Tia Moana yacht - Credit: TahitiYachts.com
While taking to the high seas aboard a sumptuous cruise liner has its perks, crowded sundecks, a rigid, preplanned itinerary and a clientele that’s knocking on heaven’s gate can be off-putting for the discerning traveler. To sail the Seven Seas in true superstar style, those who demand privacy, world-class amenities and first-class service can always opt for a luxury yacht rental.
With every conceivable creature comfort at your disposal and the undivided attention of an on-board crew, the only time you’ll want to disembark your luxury yacht rental is when the eye-watering cost of charter maxes out your Black Amex. Until then, however, consider one of these choices as your next luxury yacht rental.
Number 10
Four Wishes
Best for: The Family Guy
Price: $143,000 a week
Specs: 43.9 meters
Able to sleep eight in five sumptuous cabins (each with king-size beds, cable TV and DVD players) the Four Wishes is the perfect luxury yacht rental for a fun-filled family vacation. Looking like the type of sleek yacht favored by the First Family, the Four Wishes features a lounge, a gym, a game room, and an expansive sundeck with a wet bar and a Jacuzzi. There are also mountain bikes and golf sets available, just in case all that sea air has made you energetic.
Complete with a crew of nine, you’ll be pampered on this luxury yacht rental like the prince you are as you set sail around the picturesque Maine coastline. Like all luxury yacht rentals, you’ll be able to customize your itinerary according to your interests, but possible dockings include culture-packed Penobscot Bay, brimming with quaint art galleries and antique shops, and Bar Harbour, where you’ll be able to explore Acadia National Park. If you’re not fussed about stopping off anywhere, don’t; there’s plenty of joy to be had onboard, and you’ll spot seals on a number of the area’s islands as you sail by.
Number 9
Mangusta 80
Best for: The Fame-Seeker
Price: $58,100 a week
Specs: 25 meters
If you want to branch out of the United States and explore the distant shores of Europe, the Mangusta 80 is the luxury yacht rental for you. Known as “the Ferrari of yachts,” this fabulous floater travels at 50 miles an hour (compared to the average 15 miles an hour) along the stunning French Riviera. Able to sleep six well-heeled guests in three luxury cabins, this is the only way to check out the Cannes Film Festival and show P. Diddy that two can play that game.
Each room boasts plasma TVs and surround-sound systems, as does the sumptuous salon, which adjoins a deck with a well-stocked bar and dining area. Possible stops include St. Tropez and, of course, Cannes, where you’ll be able to mingle with A-listers and Hollywood heavyweights. Whether you’re water-skiing behind it or crisping in the sun aboard it, this is the yacht for true power players. Don’t forget to pack your D&G shades.
Number 8
Apogee
Best for: The Playboy
Price: $450,000 a week
Specs: 62.5 meters
For all the rich, single guys out there, the Apogee is a wet dream. Like a floating five-star resort, the 205-foot yacht features seven cabins and five spacious levels all decked out with a classic mahogany interior. A sweeping Titanic-inspired staircase and a handy elevator link all decks where guests can pitter-patter up to the bridge-deck sky-lounge, a destination in itself. With a 22-foot long, backlit, onyx-topped bar, a Wurlitzer jukebox, a karaoke system, and a spacious alfresco terrace, the playboys aboard this luxury yacht rental will be able to wine and dine their lady lovelies until the sun comes up. There’s even a 12-person Jacuzzi on the deck, which will encourage most girls to strip off and engage in an at-sea orgy. Sailing on the turquoise waters of the Bahamas, a crew of 17 will ensure that what happens on board stays on board.
Number 7
RM Elegant
Best for: The Party Animal
Price: $612,000 a week
Specs: 72.2 meters
The type of yacht undoubtedly favored by hard-partying stars like Colin Farrell and George Clooney, RM Elegant has enough swinging space to accommodate 30 boisterous guests. There are 15 bedrooms, each with king-size beds and cable TV, as well as roomy dining areas, a beauty salon, massage rooms, and an alfresco hot tub. RM Elegant also comes with its own 30-strong staff, including a culinary team and a pianist, who’ll ensure you and your closest pals won’t have to lift a finger during your weeklong cruise. Sailing along Croatia or the Greek Islands, it’s the perfect place to host a flashy bachelor party. There’s even a chandelier to swing from in the lounge.
Number 6
Big D
Best for: The Fan
Price: $133,000 a week
Specs: 45.3 meters
Previously owned by a famous Hollywood power player, the B Dig is the equivalent of a floating L.A. hotel: Think of the European elegance of the Chateau Marmont without the ruckus caused by visiting stars. Each of its seven beautifully furnished staterooms is named after one of the previous owner’s hit TV shows, though you’ll have to hop aboard if you want to find out who it is. The incredible architecture is courtesy of renowned yacht designer Jack Hargrave, while the interiors, which are light and understated, are designed by Pierre Tanto of Studio Larvor in Cannes.
In addition to the Jacuzzi, there are a number of boys’ toys on board, including three wave runners and enough diving equipment to plunge you 20,000 leagues under the sea. Pretend you’re cruising with the previous owner, tell him how much you loved his shows and skim the deep blue waters of the Mediterranean in Big D-style.
