Winter Warm-Up
Danielle Wallin
10/01/2007

It might not be snowing yet, but for many of us winter will be settling in soon. Now’s the time to lock in your warm-weather getaway to paradise—a week-long cruise aboard the charter yacht of your choice.

Most of us prefer a retreat to the tried-and-true colorful Caribbean or the balmy Bahamas for our winter fix of palm trees, sapphire seas, perfect weather and soothing trade winds. The adventurous who seek some off-the-path fun head to less chartered waters such as the Western Caribbean destinations of Belize, Costa Rica and Mexico or the deep south of Antarctica or Phuket in southern Thailand or the Maldives in the Indian Ocean.

However you prefer your winter warm-up, ShowBoats International should be your first stop before you head south—or east, west or wherever it is in the world that strikes your fancy. We’ve compiled a list of reputable charter agents, a sampling of yachts available for charter and some things for you to consider when planning your winter holiday. Go ahead, buy that hot new bathing suit and those fabulous sunglasses, stock up on sunscreen and get ready to chill.

Corporate Retreat
Alysia  MALDIVES

Ready to treat yourself and your loyal employees to the retreat you all deserve? Climb aboard the 280-foot Alysia and hit the Maldives for some serious bonding time. Alysia’s professional spa and magnificent decks are perfect for dining and entertaining and whatever else is on the agenda. For those really needing to unwind, some hydrotherapy in the large on-deck hot tub may be in order. Alysia’s business center and wired staterooms will remind everyone that there’s still work to be done. She sleeps 36 in 18 guest rooms. (Click images to enlarge)

Contact Liveras Yachts at +377 97 97 45 10 or info@liverasyachts.com Charter price per week: €661,500.

All On Deck
Oasis CARIBBEAN

Photography by Klaus Jordan. (Click images to enlarge)

You didn’t travel to the islands to stay inside all day. Aboard Oasis, a top-notch gym, barbecue area, sun pads, Jacuzzi, foldaway TVs, helipad and disco ball make the sun deck the place to be, day or night. Add to that a couple of Vikal tenders, Honda PWC, two-person kayaks and a Laser sailboat, and guests may overlook the gorgeous interiors by Glade Johnson. This 2006 195-foot Lürssen sleeps 12 in six cabins.

Contact YCO at +377 93 50 12 12 or charter@ycoyacht.com Charter price per week: $420,000.

New England Charm
Charisma  CARIBBEAN

Step on board the New England beach house afloat called Charisma and be delivered to your favorite relaxed summer mode. New owners recently added a sun-deck Jacuzzi, and before the winter season she will have zero-speed stabilizers to keep her on even keel. If you want to enjoy the water, she’ll help with that, too. Charisma has a couple of tenders, plus WaveRunners and water skis. If that’s not enough, she also boasts fishing and dive gear, kneeboards, inner tubes and workout equipment. This 2002 winner of a ShowBoats International Award is a 153-foot Feadship that sleeps 12 in six staterooms. (Click images to enlarge)

Contact Yachting Partners International at +33 4 93 34 01 00 or ypifr@ypifr.co.uk Charter price per week: $155,000/$170,000 (Christmas/New Year’s).

Special Access
Marathon  CARIBBEAN

Photography by Stephen Cridland. (Click images to enlarge)

If you or one of your guests is a traveler with special needs, Marathon is the yacht for your party. An elevator to all decks provides easy access to every bit of the fun, including the swim platform. This 157-foot Christensen sleeps 12 guests in six cabins and beams Wi-Fi throughout. An iPod docking station and central entertainment center, plus two tenders, two Sea-Doos, a pair of kayaks, a sailboat, water skis and other towables, snorkeling gear, scuba equipment and a dive compressor virtually guarantee a good time for all. She cruises at 12 knots, with a top speed of 15.

Contact Fraser Yachts at 954-463-0600 or charterflorida@fraseryachts.com Price per week: $215,000.

Privacy from Perini
Selene  CARIBBEAN

Photography by Sargentini-Bianchi/Courtesy of CNI. (Click images to enlarge)

Selene offers up 183 feet of Ron Holland-designed, Perini Navi-built sophisticated sailing. Her modern take on art deco enchants while her toys and huge swim platform entertain. Add to that a bonus portside platform, a Jacuzzi, a series of sliding doors and an extra corridor, and guests can enjoy privacy and comfort. Five cabins sleep 12.

Contact Camper & Nicholsons International at 954-524-4250 or www.cnconnect.com Price per week: $272,000.

Spacious Sailer
Tiara  SOUTHEAST ASIA, INDIAN OCEAN

Nixing the stereotype of a tight-quartered sailboat, not only does the 178-foot Alloy Yachts Tiara boast a bi-level master, but she also accommodates a helicopter landing on her aft deck and stores loads of toys. John Munford designed Tiara’s roomy interior, which sleeps 12 in five cabins. She carries two tenders, Lasers, bikes, kayaks, windsurfers, water skis, wakeboards, surfboards, inflatables, and fishing and scuba gear. (Click images to enlarge)

Contact Edmiston & Company at +377 93 30 54 44 or cayachts@edmistoncompany.com Price per week: €180,000/ €190,000 (Christmas, New Year’s).

