This summer’s top yachting destinations are as varied as they are beautiful. When it comes to where you take your yacht, only the best of locals will suffice. It does not matter whether you are a seasoned sailor or just out for a luxury cruise, where you decide to take your boat is a reflection of your own adventurous spirit.

Because of brand new hotels and tour opportunities, these hot vacation spots are a must see for this summer vacation! One of the top, yachting destinations this year is the Little Corn Island off the coast of Nicaragua. It is a picturesque place with white sandy beaches, crystal clear lagoons, and amazing weather.

Looking to enjoy some of the native cuisine? Try some of the fresh lobster, caught that day and made ready to eat for a very small price. This beautiful island getaway features a brand new hotel with sixteen beachfront cabanas, just waiting to be enjoyed by travelers. Little Corn Island is certainly a must see on your yachting adventure this summer.

Another great location to go to while on your yachting excursion would be Hermitage Bay in Antigua. This blissful barefoot local is again the perfect place to travel to with your yacht. It features a luxury resort of twenty five cottages tucked away in over sixteen acres of beautiful tropical vegetation next to a beautiful beach on a warm, blue lagoon of the purest water. If staying on your yacht while on this vacation does not suit your fancy, consider staying in one of these beautiful resorts and be pampered by the all-inclusive dining that will be perfectly tailored to your desires.

Yet another must see location is Hayman Island, just off the Great Barrier Reef in mysterious Australia. Hayman Island is a one of a kind resort that will make you feel like royalty in a tropical paradise and favorite among the best yachting destinations in the world. Enjoy the flora and fauna of the region with all manner of wildlife including exotic fish, kookaburras and wallabies. Another reason why Hayman Island is such a wonderful retreat is the water sport activities and food options available for travelers. Dock your boat and enjoy meals by world famous chefs and winemakers under the stars.

No matter where you decide to take your luxury yacht this summer, make sure that it will be an experience to remember. Remember, yachting is about exploring the unknown and making lifelong friends along the way.

If you have always dreamed of vacationing in one the world’s best yachting destinations, contact our travel concierge specialists. We can help book your luxury vacation or luxury yacht charter. Return often to follow our luxury blog and keep up on the latest luxury travel news.

The Motor Yacht TURQUOISE luxury yacht was built in 2010 and officially launched in 2011. The luxurious yacht measures 55.4m or 181 feet.

The 72nd Monaco Grand Prix will be held between May 22-25 as the F1 season is in full throttle. The M/Y TURQUOISE luxury yacht will be there and is a wonderful way to cruise the Mediterranean and take in the breathtaking Monaco views.

The M/Y TURQUOISE will be available for charter in the Mediterranean starting in May 2014 and then moves to the Caribbean later in the year, in November. TURQUOISE will introduce its luxurious, new contemporary interior that is simply stunning.

The tri-deck luxury yacht offers a ‘Nikki-beach’ style, and is equipped with a 92″ cinema on the main deck, in addition to state-of-the-art entertainment equipment throughout the yacht. The yacht has 6 luxury cabins onboard that can accommodate up to 12 people. There is a gorgeous mastersuite plus 2 VIP suites.

The yacht is decorated with has oversized, luxury furniture that will make you feel like royalty. M/Y TURQUOISE also features large decks and lounges, a spa pool, built-n bar, BBQ for grilling, and a gym! To enjoy the warm waters of the Mediterranean sea, the ship includes numerous water toys & diving equipment.

The stunning M/Y TURQUOISE yacht is run by Captain Ben and oversees an experienced, full-time crew of 13 to ensure all guest receive the ultimate luxury experience. Turquoise offers a cruising speed of 13.00 knots and a maximum speed of up to 17.00 knots.

To learn more about this year’s F1 season and attend the 72nd Monaco Grand Prix and charter the M/Y TURQUOISE luxury yacht, please contact The Life of Luxury. Stay on top of the all the latest luxury yacht news by following this luxury blog.

Ribbon Yachts is a Dutch company that designs and manufactures luxury yachts. Ribbon’s talented designers develop each luxury yacht with optimum drive comfort and unmatched product quality.

Ribbon Yachts is proud to have just introduced its latest maritime offering – the R27 superyacht. The new Ribbon R27 has enough interior space for up to seven adults.  They will be transported in luxury style along with the highest level of refinement.

