Neorion 280

When customers began chartering yachts in tandem as the only way to bring along an entire company or family in the post-MCA years (which limit private charter yachts to a maximum of 12 passengers), Liveras sought another solution: bigger yachts. Both Princess Tanya and Altair were operated provisionally carrying 18 guests.

Few bystanders would have predicted the success of yachts carrying 18 passengers. Fewer still might have predicted clients chartering two yachts in tandem. "Of course, tandem charters are not without their problems. It is difficult to keep both yachts to the same schedule, especially if bunkering is required. Then someone always feels that one yacht has a better chef or better accommodations," says Liveras. So he came up with another solution: bigger yachts built to SOLAS standards; yachts that meet commercial passenger ship standards, yet still look like and operate like private yachts.

There’s no mistaking the SOLAS certification of this helideck, designed to land the largest personal jet helicopter. (Click image to enlarge)

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Of course, being Andreas Liveras, simply responding to the market isn’t in his character. He has to deliver a little bit extra, something that becomes a market driver itself.

"Welcome to the heart of Alysia," says Liveras as he broadly sweeps his arm around an enormous Roman bath. The walls, floor and soaking tub are all the same beautiful marble, bright white with a soft gray vein. Four translucent panels placed equidistant around the room slowly shift through the color spectrum, creating a soothing yet ever-changing environment. Marshalled around the Jacuzzi are luxurious teak deck chairs arrayed with beckoning cushions, towels and pillows. The air is perfumed—aromatherapy for whatever ails you. Spiraling off the central Roman bath are separate men’s and women’s saunas, steam rooms, a cold plunge pool and locker rooms with showers, treatment rooms for massage and skin care, a hair and nail salon, a gymnasium and a fantastic children’s playroom. While the aforementioned may be becoming de rigueur, Alysia’s health and beauty center has two exclusive treatment services: the Caracalla bath—a thalassotherapy bath with massaging jets and light therapy—and the heated Cleopatra bath—a cocooning tub where guests in seaweed wraps relax in near weightlessness.

Alysia’s aft open-air dining area can handle a crowd and still provide a view. (Click image to enlarge)

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The origins of Alysia’s spa began with Princess Tanya’s beauty salon and staff masseur. With Annaliesse, Liveras and his niece Sophia Dafnia, who helps design the yachts, let their imaginations run riot. The process resulted in the installation of a floor-to-ceiling aquarium, supplied for its soothing effects on tense individuals. While Alysia’s spa is even larger, the aquarium was omitted to allow for more treatment space. "You learn things as you go along," Liveras says candidly.

But the health and beauty center doesn’t mean attention to other areas is lacking. The sun deck features a large Jacuzzi and seating areas forward with a lounge area aft encompassing the helipad. In addition to crew boats, Alysia has two 25-foot covered tenders meeting SOLAS rescue-boat standards.

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