Tons of Toys
Scott Free  BAHAMAS AND FLORIDA

Recently refit Scott Free is all about having fun. This 124-foot Delta tri-deck features the latest in audiovisual systems (including flat screen TVs throughout), an on-deck Jacuzzi and a well-equipped gym where guests can work off the sumptuous feasts provided by her talented chef. A crew of six makes sure no one lifts a finger. Dine under the stars on her aft or boat deck, or enjoy exquisite meals in the formal dining area amid the extensive art collection. Her abundant supply of water toys includes a Jupiter center console, a backcountry flats boat, two Sea-Doo watercraft, snorkeling and fishing gear, inflatables, a kneeboard and water skis. Scott Free sleeps eight in four staterooms. (Click top image to enlarge)

Contact Merle Wood & Associates at 954-525-5111 or clittlejohn@merlewood.com Price per week: $75,000.

Intimate Wedding
Indian Empress  CARIBBEAN OR INDIAN OCEAN

Looking for a luxe location to tie the knot? Invite your closest friends and family to join you aboard Indian Empress. Owned by Indian tycoon Vijay Mallya of Kingfisher Airlines fame and available for charter for the first time since her 2000 launch by oceAnco, she is the 18th largest motor yacht in the world, measuring almost 312 feet. Indian Empress has multiple salons, as well as formal dining for up to 24, shaded outdoor dining and an on-deck Jacuzzi. Dock at the Caribbean or Indian Ocean marina of your choice and invite 22 guests for the ceremony and dinner. Have 10 of your most intimate relations stay on board overnight. Indian Empress sleeps 12 in 16 cabins, including a huge private master suite. Her attentive crew of 27 will make it all run smoothly. (Click top image to enlarge)

Contact Burgess at +44 20 7766 4300 or london@burgessyachts.com Price per week: €700,000.

Need for Speed
Obrigado  CARIBBEAN

This 98-foot, aluminum-hulled 2006 launch is fast, cruising at 21 knots and maxing out at 24. Obrigado leaves most charter yachts in her wake. She’s a standout among others in her size range, with a tasteful and roomy interior that sleeps eight in four cheerful staterooms. Obrigado’s RIB is a quick one, too, sporting 60-hp engines of her own. In addition, Obrigado offers up a WaveRunner, water skis, snorkeling and fishing gear, a wakeboard, rendezvous diving and many other fun-in-the-sun goodies. (Click top image to enlarge)

Contact Merrill-Stevens at charter@merrillstevens.com or 954-791-2600. Price per week: $45,000/$50,000 (10-night minimum holiday rate).

Jet Set
ZaZu  FLORIDA AND BAHAMAS

Looking to live the good life? Hop on ZaZu’s accompanying private jet and soar to the recently refit 95-foot Feadship. Her 18-month total facelift endowed her with glamorous art deco furnishings and classic styling throughout. If your jet set wants to take the fun outside, ZaZu sports an on-deck hot tub, fishing and snorkeling gear, plus a Novurania tender, water skis, a Jet Ski and a WaveRunner. ZaZu sleeps six in three cabins. (Click images to enlarge)

Contact Churchill Yacht Partners at 954-527-2626 or ebucknell@churchillyachts.com Price per week: $27,500. Jet transportation is $8,000 per hour.

Drop a Line
Arms Reach  BAHAMAS

Photography by Dennis Boyer/Boyer Images LLC. (Click images to enlarge)

So you want to cruise to the islands and catch some fish for the holidays? This 130-foot Westport is the boat for fishing fans. She includes a 31-foot Jupiter tender, a Hell’s Bay 17-foot flats fishing boat and extensive fishing gear—more than 75 rods. Because you probably don’t want to spend your vacation fishing alone, bring along nine of your closest anglers. Arms Reach sleeps 10 guests in five staterooms. She cruises at 22 knots and maxes out at 26. (Click images to enlarge)

Contact The Sacks Group at 954-764-8219 or jordanna@sacksyachts.com Price per week: from $77,500.

Designer Digs
Argyll  CARIBBEAN

Ralph Lauren loyalists will love the 153-foot Argyll. She wears a classy dark hull on the outside and designer Lauren inside. She sleeps 10 guests in five voluminous staterooms, including the master penthouse, which is a plush 2,400 square feet and incorporates a library and fireplace. The massive master isn’t the only capacious space on board. Argyll also sports a huge sun-deck area that shares the sky deck with a large skylounge with oversized windows. In addition to a whole slew of toys, Argyll is fully wheelchair accessible. (Click images to enlarge)

Contact Northrop and Johnson Yachts at 954-522-3344 or june@njyachts.com Price per week: $137,200; 10-day minimum during the holidays.

Luxe to the Max
Reverie CARIBBEAN

Newly refit Reverie logs in as one of the largest boats in recent history built by Benetti, if you’re measuring by volume. Her 230-foot, seven-deck self represents the very embodiment of yachting for the connoisseur. Just introduced to the charter market, her huge spaces, superb service, gigantic swim platform, cozy seating areas, opulent décor and various toys provide diverse enjoyment for 12 guests in 10 staterooms. (Click images to enlarge)

Contact Cavendish White at 954-522-1510 or usa@cavendishwhite.com Price per week: $700,000.

Table(s) for 10
Lady Michelle  CARIBBEAN

Photography by Jim Raycroft. (Click images to enlarge)

If you’re a family or a group of friends who likes to dine together, Trinity’s Lady Michelle is the yacht to charter. The 161-footer offers up a full-size table for 10 on each of her three decks. Just think: breakfast on the sun deck before the sun gets too warm, lunch on the aft deck to enjoy the midday trade winds, and dinner in the formal dining room after sunset cocktails sipped back up on the sun deck. Lady Michelle sleeps 10 guests in five cabins.

Contact International Yacht Collection at 954-522-2323 or charter@iyc.com Price per week: $215,000.