| Neorion 280 |  |
One of the things Liveras has learned is that his customers are grateful for
a self-contained environment where their security and privacy are assured. For ultra-high-profile individuals,
even going ashore to Les Thermes Marins spa in Monte Carlo or to dinner within
the exclusive Palazzo Sasso could present logistical or security nightmares. A
yacht is ever so much nicer than taking an entire floor in a hotel, plus it
eliminates the issue of a public elevator or lobby when coming and
going. Which is not to say that Alysia doesn’t have an
elevator—she does—and a very spectacular lobby, one with enormous slabs
of book-matched blue Brazilian Makauba marble. Aboard Alysia, the color
scheme is a relaxing blend of colors chosen from nature’s palette and not unlike
the colors of Cyprus—wheat, golden maize, olive and deep clay reds splashed
against gentle, cream-colored handmade carpets and sofas. It works well with the
sea views afforded by large windows. Varied seating areas allow each guest to
choose a personal space of greatest psychological comfort within rooms that are
large enough to entertain grandly or accommodate the entire entourage. The guest
staterooms include a two-room VIP suite and a 1,313-square-foot master with an
integrated cabin for staff or child, a private deck, a personal office and a
sumptuous bath that appears carved of solid Afion marble. Within the yacht’s 47-foot beam, there is ample room for each of the 14 regular
guest suites to include a sofa, a desk and a large bath with both tub and shower
wrapped in Michelangelo marble.
 This inviting Jacuzzi shares the sun deck
with the helipad’s lounge area. (Click image to enlarge)
Liveras originally planned to hedge his bets by offering seven
ownership shares in one of the $111 million-plus yachts. He even created a
concept called SeaChange to market and manage the enterprise, but he pulled the
plug on the idea. Both yachts are far too busy in the 2006 season—at $120,000
per day—to need any such cushioning device. He is also planning a larger yacht
capable of carrying 48 guests. Annaliesse and Alysia have a successful
formula: Anticipate everything and offer the best possible European-style
service. In forecasting users’ needs, the yacht provides everything from
slippers to a business center and LAN computer service, a library and a cinema,
a 500-bottle wine cellar, Bose surround sound music and plasma TVs throughout, a
handicap-accessible cabin and a two-bed medical suite with a 24-hour nurse.  As for service, Liveras personally chooses staff with input from Charter
Manager Martina Rakus. Generally, personnel are not from crew service agencies but from the hospitality industry or
naval service. Between the two yachts, each 34-member crew is a United Nations
microcosm, with staff from Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, China,
India, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, England and the Philippines. The official
shipboard language, however, is English. (Click image to enlarge)
Building to SOLAS classification does have an impact on the
yachts; some of it is noticeable—such as the prominent signage for evacuation
routes and the number of steel fire doors. But many of the standards are met
through means invisible to clients, such as fireproof or fire-retardant coatings
on surfaces and silk fabrics. Other elements are built in, such as structures
between floors and behind walls designed to make the vessels as safe as possible
in any calamity, while other SOLAS standards pertain to the rules for operation
of the vessel by her crew. "Yes, you may notice a safety sign for the first day you are on
board—you are supposed to—then you tuck it away in your subconscious and all you
see is a beautiful yacht," says Liveras, walking down one of the yacht’s many
wide corridors. "This is the future of yachting." We would be hard-pressed to disagree.
|
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
Email This
Printer Friendly Version
Reprints & Permissions
Most Popular Searches