Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection, there is no substitute

Photographer: Francisco Jose Martinez Mendez

relates to A First Look at the Ritz-Carlton Superyacht: Photos

In an open-air space at the ship’s Marina, catch views of the sea while enjoying cocktails and light bites.
Photographer: Christopher Cypert

The concept

The well-regarded maritime architecture and design firm Tillberg of Sweden worked with a team from the hotel company to create a floating Ritz-Carlton hotel. relates to A First Look at the Ritz-Carlton Superyacht: Photos

Room to spread out

Guests stay in suites with ceilings that are higher than the cruise ship norm, with king-size beds, double-vanity bathrooms, and private outdoor “terraces” overlooking the sea. Also on offer are resort like features such as a supervised Ritz Kids program with its own playroom ($45 per three-hour session) and a Ritz-Carlton-operated spa with indoor and outdoor treatment rooms—as well as indulgences such as a $395 non-surgical lift facial. The 623-foot ship has more space per passenger than any other luxury cruise ship.

relates to A First Look at the Ritz-Carlton Superyacht: Photos
Photographer: Christopher Cypert

Water, water, everywhere

Guests may take in ocean views while sipping complimentary champagne on loungers around the infinity pool or get even closer to water’s edge on the Marina Terrace, where handcrafted cocktails and light bites will be served when the ship is at anchor. From the marina, there are paddleboards, windsurf boards, kayaks, sailboats, and snorkeling equipment to borrow. Four plunge pools scattered around Evrima afford more intimate opportunities to take a dip with views.

relates to A First Look at the Ritz-Carlton Superyacht: Photos
Photographer: Christopher Cypert

First-class dining

The large Evrima Room, the yacht’s main restaurant, features dishes inspired by the line’s destinations. A five-course tasting menu with wine and champagne pairings at S.E.A. (Sven Elverfeld Aboard) was created by Chef Sven Elverfeld of the three-Michelin-starred Aqua at the Ritz-Carlton in Wolfsburg, Germany . At the Talaat Nam restaurant, dine indoors or out on Southeast Asian dishes—or head to the sushi bar. Room service is available 24/7. relates to A First Look at the Ritz-Carlton Superyacht: Photos

The top-deck Observation Room is a socializing and cocktail spot that morphs into a nightclub in the late hours.
Photographer: Christopher Cypert

Nightlife

The ship’s Deck 10 indoor and outdoor Observation Terrace is a social hub—a place to take in views by day and to sip cocktails and enjoy live entertainment by evening. Late at night, the space morphs into a nightclub, with an opportunity to dance under the stars. Evrima has its own resident jazz and classical musicians, and local entertainers will come aboard to perform at select ports of call.

relates to A First Look at the Ritz-Carlton Superyacht: Photos
Outside the Observation Room, enjoy views by day, dancing under the stars by night.
Photographer: Christopher Cypert

Ritz-Carlton service

Every suite on Evrima comes with access to a personal concierge for requests from a cup of coffee to help organizing your shore excursions, as well as a separate concierge ashore to handle requests for private experiences and reservations on land. The goal is the kind of personalized service you expect to find at a Ritz-Carlton hotel: The ship has nearly as many crew members as guests.

relates to A First Look at the Ritz-Carlton Superyacht: Photos
Before or after your treatment at the Ritz-Carlton Spa, hang out on the spa’s hot tub-equipped terrace.
Photographer: Christopher Cypert

Destination focus

In its first year, Evrima sails the Mediterranean and Caribbean on 7- to 10-night itineraries—following the yachting crowd to such hotspots as Ibiza, St. Tropez, Bequia, and St. Barts. Overnights afford time to play on land, and there’s a focus on beyond-the-norm shore excursions. For example, a tour of the Aruba Aloe facility is followed by an aloe-based treatment at the Ritz-Carlton, Aruba, while an evening excursion in Tenerife focuses on cocktail culture. Cruise fares are from $1,000 per person, per night—though you can find some sailings for less.

relates to A First Look at the Ritz-Carlton Superyacht: Photos
At the poolside Mistral, grilled seafood and steaks will be on the menu at lunch and dinner.
Photographer: Christopher Cypert

