While I’ve reviewed hundreds of airlines, airport lounges, and hotels, this will be my first time ever reviewing a cruise. I recently spent three nights sailing on Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Evrima. I’ve been fascinated by the general trend of luxury hotel groups starting their own cruise lines (well, or more accurately, licensing their names out),…
Continue reading: Review: Sailing On Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Evrima Ship (Lovely!)
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
“My first cruise review…..” Well Lucky, I reckon you knocked it out of the park!! Stunning review of a stunning ship. Well done.
Please allow me to repeat the comment I made on your initial post as to your booking and impression of your cruise:
"I'm glad you enjoyed your cruise, though somewhat surprised in making the booking you were not offered the usual promotional rates Ritz Carlton offers to partner travel agents, which would be substantially less than what you paid. (Perhaps you have a policy against booking reduced travel agent fam fares). I hope in your full review you will give proper recognition to Ritz Carlton Yachts having contracted with V. Ships Leisure. V.Ships Leisure (a division of V.Group) provides comprehensive ship management services for The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. While Ritz-Carlton handles the brand experience, sales, and marketing, they have partnered with V.Ships to manage the technical and operational complexities of their fleet. Under their long-term strategic partnership, V.Ships Leisure handles several key operational areas for the yachts, including:
- Technical Management: Overseeing the maintenance, engineering, and overall technical health of the vessels.
- Crewing & Recruitment: Sourcing and managing qualified deck, engine, and hotel crew members.
- Marine Procurement: Managing the supply chain and purchasing for ship operations.
-Safety & Compliance: Ensuring the yachts meet all international maritime rules, regulations, and safety standards.
-ShipSure Platform: Utilizing V.Ships' proprietary digital platform for real-time data and operational oversight"
https://vgrouplimited.com/ship-management/leisure/
@ Ben -- Time for you guys to do a Seabourn cruise to Antarctica. Our only cruise, and it was amazing. Very high end and an incredible trip you won't regret! Unfortunately, you'd have to leave the kiddos at home.
Thanks fo r a great and comprehensive review, Lucky!
Keep the cruise reviews coming. Bothsmall and larger. ships have their charms. Pro tip: there is a ceiling to ship sizes being enjoyable.
I miss when your reviews weren’t focused on things that are exclusive to the top 1%. I’m actually part of that group, but I don’t waste my money on stupid things like this.
I appreciate the time you took to write this piece, but boy was that long. I got bored halfway through and came down to look for some entertainment in the comments.
It’s a small boat to take you to and from land when the larger ship can’t dock.
I’m interested to hear how the experience compares to your FS cruise. I can imagine the quality on FS to be stellar, but I genuinely love the fact that the ritz cruises are all-inclusive.
Horlicks Cam!
“Tendering” has absolutely nothing to do with ships, boats or boat tender vessels.
“Tendering” refers to the process of inviting and submitting bids for contracts, where companies compete to offer the best price or service for a job or supply of goods. It is commonly used in business to ensure competitive pricing and quality.
The constant misuse of the English language on this website is appalling, don’t you know. Ben, should know better!
Ben, you should note that the practice of moving passengers from ship to shore is not by means of “Tendering”. The practice might well be undertaken using a boat’s tender, however, it is not an act of “Tendering”.
Get a grip lad!
What a thorough review! We sail RCYC twice a year back and forth to Europe. It’s a really dreamy way to skip the airports. One of the things we love most is the included room service. We start every with lox and bagels and a bottle of champagne (aka Ritz Water) on our terrace. Also as soon as board we ask for a bottle of our favorite gin plus tonics in the fridge. Our room ambassador brings ice and sliced lines every day for en afternoon drink on our terrace. For those with Ambassador Elite status, laundry is free and they do a beautiful job.
Thank you for this amazing and detailed review, Ben! I had a blast reading it. Could you specify more on the type of guests? Old money/new money, influencers or more discrete crowd, age range? If Id do this it would be with either family or group of young adult friends, so would love to know!
for someone part of the 1% you sure prove that money doesn't buy class. what a rude comment!
While I got this information directly from the V.Ships Leisure website, I understand it is no longer the case. In that regard I received the following clarification from Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection: "V Ships was involved early in RCYC operations, but no longer. Today they do provide some preliminary recruitment services. They do not hire or manage RCYC crew onboard. Hotel and F&B services, as well as Marine operations are managed by RCYC under Rachel Moosa's leadership as Chief People Officer and Jens Gorka as Chief Shipboard Operations Officer Whiel some cruise lines outsource operations to VShips, that is not the case with RCYC."
Thank you, Ben, for experiencing the cruise sector after your 20 year hiatus. I haver found your review to be of great interest and look forward to your next cruise report. Since you are focusing on the luxury segment (though no doubt I can imagine your taking your children on a Disney cruise in a few years, considering your post on your Disneworld visit), I though you might find the following post on Linkedin from Larry Pimentel, a highly respected former executive in the luxury cruise sector (I first met him when he was President of Seabourn Cruises, before its acquisition by Carnival). Larry is now the Cruise Executive-In-Residence at the FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism.
