You Can Now Book an Ultra-Luxe Ritz-Carlton Yacht Voyage with Marriott Bonvoy Points

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Marriott Bonvoy, one of the most versatile loyalty programs in the hotel industry, just added more value for its members: Starting on November 9, travelers can earn and redeem Bonvoy points for sailings aboard the much-anticipated Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. 

Reservations aboard the 298-passenger Evrima, the first yacht in the collection, are now open for its first sailing on May 6, 2022. The ship will leave Lisbon, Portugal, on an 11-night journey with stops in southern Spain and Morocco. Plus, Bonvoy elite members will also receive special perks on board the yacht. Here's a look at the newest addition to the Bonvoy program—and how redemption will work.

Experience on board the Evrima

Spaces on board the ultra-luxe yacht will incorporate some guest-favorite Ritz-Carlton elements. Each of the yacht's 149 suites will feature the same bedding as at Ritz-Carlton hotels—the buttery soft linens by Frette. Bathrooms, each with dual vanities, will stock the brand’s familiar toiletries, too. Other onboard amenities include a spa, swimming pool, boutique, cigar humidor, and numerous dining options. At the ship’s signature restaurant, S.E.A., meals will be overseen by chef Sven Elverfeld of Aqua, the three Michelin-starred restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg in Germany.

In addition to its inaugural sailing from Lisbon, the 190-meter yacht will eventually make its way to other exciting ports across the Americas as well as around the Caribbean and Mediterranean. Because of its size, the yacht can glide into smaller ports of call like St. Barts or Saint-Tropez, where larger cruise ships can't dock. Details on the second Ritz-Carlton yacht are expected to be revealed in the coming months.

Earning points on board

Marriott Bonvoy members will earn five points for every dollar they spend on the cruise fare or a cruise and hotel package. When paying with a Marriott Bonvoy–affiliated credit card, like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card or Marriott Bonvoy Bold credit card, members will earn an additional six points per dollar spent. Marriott Bonvoy elite members do not earn the additional six bonus points per dollar spent, but they will earn one qualifying elite night credit for every night of the sailing to get them closer to moving up to the next status tier.

Elite member benefits

Like in Marriott hotels, elite status leads to extra-special treatment on the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, beginning with a cocktail reception for all elite members. Additionally, Gold Elite members and higher will receive a welcome gift while Platinum Elite members and higher will have access to complimentary laundry pressing on the first evening of the cruise. Top-tier Ambassador Elite members enjoy free laundry throughout the cruise, and Titanium and Ambassador Elites receive priority embarkation and departure.

In addition, the qualifying dollars spent for the cruise (and a pre- or post-hotel package made via Marriott) will count toward top Ambassador Elite status.

Redeeming Bonvoy points for a cruise

If you’re looking to use your points to score a free or discounted cruise, you’re in luck, too. Starting November 9, members can redeem 180,000 points to shave $1,000 off the cost of the cruise. Every subsequent 90,000 points redeemed equals an additional $500 discount, and members can cash in as many points as they like all the way up to a free cruise.

If you're planning a points redemption, it's important to note that Marriott recently announced that next year it will ditch its current redemption charts that show the amount of points needed for a stay during off-peak, standard, or peak times of the year. Instead, in 2022, it will rely on so-called “dynamic pricing,” which more closely aligns the rooms’ cost in points to the cash rate. That makes it much harder to plan ahead since the points rate could fluctuate more frequently. So the fact that Marriott has assigned a concrete cash value to points put toward cruises is sure to prove helpful to travelers.

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