10 outrageous yachts for hire -- if you're filthy rich enough
If all this talk about the Titanic centenery has you hankering for an ocean jaunt, check out these rides.
Few things are more indulgent than a private yacht charter.
There are scores of worthy contenders plying the world’s best cruising grounds, but these 10 are guaranteed to make your bank account crawl into a corner and start weeping.
1. Maltese Falcon
Where: Mediterranean and Caribbean
Crew: 16
Sleeps: 12
How much: US$74,000 per day
To charter: www.symaltesefalcon.com
Built by the innovative Italian firm Perini Navi, Maltese Falcon’s traditional sailing rig belies her extraordinary state of the art technology and design.
Record-breaking speeds, courtesy of her lightweight sail rigging, make 10-day, trans-Atlantic crossings commonplace. With head-turning, sleek contemporary styling, Maltese Falcon is for traditionalists who don’t mind a modern twist.
Naturally, she's wired with the latest electronic gadgetry, including Bang & Olufsen sound and wireless Internet with an "always-on" satellite link.
2. M/Y Seafaris
Where: Australia and South Pacific
Crew: 10
Sleeps: 10
How much: US$18,000 per day
To charter: www.seafarisaustralia.com.au
With its home port in Cairns, Australia, Seafaris was designed to cruise the coral cay-dotted waters of the Great Barrier Reef.
A catamaran hull allows her to navigate reef-strewn waters, allowing guests to drop over the side for immediate immersion into World Heritage dive sites.
Wide-bodied twin hulls create enormous spaces above and below decks for lounging.
Fishing is high on the agenda, making the aft deck teppanyaki bar a popular spot for cocktail sundowners and alfresco tropical meals. Helipad, cinema, hydrotherapy spa and gym keep guests amused.
3. S/Y Montigne
Where: Mediterranean and Southeast Asia
Crew: 10
Sleeps: 12
How much: US$30,000 per day (seven-day charter)
To charter: www.charterworld.com
Less than two years old, the heady aroma of new teak still floats from the fine lines of sailing yacht Montigne, a classically styled, three-masted sailing yacht.
Designed for luxury and comfort, large suites can accommodate 12 overnight guests while there's deck room for 100 guests by day. Characterized by expansive decks on two levels, Montigne is a yacht for extravagant cocktail parties.
A grand piano keeps toes tapping, while the dining room hosts a magnificent sculpture of the legendary Dragon Boat, sculpted from a single piece of wood. On the massive aft deck (110 square meters), there’s a full sized teppanyaki bar.
4. Mirabella V
Where: Caribbean and Mediterranean
Crew: 14
Sleeps: 12
How much: US$53,000 per day
To charter: www.mirabellayachts.com
The largest sloop (single-masted yacht) ever built, at a whopping 75 meters, Mirabella has the vast spaces usually seen only on motor yachts.
A full-width owner’s suite, with adjoining study, sports his-and-hers dressing rooms and bathrooms.
Beneath the billowing sails the sky deck turns into an al fresco dining spot, though there's also a formal dining room for 20 if you prefer a little less sea salt on your fritters.
Whirlpool, plunge pool, gym and sauna keep guests entertained when they’re not playing with the ship's fleet of water craft. If it all gets a little too exhausting, guests can chill out in the surround-sound cinema.
5. M/Y Delphine
Where: Mediterranean
Crew: 24
Sleeps: 26
How much: US$74,000 per day
To charter: www.charterworld.com
A classic motor yacht with impeccable credentials, Delphine saw Princess Stephanie of Monaco preside over the formalities at her award-winning re-fit and re-launch in 2003.
M/Y Delphine was launched in Michigan in 1921 and remains the largest operating private yacht ever built in the United States. Guests are renowned for being the most impeccably groomed amongst the yachting set, thanks to the onboard hair and beauty salon.
A Turkish bath and steam room with mosaic dressing rooms, gym with mini-bar and massage table keep guests happy. Flat-screen televisions are concealed behind mahogany wood panels and original artworks.
