The top three Mediterranean locations and yachts for your summer 2014 holiday – book now!

In a wet and cold January the summer can seem a million miles away, but don’t panic it will be here soon enough! It’s time to give you and your family something to look forward to and start planning a summer holiday, on a yacht of course!

Avoid the crowded beaches and escape to the Cannes Islands!

Whether you’re a sailor or prefer a motor yacht , or perhaps you don’t know and are looking for some impartial advice…Boatbookings.com is the place to start. Our experts are based all over the world with a particually strong representation in the Mediterranean. Not only do we know all of the yachts here, many of their crews and Captains, we also know the coastlines, islands and best places to spend an unforgettable day, a week or more!

Monaco harbour – Stunning by night

Our top 3 recommendations for an unforgettable Mediterranean charter this summer:

1. The French Riviera:

The South of France still remains one of the most popular holiday destinations for families, couples, celeb hunters (and the celebs themselves!) in the world and it’s easy to understand why…This stretch of hallowed coastline still conjures up images of times gone by, effortless elegance, an abundance of glamour and wealth, all thats changed is the yachts, they’re even bigger now! We fully appreciate that not everyone is a Premiership footballer or film star, at Boatbookings.com we cater for all budgets, groups and tastes.

EMOTON and RHINO, two of our favourite luxury yachts based in the South Of France:

Charter the superb Super Yacht EMOTION – recently visited by the Boatbookings team

RHINO is a sleek and sexy motor yacht perfect for the glamour of the French Riviera

2. Sardinia:

We’ve been talking about Sardinia for a while now, we can’t fault it, great boats, breathtaking scenery and friendly people. With two airports Sardinia is easily accessible from mainland Europe with regular connecting flights from Rome. Crystal clear waters, gorgeous mediterranean weather and a yacht to match, whats not to like?

Sardinia’s proximity to Italy the Italian and French Rivieras and Corsica make it a great place to start a charter, why not combine all three destinations. In a week or longer a trip to the glamorous French Riviera to visit St Tropez, Cannes or Monaco could be something to consider whilst taking advantage of the lower rate of Italian VAT.

BALTHAZAR and LADY CAROLA, two of our top picks for Sardinia:

Gorgeous Sunseeker Predator 92 BALTAZAR ready for charters in Sardinia this summer

LADY CAROLA – recently visited by the team, great for families with an exceptional Captain

Greece:

With several different islands to visit, Greece is an extremely versatile charter destination.Why not check out Mykonos in the Cyclades Islands, Corfu or Kefalonia in the Ionian Islands or Rhodes in the Dodecanese Islands. ‘Island hopping’ can be a fantastic way to see the sights, history and sample all that Greek Island culture has to offer, including the fantastic cuisine! For a sample 14 day sailing itinerary in the Cyclades islands click here!

NOVA and XTREME, two great yachts for experiencing Greece:

Luxury catamaran NOVA – perfect for seeing the Greek Islands

XTREME – packed with water toys, great for thrill seekers!

To secure your first choice yacht in your preferred Mediterranean destination, enquire today and one of our experts will be in touch with you to discuss your charter and to ensure that you get on the best yacht at the best price,

Posted on January 5, 2014 by admin — No Comments ↓

Yachting News: Heesen to build biggest yacht yet and she’s not slow either!

Here at Boatbookings.com, we’re always on the look out for new Super Yachts so the announcement of a new 70m Heesen has caught our attention!

Dutch yacht builders Heesen are renowned within the industry as one of the top Super Yacht builders, their principle motto is ‘The Performance of Luxury’, this has certainly been upheld within the plans for the new 70m Fast Displacement Super Yacht. This state of the art Super Yacht will be the largest to date in Heesen’s already highly prestigious fleet.

The majestic new Heesen 70m

The Owner has decided to appoint Espen Oeino International to design the exterior lines and Sinot Design for the yacht’s interiors.

Espen Oeino: “Espen Oeino International is delighted to collaborate with Heesen Yachts and Sinot Design on what will be Heesen’s largest yacht to date and our first joint project. EOI has put particular emphasis on respecting Heesen’s distinct external appearance whilst incorporating the client’s specific wishes into the design.”

Sanders Sinot: “Sinot Exclusive Yacht Design is privileged to be working with Heesen Yachts…we are looking forward to a wonderful collaboration. Sinot is working on the interior design with a collection of materials that are luxurious and refined, but at the same time will provide a relaxing environment”.

The stunning 65m Heesen, hardly the ‘little sister’ of the new 70m

This most impressive 70m yacht will accommodate 12 guests in 6 opulent staterooms. Most notable will be the huge 85m squared Owner’s suit to be located on the main deck complete with dressing room, spacious bathroom and study. Four further guest cabins will be located below deck, with the VIP cabin on the bridge deck boasting stunning views.

This incredible yacht will also feature a large aft deck infinity pool, beach club, elevator, touch and go helipad and gull winged doors for the tender garages – truly a yacht of the future! Staying true to the Heesen model, this yacht will defy the norm when it comes to Super Yacht performance; three main engines that will drive two wing propellers and a central booster water-jet that are expected to give a trial speed of over 30 knots – incredible for a yacht of this size!

