrima anchored off the coast of St. Tropez, the Marina, open only when the ship is at anchor, unfolded with floating platforms and a bevy of water toys, like paddleboards, sailboats, kayaks, and snorkeling accoutrements.

From my layover in London, I texted my marketing contact for pictures of Evrima anchored off St. Tropez (it’s called yacht FOMO, OK?). I could just picture what my morning would look like on board: espresso on my balcony, maybe a mimosa at the Marina, a soak in the ninth-deck whirlpool. For the afternoon, I’d move slowly, go ashore when I wanted, if I wanted, probably make it up as I went along. I hear that’s what the yachting lifestyle is all about.

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Evrima Deck Plans

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The Marina Terrace

Drinks and light bites served just steps above the Marina.

The go-to spot while at anchor with sun loungers, water toys and seamless entry into the sea.

The Living Room

The social gathering place features comfortable furnishings and a library. Transforms into a cocktail lounge with piano bar, and live music at night.

The Boutique

Shop for leading labels with enticing options, and, in select ports, further enhanced by bespoke collaborations with local artists.

The Two-Story Loft Suites

Suites 505 – 513; 515; 517; 519 (lower suite bedroom with window); total measures 611 SQ FT / 57 SQ M plus terrace 81 SQ FT / 7.5 SQ M.

The Evrima Room

The spacious main restaurant offers a thoughtfully-designed balance of privacy and social connection with a menu of locally inspired creations changing daily.

The Living Room Café

The espresso counter serves freshly roasted coffees and pastries. Ready-made treats are also available for day trips and late nights.

The Pool House

From a leisurely breakfast for early risers to late-night dining, this casual eatery serves a variety of cuisines prepared à la minute.

An infinity oasis of blue and two whirlpools are steps away from The Pool House.  In the evening, the perfect venue for deck parties and open-air movies.

Suites 505 – 513; 515; 517; 519 (upper suite living area with terrace); total measures 611 SQ FT / 57 SQ M plus terrace 81 SQ FT / 7.5 SQ M.

The Terrace Mid Suites

Suites 518; 520 - 545; (538 and 541 wheelchair accessible); measures 300 SQ FT / 28 SQ M plus terrace 54 - 81 SQ FT / 5 - 7.5 SQ M.

The Terrace Suites

Suites 501 – 504; 514; 516; measures 300 SQ FT / 28 SQ M plus terrace 54 - 81 SQ FT / 5 - 7.5 SQ M.

Creative interpretations of Southeast Asian cuisine are paired with sophisticated, laidback luxury in this sleek, contemporary restaurant.

This intimate cocktail lounge serves top labels from around the world, as well as premium Champagnes with caviar pairings.

Indulge in a specialty dining experience designed by Chef Sven Elverfeld of Aqua, the three Michelin-starred restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton®, Wolfsburg.

The Signature Mid Suites

Suites 624; 626; 627; 629; 634; (636 wheelchair accessible); 637; 639; measures 429 SQ FT / 40 SQ M plus terrace 81 - 118 SQ FT / 7.5 - 11 SQ M.

The Signature Suites

Suites 615 – 618; measures 429 SQ FT / 40 SQ M plus terrace 81 - 118 SQ FT / 7.5 - 11 SQ M.

Suites 622; 625; 628; 630 – 633; 635; 638; 640 – 643; 645; measures 300 SQ FT / 28 SQ M plus terrace 54 - 81 SQ FT / 5 - 7.5 SQ M.

Suites 601 – 614; 619 – 621; 623; measures 300 SQ FT / 28 SQ M plus terrace 54 - 81 SQ FT / 5 - 7.5 SQ M.

The Owner's Suites

Suites 736; 737; measures 1091 SQ FT / 101 SQ M plus terrace 635 SQ FT / 59 SQ M.

The View Suites

Suites 732 & 733 measure 544 SQ FT / 51 SQ M plus terrace 108 SQ FT / 10 SQ M; Suites 734 & 735 measure 574 SQ FT / 53 SQ M plus terrace 129 SQ FT / 12 SQ M.

