Monthly Archives: March 2018

Four Seasons Maldives Yacht Explorer

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On my recent visit to the Maldives I was thrilled to go aboard the beautiful Four Seasons Explorer Motor Yacht. Embark on the ultimate marine odyssey aboard the luxurious Four Seasons floating resort, the Explorer is an intimate yachting experience. A luxurious three deck catamaran that embarks on 3, 4 or 7-night cruises. Plus leisure, surf or manta ray charters into the undiscovered Maldives. It sails between the enchanting garden island of Four Seasons Kuda Huraa resort and the pristine hideaway of Landaa Giraavaru in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Each August it plays host to surfing’s hottest invitation only event: The Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Championship Trophy.

For guests seeking a deluxe island cruise with a difference, Four Seasons Resorts Maldives offers wholly customizable luxury private charters on the country’s fastest and most luxurious livaboard. Book an all-inclusive private cruise for up to 22 guests for a minimum of three nights. Use the 128-foot yacht as a dedicated dive, surf or leisure vessel, to visit hideaway island villages and meet secluded communities, or to host breathtaking yacht parties in some of the most pristine and remote surroundings on earth.

The boat’s master chefs create custom menus for every meal, accented with your preferred selection of fine wines and spirits. Book the on-board spa therapist for relaxing therapies in tranquil island locations. Groups can also arrange exclusive snorkelling adventures in virgin waters guided by their very own marine biologist, while the boat’s expert dive team offers 12 specialty courses plus bespoke programs for anyone who wants to improve their skills — or just admire the supreme beauty of the Maldivian reefs. In addition, Tropicsurf guides can suggest a tailored surfing itinerary that takes in the secluded outer atolls, using sophisticated web forecasting to direct you to your perfect wave, for a piece of surfing nirvana.

The Cruise Director and his team organize daily programs—from island jaunts and fishing to water-skiing to wakeboarding. Savour a delectable beachside lunch or evening barbecue under a star-filled island sky. And if that’s not enough, cruising with Four Seasons Explorer also brings a wealth of once-in-a-lifetime adventures: bow-riding dolphins, spontaneous sunset snorkeling with majestic manta rays and elusive whale sharks in hidden hotspots known by the vessel’s knowledgeable team.

The Four Seasons Explorer offers ten well-appointed 215-square-foot  State Rooms, the luxurious 484-square-foot Explorer Suite, two bars, an air conditioned dining room, a lounge, a library and two sun decks, creating a level of luxury unrivaled in the Maldivian cruise industry. Services include twice-daily housekeeping, free wireless internet and same-day laundry.

Choose from 10 spacious State Rooms and the palatial Explorer Suite, all of which are bright and airy and include the luxury and style you expect from Four Seasons Explorer.

All cabins are air-conditioned, with an ensuite bathroom that features a bathtub/shower. Curl up on your sofa, select something from the refrigerated private bar or enjoy a movie on the flat screen LCD TV, all in the comfort of your State Room or Explorer Suite.

Explorer Suite – Enjoy spectacular scenery from the expansive panoramic windows of your elegant Explorer Suite. Showered in sunlight from expansive windows, the Explorer Suite boasts contemporary teak furnishings and cool, subdued fabrics. Enjoy your ensuite bathroom with a full bathtub, separate shower, WC and vanity. It is connected to a walk-in wardrobe.

State Rooms – Bright and airy, the intimate State Rooms provide picturesque views from large port windows. Unwind in the air-conditioned room with one king bed or two twin beds, a comfortable couch, a writing desk, a DVD/CD player, an MP3 cable connection, a refrigerated private bar, a telephone and an in-cabin safe.

On board, on land or in the water, Four Seasons Explorer offers a wealth of leisure activities, all supported by their signature service. From water sports and island excursions to relaxing spa treatments, the personalized cruises feature something for everyone.

WATER SPORTS Take to the waves with waterskiing, wakeboarding, windsurfing, fun tubes and kayaking. Smaller waves between January and March offer optimal conditions for wakeboarding and waterskiing. All watersports are available on request, subject to currents and conditions.

SNORKELLING During daily snorkelling excursions, guests can venture out with our marine biologist, take the plunge off the back of the vessel or snorkel off the beach at any of our numerous island stop offs.

FISHING Venture out by dhoni for some bottom-line fishing, fish from the back of Four Seasons Explorer each night or indulge in handline fishing off the vessel at sunset. Trawling by tender is available on request.

