Yacht Charter Worldwide » Camper and Nicholson International

Will iPod Replace Crestron on Charter Yachts?

Kim Kavin — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 13:15:18 +0000

I just uploaded a review of the 205-foot motoryacht Icon, which is part of the charter fleet at Camper and Nicholsons International. As you’ll see in the review, this yacht has a lot of unusual features compared with other motoryachts available for charter, but one in particular that stands out to me as an idea that might migrate throughout the industry is the use of iPods instead of Crestron controls.

Crestron controls have become a standard aboard megayachts in recent years, allowing guests to pick up one remote and control everything from music and movies to lighting, curtains, and room temperature. I can’t tell you how many yacht reviews I’ve written that state “the yacht has an entertainment system accessed via Crestron controls.” Whenever a charter yacht manager is touting a yacht’s special features, she always tells me about the Crestron controls. Aboard new and newly refit yachts, they are practically a “must have.”

All of which is why I was surprised to see Icon, a fall 2009 launch, using iPods instead. Each guest cabin has its own iPod that controls–you guessed it–music, movies, lighting, curtains, and room temperature.

From what I could tell during the short demonstration that Chief Stewardess Dani Bolderson provided, the iPod system did almost everything I’ve ever seen the Crestron system do, only in a package that was far smaller, more portable, and more intuitive. (The Crestron system aboard the 164-foot motoryacht NewVida is unique in that it also lets charter guests order wine, cigars, or snacks from the crew, but I’ve only seen that once, back in 2007, and have not seen it installed aboard other charter yachts.)

“Gone are the days of Crestron,” Bolderson said proudly, holding up the iPod shown in the photograph above. “The Crestrons were huge controls anyway, really hideous-looking compared to these iPods.”

I must admit, she has a point. It will be interesting to see whether other yachts follow Icon‘s lead, making iPods the new “must have” control system for top-dollar charter yachts. Stay tuned.

Unusual Charter Option: Costa Rica

Kim Kavin — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 08:00:00 +0000

It’s not often that I see a charter yacht advertising possible itineraries in Costa Rica, but Camper & Nicholsons International currently has two boats doing just that.

Silver Angel, the brand-new, 211-foot Benetti motoryacht shown in the photograph, is planning to charter in Costa Rica this winter before returning to the Mediterranean for the summer 2010 charter season. The weekly base rate is €450,000 for as many as 14 guests with 21 crew–an unusually impressive charter yacht in general, let alone in a destination as off-the-beaten-course as Costa Rica.

Also heading to Costa Rica this winter is Perseus, the 163-foot Perini Navi sailing yacht that I have written about before. I’m especially happy to hear that this yacht is following its plan to cruise around the world after the tragic death of Capt. Drew Gollan in January. Apparently, the new crew are onboard and ready to move forward with the owner’s charter program (which will include the South Pacific later on) at a weekly base rate of $175,000 for 10 guests with nine crew.

I was in Costa Rica back in 2001 for this Yachting magazine article about a yacht that is no longer available for charter. I absolutely loved the remoteness of the destination, which offers terrific scuba diving, nature hikes, and inland whitewater rafting. The scenery is lovely as you cruise up the coast, and at the time, I felt like a true explorer because there were so few marinas. Not much has changed in that department, so you can enjoy a similar feeling during charters in today.

262-Foot Amevi Willing to Negotiate Rate

Kim Kavin — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:43:24 +0000

Here’s an interesting coincidence. Less than a week ago, Camper and Nicholsons International released its Superyachting Index for 2008–whose data indicate that the top end of the international market still has more potential charter clients than it does yachts available. This data, Camper says, explains the massive price increases in recent years for charter yachts larger than 165 feet, particularly in the popular Western Mediterranean cruising grounds.

Today comes news from competing management house Fraser Yachts Worldwide that the largest and most expensive of its fleet motoryachts, the 262-foot Oceanco Amevi shown in the photograph above, has availability the last week of this month and all of next month in the Western Mediterranean at a rate that is described as “negotiable.”

Amevi‘s base rate is still listed at €700,000 for 12 guests, making her one of the most expensive 12-guest charter yachts in the world. By comparison, the 230-foot Lurssen motoryacht Martha Ann takes 12 guests at a weekly base rate of about €610,000, and you can get aboard super-size charter motoryachts such as the 30-guest, 273-foot O’Mega at a weekly base rate of €380,000.

News that Amevi‘s owner is willing to negotiate his base rate because of continued availability during the end of the Western Med’s high season of course piques my curiosity. It will be interesting to see how the data from this summer’s Med season shake out in next year’s Superyachting Index, and whether the claim will still be able to be made that there is more supply than demand for charters at the top of the international market.

Stay tuned.