If you want to have a blow-out party for 60 to 600 of your friends and family, the team that helped your company achieve its goals, or perhaps your best customers, your own private cruise is a great venue.
Full ship charters allow you to customize ports creating your own itinerary, plus you can arrange for celebrity chefs or your favorite band or bands to help with the entertainment.
Some ships have casinos for extra fun, and the trend towards mixing expedition and luxury cruising means you will find options with submarines, helicopters, Zodiacs, and all sorts of water toys.
1. Crystal Cruises
2. Ponant
3. Seabourn
4. Seadream Yacht Club
5. Silversea Cruises
6. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
7. Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
1. Crystal Cruises
Ship: Crystal Endeavor (up to 200 guests)
Where: Worldwide
Minimum: 10 nights
Crystal Endeavor is due to launch in 2020 and marks a key trend in cruising – the blending of the luxury and expedition segments. It’s ideal if you want to mix soft adventures and activities with your celebration. There’s an after watersports marina as well, providing a touch superyacht experience.
Endeavor carries up to 22 expedition experts, a 6 passenger +1 pilot submersible, two helicopters, a fleet of zodiacs, a ROV (Remote Operated Vehicle), kayaks, and snorkeling gear. There is a 1-to-1 staff to guest ration.
According to Cruise Critic, its Polar Class 6 designation will allow Endeavor to maneuver in the summer and fall through medium first-year ice in either of the poles.
Facilities include a Crystal Life Spa, men’s and women’s sauna and two-story solarium with a glass doomed pool. You may also like there are a casino and a cigar lounge.
In addition to its top-rated service, there will also be a Nobu restaurant and all the facilities you would expect on a luxury cruise ship. In fact, there are six dining venues and of course, Crystal’s “Michelin-inspired cuisine).
On Crystal Esprit (at just 62 guests also ideal for full takeovers), Crystal has arranged all sorts of themed deck parties too, including firework celebrations shoreside to be viewed from the yacht.
To get to your private cruise, Crystal offers two branded private jets available for charter, a Bombardier Global Express and yes, a private Boeing 777-200 (interior above) with a nonstop flying range of up to 16 hours seating up to 78.
Top Suite
The 1,290 sq. ft. adds over 7000 sq. ft. of verandah making it perfect to host private functions during your special journey. There is also a connecting room option making it ideal if you are traveling with young children.
Price
From $3,000,000 and up depending on itinerary; Crystal Esprit (64 guests) starts at around $375,000 including the charter, fuel, gratuities, select shore excursions, meals, beverages (alcoholic and non) and more.
Contact: CMISales@crystalcruises.com
2. Ponant
Ship: Its six Explorer Class ships – Le Laperouse, Le Champlain, Le Bougainville, Le Dumont D’Urville, Le Jacques Cartier, and Le Bellot (Up to 184 guests each)
Where: Worldwide
Minimum: Typically 7 days
Remember those famous shaving razor ads where the owner, Victor Kiam, said he liked its shave so much he bought the company?
Rumor is Francois Pinault and wife Salma Hayek liked Ponant so much, the French billionaire and owner of Gucci, Brioni, Bottega Veneta, and other fashion brands, bought the line.
Ponant was one of the first companies to identify the merging trends of small ship luxury and expedition cruising, so its vessels mix savoir-faire with soft adventure. Its six identical Explorer Class ships each have the unique Blue Eye lounge (below) with an underwater window.
In addition to a full spa and fitness room with Technogym and Kinesis Wall, each ship has a sundeck and marina with access to the sea for swimming, kayaking, water boards, scuba, snorkeling, water-skiing, and even fishing as well as 10 Zodiacs.
The Blue Eye provides a unique venue for weddings and vows renewals. A special sound system allows you to hear the sea life swimming outside.
Top Suite
The 484 sq. ft. of indoor space of the Owner’s Suite is matched by a 322 sq. ft. private balcony with Jacuzzi. There are a separate bedroom and living area, plus double vanity bathroom with a separate shower and tub.
Price
Varies by date and itinerary
Contact: Rita Chenique at rchenique@ponant.com or +1.646.517.0336
3. Seabourn
Ship: Seabourn Venture (up to 264 guests)
Where: Northern Europe, Norwegian Fjords, and the Caribbean
Minimum: Typically 7 days
While Sebourn’s fleet has long been popular with full ship charters, its Seabourn Venture will be the next hot thing when it launches in 2021. It’s already open for booking!
