Luxist

Cruise Ship Outruns Pirates

Deidre Woollard — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Water

Cruise ship, the Nautica had a scare this week when the 30,000-ton luxury cruise ship outran pirates off the coast of Yemen. The Nautica, part of Oceania's cruise line, was in an area patrolled by international anti-piracy task forces when two small skiffs pulled aside and tried to intercept it. The ship sped up to its full speed of 23 knots or 27 mph. One of the small boats closed in and fired on the ship but it was able to pull away. While we've seen smaller passenger yachts targeted, the pirates haven't been known to go after the larger cruise ships before, keeping mainly to the bigger cargo vessels. The Nautica managed to escape without damage or injury to its 684 passengers and 400 crew.

Cruise Ship Outruns Pirates originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 02 Dec 2008 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Classicist: The Louis Vuitton Cup

Jared Paul Stern — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Water, Sports, Books

The America's Cup, which is 45 years older than the modern Olympics, is of course the world's most famous sailing race. However the Louis Vuitton Cup, sponsored by the famed French luxury goods house for the past 25 years, is actually considered by many to be the more exciting regatta. While only two yachts compete in the America's Cup, several take part in the LV Cup which has been a rite of passage for yachtsmen looking to challenge the defending champion of the America's Cup since 1983.

A beautiful new book celebrates this great era in world-class sailing: The Louis Vuitton Cup: 25 Years of Yacht Racing in Pursuit of the America's Cup. Louis Vuitton's ties to the world of yachting go back much further of course. In addition to many traveling trunks and items designed for use on ocean voyages, from 1933 to 1938 Gaston-Louis Vuitton developed a unique model boat division, and in 1935 for example one could acquire from LV a scale model of Cornelius Vanderbilt's famous steam yacht the North Star (see the gallery).

The book, by yacht designer, professor of naval architecture at the University of Nantes, and marine author and artist Francois Chevalier, pays homage to the exceptional navigators and avid photographers who helped forge the reputation of the Louis Vuitton Cup, and offers an impassioned account of the competition's inception and vision, accompanied by gorgeous photographs both modern and vintage. The book also offers an in-depth look at seven landmark races in the regatta's history.

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The Louis Vuitton Cup also shows how the America's Cup itself paralleled Vuitton's expansion from a company that began by making travel trunks to its current stature as an internationally renowned luxury brand. The book traces the trajectory of the Louis Vuitton Cup, recounting stories of the individual races and victories, from the first in Newport, Rhode Island in 1983 (won by the Australia II which went on to win the America's Cup, puting an end to 132 years if American dominance) to the last in Valencia, Spain in 2007, won by the Emirates Team New Zealand. It presents profiles of its greatest winners and pays tribute to the world's most talented yachtsmen and the photographers who, passionate about the sea, helped forge the regatta's reputation.

The Classicist: The Louis Vuitton Cup originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canyon Ranch Miami Beach Now Open

Lisa Palladino — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:03:00 EST

Filed under: Dining, Journeys, Spas, Water, Real Estate Developments

Canyon Ranch has long been known as one of the top spa and wellness centers anywhere. With two locations (Tucson, Ariz., and Lenox, Mass.) already established, we've been waiting since 2005 for the Miami Beach location to be ready. It finally opened earlier this month and now is accepting reservations. The historic Carillon Hotel, with ocean views, has been restored and now is "infused with the Canyon Ranch spirit of health, fitness, and personal attention." Choose from a selection of 150 one- and two-bedroom luxury suites that range from from 720 - 1,200 sq. ft., and from $300 - $1,800. All include

kitchenette, and washer and dryer;
400-thread-count linens;
luxury limestone-tiled bath with dual-head frameless glass shower, soaking tub, and exquisite vanity niche;
two flat screen HDTVs;
Bose Wave radio;
High-speed Ethernet and wireless Internet access; and
multi-line telephones, cordless phones, DID numbers and voicemail.

