Megayacht News – Charter & Cruising Destination Guides

Destinations Guide: The Maldives

February 19, 2012 by Megayacht News Staff

PHOTO: iStock/Wolfgang Steiner

If seclusion and serenity are priorities for you while cruising or chartering a megayacht, the Maldives should suit you well. With 1,190 individual islands—only 200 of which are inhabited—spread over 26 atolls, the Maldives offer abundant opportunities to explore sandy beaches, underwater flora and fauna, and some of the best coral reefs around the world. There are additionally world-famous resorts offering restaurants and spas.With the Maldives characterized by warm temperatures and sunshine dominating the days, it’s no wonder megayacht owners and charterers are increasingly interested in the islands.

Now is an ideal time to visit, as the dry season extends from January to March.The following 12-day itinerary comes courtesy of Ocean Independence, which has the charter yacht Jana (pictured above, off one of the many islands) available right now in the region. The charter brokers at Ocean Independence will customize an itinerary around your preferences, so the information here is provided as a brief overview and starting point from which to proceed.

Day 1: Soneva Gili Lankanfinolhu (North Male Atoll)
On the day of arrival, cruise to this resort not far from Male International airport and arrange a relaxing massage and dinner. An option for a next day morning diving around the famous Manta point.

Day 2: Cocopalm Boduhithi (North Male Atoll)
Today is an ideal day to go diving near this tropical island. It offers the possibility of seeing sharks and mantas, among other sealife.

Day 3: One & Only Reethi Rah (South Male Atoll)
One of the most famous and finest resorts in the Maldives, One & Only Reethi Rah is a great place to enjoy spa facilities. It also has an excellent restaurant.

Day 4: Olhahali (North Male Atoll)
This place is known as the best BBQ beach island in the area, with pristine white sands and fantastic snorkeling.

Day 5: Cocopalm Dhuni Kolhu (Baa Atoll)

A true tropical paradise. Another of the Maldives’ finest resorts with outstanding restaurant and spa.

PHOTO: James Graham-Cloete

Day 6: Nibiliga (Baa Atoll)

A great spot for a beach BBQ, with private beach and excellent snorkeling.

Day 7: Soneva Fushi at Kunfunadhoo (Baa Atoll)
Described as “the ultimate Robinson Crusoe island,” this is a stunning place to have lunch. Later, enjoy a swim, snorkeling, or whatever water activity you wish.

Day 8: Hinrundhu Hinrudhoo
A lovely island with a private beach, perfect for BBQ and snorkeling.

Day 9: Four Seasons, Landa Giravaru (Baa Atoll)
Forty-four acres of unspoiled wilderness in the heart of the Baa Atoll. The world-famous Four Seasons resort offers outstanding dining and spa facilities.

Day 10: Conrad Hilton at Rangali (South Ari Atoll)
Enjoy dinner at the famous underwater restaurant.

Day 11: Medhufinolhu (South Male Atoll)
Stop in a great place to have a beach BBQ and snorkeling.

Day 12: Taj Exotica resort (South Male Atoll)
An impressive resort with the possibility to inspect the Rehendi Presidential Villa, perhaps even to arrange a stay (all subject to availability).

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Destination Guide: London, for the Summer Olympic Games

February 5, 2012 by Megayacht News Staff

PHOTO: iStock/compassandcamera

The yacht-service firm MGMT is representing the majority of yachts visiting London this summer for the Olympic Games. It’s also providing support services to those cruising the British Isles. MGMT’s superyacht concierge was set up specifically to support yachting clients when visiting the UK, more specifically London and the Thames. Due to its popularity, it’s also offering the same standard of service to non-yachting clients visiting London.

If London and the Olympic Games are in your travel plans this summer, this sample itinerary is just one of many that Mark Upton, MGMT’s director, and his team can put together for you.

Day 1: Arrival into London

The yacht will already be safely in her berth in the heart of London’s Docklands when you fly into the UK. Whether you select a commercial airline or private jet, and regardless of airport, we’ll be on hand to coordinate everything from the plane itself to the reception at the airport, customs clearance, and onward transport to the yacht.