Very versatile, the R27 can be used either as a day boat on both lakes or the sea, or luxury yacht tender. The company has reported already receiving several orders and interest is quite strong.

The objective of Ribbon Yachts is to provide enthusiasts a boat of their dreams. A boat that could function as a yacht tender or just to have fun as a day boat.  With the all-new R27, it’s clear they have accomplished both.

The interior of the Ribbon Yachts R27 luxury yacht includes a design using only the finest materials. Boat owners will quickly notice the beautiful Silvergaurd leatherwork and integration of carbon fibre detailing. The Ribbon R27 is exquisitely finished and exquisitely personal. The result is simply a boating environment that screams out – pure luxury!

A revolutionary hull designed by Ribbon Yacht engineers, utilizes a deep vertical bow that allows the yacht’s hull to slice through waves, thus producing an incredibly smooth ride, even in choppy sea waters.

To make it your own, each buyer has the ability to customize each Ribbon R27 luxury yacht. Choose from a list of options such as an Apple iPad for on-board infotainment.  Listen to your own playlists with high quality sound system, or add a water ski pool, table, bimini, hand shower, toilet, led underwater and indirect cockpit lights or even waterjet bow or stern thrusters.

The Ribbon R27 comes equipped with a Mercruiser TDI engine and a Mercruiser Bravo stern drive.  You also can choose a Rolls-Royce Kamewa waterjet.

The yacht’s overall length is 8.36 m – 27.43 ft with a Beam of 2.55 m – 8.36 ft. The boat’s maximum speed is rated between 30 – 42 kn.

To learn more about or purchase the all-new Ribbon Yachts R27 luxury yacht, please contact The Life of Luxury. Be sure to follow our luxury blog and get the latest industry news and product announcements.

The luxurious Norwegian Getaway is the largest cruise ship to homeport in Miami year-round. Norwegian Cruise Line just announced that the luxury ship will now offer a true, on board ice bar.

The Norwegian Getaway’s Miami-themed Ice Bar to feature Florida-inspired SVEDKA specialty cocktails and Inniskillin Ice Wine cocktails. This is a result of an exclusive partnership with both SVEDKA Vodka and Inniskillin ice wine.

Kept at a constant 17 degrees Fahrenheit, the ship’s ice bar will feature Art Deco-style décor, reminiscent of Miami Beach’s famous Ocean Drive. The perfect way to beat the warm Florida heat.

Like its sister-ship Norwegian Breakaway, the new Norwegian Getaway ice bar is guaranteed to give crusie ship guests the ultimate chill.

The ice bar’s decor is pure Miami. It’s decorated with various South Florida-inspired elements including South Beach’s iconic Ocean Drive skyline and palm trees etched into the icy walls. You will also see a “Welcome to Miami Beach” sign and a life-size alligator throne made entirely of ice.

Plus, the entire bar on the Norwegian Getaway will include seating and glassware all made of ice. This will truly become Miami’s “coolest place” to hang out.

Reservations to enjoy the SVEDKA/Inniskillin Ice Bar Ice Bar can be made between 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. nightly. Admission cost is only $20 per person and includes two signature cocktails served in specially-created drink glasses made entirely of ice.

In addition, theSVEDKA/Inniskillin Ice Bar will also feature five Florida-inspired specialty drinks made from SVEDKA vodka and Inniskillin ice wine including:
• Carmen Miranda: SVEDKA vodka, peach liquor, orange juice;
• Tropicana: SVEDKA citron vodka, triple sec, lemon juice;
• Sittin’ on the Dock of Biscayne Bay: SVEDKA citron vodka, Inniskillin Icewine, lemon-lime soda;
• Key Largo Colada: SVEDKA colada, campari, sweet vermouth, orange syrup.
• Blue Caribbean: Inniskillin Icewine, SVEDKA vodka, blue curacao, club soda;

Imported from Sweden, SVEDKA vodka is premium vodka that is distilled five times. Inniskillin ice wine is made from grapes that are produced in the Niagara Peninsula. The SVEDKA/Inniskillin Ice Bar, SVEDKA vodkas and Inniskillin ice wines are also available in all the bars and restaurants on board the Norwegian Getaway cruise ship.

For those who desire non-alcoholic drinks, two choices will be available – the Sting Ray, made of strawberry puree, pineapple juice and lemon juice; and Parrot Island, made of orange juice, vanilla ice cream and milk.