Part of the trend to meld high-touch luxury with adrenaline rush adventures, the Adam Tihany designed interiors promise a combination of cool and classic.
Innovation’s purpose-built PC6 ice-strengthened hull includes advanced maneuvering technology for superior stability, safety, and comfort. To add to the interesting opportunities of your private cruise, there is a full expedition team that can be aboard and will work with you to customize adventures for you and your guests.
There will be two custom-built six-guest submarines, 24 Zodiacs, mountain and e-bikes, scuba diving, snorkeling, and kayaks.
To get some ideas flowing, in the past for private charters, Seabourn has executed a complete build-out of indoor and outdoor venues to transform the main dining room into a hospitality and office park, outdoor deck transformed into a function space by enclosing the entire pool deck and loaded a full-sized car onto the pool deck to launch the latest model. In a different twist, one customer commissioned an artist to build a 10 ft. long lego version of the ship.
Top Suite
The two-story 1,397 sq. ft. Grand Wintergarden suite has two balconies totaling 206 sq. ft. and is perfect for extended families and friends looking to share their travel experiences.
There are two suites in this category are available on Seabourn Venture, which may be a nice touch if you are taking mom and dad, and want to make sure they also get the best of the best.
The entry on Deck 7 leads to seamless double-height views and a large lower level living area for entertaining with a dining table for four, separate guest bath, and pantry with wet bar stocked with a customized selection of spirits including a bottle of coveted Shackleton Blended Malt Scotch Whiskey, which is based on the spirit supplied to the 1907 British Antarctic Expedition. The lower level also features a second bedroom and bathroom with a separate tub and shower.
A sculptured staircase leading to the upper level takes you to the master bedroom with a queen-sized Duxiana Axion 15 adjustable high-performance sleep system positioned to face expansive windows, allowing you to soak in the abundant scenery and vistas beyond.
Wintergarden suite guests will also be able to enjoy wildlife and vista spotting using a Swarovski ATX Interior spotting scope. The tripod-mounted scope, with its 25-60×85 lens capability, is offered for use in-suite while onboard and provides a unique perspective to the world outside via tried-and-tested optics
Price
Pricing varies based on itinerary, inclusions, and date
Contact +1.206.626.9177 or SeaCharIncentive@seabourn.com
4. SeaDream Yacht Club
Ship: SeaDream Innovation (up to 200 guests)
Where: Worldwide
Minimum: 3 nights
SeaDream Yacht Club provides a casual yachting experience and is best known for SeaDream I and II, which each hold only 110 guests and have long been popular for full charters because of their ability to go into small ports in the Caribbean and Med.
A highlight is the champagne and caviar party served by crew members who wade through the shallow waters to serve you on a private beach or as you lounge in shallow Caribbean waters (below).
Coming in 2021 is SeaDream Innovation, which the company calls “the world’s most advanced hybrid ship being built today.” Offering lots of options for an active celebration, she will feature three simultaneous marinas plus a luxury bent allowing you to sleep under the stars.
Equipment will include Zodiacs, kayaks, sailboats, and wave runners. Reports indicate she will also have an in-ocean swimming pool created by a floating dock.
Of course, if there is something you want to make your private cruise even more memorable, for BMW during the Grand Prix in Monte Carlo, the line placed their concept car on the pool deck (above) to ensure guests remembered the car in addition to the cruise.
Top Suite
The 1,008 sq. ft. Heyerdahl Suite will be the largest with spaces to mingle with friends or relish in a private retreat. There are separate seating and dining areas, a walk-in closet, and a large bathroom with an oversized shower and soaking tub, and a large veranda.
Price
Starting at $1.5 million and up for an all included, 7-day charter on Innovation; Sea Dream I and II start at around $500,000 for 7 days in the Caribbean and $600,000 in the Med.
Contact: Bob Lepisto, President of SeaDream Yacht Club at 1.305.724.6791 or blepisto@seadream.com
5. Silversea Cruises
Ship: Silver Moon (up to 596 guests)
Where: Mediterranean, Caribbean, and South America
Minimum: 4 nights
Like other luxury lines in this story, Silversea Cruises has a variety of ships you can charter, however, Silver Moon debuting next year is its newest with all of the bells and whistles.
Best of all, it has a capacity for up to 596 guests and while you don’t have to fill every cabin – and many people don’t – it gives you a high-end luxury experience without having to pare your guest list.