Download a brochure here to read more about the spa and wellness programs, or use the easy-to-navigate lefthand tabs on the home page to get all the details.

Canyon Ranch Miami Beach Now Open originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Megayacht Price Cuts

Deidre Woollard — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:02:00 EST

Filed under: Water

If you happen to have a yacht yearning and you can make a deal in 30 days or less, you could take home the 164ft Alibella at a discount. As the Telegraph reports Edmiston & Company is offering a €9.5 million euro (nearly $12 million) discount to a buyer prepared to complete a deal within the next 30 days. The luxurious Alibella can accommodate 14 guests in six cabins and has a helicopter landing pad. It is also practically brand new winding up on the market just six months after delivery to the customer. You can pick up the yacht for €24.5 million. It's just one of the deals at Edmiston, three more of which are in the gallery below. If you've got the cash, you can pick up a megayacht for millions less in what is fast becoming a buyer's market.

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Megayacht Price Cuts originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buy A Yacht In The U.S. And Sail It Back To Australia

Deidre Woollard — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Water

One enterprising Australia-based yacht seller has found a new way connect their customers with boats in the U.S. Boats are cheaper here in the States so Yarra's Edge Yachts has created the Trans Pacific Yacht Rally. Yacht buyers will purchase a yacht from their brokerage of second-hand yachts, fly to La Paz, Mexico for the "Scrutinizing weekend" and then prepare and provision their new yacht for a Valentine's Day departure across the Pacific. The route will use the trade winds and make many scenic stops which will also allow for flying home or for crew changes. The rally will end in Queensland, Australia on October 11, 2009. Vessels range from 36' to 60' and $47,500 to US $350,000. The 40' Passport Sloop shown here is listed at $152,250.

[via Sail World]

Buy A Yacht In The U.S. And Sail It Back To Australia originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Movie Screens on Cruise Lines, Good Idea Or Not?

Deidre Woollard — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:02:00 EST

Filed under: Water

USA Today's Cruise Blog recently reported on the fact that Princess Cruises is adding 300-square-foot screens on the top decks of seven more of its Princess ships over the next three years (it already has the screens on the top decks of seven ships already). The giant LED screens can show movies day and night as well as broadcasting sporting events such as the Super Bowl and concerts and plans to broadcast an exclusive-to-the-cruise-industry concert by top-selling recording artist Josh Groban. Personally I'm no fan of the giant screens but some of the hard-core cruisers seem to really like them. Other lines including MSC Cruises and Carnival Cruises offer movie screens on deck on some of their ships.

Movie Screens on Cruise Lines, Good Idea Or Not? originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cakewalk - Largest US-Built Luxury Yacht Since the '30s

Jared Paul Stern — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:02:00 EST

Filed under: Water

Derecktor shipyards is nearing completion on the Cakewalk superyacht for a private client, which at 281 ft. will be the largest luxury yacht built in the U.S. since the 1930s, and at 2,950 tons possibly the biggest ever built in the States when measured by displacement. The result of a collaboration between Derecktor, Azure Naval Architects of Holland, exterior designer Tim Heywood and interior designer by Liz Dalton, Cakewalk features a total of six decks, with the owners' and guests' accommodations representing half of that space, and a helipad and swimming platform aft.

All staterooms are located above deck, affording large, graceful windows, and boast spacious baths and one-touch amenity control systems. Located on the main deck, the elegant owner's suite has impressive forward views and includes a spa, lounge, theater and gym. Ceilings in the recessed dining salon with seating for 16 are decorated with hand-painted canvases and exotic woods are incorporated throughout the stately craft.

There is a games room located on the bridge deck, and above that the sun deck features a bar, loungers, sunshades and a whirlpool spa. All the luxurious fixtures won't slow her down, however, with a top speed of 17 knots and projected cruising range of 5000 nautical miles.