Number 5
Tia Moana
Best for: The Honeymooners
Price: $300,000 a week
Specs: 70.1 meters
Spread across five stunning decks, the Tia Moana is the kind of luxury yacht rental that’d snag you the girl --
any girl. In fact, it’s the type of yacht that would probably make
her get down on one knee and propose to
you. Offering 30 double cabins, a number of private lounges, two outdoor Jacuzzis, a well-stocked library, a fitness suite, and an “a la carte” spa service, it’s the creme de la creme for seasoned water babies and their other halves.
It’s not just the awe-inspiring specs that make the Tia Moana so special either, it’s the small touches: dinner served on bone china, linen on tables and fine thread-count sheets on beds, original artworks hanging on walls, and locally produced toiletries stocking the bathrooms.
Because the yacht is relatively small in size at 230 feet (we did say
relatively), the Tia Moana is able to moor close to the best beaches and islands in shimmering shallow-water lagoons. Setting sail from Bora Bora, this is the only way to cruise the warm waters of the South Pacific and to consummate your nuptials.
Number 4
Starship
Best for: The Tech Geek
Price: $150,000 a week
Specs: 44 meters
Combining advanced technology and unadulterated luxury, the appropriately named Starship boldly takes geeks where they’ve never gone before. Well, at least not on ships of this caliber! Cruising through the Leeward Island like an otherworldly alien craft, the Starship comprises five cabins with all the 21st-century creature comforts any guest could want, such as king-size beds, walk-in closets, multi-head steam showers, and 30-inch flat-screen TVs. And if that weren’t enough, there’s a lounge packed with an entertainment system, a barbecue area and, of course, the obligatory Jacuzzi and wet bar.
While the Starship sails past islands such as Saint Kitts and Antigua, you may be tempted to stay on board and play with all the gadgets and gizmos instead.
Number 3
Mirabella V
Best for: The Traditionalist
Price: $300,000 a week
Specs: 75.2 meters
Combining the authenticity of a sailboat with the practicality of a large motorboat, the Mirabella V will enable you to live out all your Captain Jack Sparrow fantasies on board the world’s biggest sloop. Complete with a single looming mast, billowing sails and a 12-member crew, this old-world vessel contains a total of six suites, each with Caesars Palace-esque marble bathrooms, cable TV with surround sound, complete audio systems, and large picture-frame windows. When you can tear yourself away from your cabin, you can enjoy a dip in the pool or Jacuzzi, a workout in the gym or a relaxing session in the sauna. The more energetic can opt for snorkeling, scuba diving, waterskiing, and kayaking off the yacht.
When the sun goes down and your finery comes on, enjoy a formal dinner in the teak-laden dining room, with bar, piano and polished dining table. After dinner, finish off the day with a film under the stars shown on a projection screen on the deck. The ideal way to cruise the Caribbean, the Mirabella V is authentic enough to bring out the swashbuckling pirate in pretty much anyone.
Number 2
Utopia
Best for: The Lottery Winner
Price: $603,000 a week
Specs: 71.6 meters
Those on a serious mission to blow their, er, wad, should charter the Utopia. Sailing on the glittering Aegean around the Greek Islands, big-spending guests will enjoy setting down on the heliport, sun-worshiping on the ridiculously large deck, downing cocktails by the bar, reclining on the buttery leather seats in the lounge or working up a sweat in the gym. Although all of its six bedrooms are stylish and slick, the pick of the litter has to be the master bedroom; with its own Jacuzzi and outdoor deck, you’ll be able to enjoy some much-needed “you” time with champagne in hand.
As you’d expect for the six-figure price, the Utopia comes with a 16-strong crew, including a chef who’ll be able to whip up a Michelin-worthy meal at the drop of a hat. If you don’t fancy exploring when you drop anchor in places like Mykonos and Rhodes, you could always make use of the Jet Skis, wave runners and small sailboats that are kept on board. Whatever you do, the Utopia will take you to heaven -- it’s up to you if you want to come back.
Number 1
Sea Dream
Best for: The Showstopper
Price: $700,000 a week
Specs: 104 meters
For close to $1 million you’d expect something pretty spectacular for your money. And the 344-foot Sea Dream doesn’t disappoint, complete with its ridiculously oversized suites, piano bar, casino, library, on-board boutique, and so much more. The Asian Spa and Wellness Centre is like a self-contained hub too, with a beauty salon, three stream showers, two treatment rooms, and a sauna. Other perks, such as laptops and fully loaded iPods available on request, also help to make the Sea Dream worthy of its price tag. Unless you’re, say, the President of the Sultan of Brunei, you’ll find the decadence here quite overwhelming.
bon voyage!
They say it’s not the destination but the journey that matters, and that’s certainly true of this little lot. While those who opt for cruise liners will be forced to sit with others at breakfast and to do a cringe-worthy conga during the evenings, you’ll have nobody to answer to but yourself on your luxury yacht rental. By chartering your own yacht you’ll be able to do what you want when you want -- whether that’s mooring off a harbor or exploring the places you’ve personally picked out.
Luxurious and tailored to your preferences, it’s really no wonder Roman Abravomich has a fleet of his very own. Bon voyage!
Resources:
www.forbes.com
www.oceanvoyages.com
www.boatbookings.com
www.ed-hamilton.com
www.charterworld.com
http://cninternational.com
