by I had waited five years for this reunion, eagerly envisioning it amid the minarets and worldly romance of Casablanca, where the Oscar-winning film still casts a nostalgic shadow.
Admittedly, this did not match the emotional relationships of the Hollywood classic, and the reality, as we drove on crowded highways passing tall ultra-modern hotels in an excuse to hit a taxi, was no less not significant.
But as we pulled into port there before us was Evrima, gleaming like a precious pearl in this industrial wasteland, all slender lines and smooth contours, in stark contrast to the surrounding battalion of dusty cranes and tightly stacked shipping containers.
The last time I laid eyes on this glamorous mega-yacht was in October 2018 when the bare metal hull slid down the slope of the Galician shipyard where it was built, into the waters of the North Atlantic, ready to go under seaworthy tests.
It was a moment of celebration, confirming the arrival of the Ritz-Carlton hotel giant into the world of ocean cruising with the first of three superyachts managed under the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.
This glittering newcomer promised to bring the world of quality hotel hospitality to the oceans. But her inaugural trip was plagued by complications; Shipyard problems, the Covid pandemic and resulting supply issues delayed Evrima’s launch eight times before the megayacht was called off on her maiden voyage from Barcelona in October 2022 – two and a half years behind schedule schedule.
As I walked up the canal a year later in October 2023, I was eagerly anticipating what this “new era of yacht-style cruising” – costing more than £1,000 per night – compared to traditional high speed sea experiences. .
The differences were immediate and clear. There was no large atrium or reception, but instead the Living Room, a chilled lounge area flowing across the width of the yacht. This was the central hub where guests gathered, immersing themselves in books from the library or gathering apéritifs and hors d’oeuvres to the lilting notes of live music.
Evrima’s cool and contemporary vibe is reminiscent of boutique hotel chic, with muted shades of lavender and chocolate, dark smoky woods and leather panels, vivid with flashes of sienna, emerald green and tangerine. Walls and filled spaces were decorated with modern works of art.
Such class effortlessly extended to our two-level loft suite, one of six different types on this all-suite ship, packing a wow factor with an upstairs living area plus a balcony or “private terrace” and downstairs bedroom (where my first instinct was to start playing with the electronic blinds and lighting controls with a touch pad) and marble-cloaked en suite.
With just 298 guests, I found the environment on board Evrima more cliquey than on other exclusive ships. Maybe because, after I joined this cruise part way through, everyone had already caught up, but I missed the camaraderie that is usually an essential part of small ship cruises.
But then Evrima does not attract the usual cruising crowd. They are a younger group, mostly American and mostly in their 50s, with about half having never been on a cruise before and 40 percent dipping their immaculately manicured toes into the Ritz-Carlton waters after sampling make the hotels of the chain.
What bound them together was a rich aura emanating from their lavishly expensive wardrobes and their suspiciously smooth complexions.
This was a world of the rich and the under-rich, as evidenced in the Evrima designer store where I spied Cartier watches and Chanel bags retailing for a cool £5,580, although I was too late for all three bags Hermès Birkin which cost almost £16,000 in the already cut up piece.
As we sailed towards Tenerife we dined in five restaurant style – a good account for such a vessel, enjoying the curries and noodles from the Asian specialty Talaat Nam, succulent surf and turf at the Mistral in the pleasant open air and exquisite melting. Beef carpaccio in the mouth in the main restaurant Evrima Room.
Unlike traditional cruise ships, there was no buffet area, but the Pool House’s casual dining scene did a good job with breakfast bites and lunchtime burgers and poke bowls.
The main gourmet draw – and the only venue that costs extra – was SEA, led by chef Sven Elverfeld of Aqua, a Ritz-Carlton property in the three-Michelin-starred German city of Wolfsburg, home to unique flavors for our seven-course “culinary tour”. beautifully presented, although I wasn’t sure the £318pp turning fee was justified.
But I started to wonder if it was just me because this crowd of money didn’t seem to have prices and talk of a Brazilian family splashing around £2,000 on wines during one meal – it’s easy to do when the wine list is full of vintages. costing four figures, topped off with a bottle of Montrachet Grand Cru 2006 for a wallet-busting £15,300.
Claiming one of the highest space ratios at sea Evrima never felt overcrowded, with two infinity pools and hot tubs dotted across various sun decks, although the poor conditions of the Marina Deck were disappointing and his water toys at the back of the ship. .
To add to the yacht’s family appeal, there is a Ritz Kids club; empty on our sailing, although it was the opposite for the Spa Ritz-Carlton which has five treatment rooms, all with al fresco terraces, enjoyed by a constant number of patrons.
Reminders of the Ritz-Carlton heritage were all around, with its distinctive crest adorning the ship’s stationery and our super-soft bathtubs. So how did Evrima live up to his holy lineage?
This relative newcomer no doubt ticks the same awesome boxes. With an almost one-to-one crew-to-guest ratio, including our own personal concierges, the service was certainly attentive (as on other luxury cruise lines), although a little fine-tuning wouldn’t go amiss.
But as a swanky vanguard, this supercar holds its own in the most stylish of ways, promising an enticing taste of the jet-set lifestyle that will make you a million bucks – no matter what your bank balance reads.
Fundamentals
Sara Macefield was a guest at The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection (0800 048 8667; ritzcarltonyachtcollection.com). The 10-night sailing from Venice to Civitavecchia, including Dubrovnik, Kotor, Amalfi and Capri, costs from £10,528pp including gratuities, drinks and WiFi. Departs July 28; additional flights