Cakewalk - Largest US-Built Luxury Yacht Since the '30s originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DSe Hybrid Yacht, Green Cruising Follows The Sun

Deidre Woollard — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 12:02:00 EST

Filed under: Water, Green

I'm all for hybrid yachts but the DSe Hybrid may be a challenge for all but the greenest among us. The 40-foot yacht uses diesel, solar and electric power (hence the "dse"). The yacht's most dramatic feature has to be the large solar array that covers the roof. The yacht also has narrow, wave-piercing hulls that keep her stable but also conserve energy. Wind turbines also generate additional power. The yacht can hit six knots on solar power (13 knots with diesel included). The bow has room for four loungers and a picnic table.

Inside the yacht features a large main area with a 26" HDTV and a Bose home theater system as well as a modern galley that features energy efficient appliances. The master stateroom has a queen-sized sleigh bed and a panoramic view. The guest suite has a queen bed that can also be converted into two twin beds. The dinghy uses an electric motor which can be charged using the solar array.

The DSe Hybrid 12m starts at $600,000 and is being shown at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

[via Born Rich]

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DSe Hybrid Yacht, Green Cruising Follows The Sun originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 02 Nov 2008 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Insurance Discounts For Hybrid and Electric Boats

Deidre Woollard — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:04:00 EST

Filed under: Water

Hybrid powered boats like the Chris-Craft Frauscher one shown above are just starting to enter the market but Travelers insurance is ready for them. They have announced an industry-first discount of up to 10 percent on hybrid boat and yacht insurance. Many of the hybrid boats are making their debut at upcoming boat shows or recently came out this year so Travelers may be jumping the gun just a little.

Travelers defines a hybrid boat as one that is specifically designed to reduce green house gas emissions and conserve fossil fuels, as compared to an internal combustion engine boat. A hybrid also uses an integrated propulsion system that incorporates in its original design, both an internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric motor. They also offer the same 10 percent discount on electric boats.

Insurance Discounts For Hybrid and Electric Boats originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Heineken Family Yacht For Sale

Deidre Woollard — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:02:00 EST

Filed under: Water

The Something Cool is a yacht with a past. She has been owned by the Heineken family (famous for their beer) for 37 years.The yacht was built in 1964 by Wilton Feyenoord in Holland and has seen many famous guests including members of the Dutch Royal Family. The yacht is is in her original condition, although systems have been replaced and upgraded over the years. Certainly an interior refit may be necessary but hopefully whoever purchases will retain some of the yacht's classic style. She has three cabins and a pair of Nouverania tenders. This yacht is listed at 950,000 euros.

[via Superyacht Times]

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Heineken Family Yacht For Sale originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Saddam Hussein's Yacht for Sale at $30 Million

Jared Paul Stern — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:03:00 EST

Filed under: Water

Back in August, my colleague Deidre Woollard reported on a court ruling that Saddam Hussein's yacht Basra Breeze (formerly Ocean Breeze) belonged to the Iraqi government after a Cayman island firm partly owned by King Abdullah of Jordan claimed possession. Now the Iraqis have put the 269-ft. megayacht up for sale with a pricetag of $30 million, but the décor is so tacky and outdated it will require at least another $30 million to overhaul the ship, the London Times reports.

Launched in 1981, the ship features acres of marble and gold, Arabesque arches, dark wood carvings, "deep pile carpets in lurid colours and rugs woven with views of holy cities", and gold faucets in the bathrooms. There's also a bulletproof atrium with banquet seating for 200, two medical treatment centers and a mini operating theater, and a helipad. In Saddam's time the ship had a crew of up to 35 on 24-hour call, but the dictator was so paranoid he barely ever left Iraq or spent any time onboard.