"Nearly 40 luxury cruise ships in the next 10 years, for now .... the new battleground?
The luxury cruise ship orderbook tells a very clear story: this is no longer a niche side‑show, but a multi‑decade capital commitment to high‑yield, small‑ship luxury.
From now through 2027 alone, more than three dozen new luxury vessels are scheduled to enter service, led by the debuts of Four Seasons and Orient Express at sea and the rapid scaling of Explora Journeys to a six‑ship fleet by 2028. The orderbook then stretches well into the mid‑2030s, with continued tonnage from Viking, Regent, Oceania, Crystal and others, locking in growth for more than a decade.
What stands out is not just the volume, but the profile of the ships and brands:
• Almost all of the newbuilds sit in the 90–1,400 guest range, emphasizing space, intimacy and itinerary flexibility over raw scale.
• The entrance of hotel luxury names such as Four Seasons, Orient Express and Aman at Sea confirms that the lines between “cruise” and high‑end land‑based hospitality are blurring fast.
• Existing cruise brands like Explora Journeys, Viking, Regent, Oceania, Crystal, Emerald and Scenic are committing to long‑cycle fleet plans that assume resilient demand from affluent travelers—and sustained pricing power at the top of the market.
For industry professionals, this orderbook is effectively a strategy map of the next decade:
• Competitive dynamics will be defined less by “who is building?” and more by how each brand positions its hardware—yacht versus classic luxury, expedition versus warm‑water, hotel‑heritage versus cruise‑heritage.
• Ports and destinations can expect more calls from small, high‑yield ships, forcing a rethink of berth design, premium experiences ashore and community impact at a luxury price point.
• Capital providers are betting that luxury cruising will remain one of the most defensible segments in travel, even through future economic cycles.
For students and emerging leaders in cruise and hospitality, this is required reading. Hidden in a simple orderbook are big questions:
• Which guest segments are these ships really built for?
• Where will differentiation come from once everyone has beautiful, small luxury ships?
• How will talent, service culture and ESG performance keep pace with the hardware?"
I saw that included alcohol list and thought, champagne tasting, gin tasting, rum tasting, bourbon tasting, port tasting....
The grande suite's design is a little disappointing. That whole wall next to the dining set is just beige. And aren't the TVs quite small for any 2021 construction, let alone a 5 star cruise experience.
“My first cruise review…..” Well Lucky, I reckon you knocked it out of the park!! Stunning review of a stunning ship. Well done.
Mmm Now I am hungry. Great selection of food.
Please allow me to repeat the comment I made on your initial post as to your booking and impression of your cruise:
"I'm glad you enjoyed your cruise, though somewhat surprised in making the booking you were not offered the usual promotional rates Ritz Carlton offers to partner travel agents, which would be substantially less than what you paid. (Perhaps you have a policy against booking reduced travel agent fam fares). I hope in your full review you will give proper recognition to Ritz Carlton Yachts having contracted with V. Ships Leisure. V.Ships Leisure (a division of V.Group) provides comprehensive ship management services for The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. While Ritz-Carlton handles the brand experience, sales, and marketing, they have partnered with V.Ships to manage the technical and operational complexities of their fleet. Under their long-term strategic partnership, V.Ships Leisure handles several key operational areas for the yachts, including:
- Technical Management: Overseeing the maintenance, engineering, and overall technical health of the vessels.
- Crewing & Recruitment: Sourcing and managing qualified deck, engine, and hotel crew members.
- Marine Procurement: Managing the supply chain and purchasing for ship operations.
-Safety & Compliance: Ensuring the yachts meet all international maritime rules, regulations, and safety standards.
-ShipSure Platform: Utilizing V.Ships' proprietary digital platform for real-time data and operational oversight"
https://vgrouplimited.com/ship-management/leisure/
While I got this information directly from the V.Ships Leisure website, I understand it is no longer the case. In that regard I received the following clarification from Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection: "V Ships was involved early in RCYC operations, but no longer. Today they do provide some preliminary recruitment services. They do not hire or manage RCYC crew onboard. Hotel and F&B services, as well as Marine operations are managed by RCYC under Rachel Moosa's leadership as Chief People Officer and Jens Gorka as Chief Shipboard Operations Officer Whiel some cruise lines outsource operations to VShips, that is not the case with RCYC."
@ Ben -- Time for you guys to do a Seabourn cruise to Antarctica. Our only cruise, and it was amazing. Very high end and an incredible trip you won't regret! Unfortunately, you'd have to leave the kiddos at home.
Thanks fo r a great and comprehensive review, Lucky!
