From the Deck to the Dock: Specialty Onshore Lodging For Ocean Lovers

When it comes to land lodging, discriminating yacht charter clients often seek more than a simply convenient hotel room.  For yachtsmen who need to be on or near the water, here are some amazing properties that are especially enchanting.

Guiding ships into port may be where lighthouse hotels got their start but now they offer lodging, from budget to posh, guaranteeing dramatic landscapes and locations on some of the world’s most exciting and perilous harbors. If you are planning a

Jules Verne LodgeGuests will snuggle down in luxurious private bungalows 40 feet below the water line at the proposed Poseidon Undersea Resort, Fiji.  Spend a couple of days in a fantasy environment characterized by vast amounts of clear acrylic for stunning underwater views. Or, if you are chartering a yacht in Florida and the Keys, step back in time at the Jules’ Undersea Lodge in Key Largo. Operated as a “living museum” from the Golden Age of Diving, the lodge offers guests of today a one-of-a-kind experience of yesteryear.

For an exotic adventure above the water line a houseboat offers comfort and cultural rewards. The Houseboats of Kerala provide a glimpse of rural Indian life. Located near the Malabar coast of India, These comfortable, converted rice boats are designed for overnight stays and daytime exploration of scenic waterways.

Scandinavia is an increasingly popular yachting destination due to its breathtaking scenery, quaint harbors and endearing culture. Before or after a yacht charter in Sweden the adventuresome traveler can book a hotel suite at the Sala Silvermine, or in a grounded Boeing jet, or a former prison.

Why go for the ordinary when you can opt for the extraordinary? Extending your yacht charter with an alternative lodging option provides a unique opportunity to connect with a region’s culture and history in a way that is both intimate and exhilarating.

Here is an excellent link to explore the innumerable options for Luxury Yacht Charter and Yacht Charter Destinations worldwide.

Luxury Land and Sea Vacation: Vicem Yachts Partners with Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay, Bodrum, Turkey

Turkish builder Vicem Yachts and Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay in Bodrum, which is distinguished as one of the “World’s 25 Best Hotels and  recipient of the Condé Nast Traveller Reader’s Spa Awards 2010”, have partnered in an unique international marketing initiative that presents the yachting public with a five star travel opportunity: a number of Vicem yachts will be available for the upscale clientele of Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay in the cosmopolitan Turkish city of Bodrum.

the Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay can expect to enjoy secluded bays, brilliant sunny days and gorgeous nights ornamented with millions of stars, and the option for a private cruise with Vicem selecting from the Vicem 92, Vintage Line range yacht featuring four cabins and three decks; or the Vicem 78 Cruiser, one of the latest launched from the yard with a flybridge enhanced by a four person Jacuzzi.  The Vicem 75 Fly, a new build for 2011, will also be an option. If someone prefers a day cruise Vicem invites guests to cruise on board the 40′ or the 36′, the smallest hulls of this series.

Please follow this link for important information about Turkish Yacht Charter, Bodrum, and the Bodrum Cup Reggatta.

New Host Venue for World Superyacht Awards: Former Ottoman Palace in Istanbul, Turkey

Hemisphere
In the past decade, Turkey has become a leader in the yachting industry, evidenced by the presence of numerous prominent superyacht shipbuilders, superbly constructed and equipped marinas with adjacent upscale resort and retail amenities and state-of-the-art dockage facilities. Perhaps for these reasons, along with economic incentives and a desirable climate, next year’s World Superyacht Awards is relocating from London to Istanbul.

The annual World Superyacht Awards, held in London for the last three years, are moving to Istanbul, Turkey. Next year’s event will be held on May 5 in Çiragan Palace Kempinski, a former Ottoman palace situated on the European shores of the Bosphorus.

Nominated yachts include the 70.5m (231ft) Talisman C, built by Proteksan Turquoise, the 63m (207ft) Feadship Lady Britt, the 50m (164ft) Satori by Heesen Yachts and the 44.2m (145ft) Pendennis-built Hemisphere.

The basic requirement for the awards is that the nominated yacht must be of over 30m (98ft) in length and have been completed and delivered to its owner between January 1st and December 31st, 2011.

Follow this link to explore Yacht Charter in Turkey.
Here is a useful link to see worldwide availability for Superyacht and Luxury Yacht Charter.

Volvo Ocean Racing Yachts Piggy Back on Armed Ship Through East African Corridor

The high-tech racing yachts, with an estimated value of US$100m, will be
transported under guard through the dangerous Indian Ocean leg of the Volvo Ocean Race. Organizers of the 39,000km race said pirate attacks prompted its decision to protect the crew and six racing yachts.

The boats left Cape Town yesterday on the race`s second leg to Abu Dhabi, which requires navigating exceedingly dangerous waters off the Eastern African corridor. The solution is to transport the vessels under armed guard to the waters of Sharjah, UAE and an undisclosed safe port somewhere in the Indian Ocean, where they will be less than a day’s sail from Abu Dhabi.

“Once unloaded, race management will decide where exactly to re-start the race for a short competitive sprint into Abu Dhabi, which is hosting the event from December 31 to January 14,” said a statement “The sailors will not be on board the ship.”

Organizers said the scoring system on this leg would be different from previous legs. Eighty per cent of points will be accumulated through the safe haven port, and the other 20 per cent will be gained in the final race from Sharjah to Abu Dhabi.

 

Follow this link to get in on the action and Charter a Yacht for a Regatta or Sailing Event.

Mersin Marina: The Largest Yachting Center, City Port and Urban Attraction on Turkey’s Eastern Shore

Mersin Marina is the largest marina on Turkey’s east Mediterranean shores with a capacity to service 500 boats in water and 500 boats in drydock.  The Turkish Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim proudly inaugurated the facility on November 28 with the goal to promote Mersin as a gateway to Caucasus, Middle East and Africa.

Mersin Marina is designed by Öncüoglu Mimarlik as a city port as well as an urban social center to appeal to residents not directly involved in the marine industry. Public areas include an amphitheater with a capacity for 2,000 people and a Sports Center and Yacht Club with indoor and outdoor facilities including a spa, tennis courts, basketball field and children’s 1,000sqm entertainment park.

Sports International sports centerIn additional to divers social facilities, Mersin Marina offers boat services including electricity, fresh water, sewage removal, wireless Internet, cable TV, laundry, shower, first aid, professional divers, fuel stations, a tourism agency, a car rental center, supermarkets, banks and ATMs, yacht brokerage, and maintenance and repair facilities equipped with a 100 ton travel lift.

Mersin is an important center of tourism and trade with a population of 1.602.000 people living in the city center and surrounding area. The region is presently serviced by Adana international airport while a new international airport is under construction in Tarsus, just 30 km outside Mersin.

Follow this helpful link for comprehensive information to explore Charter Yachts and Destinations in Turkey.