The Ritz-Carlton has officially made its entry into the world of yachting as its first vessel, the 190 metre Evrima, was christened in Lisbon, Portugal.
Evrima, meaning discovery in Greek, saw crowds gathered on her foredeck on November 5, to witness a methuselah of champagne smash against her mast before she embarked on her first season in the Mediterranean and Caribbean.
The firm used the opportunity to confirm that new concept is not aimed at the cruise market. “Nine out of 10 of our guests have never been on a cruise before, that just shows the type of client we are dealing with,” said Douglas Prothero, CEO of the Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection. “You won’t find things like casinos on board, we want guests to explore the places we visit rather than spend all their time on board.”
Catching sight of the vessel tied alongside Lisbon’s cruise terminal, Evrima’s exterior is more in line with the profile of a superyacht than a cruise liner, and features a dark hull, an elongated aft deck and a large swim platform trailing at the waterline. Sitting before Lisbon’s Baroque architecture and lying behind a more traditional cruise ship, the vessel is notably different, far smaller, with no loud address system reverberating around the marina.
“The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is creating an entirely unique category designed for those in search of unmatched getaways, highly curated itineraries, insider access, and a level of personalisation previously unseen in the space,” explains Prothero. “Every element of the luxury yachting experience was considered when designing and creating Evrima, and we are excited to deliver unforgettable journeys for both longtime cruisers and those who are new to the industry.”
From the passerelle, guests will step directly onto the main deck (deck five) which has a typical teak finish before leading into the white carpeted interiors. Polished metal, natural wood finishes and plenty of glass make up the contemporary aesthetic on each of the seven guest decks.
On deck five, the vessel has ample exterior lounging space, including a large aft deck with an infinity pool, sun pads and sofas. Moving up to deck nine, the spa terrace offers an additional lounge area forward, with a whirlpool, sun pads and sofas.
In place of your typical cruise-esque entertainment solutions, Evrima is again centred on elements you would hope to find on board a superyacht and include a wine cellar, humidor, private dining rooms, fitness studio, and an entire deck for the spa.
But, unlike your typical cruise concept, the aim of the project isn’t to encourage guests to stay exclusively on board, it’s to encourage guests to make the most of the ports of call and explore these places with The Shore Collection. The service will help guests with private tours, restaurant bookings, spa treatments and active pursuits.
With itineraries ranging from seven to 10 nights, The Shore Collection service offers a superyacht-style itinerary, with the vessel remaining in smaller ports for longer periods of time, enabling guests to really explore.
However, there is still an opportunity for guests to entertain themselves on board, with several restaurants including, the Evrima Room, which serves up Southeast Asian Cuisine, a sushi bar at Talaat Nam, a private dining experience in S.E.A., by chef Sven Elverfeld of Aqua, the three Michelin-starred restaurants at The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg.