You will find the new SVEDKA/Inniskillin Ice Bar on deck eight of the ship. It will accommodate approximately 25 guests at a time. To keep warm, guest will wear hooded coats and gloves since the arctic-like room’s temperature will not rise above 17 degrees Fahrenheit.

To book a cruise on the luxury Norwegian Getaway Cruise Ship by NCL (Norwegian Cruise Line) and experience the SVEDKA/Inniskillin Ice Bar, please contact one of our cruise concierge specialists.

Combining modern amenities with authentic Victorian opulence as you traverse the Mississippi River, the American Queen Steamboat Company operates the largest steamboat ever built and certainly the most luxurious – the American Queen.

The American Queen from the American Queen Steamboat Company © is the largest paddlewheel boat offering overnight accommodations across the heartland of the United States.

From the works of famous author Mark Twain, to Tennessee Williams and William Faulkner, the romantic imagery of the Mississippi River and the mighty steamboats that once traversed her flowing waters have become an ingrained part of how we view the mighty river.

Today, this imagery of the Mississippi River is all but gone, with the exception of a few ships that fall more into the category of floating museums than truly, operational luxury cruisers.

Undeniably grand
Recently rescued from retirement by The Great American Steamboat Co. to the tune of around 15 million dollars, the American Queen has now seen a further six million dollars invested for restoration and renovation costs. Trumpeted as “the only authentic overnight paddlewheel steamboat in America”, certain is that the American Queen is unquestionably the largest and grandest steamboat in operation today.

Old-world aesthetic and entertainment
Styled like an antebellum era Victorian mansion, the luxurious American Queen dazzles with the luxurious interior design, and period correct furniture and antiques that glorified the famous steamers that inspired her creation. A wide variety of themed tours are available ranging from blues BBQ adventures to a trip that follows in the footsteps of Elvis Presley as he made his way through Ohio and Tennessee. Traditional showboat entertainment is paired with big band music and swing dancing in the two-deck tall Grand Saloon, and onshore excursions throughout your trip give guests the opportunity to experience the culture, cuisine and history surrounding the Mississippi river like they’ve never seen before.

Accommodations
Despite the American Queen’s elegant upper-class decoration and atmosphere, the dress code onboard requires only elegant-casual attire. In true Victorian fashion, the most exclusive and luxurious suites feature an attached veranda from which to enjoy a tea or cocktail while soaking in the panoramic river view. Antique fittings and furniture complete the ambiance of nostalgic old-world luxury offering guests an experience that’s tough to top.

For additional information about the American Queen and their themed steamboat trips down the mighty Mississippi River, please contact a luxury travel concierge member at The Life of Luxury.

It’s still one of the most highly kept secrets in the travel industry. But the iconic QE2 (Queen Elizabeth 2) luxury cruise ship which is currently moored in Dubai, is scheduled to set sail next year and be introduced as an all-suite luxury hotel.

According to Emigrates 24/7, the QE2 luxury liner will be moored somewhere in the Far East, but it’s actual and final destination is a top secret.

The QE2 will depart Dubai on October 18 and should reach Singapore on November 1. The cruise ship will then leave for a shipyard in China to finish its restoration.

The luxury cruise liner will morph into a spectacular, 400 all-suite hotel. For those who desire an extended stay, there will be larger suites to meet that longer, onboard need.

Khamis Juma Buamim is the Chairman of Drydocks World and Maritime World and stated that approximately $90 million (Dh330 million) will be spent on refurbishing QE2. To date, seven of the ship’s nine total engines have been overhauled.

Buamim was quoted, “Dubai owns the QE 2 and will never sell it. People can rent or even buy these suites. Prices haven’t been finalized but these will be really expensive.”

The QE2 has long been regarded as the last of the great luxury liners. Over the 39 years of service for Cunard, she carried 2.5 million passengers, sailed almost six million miles and finished 806 trans-Atlantic crossings.

Istithmar World is a subsidiary of Dubai World and bought the 293-metre long vessel from Cunard for about $100 million in June 2007. QE2 officially retired in Dubai back in November of 2008.

Initially, the luxury ship was planned to stay in Dubai as a luxury hotel and part of a maritime center. Now those plans have changed, but don’t rule out the possibility that the ship won’t eventually return to Dubai.