The Grand Suites

Suites 701; 702; 711; 730; 731; measures 587 SQ FT / 55 SQ M plus terrace 108 - 118 SQ FT / 10 - 11 SQ M.

Suites 714 – 717; 724 - 727; measures 429 SQ FT / 40 SQ M plus terrace 81 - 118 SQ FT / 7.5 - 11 SQ M.

Suites 703 – 708; measures 429 SQ FT / 40 SQ M plus terrace 81 - 118 SQ FT / 7.5 - 11 SQ M.

Suites 712; 713; 718 – 723; 728; 729; measures 300 SQ FT / 28 SQ M plus terrace 54 - 81 SQ FT / 5 - 7.5 SQ M.

Suites 709 – 710; measures 300 SQ FT / 28 SQ M plus terrace 54 - 81 SQ FT / 5 - 7.5 SQ M.

Come as you are, for lunch or a romantic dinner al fresco. The seafood bar features fresh local catches while prime cuts are prepared to order from the grill.

Suites 805; 811 - 814; 819 - 822; measures 587 SQ FT / 55 SQ M plus terrace 108 - 118 SQ FT / 10 - 11 SQ M.

Suite 802; measures 429 SQ FT / 40 SQ M plus terrace 81 - 118 SQ FT / 7.5 - 11 SQ M.

Suites 807 – 810; 815 – 818; 823 - 824; measures 300 SQ FT / 28 SQ M plus terrace 54 - 81 SQ FT / 5 - 7.5 SQ M.

Suites 801; 803; 804, 806; measures 300 SQ FT / 28 SQ M plus terrace 54 - 81 SQ FT / 5 - 7.5 SQ M.

The Gym is home to a health and wellness program that integrates fitness and spa with lectures and nutrition and can be customized for each guest.

The Ritz-Carlton Spa®

A wide variety of locally inspired treatments are offered indoors or out. Plus a full-service Beauty Lounge, a Gentleman’s Grooming Salon, and more.

The Humidor

An intimate lounge with premium cognacs and fine, hand-rolled cigars showcased in the state-of-the-art humidor.

The Observation Lounge

Top-deck views erase the borders between land and sea. Perfect for lounging, socializing, sunset cocktails and late-night dancing. 

First look: Inside the new Ritz-Carlton cruise ship Evrima, which finally debuts this week

Evrima is finally here. Really. Or so they say.

The long-delayed debut of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection , the new cruising arm of luxury hotel chain Ritz-Carlton , will actually happen on Saturday, according to the company. Its first ship, the 298-passenger Evrima, is finally finished and will begin its first sailing.

The brand even sent photos to prove it.

As you can see in the Ritz-Carlton-shot images on this page, Evrima is an upscale, yachtlike vessel with a sleek, sloping front that will be right at home nestled among the megayachts anchored off Monaco or St. Barts.

As the company promised when it announced the brand, the 10-deck-high vessel's interiors have an elegant, residential look designed to appeal to Ritz-Carlton regulars. Among marquee spaces is the top-of-the-ship Observation Lounge, which offers views over the bow from curving, floor-to-ceiling windows. There's also an interior "living room" that will serve as a central gathering point on the ship, photos of which the brand did not provide.

As can be seen in the photos, Evrima's 149 cabins are spacious. They include two-story Loft Suites that measure 611 square feet, not including 81-square-foot balconies.

There also are two massive, 1,091-square-foot Owner's Suites at the back of the vessel with giant, 635-square-foot wraparound balconies.

The company didn't provide images of the Owner's Suites but offered a peek inside a Loft Suite and smaller Grand Suites and Signature Suites. The latter two categories of rooms still are large by cruise ship standards at 587 square feet and 427 square feet, respectively, not including balcony space. All of these suite categories offer living room space with spots for dining, as well as bedrooms.

As can be seen in the photos, there's also lots of deck-top lounge space for sunning, including a back-of-the-ship area with a small pool on Deck 8 called the Mistral Terrace and a forward-looking area on Deck 9 called the Spa Terrace. The Mistral Terrace doubles as a venue for alfresco lunch and dinner, with a seafood bar and prime cuts of meat grilled to order.