Your dedicated superyacht concierge host or hostess will greet you upon arrival and ensure you are transferred to your waiting helicopter for the short journey to the center of London. You’ll fly in luxury to Battersea heliport, where one of our luxury, 12-seat cabin RIBs will be waiting to take you on the final part of your journey, down river to your waiting yacht. Upon arrival, the crew, who will have been notified of your imminent arrival, will meet you.

Enjoy dinner onboard, after which a car and driver will be waiting to take you and your guests into the heart of London for drinks and possibly to sample some of London’s excellent nightlife. MGMT’s superyacht concierge service is able to ensure entrance to some of the best private members’ clubs in the city as well as exclusive nightclubs.

Day 2: Olympics Opening Ceremony

After breakfast onboard the yacht, you’ll be picked up by a driver and transferred to one of the private RIBs for the 20-minute journey (the fastest way to travel) into central London.

Upon arrival you and your guests will be taken to one of the best spas in the world, to unwind after yesterday’s day of traveling. You’ll return by boat to the yacht in the early afternoon. A team of men’s and ladies’ spa and grooming experts will arrive at the yacht in time to prepare you for the evening. The treatments will include hair-dressing, facials, makeup, manicures, and pedicures.

Late afternoon sees you transported by road to Limehouse, where you will board your private launch for the trip up the canal system to the Olympic park. This is the fastest, most efficient, and traffic-free method of traveling to the Games. During the trip up the canal, the staff will serve champagne and canapés.

Upon arrival, make the short walk into the Olympic Park via a private gate into the VIP hospitality suite. Here, enjoy further champagne and canapés before being seated for a four-course late lunch. Following this you will be shown to your AA seats within the Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremony.

When the opening ceremony ends, you’ll be escorted back to the hospitality suite for dessert and digestifs. Later, the launch will transport you back to your yacht via the canal and a short car journey.

PHOTO: iStock

Day 3: Day Out of London

As the swimming medal events are in the evening, today is an ideal opportunity to experience something quintessentially British: a private shoot run by the world’s best gun maker, Holland and Holland.

A RIB will take you to the helipad at Battersea, then you’ll be flown to Holland and Holland’s private estate outside London. Upon arrival you will be met by the estate manager, who will introduce you to the site and explain the order of the day. Whether you are an experienced shooter or not, the team will run you through everything you need to know, from safety to gun handling. You will be able to experience different types of guns during the morning before relaxing at the lodge for lunch.

One of Britain’s best Michelin star chefs will then prepare lunch for you and your guest. It will be accompanied by a wine tasting and pairing by one of our own sommelier partners.

You will return to London and the yacht in plenty of time to be ready for the evening medal sessions at the aquatic park beginning at 7:30 pm. Once again you will arrive at the Olympic park by private launch and be served dinner before the main event.

After the event, why not sample one of the excellent hospitality venues just minutes from the Olympic park? MGMT’s superyacht concierge will ensure you are whisked straight upstairs to your own VIP lounge on arrival, where you can party the night away at one of the coolest new spots in London.

Day 4: Time for a Break

After the excitement of the last few days, today is a chance to sample London. After a late breakfast, you’ll be transported by boat into central London. One of our personal shoppers will meet you so that you can enjoy the luxury of private shopping in some of the world’s best stores. Our personal shopper will ensure each shop you visit is closed to the public during your time there, allowing you the personal attention of the staff in each store.

Lunch will be arranged at one of London’s best restaurants or private members’ clubs, where you will be able to enjoy private dining if you wish before returning to the yacht later in the afternoon.

Your guests for dinner will be picked up by boat from central London and transferred to the yacht in time for cocktails. MGMT’s superyacht concierge will have arranged a small band to suit your taste to be playing during dinner and to dance to afterwards.

Day 5: Supercar Day

What better way to get into the Olympic spirit than with some competition of your own? Today you will fly to the world-famous Silverstone racetrack to take part in some serious competition, with friends and family of course. On arrival you will be trained in the art of track driving by some of the world’s best racing drivers. They will be supported by a full race team, who will ensure you are fully prepared for the GT racing experience. There are few people in the world lucky enough to take part in such a “money can’t buy” experience, but today you will drive GT3 class racing cars around the track with expert instruction to ensure you not only improve over the course of the day, but put in some good lap times.