Its all-suite accommodations make it a great choice to host a party, and it has eight restaurants including its new S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste Lab, which is used for interactive culinary demonstrations opening up a world of interesting possibilities.
The Zagara Beauty Spa by Silversea offers sea views from the floor-to-ceiling windows, nine treatment rooms, an acupuncture suite, relaxation areas, and a dedicated outdoor whirlpool, plus men’s and women’s saunas and steam rooms.
For those of you who aren’t regulars on the high seas, Cruise Critic notes, “Silver Moon is a sister to Silver Muse, but it will see some significant changes in terms of layout. The color scheme and basic ship layout will remain the same, but the positioning of a number of restaurants and bars will be moved.” It also reports the pool is big enough for swimmers to get their lap work in.
Another nice feature is Silver Moon has the space to host a “dinner under the stars” for all of your guests at one time. There are also venues for live music, including your favorite mega-band or entertainer in a command performance. And don’t forget the casino.
Top Suite
The Grand Suite spans up to 1,970 sq. ft. in a two-bedroom configuration, making it work well particularly if you have younger children. The Owner’s Suite (pictured above) can also be configured in one or two-bedroom.
Price
Prices vary by season and destination
Contact: Freddy I. Muller| Vice President, Charter & Incentive Sales at +1.954.713.3910 or +1.305.332.3009 Mobile
6. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
Ship: To be named (up to 298 guests)
Where: Caribbean, Mediterranean, Canada, and New England
Minimum: 5-nights
Set for its inaugural in June 2020, the yet to be named vessel marks Ritz-Carlton’s first venture onto the high seas, although The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is actually an independent company being run by veterans of the luxury cruise industry.
A full yacht charter offers the freedom and flexibility to customize every detail, from the voyage itinerary to excursions ashore and flexible suite configurations. Yes, that’s right – an innovative wall system allows for flexible conf
Executives say the vessel was designed with full charters in mind, and public spaces from lounges and dining venues to dedicated conference rooms offer flexibility. There’s also a partnership with Chef Sven Elverfeld of Aqua, the Michelin three-starred restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg, Germany, to help spark some culinary ideas.
Relax at the Ritz-Carlton Spa, gym and fitness center, or enjoy the open-air marina with direct access to a variety of water sports while the yacht is at anchor.
If you want to channel a bit of Kate Winslet and Leo, have a stand-up reception on the bow area normally not accessible to guests. In addition, there is the option to arrange additional celebratory experiences on land through its relationships with The Ritz-Carlton hotels and sister brands Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Luxury Collection, St. Regis, Bulgari and W Hotels.
Top Suite
There are two 1,098 sq. ft. Owner’s suites, each with a 592 sq. ft. terrace and private whirlpool. There’s also a modern living and dining area, convertible sleep sofa, double vanity bathroom with soaking tub and separate shower, plus a second bathroom with shower.
Price
Available upon request
Contact: events@ritz-carltonyachtcollection.com or +1.305.907.7101
7. Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Ship: S.S. Bon Voyage (up to 124 guests)
Where: Bordeaux, France
Minimum: 5 nights
Named World’s Best River Cruise Line by Travel + Leisure readers the past two years Uniworld’s newest river ship, the S.S. Bon Voyage, is just completing its inaugural season and best of all it is based in Bordeaux.
Cruise the Gironde, Dordogne and Garonne rivers through the Aquitaine region of France. Customize daily excursions take your party for private tours and events at historic venues and access to vineyards and other cultural attractions.
For full-ship charters, Uniworld has arranged private visits to Bordeaux’s museum of wine, for tastings and presentation of the region’s rich wine history and a wine pairing lunch and dinners at a prestigious chateau.
Back on board, enjoy the infinity pool as the French countryside passes by. Poolside service at Le Café du Soleil offers casual French cuisine as well as open-air cooking demonstrations from chefs.
Top Suite
The two 280-sq. ft. Grand Suites include handcrafted Savoir beds from England, built-in closets, hairdryer, safe, individual climate-controlled thermostat, direct-dial telephone, and a flat-screen TV with infotainment center.
Marble bathrooms feature Hermès bath and body products, plush towels, backlit magnifying mirror, cozy bathrobes and slippers, a rain shower and tub, and a separate toilet area.
Additional amenities and services include in-suite butler service, plus packing and unpacking assistance.
Price
Varies by departure and activities
Contact: Charters@uniworld.com or +1.818.382.2730