Another lounge space called the Marina Terrace is closer to the waterline at the ship's rear-facing marina area.

In addition to a main restaurant called the Evrima Room, Evrima has four dining venues that, notably, include an a la carte restaurant designed by Sven Elverfeld of the three-Michelin-starred Aqua in The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg in Germany .

There also is a spa on the vessel. The line didn't provide images of the Elverfeld restaurant or the spa.

Evrima's first sailing on Saturday will be a seven-night trip from Barcelona to Nice, France, that will include stops in Spain's Balearic islands of Alcudia and Palma de Mallorca, plus an overnight in St. Tropez, France.

Whether the ship really is ready to run at the sort of luxury level Ritz-Carlton fans expect remains to be seen. The ship has been plagued by construction problems for years, resulting in a succession of eight delays that have pushed back its arrival by nearly three years. The company initially used a shipyard to build Evrima that had little experience constructing upscale vessels .

The repeated delays have led to waves of trip cancellations over the past three years that have left would-be customers frustrated. TPG's inbox is full of emails from passengers on canceled sailings that feel let down by the company.

Assuming Evrima does begin sailing on Saturday, it will be debuting nearly 33 months behind schedule — a backup of a magnitude rarely seen in the cruise shipbuilding space. It was originally scheduled to begin sailing in February 2020.

Evrima is just one of a number of relatively small, yachtlike cruise ships that are coming to market as hospitality brands see demand for intimate, high-end vessels. Emerald Cruises earlier this year unveiled its first yachtlike ocean cruise vessel , the 100-passenger Emerald Azzurra, after several years of only operating river ships. And just last month, luxury hotel chain Four Seasons announced plans to launch a yachtlike, 190-passenger cruise vessel by 2025.

Luxury cruise operator Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours also is in the midst of adding high-end, 228-passenger, yachtlike vessels .

Rising 10 decks high and with capacity for nearly 300 passengers, Evrima is notably bigger than the vessels operated by these other brands, though it still has a yachtlike shape.

Evrima is just the first of several vessels that Ritz-Carlton plans for its new cruising arm. In March, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection announced that two more vessels for the brand would be built at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France — a shipyard with far more experience in cruise shipbuilding than the shipyard that initially built Evrima.

The two new Ritz-Carlton vessels, which will be bigger than Evrima, are scheduled to debut in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

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Review: Ritz-Carlton Evrima

What is the cruise line?  Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

Name of ship?   Evrima

Passenger occupancy?  298

Itinerary?  European (Mediterranean), Transatlantic, & Caribbean itineraries

Start out with the big picture—what is this cruise line known for?  Ritz-Carlton’s foray into cruising melds small-ship (or mega yacht, depending on your past sea experience) journeys with plenty of scenery options: the European Mediterranean (with routes ranging from Turkey to the Canary Islands) spring through fall, and the Caribbean (San Juan to St. Bart’s) in winter. The 624-foot Evrima , which is the first in a fleet of three ships emerging over the next few years, is an antidote to mega cruises that still feels massive to anyone who’s ever truly yachted.

Guests are on the younger side of the luxury cruising market (the majority being under 55) and primarily culture-loving travelers with a dearth of cruising experience—about 80 percent of guests (so far) have never cruised before, Ritz-Carlton says—eager to explore fabulous ports of call ranging from small (French villages like Sanary-sur-mer) to standard (Bridgetown, Barbados). Clear focuses on cuisine, relaxation, and small entertainment offerings like live music trios and high tea make this feel like a luxury hotel you never want to leave—one that just so happens to be floating at sea. The first of two sister ships, dubbed Ilma, debuts in 2024. A twin ship to the Evrima is slated for arrival in 2025.

