YACHTS & YACHTING 31
“ For example , Scenic Eclipse is a luxury expedition yacht that has a Class 1A Super rating , thereby enabling it to navigate through Arctic and Antarctic waters in the warmer months of the year . It also has the Polar Class 6 rating , the highest passenger ship ice-class rating , to navigate in challenging seas safely . Accommodating up to 200 passengers , the ship has two private helicopters , a submarine / submersible and fleets of both Sea Kayaks and Zodiac inflatable boats to transport people to some truly spectacular locations . The world ’ s first expedition yacht , Scenic Eclipse also has an ‘ open bridge ’ policy and guests can visit the bridge anytime they like to witness the ship being operated in person . Expedition cruises offer truly unique experiences and it is no surprise that this is a significant growth area within the sector . Designed for people to explore off-the-beaten track destinations , expedition cruises allow people to build truly unique memories .”
James continued : “ Interest in super-yacht style cruising has increased markedly too . At Panache Cruises we refer to this as ‘ yacht-style crusing ’ and we feature a number of highly exclusive vessels which typically accommodate around 100 passengers . Emerald ’ s new super-yacht inspired “ Emerald Sakara ” is a perfect example of the shift in focus to ultra-luxury vessels . Due to enter service in the spring of 2023 , Emerald Sakara will set new standards in luxury and will contain all the ‘ toys ’ you would expect to find on the most extravagant private super-yachts . From underwater scooters , stand-up paddle boards , jet skis and sea kayaks , modern yacht style cruises offer all the benefits of a private super-yacht charter at a fraction of the cost . Increasingly many of these vessels are also built to withstand the harsh conditions found in the Arctic and Antarctic and the hulls are specifically built to operate in areas where ice is a constant hazard . Very few private super-yachts are built for ice operations so this is a significant development .” www . panachecruises . com
Issue 56 2023 THE ART OF LUXURY