Luxury at sea
A look at the good life on the world's most luxurious yachts.
As the morning sky above the Indian Ocean transitions from blazing yellow and orange to hues of blue, pink and purple, some of the charter guests aboard the Douce France, one of the world's largest floating catamarans, venture off in kayaks for shell shopping on a private, bleached-white beach. Others set out on a fishing excursion in a speedy tender.
A big splash signals that one guest has spontaneously decided to jump off the boat for a morning swim. Another couple is content remaining onboard the yacht, napping in cushy chairs while the boat sways gently in waters just offshore from Coco Island in the Seychelles.
Such is life aboard one of the world's most luxurious charter vessels.
Days and nights aboard yachts for charter are unique to each boat, each destination and each crew. And like most yacht charters, the day of disembarkment is always one a guest would prefer not to think about (kiss all those fancy dinners and afternoon cocktails goodbye).
Fortunately, one needn't go all the way to the Seychelles to experience high-seas style. A veritable fleet of luxurious and unique vessels float along the earth's waters, equipped to satisfy every fancy. And each boat--large or small--offers a unique and extravagant sailing experience.
High Seas Standouts
Combing the world for luxury liners is easy; but highlighting the unique and the ultra-luxurious is a matter of looking for that extra, special element of the sailing experience that can't be found in any other place. Our writers, editors and staff connoisseurs of the seas agree that these vessels and marinas encompass every luxury traveler's dreams, from whimsical and fast, to the adventuresome and the ultra posh.
The Caribbean is home to some the biggest catches of the day and, oftentimes, the charter experience isn't so much about the luxury onboard, but the sense of adventure offered. That's what makes a charter aboard the sport-fishing vessel Ambush so special.
The vessel boasts some of the most impressive and technologically advanced gear for a superior deep-sea-fishing jaunt. Guests who fight massive marlin, plump tuna or even an occasional shark by day can opt to cast their evenings in Ambush's comfy, modern cabin--or return to the spaciousness of Ambush's bigger-sister yacht, the 121-foot Olga, for a nap in one of her sterling staterooms; a massage; and then dinner prepared by the chef featuring, of course, fish caught by the guests that day.
Another charter experience that won't soon be forgotten is one aboard the 196-foot Amnesia. The boat has an inviting Jacuzzi pool replete with barstools, as well as a gym. She accommodates 12 guests and sails year-round in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.
If a bigger liner is more your speed, go for the Penthouse Suite aboard the 936-foot Holland America ship, the Eurodam. The cabin is bigger than most New York City apartments, at 1,100 square feet, and has a 24-hour butler and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the ocean.
Closer to Home
Some guests may only have enough free time for the luxury-liner experience in a single evening, not a full vacation. For them, there's the Cornucopia Majesty, which calls New York its home. The massive, 30,000-square-foot vessel can host up to 1,200 party guests and features an astounding three-story atrium. It's the largest-capacity yacht on the East Coast, making it perfect for dining, dancing and entertaining--or all three.
If a vacation or simple-evening of high seas style isn't enough to satisfy, one of the best options is to make ocean life permanent--and buy into a dockside abode by the sea.
Key West Harbor Yacht Club, a part of the Yacht Clubs of the Americas, is a resort-like community where a day of boating is met with luxurious accommodations on land. There's a concierge service, a pool and clubhouse, all providing a country-club-like ambiance.
Settling into such an atmosphere may not provide quite the same escape one gets on the open ocean, but it's the next best thing. And if you really need that extra sense of luxury and escape, just call for a charter. Chances are, they can sail right up to your doorstep.