Lunch will be served at the track after your driving exertions. You’ll be transported in total luxury back to the yacht prior to the evening’s activities.

Tonight’s festivities will be the men’s and women’s gold medal swimming events, including full hospitality at the Olympic park. Maybe follow this up with something a little different. Scipmylo is an open event, just to the north of the Olympic park, similar to the Edinburgh Fringe festival. It features live music from newcomers to well-known artists, comedy on stage, a circus, Guerrilla catering and many more fantastic, one-off experiences. Not to be missed for a taste of the hip, up-and-coming London that most people miss.

Day 6: Scotland

Today, you and your guests will experience a part of the UK not many people see when they come to visit. In the morning, you’ll fly by helicopter or jet up to Western Scotland, where your own castle, grounds, Loch, and staff await.

Your afternoon can be spent in any one of many outdoor pursuits, from golf to kayaking, shooting, off-road driving, or walking to having a spa treatment or just enjoying the magnificent views and peace of the Scottish highlands. The evening will start with a wine and fine malt Whisky tasting before dinner is served, accompanied by a traditional Scottish band.

Relax in the atmosphere and history of a traditional Scottish castle knowing you are in peaceful surroundings but only a short trip from the excitement of the Olympics the next day.

Day 7: Return to London

After a traditional Scottish breakfast you will return to England for a full day of Olympic excitement and a real thrill for the end of the day. Back in London for lunchtime, there is a choice between the men’s cycling finals at Hampton Court or men’s Judo finals at the Excel Centre. Both are popular yet quite different events, offering exciting conclusions.

Once you are back on the yacht, your chef has been given the night off, replaced by one of London’s top Michelin star chefs. Start an hour before dinner with a private wine tasting with your guests, and you’ll be nicely relaxed. On the aft deck of your yacht, and for your private listening pleasure, we have arranged for one of the most famous pop/rock stars in the world (of your choice) to play an acoustic set during dinner, followed by a more lively set.

Note: Every yacht is provided with a 24-hour host or hostess to ensure everything you would like to do is taken care of. MGMT has also partnered with some of the best companies in the UK so that you receive the best service all the time. MGMT does not charge for its service and works to ensure you receive the very best, all the time for the best possible prices.

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Destinations Guide: Indonesia

January 22, 2012 by Megayacht News Staff

PHOTO: iStock/rchphoto

Indonesia is increasingly appearing on the must-visit lists for megayachts. From the beauty of Bali to the rugged coastline of southern Flores, Indonesia provides some spectacular scenery. It also provides the opportunity to swim in pristine waters, meet indigenous people, and above all, have an unforgettable experience. However, yacht-specific facilities are still in development, so tapping local knowledge is key.

Jimmy Blee and Richard Lofthouse of Asia Pacific Superyachts, which provides logistical and technical support to yachts, have extensive experience in the region. They are accustomed to being called on around the clock and to be quite hands-on. In fact, Indonesia is a place where hands-on contact is quite important, and face-to-face meetings make for more success.

The following Megayacht News Destinations Guide features a sample itinerary that they can arrange for you and your guests. Blee and Lofthouse say that March is an ideal time to visit.

Day 1: Bali to Moyo Island

Bali, Island of the Gods. The Gods must have been asleep when they made facilities for superyachts. Changes are afoot, and we hope to see more international-class facilities in the future both here and further afield. Nevertheless, we’ll do all the clearances, fueling, provisions, etc. here prior to your and your guests’ arrival. Once done, we’ll head East to Moyo to stand by for your arrival into Ngurah Rai International Airport.

You’ll be VIP cleared through the airport, picked up, and delivered to the charter float plane. It’s approximately a one-hour flight from Bali, over the stunning Rinjani volcano in Lombok (the pilot will even circle a time or two so you can get some photos), and onwards to Moyo Island. The pilot will land on the water right next to where the yacht is waiting.

Day 2: Moyo Island & Satonda

This beautiful nature reserve is located off the northwest tip of Sumbawa. It provides a great anchorage as well as wonderful snorkeling and land activity. As we approach, you’ll see a jetty, and then, set in the jungle, almost camouflaged, are 20 white luxury tents. They’re part of the Amanwana resort.

