I had waited five years for this meeting, imagining it among the minarets and earthy romance of Casablanca, where the Oscar-winning film of the same name still casts a nostalgic shadow.
Of course, this would never match the emotionally charged relationships of the Hollywood classic, and the reality of driving in a worn-out pretense of a taxi on congested highways winding past towering ultra-modern hotels was hardly evocative.
But when we pulled into the port, before us was Evrima, shining like a precious pearl in this industrial wasteland; all its sleek lines and smooth lines contrasted sharply with the surrounding battalion of dusty cranes and tightly stacked shipping containers.
The last time I saw this dazzling mega-yacht was in October 2018, when its bare metal hull slid down the slipway of the Galician shipyard where it was built and into the North Atlantic waters. seaworthiness tests
It was a celebratory moment that cemented luxury hotel giant Ritz-Carlton’s arrival into the world of ocean cruising with the first of three luxury superyachts managed under an arm of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.
This flamboyant newcomer promised to bring the gold-standard world of hotel hospitality to the oceans. But the inaugural trip was fraught with difficulties; After shipyard issues, the Covid pandemic and resulting supply issues delayed Evrima’s launch eight times, the mega yacht set sail on its maiden voyage from Barcelona in October 2022, two and a half years behind schedule.
A year later, as I walked the pier in October 2023, I was eagerly awaiting how this “era of yacht-style cruising”, which costs around £1,000 per night, would compare to more traditional, high-end ocean cruise experiences. .
The differences were immediate and clear. There was no large atrium or reception, instead the Living Room, a chilled lounge area that flowed across the width of the yacht. This was the central hub where guests gathered for appetizers and hors d’oeuvres, engrossed in books from the library or accompanied by live music.
Evrima’s cool and contemporary vibe is reminiscent of boutique hotel chic, with soft tones of light brown and chocolate, smoky dark woods and leather panels, and flashes of sienna, emerald green and tangerine. Modernist artworks adorned the walls and spaces.
This effortless lesson extended to our split-level penthouse suite, one of six different types on this all-suite ship; It’s packed with wow factor, with a living area, balcony or “private terrace” upstairs and a bedroom downstairs (my first instinct was there). to start playing with electronic blinds and touchpad lighting controls) and a marble-lined bathroom.
I found the ambiance on Evrima, which has only 298 guests, to be more cliche than other elite ships. Maybe it was because I was partially on this trip that everyone bonded with each other, but I missed the camaraderie that is normally an integral part of small ship cruises.
But Evrima doesn’t attract the usual cruise crowd. A younger group, mostly Americans, mostly in their 50s; Nearly half have never cruised before, and 40 percent are dipping their immaculately manicured toes into the Ritz-Carlton waters after trying the chain’s hotels.
What bound them together was a rich aura radiating from their reassuringly expensive wardrobes and suspiciously smooth skin.
This was the world of the understated and uber-rich, where I marveled at Cartier watches and Chanel bags selling for a cool £5,580, as seen in Evrima’s designer boutique; But I was too late for three Hermès Birkin bags, which cost almost £16,000 each. The piece that has already broken off.
As we sailed towards Tenerife, we dined in style at five restaurants – a good number for such a small ship, enjoying Asian specialties such as curries and noodles at Talaat Nam, delicious surf and turf and delectable melts at the delightful open-air Mistral . Mouthful beef carpaccio at Evrima Room main restaurant.
Unlike traditional cruise ships, there was no buffet venue, but Pool House’s casual dining did a good job with breakfast snacks, lunch burgers, and poke bowls.
The only venue that attracted foodies and cost extra was SEA, led by chef Sven Elverfeld from Aqua, the Ritz-Carlton’s three-Michelin-star property in Wolfsburg, Germany; Here, we had a seven-course “culinary journey” consisting of unique flavors. It’s beautifully presented, but I’m not convinced it justifies the stomach-churning £318 fee.
But I’m starting to question whether it’s just me, as prices don’t seem to be an issue for this moneyed crowd, with mentions of one Brazilian family spending nearly £2,000 on wines for a single meal – which can easily be done when the wine list is full of vintages. for a four-figure price, plus a bottle of Montrachet Grand Cru 2006 for a purse of £15,300.
Claiming to have one of the highest space ratios at sea meant Evrima never felt crowded; two infinity pools and hot tubs positioned on separate sundecks, but harsh conditions meant the Marina Deck and water toys at the ship’s stern were disappointingly off limits. .
There’s a Ritz Kids club to enhance the yacht’s family appeal; It was empty during our sailing, but it was the opposite for the Ritz-Carlton spa, where five treatment rooms, all with outdoor terraces, attracted a steady stream of customers.
Reminders of the Ritz-Carlton heritage were everywhere, with its distinctive coat of arms adorning the ship’s stationery and our super-soft bathrobes. So how did Evrima live up to her sacred lineage?
There’s no doubt that this relative newcomer ticks the same rich boxes. With a nearly one-to-one crew-to-guest ratio, including our own personal concierges, service was certainly attentive (as on other luxury cruise ships), although a little tweaking wouldn’t go amiss.
But a flashy, dazzling superyacht holds her own in the most stylish of ways, promising a seductive taste of the jet-set lifestyle that will leave you feeling like a million bucks, whatever your bank balance.
Fundamentals
Sara Macefield was a guest of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection (0800 048 8667; ritzcarltonyachtcollection.com). The 10-night cruise from Venice to Civitavecchia, including Dubrovnik, Kotor, Amalfi and Capri, costs £10,528 per person, including tips, drinks and wifi. Leaving July 28; extra flights