Tell us about the ship in general Five deck levels (of nine total) open to guests and hold six restaurants, 149 suite-style cabins, four pools, cigar humidor, two bars (the interior Living Room and top-floor al fresco Observation Deck), a beauty salon and  spa deck , a water-level marina terrace with water toys, and a fitness center. Launched in late 2022 after several years of planning and 14 months of delays, it’s a mega-yachting experience that feels more focused on connections with the destination and the people around you—guests and staff alike. Only very slightly smaller than comparable ships by Crystal, Regent, Silversea, and Seabourn vessels, Evrima manages to feel incredibly intimate thanks to its fewer guests (guest capacity is about  half those of its competitors), relaxed pace, and overnight ports of call for plenty of time to go ashore.

Who is onboard?  Parents in need of a getaway without their teenagers, newly retired folks, and the occasional family with one or two (very well-behaved) kids who can spend their afternoons at the kid’s club. This is not a particularly family-focused offering—there’s one medium-sized pool and a few pool/hot tub options placed around the decks—but thanks to a small daycare option onboard there may be a few token kids around during the day. By night, the vibe is more adults-only, with rowdy singalongs at the Observation Deck champagne and piano bar, and sultry jazz vibes taking over the interior Living Room common space. Dining options also have a squarely adult feel, although they range in formality from casual light bites and bowls between pool sessions, to the 28-seat, reservations-required venue S.E.A., whose Mediterranean-inspired menu includes trademark dishes from the Michelin-starred restaurant Aqua, of the Ritz-Carlton Wolfsburg in Germany.

Describe the cabins  All 149 cabins are suites with their own sea-facing balcony—no interior rooms here. Sizes range from 300-square-foot Terrace suites to 575-square-foot View suites, 600-square-foot two-story Lofts, and the crown jewel Owner’s Suite for over 1,000 square feet of luxury complete with a hot tub on the additional 635 square feet of terrace. The base level Terrace suites are spacious in themselves, with double vanities, a walk-in shower stocked with Dyptique toiletries, a tea and coffee bar, wine-stocked mini fridge, and six-by-ten-foot balconies—but upgrading to a Signature or Grand doesn’t hurt if you want some extra space in the form of a sitting area or bathtub.

Tell us about the crew   Evrima crew are about as seasoned as they come—Marriott vetted tens of thousands of industry veterans to select 250 staff, ranging from deck crew to your cabin’s personal butler (also called concierge), all of whom are dubbed the ship’s Ladies and Gentlemen. Personal concierges are unstuffy (it’s less white-glove butler service and more of a blazer-donning personal assistant) and can handle everything from dinner and shore-experience reservations to arranging the unpacking of your suitcase—all while you’re off enjoying the ship or a docking; a Ritz-Carlton Yacht Journeys app downloaded to your phone on arrival keeps them just a text message away at all time. Servers and deck crew are cordially chatty, full of recommendations, and can be one in the same at times—you may notice some swapping their daytime deck uniform for server’s clothes to pour your wine or bartend in the evenings. Impressively, there’s also an art curator onboard offering up tours of the ship’s sprawling collection.

But titles feel almost superfluous aboard Evrima , where everyone from the tender drivers to food and beverage leads will pause to actually get to know you, and recall your name and story (and even your drink order) throughout your stay to make the entire experience feel organic and warm. It’s almost like you’re spending the night in someone’s home (which just so happens to be a 624-foot mega yacht). There were some service issues on the inaugural sailing that I joined (no doubt the result of staffing and sourcing shortages) but each snag was met with a graceful recovery or some spell-binding experience that would make you forget. The personal feel of the ship lended to some truly magical moments; one spirited deck crew/dining server on my sailing hitting the Observation Deck lounge’s piano-bar stage to sing Adele one evening (after some fellow staff let slip she was an incredible singer) is one example that had the ship buzzing for days on end.

What food and drink options are available on board?  All meals and drinks (with some exceptions; see below) are included on Evrima . The ship’s six dining venues range in formality from the bow-nestled Pool House for light bites and breakfast, to the 28-seat, reservations-required tasting menu at S.E.A. created by Michelin-starred chef Sven Elverfeld of the Ritz-Carlton Wolfsburg in Germany. In between there’s the elevated-casual Mistral for al fresco Mediterranean favorites like rack of lamb and seared scallops; the Evrima Room for white-table-cloth dining with wine pairings; and Talaat Nam for Thai-fusion and sushi options. There’s also the Living Room for pastries, coffee, and snacks (plus high tea once or so per sailing), in-suite dining all day long, and the Observation Deck champagne bar for drinks near the adjacent whiskey-stocked humidor.

