Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection - Evirma

A Week Aboard the Ritz-Carlton Yacht — Evrima

Luxury, food, ocean air, and the kind of service that ruins you forever

I just returned from our sailing on the Ritz-Carlton Evrima, and I’m still processing how dreamy it was. Everything Ritz promised — and somehow even better. travel time - December 2025

Like A Private Charter — Only 56 Guests

There were only 56 passengers on our voyage (out of 298 possible guests). Let that sink in. It felt like we chartered a mega yacht with friends. We rarely ran into people, hallways were empty, even the tender boat rides felt like VIP transfers.

Ship & Suite

Evrima is the first and smallest yacht of the fleet — only 149 suites — so she’s intimate, elegant, and detailed to perfection. I called it the OG yacht, is built more like a yacht than your normal cruise ship.

We stayed in a Terrace Suite, the entry-level room, but it honestly did not feel “basic.” Spacious layout, balcony, double sinks, lots of closet space, storage, mini fridge, safe, everything you’d expect from Ritz… just floating.

And the service? 4:1 staff to guest ratio. staff remembered our names. Rooms magically cleaned whenever we stepped out. Polished yet warm — Ritz hospitality at its finest.

Food

We travel for food, and Evrima delivered. Not one disappointing bite the entire week.

🍽 Evrima — Local & global dishes, slightly more refined

🍣 Talaat Nam — Asian fusion think sushi, pad thai, bone marrow fried rice.

🥗 Pool House — Casual bites, poolside dining

🌿 Mistral — Mediterranean-inspired, fresh and breezy

🍷 SEA — Specialty dining (paid; we skipped it because everything else was already good enough, we didn't feel the need to try)

Thanks to the low occupancy, no reservations were needed anywhere, and I even made a spa appointment on a sea day, normally impossible for last min bookings.

Favorite Bites

• Miraval lobster pasta — lobster bisque meets pasta heaven. I ordered it multiple times, is one of the original signature dishes that did not get discontinued or modified.

• The yogurt — I know, sounds simple. But fluffy, cloud-light, addictive!!!

• I casually joked that I was craving oxtail (local dish), which wasn’t on the menu…and they made it for us the next day. ❤️ Sea Bass on Evirma was excellent!

My husband had mentioned “I’m not drinking this trip.”Night 1: spots Ao Yun 傲云 (Yunnan Chinese red, Bordeaux-style). He lied.....is a bottle we rarely see anywhere, and was pleasantly surprised to see it on the yacht, I immediately knew he was going to order it.

By mid-trip, he had two new wine buddies and a private Tuscany tasting with the sommelier — under $500 pp, very fair considering other tastings I saw on the list reach $2k pp. ouch!

The included wine list is already solid — I actually had to stop him from ordering more bottles.

Entertainment & Vibe

The kids club is… SMALL. Probably better for very young kids. Glad I didn’t bring my two girls (8 & 14). I would have needed another suite and personally don’t recommend bringing kids unless you have to, I did not see any kids activities on our daily itinerary. I don’t think any suite can accommodate more than 3. I wouldn’t recommend this sailing for younger kids or teens — it’s a slower, refined experience that most underage travelers may not fully appreciate yet.

I was very happy going to the spa every day, and pretty much had the sauna to myself every time. I had a balcony massage by a Thai therapist—Spa is extra cost which is pretty standard. My husband had a shave and facial and fell asleep—which is always a good sign. I enjoyed the peaceful spa lounge with tea, even without a treatment.

The gym is small but perfectly adequate, with:

• cardio + weights

• a yoga space

• Pilates reformer classes (extra fee)

• jacuzzis scattered around the ship

• a small pool with a limited number of loungers

I didn’t end up using the pool, but the jacuzzis? Highly recommend for sunset.

Evrima isn’t about loud cruise-style entertainment — it’s intimate, cultural, slow-luxury. Onboard activities included:

🎨 painting workshops

🍣 sushi making

🍸 mixology classes

🧠 trivia games

I also met the ship’s singer — she performs on Broadway and some evenings she sang for maybe 15 of us. Magical. There was live music throughout the ship — singers, bands, pianists — in Evrima & Mistral during dinner and later in the Living Room.

Different themed nights happened at the top Observatory Lounge (Deck 10) — relaxed dancing, older crowd, slower nightlife energy.