EXCURSIONS Savour gourmet Four Seasons cuisine on uninhabited islands, embark on an adventure with our marine biologist, cast yourself away on a secluded sandbank or visit remote villages for cultural experiences and souvenir shopping – even enjoy a game of football or rugby on a sandy beach.

There are quite a few Specialized Journeys –

A Tropicsurf  Surfari aboard the uber-cool Four Seasons Explorer is undoubtedly the world’s premier surfing cruise: five-star service and style, expert guides, chasing the best wave conditions, catching secluded swells, riding remote breaks and experiencing the Maldives vast and ever-changing awe-inspiring seascapes.

SURF CRUISES Surfaris are 7 or 10 days – shared or private charters – during July and August when surf conditions are at their peak.  Setting sail from Four Seasons Resort at Kuda Huraa, surfing enthusiasts will visit rarely surfed breaks in the Outer Atolls, accompanied by two expert Tropicsurf guides, enabling the group to split in two based on wave preferences and personal ability.  It’s a recreational surfer’s dream – diverse yet reliable waves give the option to challenge oneself, hone skills, or simply cruise and enjoy the ride.  No experience is necessary either: it’s the perfect opportunity to learn.

Travelling with a non-surfing partner? There are plenty of parallel activities to keep them busy and ‘blissed out’ too: snorkeling, windsurfing, stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, water skiing, deep-sea fishing, island sightseeing, beach barbecues and deserted island massages.

WAVES Sophisticated web forecasting allows the team to accurately determine swell and wind forecasts. The complex bathymetry of the atolls means there are often hidden gems that others simply do not know about.  The result: surfers get to visit remote regions, ride pure and uncrowded waves, and experience the spirit and true freedom of surfing at its sublime and soulful best.

Enjoy five-star service on the high seas, with a fully equipped, five-Star PADI Dive Centre with nitrox, a stargazing telescope, a massage by a resident spa therapist and laundry service

The Maldives is renowned for its abundance of fish life, warm pristine waters and close encounters with pelagics such as manta rays and whale sharks.

As the country’s fastest-cruising live aboard, Four Seasons Explorer gives divers access to a wide variety of secluded hotspots, including exciting channel dives with sharks and rays, vibrant thilas, cleaning stations, wrecks and coral overhangs.

“INSIDER ACCESS TO THE ULTIMATE ‘SURF TOUR’ EXPERIENCE.”

Every August, Four Seasons Explorer plays host to the world’s most luxurious surfing event: The Surfing Champions Trophy (SCT).  With day passes for guests to enjoy all the action onboard, it’s a rare opportunity to share an exclusive ‘surf tour’ experience with six of the sport’s biggest names.

Launched in 2011 in partnership with luxury surf pioneers, Tropicsurf, the weeklong champions-only event pits the world’s finest wave riders across three thrilling divisions – single-fin, twin-fin, and triple-fin thrusters – in a unique showcase of skill and camaraderie. And with the World Surf League onboard in 2015, the SCT is now broadcast to a global world-tour audience, shining the spotlight on the Maldivian surf scene like never before.

The boutique, invitation-only event has seen the likes of Tom Curren, Taylor Knox, Mark Occhilupo, Dave Rastovich, Martin Potter, Damien Hardman, Sunny Garcia, Taylor Jensen, Fabio Gouveia, Rochelle Ballard, Layne Beachley, Taj Burrow, Bethany Hamilton, Travis Logie and many more enjoy the stunning Maldivian breaks and stylish surrounds of Kuda Huraa – host island to all the event’s competitors, judges and guests, resulting in a buzzing surf tour vibe.

A few VIP ticket-holders also have the opportunity to join the competitors on Four Seasons Explorer for all the ocean-sprayed, up-close-and-personal action as the contest unfolds.

DIVING COURSES Four Seasons Explorer is geared towards qualified divers. It is the ideal vessel on which to hone your dive skills, increase your underwater confidence and develop specialty skills in thrilling new areas.

DAILY DIVING SCHEDULE Divers can usually expect two dives in the morning and one in the afternoon, with the option of additional sunrise, night and wreck excursions. From May to November, the currents move large quantities of plankton through the atolls, attracting manta rays and whale sharks to the eastern side of the country. From December to April, the wind reverses, resulting in 100 to 130 feet of incredible visibility and consistent, near-perfect conditions.