The competition

Leading luxury cruise bands such as Seabourn (Carnival Corp.) and Silversea (Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd) won’t be the only competition. Late last month, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts announced Four Seasons Yachts, three 190-passenger ships to be built by Italy’s Fincantieri, in partnership with Nadim Ashi, owner of Miami-based Fort Partners (Four Seasons Surf Club in Sunrise, Fla.), and Philip Levine, a former Miami Beach mayor. The first is due in late 2025.

relates to A First Look at the Ritz-Carlton Superyacht: Photos
The yacht’s main Evrima Room restaurant serves locally inspired menus based on cruising destinations.
Photographer: Christopher Cypert

Bonvoy points

Members of the Marriott Bonvoy program can redeem 180,000 points for $1,000 in savings on the cruise fare, with increments of 90,000 points for $500 after that, It’s possible to pay for a 10-day cruise with about 2 million points  See participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels booked through the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection for more information. There are elite credits, too, those with Elite status will receive perks such as an invite to a special cocktail party and, depending on your member status, free laundry.

Seabourn Unveils Dining Options on New Ships

Seabourn Cruise Line has a reputation for offering incredible ultra-luxe cruise experiences. If you’re a fan of Seabourn, they have a treat in store for you. The cruise line is introducing eight fantastic dining experiences on future voyages. These experiences will be available on their brand-new ships, which set sail in June 2021 and May 2022. Check out the details (and get ready to drool!).

These new dining options will provide incredible delicious possibilities for travelers during breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Since Seabourn is an ultra-luxury cruise brand, all experiences are of these complimentary to cruise-goers. These new experiences will be available on the upcoming brand-new ultra-luxury expedition ships.

Check out the eight experiences:

  1. The Restaurant will offer an open-seating fine dining experience. It will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals.
  2. The Colonnade will provide a casual dining outlet for travelers — and will offer both table service or buffet dining or table service during breakfast and lunch hours. A themed table-side dinner is also served here, and family-style menus will be available.
  3. The Patio is a casual alfresco dining experience which can be enjoyed during lunch hours when the weather cooperates.
  4. Sushi in the Club will offer made-to-order sushi during the evening hours.
  5. Seabourn Square provides a hangout space and will serve up coffee, sandwiches, pastries, and homemade gelato. This spot will be open during the day and into the evening hours.
  6. Constellation Lounge offers a place for those who want to start their day early. Beverages and pastries will be served. Afternoon tea and cocktail-hour tapas are also available.
  7. Pantry in the Bow Lounge is a grab and go freshly prepared light fare and refreshments spot.
  8. 24-Hour In-Suite Dining is another option for cruise-goers. Varied menus are available at any time of the day or enjoy The Restaurant menu (which is served course by course) in your suite or veranda.

As you can see, there are so many dining options on these new cruise ships. If you enjoy cruising and like taking part in incredible dining experiences, we have a feeling you’ll want to hop aboard these expedition cruises.

Silversea 2026 – 17 Voyages.

Silver Whisper
 Silversea has announced its first-ever full summer season in French Polynesia, opening an exclusive pre-sale on 17 voyages between April and September 2026 aboard Silver Whisper. The line will offer deep immersion into 11 of the world’s most remote destinations in three of the region’s five archipelagos—the Society, Tuamotu and Marquesas Islands.

From April 6, 2026, the 392-guest Silver Whisper will undertake 17 voyages in French Polynesia, Papeete, Tahiti. Travelers can choose from seven- or 14-night itineraries—both of which aim to foster meaningful connections with the destination.

The shorter of the two itineraries sees Silver Whisper journey among the Society Islands’ most iconic destinations, as well as off-the-beaten-path gems. From Papeete, guests will journey to Moorea on an overnight call, besides Huahine and Bora Bora. Three late departures maximize guests’ time in Papeete, Moorea and Huahine. Hosted by an expert guide aboard a traditional boat in Bora Bora, guests will learn about the important role of storytelling in local culture and how early navigators used the stars to sail through the Pacific Ocean. In Huahine, travelers can join a cultural nature walk to discover the archeological sites of the village of Maeva, while admiring tropical plants and treetop views of the coastline. In Moorea, Bora Bora and Huahine, guests can snorkel in crystal-clear waters for the chance to witness hundreds of fish species and corals. Guests will also have the option of relaxing on a private island or motu, enjoying a traditional barbecue and local music.