Guests onboard were mostly mature, experienced travelers — the kind of people who don’t need a packed schedule to enjoy life. Think slow mornings, long lunches, champagne sunsets.

Dress code is relaxed yacht chic. Pack:

✔ breezy linens & sundresses✔ wedges or platform sandals✔ something white for the Blanc Party✘ skip stilettos — not ship friendly

I ended up wearing my comfy sandals most of the time.

There’s also a cozy humidor onboard stocked with cigars and a great whiskey selection (additional cost). Perfect for guests — like me — who enjoy a good cigar with an Old Fashioned. It felt very old-money yacht life in the best way.

If you're a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum or higher, you’ll be invited to a special meet-and-greet in the Owner’s Suite. Such a nice perk — and I was lucky enough to attend. Cheers to loyalty paying off. 🥂

Marina Day

When docked and weather allows, they set up inflatable floaties—like an adult water playground with a netted pool in the ocean. I wanted to kayak/paddleboard but weather didn’t cooperate. Swimming inside a netted pool in the middle of the ocean was quite an experience—you fight the current but feel safe at the same time.

Boutique & Perks

The boutique onboard is cute and well-curated, though some items were already sold out during our sailing. I loved the thoughtful surprises we received throughout the week — shore tote bags, ESPA skincare minis, caps, handwritten notes, rose petals on the bed — all those small touches that make you feel SPOILED.

There was even a private Hermès handbag sale in the Owner’s Suite, which was fun to peek at — but prices were above retail and pre-loved, so personally… I’d rather put that money toward another Ritz voyage instead. 😉🤭

Not everything was pricey though — some boutique items were reasonably priced, even on sale. And I especially loved the Peter Millar collaboration pieces for men — stylish, sporty, very yacht-core.

Coming home after a week of 4:1 staff ratio to me serving 4 people at home was the real culture shock. 🤦‍♀️😂

Our Itinerary

San Juan → St. Lucia → Terre-de-Haut (French) → St. John Antigua & Barbuda → Virgin Gorda (BVI) → San Juan

St. Lucia — waking up to the Pitons was unforgettable. Soufrière was less developed than expected—restrooms, shops, roads felt like 1970s—but the natural beauty makes up for it. Tet Paul hiking Trail is a MUST.

I’m obsessed with dark chocolate, so making my own bar from fresh cacao fruit at Hotel Chocolat was one of my favorite experiences. Hard work but delicious!

Terre-de-Haut — quiet, charming, chickens roaming, French food, Euro spending. Like French countryside by the ocean. Wish they allowed only EVs to reduce noise/pollution. Saw conch shells—no conch salad found sadly. 🥹

St.John Antigua & Barbuda — wow, payphones are still a thing here. Cruise port is full of shops/restaurants but walking 5 more min into the town shows old homes, rough roads, chickens… even a donkey. We walked ~5 miles—don’t recommend unless you like raw local reality. Craft market was pretty much empty when we visited, fish market had… too many flies. Immediate nope.

Virgin Gorda, BVI — refreshing after Antigua. The Baths are stunning—beaches, caves, rock climbs, unique landscapes. Many of these islands normally require ferries or flights; luckily our ship reached them with ease.

San Juan — I recommend flying in 1–2 days early to fully explore San Juan. We didn’t, but hired a driver after disembarkation for a private tour. Old San Juan felt very Spanish—loved the fort and marble government building. Some high-end areas were fully gated. Beaches were open to the public (as they should be). No passport required to visit Puerto Rico 🇵🇷, real ID is sufficient. 👍

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J: Where do we go from here?

B: Next Ritz yacht!

Honestly, same. I’m already mentally packing.

If you’re dreaming of your own Ritz-Carlton Yacht escape, I’d love to help you plan it.📩 Janine.Lu@Avoyanetwork.com

Before You Sail — A Few Tips

⚠️ Weight gain is inevitable… and absolutely worth it. 😆

Pack:

• Seasick meds or motion patches (just in case)

• Sunglasses + sunscreen+hats

• Linen, breathable outfits

• Comfy sandals — skip the heels

• Sundresses, cover-ups, swimsuits

• Light layers for evening breeze

  
  

Perks to know:✔ Free Wi-Fi onboard✔ No pressure to rush — slow luxury is the point✔ Relax, unwind, and let the staff spoil you