With an increasing interest on the market for smaller cruise ships that can provide the comfort and private surroundings of a luxury yacht with personalized service to match, Globe Regal has developed the stunning Perle Mesta, 393.7 foot cruise ship along with the acclaimed Veronika Schmid and Alistair Gill of New York architectural studios Gill Schmid Design and the Hijos de Barreras shipyards of Vigo who, are also the facility chosen by the Ritz-Carlton Group to construct their series of three 623 foot mini-cruise ships.
I had a chance to speak with Bill Thiem with Globe Regal about the new launch. Both he and Harry Peralta run one of the most acclaimed yacht brokerage and charter companies in the world. They are also offering up future launches for superyachts including; the 524.93 foot Project XIA, the 459.32 foot Project XENIA, the 401.90 foot ICON 120 and the 360.89 foot HALCYON, the original IDA PFEIFFER 229.65 foot Explorer, and the new 262.46 foot SEA THE STARS among others.
But it is the spectacular 393.7 foot Perle Mesta that will be the ultimate showstopper and certainly headline-making when it launches as a new luxury hotel line. Providing the unique opportunity to visit secluded coves and marinas that ships above 400 feet are not able to access. Among the industries small luxury cruise ships including Seabourne Odyssey (650 feet) and Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection (623 feet), this new launch will be more intimate and certainly more exclusive. There will be only 50 rooms aboard for 100 elite passengers and 69 crew.
“We are working on a number of variants of the Perle Mesta designs with several European hotel chains who are showing considerable interest in the idea,” says Thiem. “There appears to be a growing tendency towards smaller ‘yachtlike’ cruise vessels that offer a more sophisticated and tailor-made experience for between 50 and 300 guests. Many of those operating are older craft that have been converted for the purpose but, we are now seeing a number of such “little ships” under construction for a very specific niche in the market.”
There will be just 50 signature suites up to 262 feet each with exterior views to the sea and a private sundeck or expansive folding balcony. There will be spacious indoor lounge areas and no less than 3 signature restaurants.
The vessel will be equipped with a spacious Beach Club and an infinity pool that allows guests easy access to the water for sporting activities such as scuba diving. Other activities offered will be water-skiing and underwater exploration in one of several 5 person Triton 3300 personal submarines that are planned to be kept onboard. Other toys will include a 39-foot limousine tender, a 36-foot interceptor, and even an Icon amphibious aircraft capable of take-off and landing on the water.
Thiem adds, “Tendencies in the new yacht construction market in recent years have included the introduction of larger and more sophisticated Beach Club areas that provide a closer relationship with the water and offer a much more comfortable way of embarking and disembarking when a yacht is not in port. Very often, these areas will include a sauna and steam room, massage room, gymnasium, bar and an array of water sports activities.”
“Luxury items will include sailing and ski boats, jet ski’s, professional diving equipment and kayaks as well as inflatable water slides and toys that can be set out for sunbathing or, be towed behind one of the tenders. Another more recent feature of large private yachts is to have a fire pit on the exterior decks. The inclusion of these somewhat dangerous components requires the chosen area to be specially adapted to become completely fireproof and stone floors often replace the traditional teak for this very purpose” says Thiem.
“Helicopters have long been a popular tool for ferrying guests on board whilst anchored out but, the complexities of keeping these craft on a yacht often lead to owners preferring to have a “touch and go” helipad rather than storing a helicopter on deck or, in a specialized hangar,” says Thiem.
“The need for speed has seen a very distinct decline over the past years as well, with most owners choosing displacement hulls or semi-displacement hulls that allow comfortable and steady passage making with economic fuel consumption. Most of the yachts that were once fitted with huge turbine engines that could propel them to in excess of 40 or 50 knots whilst burning several tons of fuel per hour have since been refitted and these propulsion systems replaced with smaller traditional units. Diesel-electric propulsion will ensure quiet and green passage making while underway.”