Departing from Papeete on a 14-day voyage aboard Silver Whisper, guests will explore Moorea on an overnight call, besides visits to Fakarava, Nuku Hiva, Fatu Hiva, Atuona, Tahuata, Rangiroa and Bora Bora, before returning to Papeete. In addition to discovering the peaks of the Society Islands and snorkeling to admire the archipelago’s abundant marine life, guests on both itineraries can spot whales (August to November), accompanied by expert guides; learn about local culinary traditions in a test kitchen in Moorea; and discover Raiatea by electric bicycle, among other immersive experiences. As on the seven-day itinerary, guests will also have the chance to relax on a private island, as a highlight experience.

Additionally, a 21-day Easter Island sailing, departing Valparaiso on March 16, and two combination voyages broaden the regional offering for guests.

Silversea Announces Lineup of Culinary and Wine Enriched Voyages

With the importance of food in Italian culture you would expect dining to be a high priority at Silversea. And it most assuredly is. Moreover, gastronomic excellence is a given, thanks to our recipes that reflect heritage and revamp tradition. No matter where you dine, destination influence is readily apparent in the great diversity and freshness of your selections. And every ship also features an array of dining venues. The main dining room, The Restaurant, is an open-seating venue where you can dine whenever you please, and where impromptu dinners with new-found friends is a matter of course. After all, with our worldly crowd of international travellers, socialising is one of the things people love most about our luxury cruise ships. Per guest reservation fee for specialty restaurants. Please visit MySilversea to make your reservations.

Instantly recalling images of the sea in all her watery majesty, the Atlantides are the seven nymph daughters of Atlas. Creative muses, known for their wisdom and beauty, the sisters were granted immortality in the form of stars and can be seen today in the constellation of Taurus. Pivotal to Silver Muse dining experience, this elegant bar and grill incorporates the best that the sea has to offer. Created to temper your taste buds, designer dishes such as royal crab, blue lobster and Verbena infused red snapper in a sea salt crust are showcased alongside the best steaks offshore.

Evoking a sense of exotic mystery, the Asian-accented Indochine embarks you on an exquisite journey of culinary discovery. Unlock the hidden treasures of the spice markets of Mumbai, whet your appetite with the exoticism of Thailand and temper your taste buds with the cuisine of Vietnam. Elegant and exquisite dishes bursting with Asian essence awaken your gastronomic senses and immerse you in an expansive tapestry of the palate. Savour the fusion of flavours of a vast continent that defies definition — in a stylish restaurant that pays homage to its delectable cuisine.

 

2024 Luxurious Brands and Ships

The most luxurious brands and ships of 2024!

Credit: Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady (Photo: Virgin Voyages)

Cruise Critic has released its  highlighting the best in cruising and cruise travel as selected by Cruise Critic’s international editorial team.

Credit: Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady claimed top honors this year as Best New Ship. The line’s first vessel, Scarlet Lady, charmed Cruise Critic’s editors enough that the vessel was awarded Best New Ship in 2021. Now, sister-ship Resilient Lady, which has just arrived Down Under for the season, sweeps to victory for the line once again.

Other winners in the Ocean Cruises category included Disney Cruise Line as Best for Families; Celebrity Cruises for Best Cabins; MSC Cruises for Best Nightlife; Holland America Line for Best Service and Carnival Cruise Line for Best Value for Money.

“This was a banner year for the cruise industry,” said Colleen McDaniel, Editor-in-Chief of Cruise Critic. “On Cruise Critic, we saw demand for cruises surpass pre-pandemic times, and a number of lines reported ships sailing at over 100% capacity. Cruising has always been a high-value vacation, but with costs of land- and air-based travel through the roof, the true value of a cruise really hit home this year.