Check out our selection of Heesen yachts to charter or enquire today directly with one of our experts here!

Posted on December 20, 2013 by admin — No Comments ↓

Best in show – the Lagoon 39!

As we travel back to Cannes and reflect on what we saw and learnt from the Paris Boat Show, one yacht still stands out, the Lagoon 39. Lagoons have quickly become the most popular catamarans to charter and after being on board one of their latest models; it’s easy to understand why.

Lagoons are designed with the needs of families in mind. They’re designed to be spacious, practical, stable but luxurious, exactly what the majority of our clients are looking for.At over 6ft Charles from the Boatbookings.com team usually dreads being on board catamarans and sailing yachts for fear of continually banging his head on low ceilings and door frames, on the Lagoon 39 he didn’t have to bend down once!

The vertical saloon windows ensure that even tall charter guests like Charles can stand up straight and enjoy the view; the story is the same in the cabins and bathrooms. Full height showers, self-contained thanks to stylish sliding glass doors mean that the bathroom can be kept dry. This particular Lagoon was an owner’s version with a whole hull given over to the owner’s accommodation. A large cabin and double bed, small study area with desk and couch as well as a large bathroom mean mum and dad will have plenty of space and privacy. There are two further double guest cabins sharing a spacious shower room, great for kids or couples.

Outside there is a spacious aft deck dining area with seating for 6-8 comfortably, the open plan nature of the main saloon and galley mean that whoever is on cooking duty can still join in the fun and conversation with those outside.

We have a considerable fleet of Lagoon catamarans located all over the world. Catamaran charters are particularly popular in the Caribbean, but they are also a fantastic and relaxing way to see the Mediterranean, or Asia for that matter!

No sailing experience, no problem! We have many Lagoons and other catamarans available with skippers or full crews who will look after you and your guests and ensure you have the holiday of a lifetime.

Enquire with one of our experts today and we will get you on the best boat, that suits your needs at the best price for the best experience possible!

Posted on December 9, 2013 by admin — No Comments ↓

EMOTION – THE Luxury Charter Yacht for a Family Charter in the Mediterranean in Summer 2014

Recently, Cordy and Tom from the Boatbookings team were fortunate enough to visit EMOTION, a striking and impressive 43m CRN motor yacht.

After stepping onto the yacht and entering the main saloon, a feeling of opulence and warmth is immediately apparent. Her interior styling is homely and comfortable creating a feeling of space seldom found on a yacht of her size. This feeling of space continues after climbing her wide staircases up to the third and most impressive sun deck. Once on the top deck, guests will be spoilt with several comfortable lounging areas, a bar, barbecue and a jacuzzi. If the midday Mediterranean sun becomes too strong, there are two large and movable sun parasols to provide guests with some welcome shade.

Moving down to the main deck, guests will find an impressive wooden outside dining table with seating for 12, completely private and not visible from the quayside. After dark the cosy sky lounge with generous and comfortable seating options doubles as a cinema room with surround sound and 60? plasma screen, perfect for a family movie nights.

Her five well proportioned and tastefully appointed cabins provide accommodation that will more than satisfy any discerning guest looking for a home away from home. The real feature of the master cabin is the astonishing private balcony with table and chairs for two. Magnificent views can be enjoyed through the full length window or this can be fully opened for a true alfresco experience.

Thrill seeking guests will be kept busy with the two 230hp Yamaha SHOO jet skis that EMOTION has on board as well as two seabobs, a wakeboard, waterskis, inflatable trampoline and more! For active charterers and their guests there is a small fully equipped gym on the lower deck with cardio equipment and electric weights machine. Why not open the double doors for an amazing sea view whilst you work out!

Serious horsepower!

Enquire today to charter EMOTION next summer in the West Mediterranean for the luxury yacht charter of a lifetime!

Posted on December 1, 2013 by admin — No Comments ↓

Italians introduce the Jet Capsule – a Pod of Luxury!

Fresh off the shelves of Italian design firm Lazzarini is the Jet Capsule, a unique vehicle that could only be described as a… pod. It would not look out of place in a 1950s sci fi movie, however it is remarkably comfortable and powerful, with a cruising speed of 25 knots and an interior as surprisingly spacious as Dr Who’s tardis.

The Jet Capsule has most of the amenities a luxury yacht can offer condensed into shell measuring 25ft by 11ft. With a rooftop platform for sun bathing, seating for eight, a diving platform, teak flooring, toilet, a bedroom conversion and the ability to add a kitchen into the main compartment, this is the perfect boat for a weekend`s adventure in the Mediterranean.

According to the designer, the Jet Capsule was created as “a boat small enough to be easily manoeuvred, yet spacious enough to take a handful of friends out for drinks, over to a port for an evening’s entertainment.” Whatever your thoughts on its aesthetic beauty, chartering the Jet Capsule will be guaranteed to turn a few heads.

Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but Boatbookings is sure she is to be considerably more expensive than your weekend fishing boat. And Lazzarini has plans to offer fleet customization services, including an emergency and rescue design, a water taxi, and even an armoured version for the military.

Check out a video of it here:

Posted on November 14, 2013 by admin — No Comments ↓