Ritz-Carlton's first cruise ship delayed by 10 more months
It'll be at least another year until the arrival of Ritz-Carlton's first cruise vessel.
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, the new cruising arm of the upscale hotel company, on Friday said it had pushed back the debut of its 298-passenger Evrima until April 2021.
Evrima originally was scheduled to begin sailing in February of this year, but its arrival already had been delayed by four months to June 14.
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The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection cited ongoing problems at Hijos de J. Barreras, the shipyard in Vigo, Spain, where Evrima has been under construction for more than a year.
All The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection voyages that had been scheduled through April 21, 2021, have been canceled.
"We sincerely apologize to all guests who were ready to sail with us," The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection CEO Douglas Prothero said in a statement sent to The Points Guy. "We remain deeply committed to ensuring a seamless delivery of the standards of quality and service that The Ritz-Carlton is known for as well as providing a highly customized, state-of-the-art build that will make our inaugural yacht the most distinctive of its kind."
As part of its announcement, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection said the majority of shareholders of Hijos de J. Barreras had agreed to hand over control of the shipyard to a newly formed company that is affiliated with the first The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection vessel's owners.
Related: 5 reasons you might not want to book a cruise on a brand-new ship
The new entity, called Cruise Yacht Yard Co Ltd, will be led by Prothero, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection's CEO.
"The new structure will ensure the timely completion of Evrima," the company said in a statement.
Hijos de J. Barreras has little experience in building an upscale cruise vessel of the type that The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection had ordered, and the construction of Evrima has been plagued by problems. Spanish websites in recent months have posted pictures of the ship in the shipyard appearing far from finished.
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection said the maiden voyage of Evrima has been rescheduled for April 22, 2021. It's a sailing from Lisbon to Palma de Mallorca.
Passengers on canceled sailings can reschedule for a later date or receive a full refund. Those who made independent air and hotel arrangements will be reimbursed for any change or cancellation fees they face.
Related: The best credit cards for booking cruises
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection said it was in the process of reaching out to passengers on canceled voyages. Passengers and their travel agents in North America also can call the company at 833-999-7292.
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has been touting Evrima as an upscale, yacht-like vessel that will appeal to Ritz-Carlton regulars with an elegant, residential look. The company is promising spacious cabins, a stylish spa and lots of deck-top lounge space for sunning, plus five separate restaurants. The dining venues, notably, will include an á la carte restaurant designed by Sven Elverfeld of the three Michelin-starred Aqua in the Ritz-Carlton Wolfsburg, Germany.
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- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.