S.E.A. is an add-on fee for the multi-course tasting menu (plus extra if you want wine pairings), but well worthwhile if you’re interested in experiencing the signature dishes of a Michelin-star restaurant to mix up the dining scenery on the ship—the plates are small tasting sizes, but come well-paced and along with a bread basket; the experience is slightly more laid back than most Michelin-star venues, and you’ll certainly be full by the conclusion. (There are also some wine and dining upgrades available at other dining spaces around the ship that cost extra, mostly in the high-end Evrima Room.)

Is there a spa on board and is it worth visiting?   Evrima 's spa is a must-do thanks to its sprawling relaxation deck perfect for a post-treatment nap or hot tub soak with a fresh juice or champagne in hand—all while the picturesque shoreline goes by (Monaco was in view on my particular visit to the spa deck). As Ritz-Carlton already has the firepower of a beloved spa concept, the at-sea version of its signature massage delivers: Knowledgeable and experienced therapists who customize treatments to your needs, plus aromatherapy-forward techniques, ESPA products, and high-tech treatment rooms all had me feeling more like I was at a spa retreat rather than floating somewhere off the Cote d’Azur.

Activities and entertainment  The antidote to big cruises, Evrima has plenty of free time and overnight ports of call in its sailings so you can head ashore for a day, or even an entire evening late into the night—gallavanting, dining, and imbibing with new friends met aboard. And the replacement for shore excursions? Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection's “shore experiences” with local guides leave plenty of free time for your own adventures (also for a fee), plus multi-day dockings encouraging passengers to step ashore on their own to explore the mainland by day or night. Onboard, live-music in communal bar areas await groups when they return to the ship in the evening.

If you're set on staying aboard however, there's plenty to do between the pool's loungers, scattered hot tubs, the marina terrace's water toys, five included restaurants (only S.E.A. costs extra), high tea in the Living Room on sea days, endless spa treatments plus the onboard salon (haircuts, man/pedis, and facials galore), morning yoga sessions on the bow, humidor for a scotch and cigar in the evenings, or—if you care to even bother—the state of the art gym complete with a trainer.

How was the experience for families?  The kids club is small and limited-use, but there for anyone with kids in tow—CEO Doug Prothero's own two kids tested out the program on the inaugural sailing in 2022 to make sure it has all the trappings little ones need: a play room and soft-play area, books, games, and in-house nannies borrowed from the staff when they're needed. This service is also an extra cost, with rates of $45 per three-hour window, per child.

Where did it sail and how were the excursions? Did anything stand out?  Excursions on the Europe circuit include historic city-center tours, winery visits, and workshops like perfume-making and cooking classes. Ports of call can be surprisingly small, resulting in anchorings well offshore that mean guests take a small boat (called a tender) to port—which allows the relatively small vessel to reach areas most cruise ships can't, like quaint South of France villages and idyllic Caribbean ports. On sea days, enjoy programming like high tea and live entertainment while the shoreline whizzes by.

Anything we missed As someone who's prone to motion sickness (and was nervous about spending a few days aboard a small ship, accordingly) I had no issue thanks to the brisk speed of the brief morning sailings (the France route only sails for a few hours at a time during the day, and overnight) and mostly smooth water conditions. But it's wise to pack some non-drowsy motion sickness medicine for any rough sailings spent in the interior of the ship, especially if you're sensitive to vertigo.

Finally, give a sentence or two on why the cruise is worth booking. There's no denying the 623-foot, 300-guest ship is still something of a playground—you could fit three mega yachts (which start at about 60 meters) on the length of Evrima . It’s perfect for those who dream of a Below Deck -style getaway with enough space to make new friends. But it still manages to feel special, especially in its quiet spaces and the moments between tiring yourself out ashore and getting a nightcap amid the Observation Deck’s rowdy piano bar singalongs.

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