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Saddam Hussein's Yacht for Sale at $30 Million originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sanctuary Hotel & Impulsive Superyacht Package

Jared Paul Stern — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:02:00 EST

Filed under: Journeys, Water

When the hip new Sanctuary Hotel opens in Manhattan early next year, its owner the Impulsive Group plans to offer luxe vacation packages integrating the charter of the company's 120-ft. superyacht, the Impulsive (above). After sailing the Mediterranean on Impulsive, guests will be able to hop a private plane to New York and arrive in style for a stay in the Sanctuary's duplex penthouse suite without bothering about multiple bookings. The Impulsive, which just completed a multimillion dollar refit, comes with a Michelin-starred chef and a crew of seven, and costs $100,000 a week on its own. The Sanctuary's rooms will feature exotic woods, quarried marble and "an exposed sensual bathing design plan".

Sanctuary Hotel & Impulsive Superyacht Package originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sunseeker Locean For Sale

Deidre Woollard — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 14:02:00 EST

Filed under: Water

With another James Bond movie coming up, focus is once again turning to the Sunseeker yachts, which, as my colleague Jared Paul Stern mentioned, have appeared in the last three Bond movies and will have a role in Quantum of Solace.

You can have your own James Bond moment with the Sunseeker Predator 82 Locean, a preowned Sunseeker listed with Sunseeker London. The 82-foot yacht has four cabins and is outfitted with Caterpillar diesel engines. The yacht includes a KVH G8 Satellite TV system with a 42 inch plasma television in the master cabin. The galley includes a Miele coffee machine built into a large storage cupboard and a full sized Bosch oven. The Locean is listed at £ 1,750,000.

For more info contact:

Sunseeker London LTD
Harry Bristow-Holmes
Harry@sunseekerlondon.com
+44 7595 002 698

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Sunseeker Locean For Sale originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 25 Oct 2008 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yacht Carbon Offset Assuages Green Guilt

Deidre Woollard — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:02:00 EST

Filed under: Water, Green

Carbon offsets for private jet travel have become a fairly common occurrence but there is also a carbon offset program for another energy-intensive luxury, yachting. Yacht Carbon Offset specializes in balancing greenhouse gas emissions from yacht charters and private yachts. Projects include renewable energy in Brazil, wind power in China's Shanghai Province and a wind farm in Maharastra, India. They stress that their carbon offset projects offer traceability of individual project actions and for the independent verification and certification of the carbon credits generated. They have an interesting stance on forestry projects. Their website says they do not purchase credits from forestry projects because pure tree-planting schemes seek to create an offset by increasing the amount of stored carbon dioxide. This only matters if the trees will never be cut down, otherwise the CO2 will be released again. They instead focus on alternative energy projects.

Their program calculates carbon offsets based on the types of marine fuel types used for the main engines, gensets, tenders and watertoys and even helicopter fuel if required. The motor yacht Lionheart was recently signed up for carbon offsetting through this program. Certainly the easy answer is to say that people shouldn't be cruising these huge yachts in the first place but I think any reasoned effort to be green has merit.

[via Superyacht Times]

Yacht Carbon Offset Assuages Green Guilt originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Starfire Yacht For Sale

Deidre Woollard — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:02:00 EST

Filed under: Water

Luxury charter yacht Starfire has been put up for sale. The 177 foot yacht was built in Italy by the Benetti boatyard in 1988 and has since gone through two refits, one in 2002 and a second in 2004 that gave the yacht an elegant Art Deco look. Starfire has room for 12 charter guests in six cabins. There is a main master cabin with a king-size bed and an ensuite bathroom with a jacuzzi bath tub, two cabins with queen-sized beds and ensuite baths, two cabins with twin beds and another cabin with a king-size bed as well as room for the captain and crew.

She has a maximum speed of 15 knots and cruises at 12 knots. There is an on-deck Jacuzzi, formal dining area as well as outdoor dining options, a swim platform and shower, and of course, plenty of outdoor water toys. She has a Ku Band satellite system which allows for high speed wireless internet access around the world.

This yacht chartered for $196,000 to $250,000 and is now listed through Northrop and Johnson for $37.5 million.