Khamis Juma Buamim continued, “Dubai is the home of QE2. You never know it may come back.”

If you are interested in learning more about the new QE2 and making a reservation for a stay in 2014, please contact one of our concierge reps at The Life of Luxury.

Sometimes even kings are not immune to the recession and economic hardship. One of the surprising cutbacks is that King Juan Carlos of Spain is relinquishing his approximately, 21 million-euro ($27 million) yacht – tiled “Fortuna.”

As the European country of Spain continues to battle the never-ending recession and record unemployment, hard choices must continue to be made.

The Fortuna yacht is similar to other assets such as the royal palaces, which are owned by the state and managed by the National Heritage for the use of the 75-year-old king and his family.

Fortuna is 41.5-metre (136-foot) in length and was donated back in 2000 by a business group. It’s costly to maintain in addition to taking it out on the Mediterranean. According to the Spanish press, each sailing costs more than 20,000 euros for each refuelling.

Last week, a spokesman for the institution was quoted “The king has taken the decision to ask the National Heritage to proceed with the release of the asset,” said late Thursday.

The next step is the National Heritage board needs to approve the King Juan Carlos yacht’s transfer back to the government. The next choice would be to keep the luxury yacht or to sell Fortuna.

Source: AFP

Photo: Ghost Yachts

Ghost G180F is a stylish and innovative 55­ metre high performance yacht, which was developed by Ghost Yachts and leading Dutch yacht builder Feadship.

By offering a high performance yacht with a focus to set standards, Ghost G180F was designed to combine high efficiency with a thrilling sports­yacht performance and compliant with class requirements for yachts under 500 Gross Tonnes.

The innovative lightweight semi­-displacement hull, designed by De Voogt Naval Architects, provides a top speed of 29 knots top speed and a generous cruising range of 4000nm.

Francis Gumbs of De Voogt Naval Architects was quoted, “We transformed Ghost Yachts’ objectives into a low weight, efficient hull with optimal propulsion layout. This results in performance normally only achieved on Superyachts with
significantly larger engine installations.’

Gumbs continues, “The clear lines of the styling are mixed with a rich variety of materials like semiprecious gemstone, liquid metal panelling and aluminium panels which reflect the yacht’s core material.”

Photo: Ghost Yachts

Ghost G180F features 2 main engines – MTU 12V4000M93L, 2580 kW @ 2100 rpm and 2 four blade controllable pitch propellers.|

The yacht’s luxury accommodations includes an owner’s stateroom with bathroom and dressing rooms, plus four guest staterooms with en suite bathrooms that can hold eight guests. Ghost G180F comes with a nine person crew – one in the captain’s cabin and eight in four crew cabins.

The luxury boat’s overall length is 55.00 metre / 180’5″

Photo courtesy of Silversea Cruises

If you have only ever cruised with one of the contemporary cruise lines upgrading to a luxury line will give a real six star experience.

Let’s look at some of the differences.

Photo courtesy of Silversea Cruises

Accommodations and Service
The atmosphere of not only the public areas on luxury ships but the accommodations provides a memorable experience and fond cruise memories.

Examples of this are Crystal Cruises ships Serenity and Symphony. The cabins are luxurious and roomy and nearly two-thirds have private verandas.

Most luxury cruise lines sail smaller ships, accommodating from 180 to 400 passengers, thus allowing some cabins to be as large as 1000 square feet. Regent Cruises even offers penthouse suites.

These luxury ships normally have a staff-to-passenger ratio that allows you to have personalized service at any time. The fleet of the Yachts of Seabourn includes one ship that accommodates 208 passengers and carries 135 crew members.

You can even choose to have a private butler to be there for you whenever the need arises. Staff will get to know you and your likes and dislikes immediately so that they can serve you better. Most of these luxury lines offer 24-hour room service from one of their fine restaurants so that you can satisfy your hunger whenever it suits you.

Photo courtesy of Silversea Cruises

Dining
Dining in luxury means creative gourmet meals supervised by some of the top chefs in the world. Meals are served with your choice from a selection of fine wines. Most ship’s restaurants have open seating so that you can dine when you choose, not on a set schedule.

Your dining experience includes waiting staff in tuxedos, multiple course meals and a table set with fine China and elegant crystal. You may also find sumptuous buffets set up along the pool on the beautiful decks.