“The value of a cruise doesn’t stop with mainstream sailings. From the fare inclusions on river and luxury sailings, to those on expedition sailings to farther-flung destinations like Antarctica and the Galapagos, you’d be hard-pressed to find a land-based vacation that delivers the experience and value that a cruise offers,” McDaniel said.

Cruise Critic has been releasing its highly anticipated Editors’ Picks Awards for 15 years. This year’s awards are the most thorough to date, naming winners across four key areas – Ocean, River, Luxury and Expedition.

This Year’s Awards Saw the Return of Best Ship Refurbishment

Crew assemble to welcome the first guests onboard Carnival Venezia

Main Atrium on Carnival Venezia (Photo: Adam Coulter)

Cruise Critic also brought back a heralded category in 2023: Best Ship Refurbishment, which went to the gorgeously decorated Carnival Venezia. The former Costa Venezia was refitted prior to entering service with Carnival Cruise Line, leaving it with a fascinating blend of Italian-style interior décor courtesy of the line’s longtime design guru Joe Farcus, along with a blend of Carnival favorites tweaked ever-so slightly.

Port Miami was named best North American Homeport thanks to an abundance of innovation and investment that has come out of the new and improved terminal structure and growing improvements to the passenger experience.

Cruise Critic’s 2023 Editors’ Picks Awards Include New Categories, a Return of Awards for River Cruises

American Serenade docked in Paducah, KY (Photo: Aaron Saunders)

American Serenade docked in Paducah, KY (Photo: Aaron Saunders)

Cruise Critic’s 2023 Editors’ Picks Awards is noteworthy for the return of the River Cruise awards for the first time since the global health pandemic shut down travel three years ago. In that category, river cruising giant Viking took top honors as the Best River Cruise Line, while the Best New River Cruise Ship was awarded, for the first time, to an American river cruise ship – American Cruise Lines’ American Serenade.

Other winners in the River Category included AmaWaterways for Best for Active Cruisers, Avalon for Best Cabins, Riverside for Dining and Tauck for Enrichment.

Silversea Scoops Best Luxury Cruise Line

Silver Nova sails under a blue sky. (Photo: Silversea)

Silver Nova sails under a blue sky. (Photo: Silversea)

In the Luxury Cruise category, Silversea Cruises was named Best Luxury Cruise Line, thanks to its tireless dedication to service, its modern fleet, and continually innovative offerings. Its Silver Nova was Cruise Critic’s pick for Best New Luxury Ship, while Oceania snapped up Best Dining. The luxury category even held a bit of nostalgia, as restarted (and beloved) brand Crystal took two categories: Best Service and Best for Solo Travelers.

Credit: Crystal Cruises

(Credit: Scenic Cruises) 

Finally, the Expedition Cruise market continues to expand and mature at a rapid pace. Some of the most hotly deliberated categories were found here, but Cruise Critic’s editors came to consensus: Scenic Eclipse II was named

Best New Expedition Ship, while QuarkSeabourn, Silversea, Viking and UnCruise Adventures, among others, walked away with honors this year.

One thing that was apparent for the entire editorial team in selecting this year’s winners was how close many of these categories were for the ships and lines in the running. Few were easy choices – and that’s good for cruisers. With cruise lines of all shapes and sizes delivering stellar experiences across the oceans and rivers of the world, it’s never been a better time to take a cruise.