We can spend half a day in Moyo, enjoying snorkeling/diving/the beach. You can also use Aman’s resort facilities if required (charged for, of course), and we can organize land tours to a beautiful waterfall through them. The resort has a very nice restaurant for lunch, too. Afterwards, we’ll move to Satonda, where we can visit a crater lake, the beach, and snorkel.

The evening sees an overnight run to Komodo. In the early morning of Day 3, we’ll run past Sangang Volcano and Banta Island.

PHOTO: iStock/pius99

Day 3: Komodo

Anchor in the northern bay of Komodo. Spend the morning on the beach or diving/snorkeling and, of course, looking at/out for the famed Komodo dragons!

After lunch, we’ll move to spend the afternoon at the beautiful Pink Beach on eastern Komodo.

We’ll make a night run along the south side of Flores to Aimere for guests to experience Ngada on Day 4.

Day 4: Ngada Tribes – Bajawa and Bena

Once the guests are onshore, we then have a short drive (<2km) to Bajawa, and from there we have various options to visit local villages. The best and most traditional is Bena (pictured below) and is <10km from Bajawa. We will organize decent transport and a guide. It makes a great half- to full-day trip and is certainly an experience!

Traditionally, the Ngada people consider themselves to have come from Java centuries ago. However, the monoliths that are found in the villages have their roots as far afield as Laos and Malaysia. Other traditional symbols are the ngadhu and bhaga. The ngadhu is a carved umbrella-shaped structure about 3 meters high, while the bhaga is a mini thatched house. Both are symbols of ancestors, and each pair is associated with one family in the village. The major annual festival is the six-day Reba ceremony at Bena, which takes place in late December or early January and includes singing, dancing, and buffalo sacrifices. Village life still runs along traditional lines, with ikat weaving, carving, and pottery prevalent.

Pre-arrival, we’ll investigate the possibilities of staying at the village overnight, as permission must be sought from the kepala desa, or head man. We’ll set up as many cultural experiences as we can here for the guests to enjoy, as this rich society has remained pretty much in isolation for centuries.

Assuming we are able to stay overnight, we will do so. The yacht remains at Aimere for our departure on Day 5.

PHOTO: courtesy Asia Pacific Superyachts

Day 5: Ngada Villages to South Rinca

After Bena, we proceed South to Nage village (approx 7km), stopping first for the option of a thermal power shower at Malange Mata Air Panas (hot springs).

At Nage we can also see ngadhu and bhaga (male and female dedicated monuments) and tombs. The village also gives us amazing views of Inerie volcano (2,245 meters).

From Nage we head back to Aimere, rejoin the boat, and we cruise back west, taking in the stunning and rugged coastline of South Flores. Highlights will be the dramatic Pulau Mules rising out of the ocean. We will end the day by anchoring in the horseshoe bay at the southern part of Rinca on the inside of Pulau Kode.

Day 7: South Rinca to North Rinca

Depending on the timings of the previous day, we can either spend the morning at the horseshoe bay and then head up to North Rinca in the afternoon, or just head directly north in the early morning. Either way, there’s lots to see on land and along the ocean.

North Rinca presents a much more natural Komodo dragon viewing opportunity. Here we get a chance to see them much more in the wild. They can often be seen stalking along the beach or simply sunning themselves on rocks. Either way, an awesome experience.

Overnight, we’ll make a run to Labuan Bajo, for everyone’s departure back home in the morning.

Day 8: Departure, Labuan Bajo Airport

For the return home, we’ll drop guests off at Labuan Bajo Airport in the morning. There are two options from here:

Private jet: We can position a private jet at the airport. However, we cannot clear the country from here, so would have to fly back to Bali, clear out, and then proceed home from there

Commercial: If the above is unnecessarily costly and difficult, we can fly either commercial or charter from Lab Bajo back to Bali, where we meet the private jet or send guests onward via an international flight.

1 CommentFiled under: Charter & Cruising Destination Guides, Yachts Tagged with Asia Pacific Superyachts