Dive itineraries adapt to currents and conditions, seasonal marine visitors and the diving requirements of those on board. Every cruise aboard Four Seasons Explorer is unique.

SPA Four Seasons Explorer’s resident spa therapist offers natural therapies inspired by Asia’s ancient healing principles. Retreat to the private treatment area on the upper deck – curtained for privacy yet open to the refreshing sea air – or indulge in a massage at one of the secluded beaches visited during the cruise.

Treatment highlights include the restorative and deeply relaxing Indian herbal-oil massage and the hydrating and refreshing sun-soother wrap, with fresh aloe vera and toning lavender mist.

FACILITIES

Dining room

Bar and lounge

Alfresco dining deck with bar

Sundeck with massage area

Dive and water sports deck

Dive dhoni Azekara 2 – length: 17.3 metres (57 feet); width: 5.4 metres (17.8 feet); capacity: 14 divers and 3 crew members

DETAILED VESSEL STATISTICS

Decks: 3

Crew: 25

Capacity: 22 guests, 10 staterooms and 1 suite

Length:128 feet

Beam: 39 feet

Weight: 592 tonnes

Waterline length: 36.6 metres

Hull depth: 3.75 meters

Hull draft: 1.7 meters

 

Please let me know if we can answer any questions or reserve for you!

Only In Lisbon – Recommended Reading

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When our clients confirm a Journey with us, we gather our Recommended Reading List on the location and send a gift bag of books, an enticing surprise!

The hilly cobblestone streets of Lisboa are interrupted by life-size statues of their favorite poets and writers. The proud city is decorated with many monuments to their writers, heroes and politicians, including a round the clock soldier standing guard at a memorial on the Belém waterfront. The Monumento aos Combatentes do Ultram, is a peaceful sobering reminder of a soldiers’ ultimate sacrifice paid by those who serve in the military.

The Monumento aos Combatentes do Ultram, Lisbon Portugal

Bookstores have been gathering places for critical thinking, creative writers may gather here daily for conversation. Sadly, in the U.S., bookstores are struggling to survive, but in Portugal, they are still a vital element of local life. Behind a picturesque façade of blue and white tiles, the world’s oldest bookstore, Bertrand Bookstore which opened for business in 1732, has a wide selection of Portuguese writers and also many books with English translations. Located in the chic Chiado neighborhood, next door to the opera and a cozy coffee shop. Include it in your Lisboa strolls.

Bertrand Bookstore opened for business in 1732 Lisbon, Portugal

The Book of Disquiet was written by one of the greatest Portuguese writers and poets of all time, Fernando Pessoa. He was so well loved that his home and his office have been turned into tourist attractions and his statue appears throughout the city. This book, which was discovered and published after Pessoa’s death, is a dark type of biography that questions everything, including life, other people and even our subconscious selves.

Fernando Pessoa, in the Bairro Alto neighborhood, a lively nightspot. In front of the charming coffee house, Café A Brasileira

Ponder poetry with the bronze statue of Portugal’s best-known modern poet, Fernando Pessoa, in the Bairro Alto neighborhood, a lively nightspot. The charming Café A Brasileira coffee house has lines of spectators waiting to Instagram with Fernando Pessoa. The Café Brasileira is one of the oldest and most famous cafes in Lisbon and is the original home of the Bica – a very strong espresso. The Cafe Brasileira historically attracted intellectuals, poets and writers who would debated the issues of the era in the smoke laced cafe. The art deco interior hasn’t changed in 100 years and is a local and tourist stop for shots of strong coffee. After dinner stop in for a ‘dark tar’ with the locals.

Portugal has as a rich literary tradition born of its culture of maritime exploration and political struggles. Portuguese literature is also heavily influenced by the cultures of Brazil, Africa and various other regions where Portuguese explorers founded far flung colonies.

Another recommendation is The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis. This interesting novel was written by José Saramago in 1984. Saramago went on to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1998. The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis centers around a man named Ricardo Reis, who returns to Lisbon after more than a decade in Brazil, and wanders the streets of the city, contemplating life in conversation with his dead poet friend.

Café A Brasileira coffee house Lisbon, Portugal

Café A Brasileira coffee house Lisbon, Portugal

Fernando Pessoa was a highly regarded Portuguese poet but he came to the Brasileira not for the Bica but for the hallucinogenic Absinthe of which he drunk copious amounts keeping his creative mind active.

Recommended Reading.