This style of cruising is often more “all-inclusive” than the average cruise holiday. This means that alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are included, so you can enjoy a cocktail before dinner, wine with your meal, and a fine after dinner aperitif.

Photo courtesy of Silversea Cruises

Activities and Excursions
A cruise like this still has all of the relaxing activities that make a cruise a cruise.

You can still bask in the sun by the pool, swim and workout. But what you will also find on a cruise centered on luxury are exclusive programs that are special to that cruise and that itinerary.

For instance, on a cruise that includes Rome and Italy you may find a program where you can study the art of the Renaissance. Evenings on board you may find yourself attending a starlight orchestral concert.

Part of the personalized service you receive on board a cruise like this is to make all of the arrangements for you when you go ashore.

Photo courtesy of Silversea Cruises

Itineraries
A luxury cruise tends to have more exotic destinations and itineraries that include places like Australia and New Zealand, Antarctica, Asia and Africa. You can even cruise the world in luxury. These luxurious smaller ships like those of Silversea have the advantage of going to smaller and more secluded harbours that passengers on the larger ships never get to see.

Other Unique Voyages
There are cruise lines like Windstar that offer voyages on sailing yachts. The ship called Windstar is a streamlined four-masted vessel with 10,000 square feet of teak deck space. Their fleet also includes the Wind Surf, which is the biggest sailing yacht in the world, accommodating 310 passengers.

When planning your next cruise, why not consider luxury cruises. They may cost a little more, but you get a lot more for that money you spend.

Article supplied by Cruise Specialist website About2Cruise. Like on Facebook

Bucket Regatta – Photo: Billy Black

The Regatta season officially began in St. Barth last week. The incredible Bucket Regatta and spring break drew large crowds to this tropical island. The St. Barth Bucket Regatta is 3 days of regattas around St. Barth for a fleet of the largest, most prestigious sailing yachts.

St Barth is one of the world’s most glamorous destinations and a frequent getaway for both the rich and famous, and well-heeled travelers, offering style and sophistication in a friendly and laid back environment.

With April’s arrival, there is more exciting competition planned for St. Barth with the Les Voiles de St-Barth and the relaxing pleasure of the St. Barth Film Festival.

It took just three short years for the “Les Voiles de Saint-Barth” to get boating racers from around the world used to this concept of yachting for pleasure and to develop this passion.

Owners, yachtsmen and sailors will once again converge on St. Barth from April 8-13, 2013 for a full week of racing dedicated to the joys of yachting and which will remain forever etched in their minds. This incredible event draws teams from around the world who enjoy extending their competitive sailing season in a warm, dependably breezy tropical clime.

The yachting action doesn’t stop there as May rolls around. The West Indies Regatta is a three day event held annually over the Mayday weekend (May 3-6) in St. Barth celebrating traditional West Indian sails. More of a wooden boat festival than a competitive regatta, the purpose of the event is to promote & encourage traditional boatbuilding in the Caribbean.

Please use the Contact Form below to submit your travel request and book a reservation in St Barth. We will promptly get back to you.

China’s first luxury cruise liner, the Henna, is the mainland’s largest luxury cruise ship. Purchased from an Australian company, a Chinese company spent hundreds of millions of US dollars buying the luxury boat.

Reaching a major breakthrough for the Chinese cruise industry, Henna’s just completed its maiden voyage as it left the southern resort island province of Hainan.

Henna’s initial cruise with about 1,200 passengers, was a three-day, two-night voyage, traveling from Sanya Phoenix Island International Port to Vietnam’s Halong Bay.

The luxury ship Henna was originally built back in 1986 for Carnival Cruise Lines, which is a British-American-owned cruise line. The ship’s initial ship name was the Jubilee.

Henna is 223 meters long by 31 meters wide. The luxury cruise ship offers passengers a choice of 739 cabins, in addition to a wide variety of onboard living and entertainment facilities.

To try and appeal to the Chinese culture of its main passengers, the Henna underwent several changes including To attract Chinese clients, such as fitting out a mahjong room, including electric kettles in its cabin rooms, and serving cruise ship meals Chinese dishes.

The luxury ship’s crew has an international feel, employing workers from around the globe. Henna will be managed by Star Cruises, who is the world’s third-largest cruise line.

During the Henna’s first cruise season from now until April, there are 39 voyages to Vietnam planned.

Source: China Daily