  1. The Full 2023 Cruise Critic Editor’s Picks Awards List
  1. Best New Ship: Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady
  2. Best Ship Refurbishment: Carnival Venezia
  3. Best Cabins: Celebrity Cruises
  4. Best Dining: Virgin Voyages
  5. Best Entertainment: Virgin Voyages
  6. Best for Families: Disney Cruise Line
  7. Best Innovation/Tech: Princess Cruises
  8. Best for LGBTQ+ Travelers: Virgin Voyages
  9. Best Nightlife: MSC Cruises
  10. Best Service: Holland America Line
  11. Best for Solo Travelers: Norwegian Cruise Line
  12. Best Spa: Norwegian Cruise Line
  13. Best Specialty Dining: Norwegian Cruise Line
  14. Best Suites: Royal Caribbean International
  15. Best Suite Complex: MSC Cruises
  16. Best Value for Money: Carnival Cruise Line
  17. Best App: Royal Caribbean International
  18. Best North American Homeport: Miami
  • Luxury Category
  • Best Luxury Cruise Line: Silversea Cruises
  • Best New Luxury Ship: Silver Nova
  • Best Cabins: Viking Cruises
  • Best Dining: Oceania
  • Best Enrichment: Windstar Cruises
  • Best Itineraries: Regent Seven Seas Cruises
  • Best Service: Crystal
  • Best Shore Excursions: Oceania Cruises
  • Best for Solo Travelers: Crystal
  • Best Spa: Viking Cruises
  • Best Value for Money: Emerald Yacht Cruises
  • Expedition Category
  • Best New Expedition Ship: Scenic Eclipse II
  • Best for Adventure: Quark Expeditions
  • Best Cabins: Seabourn Cruise Line
  • Best Dining: Scenic
  • Best for Light Expedition: Viking Cruises
  • Best for Luxury: Silversea Expeditions
  • Best Science Offerings: Hurtigruten
  • Best Service: Silversea Expeditions
  • Best Spa: Viking Cruises
  • Best Value for Money: Atlas
  • Best in Alaska: UnCruise Adventures
  • Best in Antarctica: Scenic
  • Best in the Arctic: Ponant Cruises
  • Best in the Galapagos: Lindblad Expeditions
  • River Category
  • Best River Cruise Line: Viking Cruises
  • Best New River Cruise Ship: American Cruise Lines’ American Serenade
  • Best for Active Cruisers: AmaWaterways
  • Best Cabins: Avalon Waterways
  • Best Dining: Riverside Luxury Cruises
  • Best Enrichment: Tauck River Cruising
  • Best for Families: Adventures by Disney/AmaWaterways
  • Best for First-Timers: Viking Cruises
  • Best for Luxury: Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
  • Best Service: Viking Cruises
  • Best for Solo Travelers: Avalon Waterways
  • Best Value for Money: Emerald River Cruises

Swan Hellenic 2025/26 Cruises

Historically, Swan Hellenic were pioneers, taking guests to places others had only dreamt about. We are meticulous about every aspect of our cruises – and have been for 70 years. Today, we sail to places unreachable by others, seek immersive experiences, and make discoveries that change the way we see the world. Through a discerning eye, the wonders of the world take on a richer hue. Travel with Swan Hellenic, and you’ll see more with us.

Delivering intuitive service, our warm and friendly crew will do their utmost to ensure you leave us having had the trip of a lifetime. Now, with our exciting new voyages to the polar regions, we’ve paired the latest polar ice-class technology with stylish sophisticated interiors.

SH Diana can accommodate 192 guests in 96 staterooms and suites, the vast majority with large balconies.

The PC 6 ice-class vessel is fitted with extra-large stabilizers for exceptional passenger comfort, offers spacious 5-star accommodation, and the 125 m-long ship has been specially made to explore the most inspiring and inaccessible places on the planet. SH Diana shares unique design features with her sister ships – SH Minerva and SH Vega – and has a state-of-the-art gym, spa, panoramic sauna, club room, and swimming pool with poolside grill.

The  new ship also has key differences, including a dedicated presentation, lecture theatre, and onboard Tender boats to take guests ashore in greater comfort than the customary expedition Zodiacs.

EMBRACING NEW HORIZONS

Swan Hellenic has teamed-up with Chopra, a leading integrative health company founded by world-renowned pioneer Dr. Deepak Chopra, to create Explore & Restore – an extraordinary new program of transformative well-being voyages.

This is holistic travel at its finest – gently strip away the layers of everyday life with daily yoga, self-reflective journaling and meditation sessions, and find your place in the natural world on awe-inspiring cultural expeditions. Prepare to awaken your spirit and unlock your inner explorer, as you tap into the growth, patience, and renewal that’s all around you!

Swan Hellenic
Credit: Swan Hellenic
HTML Snippets Powered By : XYZScripts.com