The debut of the first Ritz-Carlton luxury cruise ship has been delayed again.
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, blaming shipyard issues for the delay, said the
Evrima will set sail on April 22, 2021. Ritz-Carlton had scheduled a Feb. 5
maiden cruise. It then got postponed to June 13 because the shipyard was facing
issues with delivery and project costs.
The first voyage next year will go from Lisbon to Palma de Mallorca. Subsequent sailings also have been pushed
back.
The project has been fraught with delays at the Hijos de J.
Barreras shipyard in Spain. The majority of stakeholders of the Hijos de J.
Barreras shipyard have now agreed to hand over control to Cruise Yacht Yard Co., an affiliate of the ship's owner, Cruise Yacht 1 Ltd. That is led by
Douglas Prothero, CEO of Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.
“This effectively gives this newly formed entity oversight
of the shipyard,” the company said in a statement. “The new structure will
ensure the timely completion of Evrima.”
In a statement, Prothero apologized to guests who have
already booked a cruise on the yacht.
“We remain deeply committed to ensuring a seamless delivery
of the standards of quality and service that 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,” Prothero said.
Guests booked on the cruise will get a full refund or fare
savings when they reschedule.
Those who rebook a cruise within the next 90 days will get a
30% discount on the cruise. After that, they will get 25% off the fare if they
rebook up to six months later. They will get 20% off the fare up to one year
after the announcement of the postponement.
Those who made independent air and hotel arrangements may
be reimbursed for any change or cancellation fees. Travel advisor commissions
will be protected on the cruise fare.