[via Superyacht Times]

UPDATE: Reuters reports that billionaire investor Carl Icahn is the current owner of Starfire.
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Starfire Yacht For Sale originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sunseeker Yachts Star in Quantum of Solace

Jared Paul Stern — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:02:00 EST

Filed under: Water

The Aston Martin DBS isn't the only high-performance means of transport to have a starring role in the new 007 film, Quantum of Solace. UK-made Sunseeker yachts also appear in the movie, which features one of the biggest ever boat chases in a Bond film, shot in Panama last March. Among the Sunseekers featured in the film is the Superhawk 43, from the company's high-performance range, as well as the 121-ft. M4 superyacht (above), the largest semi-custom production motoryacht ever to be built in the UK. Bond also rides in a classic vintage Sunseeker Sovereign 17 motorboat from 1970 at one point during the film. Sunseeker yachts have appeared in the last three Bond movies.

Sunseeker Yachts Star in Quantum of Solace originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sealine Yachts Trims Their Sails In Hard Times

Deidre Woollard — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:02:00 EST

Filed under: Water

English yacht company, Sealine, is the latest to be hit by hard times. It is closing down two of its three sites and is set to lose 297 jobs (it employs around 630 people). The firm, which is based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, is entering into a 90-day consultation process with its staff to reduce redundancies among its office and production workers. Sealine has been in business since 1972 and manufactures around 300 boats a year ranging from 25 to 60 feet. All their boats are constructed entirely in house. A spokesperson for the company has said that the current economic conditions are the reason for the downsizing.

Sealine Yachts Trims Their Sails In Hard Times originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bulgari CEO Embraces New Frugality, Sells Off Classic Yacht

Deidre Woollard — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:02:00 EST

Filed under: Water

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Francesco Trapani, chief executive of Bulgari Group, sold his 137-foot yacht, the "Christianne B." The yacht, a beautiful sailboat built by Perini Navi in 1986 was for sale for a while through Cavendish White, first for 9.25 mullion euros in 2007 and then for 8.75 million euros before it sold this year. For a while the yacht was known as "the Bulgari yacht" and Trapiani sometimes conducted interviews on board. A gallery of pictures of this elegant yacht can be found here. Trapiani has said that he is being more frugal right now, not buying any more homes (although he did rent a vacation home this summer) and generally cutting back on his expenses.

Bulgari CEO Embraces New Frugality, Sells Off Classic Yacht originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW Debuts New Luxury Yachts

Jared Paul Stern — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:02:00 EST

Filed under: Water

At the Genoa Boat Show in Italy this week, BMW Group DesignWorks, a subsidiary of the German automaker, will debut the new high-performance luxury sailing yacht it developed in partnership with bespoke Belgian boat builder Zeydon. The 60-ft. Zeydon Z60 (above) "combines the sailing potential of a performance offshore yacht with the substantial equipment range and unaffected elegance of a modern luxury cruiser."

Available for order this fall, the exterior of the Z60 "presents regatta-oriented functionality, outstanding seaworthiness and a generously designed deck area," while the interior features "an equipment range that is commonly associated with much larger yachts [and] high-grade materials and design with a focus on precision and perfect functionality right down to the smallest detail," the company says. As we reported recently, Porsche also has a new line of luxury yachts in the works.

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BMW Debuts New Luxury Yachts originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Evian Teams with Jean Paul Gaultier

Tracy Chait — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Water

Amidst the catwalk flurry at Paris Fashion Week, a new collaboration made its debut: Evian and Jean Paul Gaultier. In the second of its designer series (the first pairing was with Christian Lacroix), Evian announces its release of two bottles designed by the Hermès creative director.

Gaultier has fashioned the Prêt-à-Porter bottle (interlocking snowflakes, oversized lettering) and the Haute Couture bottle (only seven produced worldwide). The Prêt-à-Porter version is available for pre-order on shopevian.com at $13.95 a bottle.

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Evian Teams with Jean Paul Gaultier originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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