The cruise line that just won't sail: Ritz-Carlton delays yacht debut again
New luxury cruise line Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has delayed its foray into the industry again -- for the fifth time -- citing shipyard issues due to COVID-19.
"While we are eager to welcome guests onboard Evrima, we have had to reevaluate the timing of our first voyage given the rapidly changing circumstances and their impact on Evrima's completion," Douglas Prothero, CEO of the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, said in a statement. "We remain excited to set sail in the spring and thank our guests for their understanding and patience as we continue to navigate this unprecedented global environment."
Interested in more tips and tricks for cruises? Sign up for TPG's free cruiseletter.
Evrima floated out (when a new ship touches water for the first time so the builders can make sure it floats) in late 2018, well before the pandemic began, but still wasn't set to sail its original inaugural voyage until early 2020.
"Typically, a prototype float-out to inaugural sailing time gap is 12 to 14 months," Prothero explained in an email. "Unfortunately, we experienced significant additional delays related to management challenges at the Hijos de J. Barreras shipyard, and those delays were followed immediately by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has impacted the entire global shipbuilding and leisure sectors in profound ways."
Due to temporary pandemic-related shipyard shutdowns, several cruise lines did have to push back the start dates for new-builds that were under construction in 2020. However, none of the others was delayed this significantly or as many times.
Considering that the Ritz-Carlton name is new to the cruise world, it's understandable that they might have miscalculated how long it would realistically take to get Evrima up and running in the current climate. But now, travelers eager to try the renowned brand's newest offshoot will have to wait another six months, with the rescheduled maiden voyage set for May 6, 2022, from Lisbon, Portugal.
So far, the inaugural has been pushed back:
- From February 2020 to June 2020.
- From June 2020 to April 2021.
- From April 2021 to July 2021.
- From July 2021 to November 2021.
- From November 2021 to May 2022.
TPG has received emails from both travel agents and passengers who were booked on the latest sailing to be postponed. They have indicated frustration with the line, with some opting to take refunds and move their vacation dollars to other luxury cruise lines instead.
"I am now trying to rebook [four of] my clients on Silversea," travel agent Carol Furst Matulonis, who has spent several days fielding cancellations and rebookings, told TPG in an email. "I want my life back," she said.
Despite the continued shuffling of reservations, which has left travel agents scrambling to reschedule or cancel bookings for their clients, Ritz-Carlton isn't offering anything (besides the chance to rebook) to passengers for the inconvenience -- a departure from the level of customer service that is standard in the cruise industry.
"They’ve had my money for 3 years, didn't offer [a] discount on [the] future booking or to cover my flight cost for the cruise that is now canceled," The Points Guy reader Tod Brown said in an initial email to TPG.
Brown, a Lifetime Platinum Marriott Bonvoy member, spoke with a cruise line representative who was unable to offer compensation without escalating it to a manager.
Later, Brown let us know that the line contacted him and offered to provide the same discount he received for his canceled booking if he carried it forward to a new one. He also was offered $500 in onboard credit to offset the cost of two flight change fees associated with the trip. (Note that Ritz's cruise fares are all-inclusive, so onboard credit is, perhaps, less useful than it might be on other lines, where drinks, gratuities and some dining cost extra.)
"I still plan on booking a future cruise with them to experience their services at sea (at least once since we’ve waited this long)," Brown said.
"We have had incredibly supportive calls with our booked guests in the last few days," Prothero said, when asked what he'd say to passengers thinking of taking refunds instead of rebooking. "To our loyal guests who have been impacted by a delay, we thank them for their patience and understanding -- trust me when I say that no one wants to set sail as badly as we do.
"We are laser-focused on providing guests with a highly customized, state-of-the-art build that will put Evrima in a class of its own, in addition to delivering a guest experience that is unlike anything else at sea today -- blending the legendary service of The Ritz-Carlton brand with unique and distinctive itineraries that are incredibly personalized and culturally immersive. It will be worth the wait."
Top offers from our partners
How we chose these cards
TPG featured card
Rewards
6X | 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program. |
4X | 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping. |
2X | 2x points on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
The Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex is a stacked card with a rewards rate that will help you earn bonus points on everyday and business-related purchases. You'll earn 15 elite night credits each calendar year, and receive automatic Gold elite status. Finally, the free night award certificate with a redemption level of 35,000 points or less can get you hundreds of dollars in potential value each year.Pros
- 6 points per dollar on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program
- 4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and U.S. shipping
- 2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases
- Earn a free-night award each card renewal month (up to 35,000 points)
- Receive 15 elite night credits to jump-start status
- Transfer Marriott points to 40+ airlines
Cons
- Airline points transfer ratios are poor
- Must spend $60,000 in a year for second free-night award
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 5/3/23.
- Receive a 7% discount off standard rates for reservations of standard guest rooms at hotels that participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program when you book directly. Terms and Conditions Apply.
- 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
- 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
- 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with your Card.
- Terms apply.
Rewards Rate
6X | 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program. |
4X | 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping. |
2X | 2x points on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 5/3/23.Earn 125,000 points75,000 pointsAnnual Fee
$125Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.670-850Excellent/Good
Why We Chose It
The Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex is a stacked card with a rewards rate that will help you earn bonus points on everyday and business-related purchases. You'll earn 15 elite night credits each calendar year, and receive automatic Gold elite status. Finally, the free night award certificate with a redemption level of 35,000 points or less can get you hundreds of dollars in potential value each year.Pros
- 6 points per dollar on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program
- 4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and U.S. shipping
- 2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases
- Earn a free-night award each card renewal month (up to 35,000 points)
- Receive 15 elite night credits to jump-start status
- Transfer Marriott points to 40+ airlines
Cons
- Airline points transfer ratios are poor
- Must spend $60,000 in a year for second free-night award
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 5/3/23.
- Receive a 7% discount off standard rates for reservations of standard guest rooms at hotels that participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program when you book directly. Terms and Conditions Apply.
- 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
- 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
- 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with your Card.
- Terms apply.