My Wife Is a Luxury Travel Advisor. Here's What I Actually Thought About Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.
Where to start? How about first impressions.
The sea might not have been rough in port, but our initial onboarding wasn't the smoothest.
Depending on the time you board, your suite may or may not be ready. We boarded a little early with plans to grab lunch before heading to our room. Unfortunately, lunch didn't quite go according to plan. After waiting over an hour and a half and getting some bread, our room was ready and we decided to dine and ditch, although I wouldn't say we did much dining.
First impressions can be tricky depending on how you perceive them and what mental state you're in. Fortunately, we're seasoned travelers, and we didn't have our wonderful, rambunctious five-year-old *cough* angel with us on this trip.
We took the dining mix-up in stride, headed to our room, put on our bathing suits, and went to check out one of the pools.
And things definitely improved from there.
The Suite
The room was nice, spacious for a yacht, and had a comfortable balcony. But the bathroom was a surprise.
It felt more like an actual hotel bathroom than something you'd expect on a cruise ship. We had two sinks, a bathtub, and actual privacy for both the shower and toilet.
It may seem odd to call a bathroom one of the highlights, but Ritz designed this one well. Having enough space for two people to get ready without being on top of each other is an underrated luxury on a ship.
Pools & Spaces Around the Yacht
The pools were smaller than I expected, and seating immediately around them was limited. Depending on the vibe of the guests on your sailing, you may want to get out there early if a poolside lounger is important to you.
Although the yacht isn't really designed around spending every day at the pool, that's naturally where we tend to gravitate for some R&R.
The yacht itself was a nice size and never felt like we were stuffed in like sardines. I would have liked a few more general spaces designed for natural conversation and mingling.
There were around two or three areas where you could easily run into someone, grab a drink, and strike up a conversation. Other ships we've sailed have had more of these communal areas, with multiple coffee bars, larger gathering spaces, and higher ceilings that create a greater sense of openness.
That isn't necessarily good or bad. It's just a different design philosophy and something I noticed.
The Gym Was Legit
If you're someone who likes to get a workout during vacation, this yacht is for you.
They had a surprising amount of equipment and weights available, including a Smith machine, full cable station, dumbbells, kettlebells, and plenty of other machines.
There's also a separate studio for Pilates, barre, yoga, and similar classes.
Whoever commissioned the ship must use a gym because they provided some great options onboard. For the size of the yacht, I was impressed.
Unfortunately, I can't speak to the spa, but I would expect the service and offerings to be wonderful at making you more relaxed while loosening the purse strings more than you may wish.
Hey, you already paid how much to be on the yacht? What's a little more Monopoly money going to hurt?
Besides, aren't budgets constrained by area codes?
You can just say you only spent $5K in the U.S., $2K at this port, $3K at that port...
So really, it was a deal.
Or at least that's what my wife tells me.
Now Let's Talk About the Food
So let me tell you about the food and beverages.
This is where Ritz really impressed me.
The food was amazing at each of the restaurants. Every course we had was delicious and beautifully presented.
The drinks were abundant and the options seemed almost endless. It was like going through the Coca-Cola museum and trying all the flavors from around the world, except with adult beverages.
The food was consistently excellent across every restaurant, which is rare to find at a single resort or aboard one ship.
Ritz did a wonderful job with its culinary team.
And the Service
The service was also very good.
The staff were friendly, attentive, and took care of everything we needed without feeling overbearing.
I'd like to think we're pretty low maintenance on the service side, but we do pay attention to how service flows and how guests are treated.
Overall, I thought Ritz did this very well.
The Itinerary Matters
I enjoyed the cruise and the staff onboard.
If you're considering Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, or really any higher-end cruise line, one of my biggest recommendations would be to pay close attention to the itinerary.
Look at the ports. Look at how long you'll have in each destination. And have a plan for what you want to do once you get there.
The yacht is intimate, which is part of its appeal, but that also means the destinations are an important part of the overall experience.
Plan something beforehand or line something up in each port. It will make the experience much more enjoyable and probably create better memories.
You don't want to get off the boat and aimlessly walk around like a piece of driftwood coming to shore.
So, Would I Recommend It?
If it wasn't for my wonderful wife and her company, That Blonde Travels, I would never have experienced this level of travel, nor would I be sitting here telling anyone about it.
First, thank you for all your hard work.
The perspective I try to bring to any trip we take for the company is one with grace but also critical detail. It's important to look at these experiences through a different lens and think about what one of her clients might notice or experience.
Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has a very good product at a premium price.
The food was excellent. The service was excellent. The suites were comfortable, and the bathrooms were some of the best I've seen at sea. The yacht is intimate and easy to navigate, and there's something to be said for unpacking once and having everything at your fingertips.
There were also things I would personally change, and at this price point, I think it's fair to notice them.
If you are a fan of the Ritz-Carlton brand, prefer smaller ships, appreciate great food and service, or simply want to try something different from a traditional cruise, the luxury yacht market is absolutely worth considering.
Would I tell you it's perfect? No. But I've traveled enough to know that nothing is. And I had a really good time.
If you're looking for a deeper dive into every aspect of the experience, including the suites, dining, service, entertainment, ports, and everything you should know before booking, be sure to read Lauren's complete review of Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection aboard Ilma. She covers all the details from the perspective of a luxury travel advisor and frequent luxury traveler, making it the perfect companion to my experience.
Planning Your Ritz-Carlton Yacht Voyage
If this article has you considering a voyage with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Lauren can help you plan the experience from start to finish.
As a luxury travel advisor, she can help you select the right yacht and suite, coordinate pre- and post-voyage accommodations, arrange private transfers and excursions, and ensure every detail is seamlessly connected.
To start planning your sailing, reach out through my inquiry form at thatblondetravels.com/contact or email Lauren directly at Lauren@thatblondetravels.com.