Keep the cruise reviews coming. Bothsmall and larger. ships have their charms. Pro tip: there is a ceiling to ship sizes being enjoyable.
Stuart Falk forgot to take his medicine today
Please explain what it means to be "tender", "tendering", and "tendered"
Horlicks Cam!
“Tendering” has absolutely nothing to do with ships, boats or boat tender vessels.
“Tendering” refers to the process of inviting and submitting bids for contracts, where companies compete to offer the best price or service for a job or supply of goods. It is commonly used in business to ensure competitive pricing and quality.
The constant misuse of the English language on this website is appalling, don’t you know. Ben, should know better!
I miss when your reviews weren’t focused on things that are exclusive to the top 1%. I’m actually part of that group, but I don’t waste my money on stupid things like this.
for someone part of the 1% you sure prove that money doesn't buy class. what a rude comment!
I appreciate the time you took to write this piece, but boy was that long. I got bored halfway through and came down to look for some entertainment in the comments.
Try Explora next!
I’m interested to hear how the experience compares to your FS cruise. I can imagine the quality on FS to be stellar, but I genuinely love the fact that the ritz cruises are all-inclusive.
Ben, you should note that the practice of moving passengers from ship to shore is not by means of “Tendering”. The practice might well be undertaken using a boat’s tender, however, it is not an act of “Tendering”.
Get a grip lad!
What a thorough review! We sail RCYC twice a year back and forth to Europe. It’s a really dreamy way to skip the airports. One of the things we love most is the included room service. We start every with lox and bagels and a bottle of champagne (aka Ritz Water) on our terrace. Also as soon as board we ask for a bottle of our favorite gin plus tonics in the fridge. Our room ambassador brings ice and sliced lines every day for en afternoon drink on our terrace. For those with Ambassador Elite status, laundry is free and they do a beautiful job.
Thank you for this amazing and detailed review, Ben! I had a blast reading it. Could you specify more on the type of guests? Old money/new money, influencers or more discrete crowd, age range? If Id do this it would be with either family or group of young adult friends, so would love to know!
Lucky, what about the entertainment?
Thank you, Ben, for experiencing the cruise sector after your 20 year hiatus. I haver found your review to be of great interest and look forward to your next cruise report. Since you are focusing on the luxury segment (though no doubt I can imagine your taking your children on a Disney cruise in a few years, considering your post on your Disneworld visit), I though you might find the following post on Linkedin from Larry Pimentel, a highly respected former executive in the luxury cruise sector (I first met him when he was President of Seabourn Cruises, before its acquisition by Carnival). Larry is now the Cruise Executive-In-Residence at the FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism.
"Nearly 40 luxury cruise ships in the next 10 years, for now .... the new battleground?
The luxury cruise ship orderbook tells a very clear story: this is no longer a niche side‑show, but a multi‑decade capital commitment to high‑yield, small‑ship luxury.
From now through 2027 alone, more than three dozen new luxury vessels are scheduled to enter service, led by the debuts of Four Seasons and Orient Express at sea and the rapid scaling of Explora Journeys to a six‑ship fleet by 2028. The orderbook then stretches well into the mid‑2030s, with continued tonnage from Viking, Regent, Oceania, Crystal and others, locking in growth for more than a decade.
What stands out is not just the volume, but the profile of the ships and brands:
• Almost all of the newbuilds sit in the 90–1,400 guest range, emphasizing space, intimacy and itinerary flexibility over raw scale.
• The entrance of hotel luxury names such as Four Seasons, Orient Express and Aman at Sea confirms that the lines between “cruise” and high‑end land‑based hospitality are blurring fast.
• Existing cruise brands like Explora Journeys, Viking, Regent, Oceania, Crystal, Emerald and Scenic are committing to long‑cycle fleet plans that assume resilient demand from affluent travelers—and sustained pricing power at the top of the market.
For industry professionals, this orderbook is effectively a strategy map of the next decade:
• Competitive dynamics will be defined less by “who is building?” and more by how each brand positions its hardware—yacht versus classic luxury, expedition versus warm‑water, hotel‑heritage versus cruise‑heritage.
• Ports and destinations can expect more calls from small, high‑yield ships, forcing a rethink of berth design, premium experiences ashore and community impact at a luxury price point.
• Capital providers are betting that luxury cruising will remain one of the most defensible segments in travel, even through future economic cycles.
For students and emerging leaders in cruise and hospitality, this is required reading. Hidden in a simple orderbook are big questions:
• Which guest segments are these ships really built for?
• Where will differentiation come from once everyone has beautiful, small luxury ships?
• How will talent, service culture and ESG performance keep pace with the hardware?"
I saw that included alcohol list and thought, champagne tasting, gin tasting, rum tasting, bourbon tasting, port tasting....
The grande suite's design is a little disappointing. That whole wall next to the dining set is just beige. And aren't the TVs quite small for any 2021 construction, let alone a 5 star cruise experience.