Evrima: the Riviera and Corsica on a Ritz-Carlton yacht
Nice to Rome by yacht, with a marina off the stern and a children's programme that makes it work for families.
Cruise line
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
Hotel-style luxury on yachts of roughly 300 to 450 guests, with a surprisingly warm welcome for children.
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection runs yacht-like ships with a residential, relaxed luxury hotel feel, a marina at the stern, and a children's programme on board — unusual at this scale.
This is the one that converts people who said they would never cruise. The yachts are small, the design is residential and calm, there is a marina platform at the stern for swimming and water toys when the anchorage allows, and the service feels like a very good hotel rather than a ship.
Unusually for a yacht of this size, there is a children's programme, and the suites include some that connect. That makes it one of very few options for families who want yacht intimacy without leaving the grandchildren at home.
It is not inexpensive, and the itineraries are shorter and more Mediterranean- and Caribbean-focused than the ocean lines. Expedition-minded travellers and those who want long voyages should look elsewhere.
What's included
- All-suite accommodation
- Dining and most drinks
- Gratuities and Wi-Fi
- Marina and water sports when conditions allow
Ships
- Evrima
- Ilma
- Luminara
The ships
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection at sea
Licensed photographs of the actual ships, not brochure renders.
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection's Evrima alongside at Katajanokka in Helsinki Photo: Ilkka Simomaa · CC BY 4.0
On board
What The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is actually like
Four honest notes, in our words, on the things people ask us about most.
- Suites
- All suites with terraces, from around 28 square metres on Evrima to very large duplex owner's suites; the newest yachts, Ilma and Luminara, have the roomiest layouts.
- Dining
- Five or so restaurants including S.E.A. by Sven Elverfeld, a Ritz-Carlton level of service, and the feel of a members' club rather than a cruise ship.
- Facilities
- A marina platform, a pool, a spa and a small gym; the design is residential and quiet, with no theatre or production shows.
- Children
- Ritz Kids runs on board for ages four to twelve, which is unusual for a yacht; still an adult atmosphere, so best for families who want calm.
Who it's for
- Families who want a yacht, not a ship, and have children with them
- Couples who prize design, privacy and a hotel-like atmosphere
- Celebrations: milestone birthdays and anniversaries
- Travellers who have never cruised and do not want to feel as though they are
Who it isn't for
- Travellers wanting long, far-flung itineraries
- Anyone seeking traditional cruise entertainment
- Budget-sensitive parties; this sits at the top of the market
Cruise ideas
Sailings we'd consider with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
Planning figures per person; the final price depends on date, suite and availability.
Not sure The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is the right fit?
Tell us who's travelling and what matters most. We'll say honestly whether we'd book this line for you, or which one we'd choose instead.
Where they sail
Destinations
Mediterranean
The easiest great cruise there is: short flights, famous ports, and a ship for every kind of family.
Greek Islands
Small ships, island overnights, and a late season that runs into October.
Adriatic & Croatia
Venice, Dubrovnik and Kotor in a week, on ships small enough for the old harbours.
Caribbean
Winter sun for the whole family, on ships that make Christmas and half-term easy.
Norwegian Fjords
No long flight, dramatic scenery from your terrace, and a season made for grandparents.
Baltic & Northern Capitals
Copenhagen, Stockholm, Tallinn and Helsinki in a week, with culture the whole way.
Compared
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection against the alternatives
Explora Journeys vs the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
Both are relaxed, modern and welcome children — one is a ship of around 900 guests and the other a yacht of 300 to 450. We compare space, price, children's programmes and where each goes.
The best luxury cruises for grandparents and grandchildren
Which luxury cruise lines actually work when grandparents take the grandchildren: the ships with children's programmes and connecting suites, the ones to avoid, and how we would plan it.
The best luxury cruise for a family of 10
Planning a luxury cruise for ten people: how many cabins, which ships have the connecting suites, where to go, when to book and how to split the cost. Blackbury's working method.
Good to know
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection: questions we're asked
Are children welcome on Ritz-Carlton yachts?
Yes. A children's programme runs on board and some suites connect, which is rare on yachts of this size. It is one of our shortlist options for multigenerational groups who want a small ship.
What is the marina?
A platform that opens at the stern when the yacht is at anchor in calm conditions, for swimming and water sports. It depends on weather, sea state and the port, so we never promise it on a given day.
Further reading
Before you decide on The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
Our own planning notes: who a ship suits, how many cabins to book, when to go.
Seven luxury cruise myths, dispelled by people who sail them
Crowds, buffets, seasickness, feeling trapped, dressing for dinner, children underfoot and the price. What is true of a 3,000-guest ship is mostly untrue of a 300-guest one. Here is what we tell first-time guests.
Why September is the month for a Mediterranean cruise
Warm sea, emptier ports, lower planning figures and the ships we would choose for a late-summer Mediterranean sailing, whether or not you are tied to school terms.
A big birthday, an anniversary, a retirement: celebrating a milestone at sea
Why a ship is one of the easiest places to gather a family for an occasion, what we can arrange on board, and the ships that do celebrations with grace rather than a cake and a song.
Ready to start planning?
Tell us who's travelling, where you'd like to go and what matters most. A cruise specialist shortlists the two or three ships we'd actually recommend.