SeaDream Sets Redesign Plan And Unique, New On Board Style For Twin, Mega Yachts
"Yachting features an open and unstructured ambience and provides guests the ability to fulfill their dreams at their own pace," he said. "No clocks, no crowds, no lines, no stress.
"Guests can even raid the pantry around the clock just as they can at home. Seemingly that's a small difference between yachting and cruising, but it makes the point-we are a yacht company, not a cruise line."
Having set out that SeaDream mantra, Pimentel proceeded to reveal dramatic plans for major redesigning and refitting of its twin, luxury mega-yachts.
SeaDream I is currently operating out of the Caribbean and will be refurbished in Bremerhaven, Germany, in April of 2002.
SeaDream II is presently in dry-dock at Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven. Her dry-docking is due for completion in February 2002. SeaDream I will follow at Lloyd Werft for the same redesigning and refitting. It will be completed early May next year prior to her Mediterranean season. Cost of the refurbishment was not disclosed. Architects for the redesign and refitting of the twin yachts are under the direction of Petter Yran & Bjorn Storbraaten, Architects, AS of Oslo, Norway. SeaDream I and SeaDream II were originally introduced as Sea Goddesses I and II, and were widely recognized as the prototypes of the ultra-luxury yachting experience. Coincidentally, Yran was the architect responsible for the original design of the Sea Goddesses.
Included in the redesign and refitting are:
New Exterior Design-The yachts, formerly with all-white hulls and superstructure, will now have dark blue hulls with gleaming white superstructure above and new teak decks.
· Top Deck (#6) -This outdoor deck will be extended and feature private alcoves for sunning on double sun beds accommodating 48 guests. A private massage tent for outdoor massage, captain's chairs, mounted binoculars, outdoor couches with tables for dining, an outdoor horseshoe bar with stools, and a state-of-the-art golf simulator. When not in use the large screen of the simulator will be used by guests to watch sporting events or movies.
· Open Deck (#5) -This deck is being extended to provide intimate, outdoor dining in a new Topside Restaurant. To take advantage of warm weather sailing, guests will have the option of dining indoors or outdoors.
· Water Sports Marina-A redesigned and enlarged water sports Marina at the stern. Available will be a series of two-person inflatable, Sevylor Kayaks and Hobie Hydro-Sail Kayaks, water skiing, tubing or boarding, snorkeling, sunfish sailing, three Zodiac craft for all water sports and two SeaDoo Wave Runners.
New Interiors-All public areas are being redesigned with new yachting furniture, carpeting, wall covering.
· Spa and Gym-Dramatic new and enlarged Asian spa and gym, located on Deck #4, with three treatment rooms, a beauty salon with services including hair, nails and pedicure. Massage available in the spa, on the deck or on the beach where possible. Steam and sauna room. Unique to the spa will be a Thalasso therapy tub into which warm filtered sea water will be pumped and utilized for special relaxing treatments. Seaweed treatments will also be available.
· Health Club-Four treadmills with individual flat screen TVs, free weights with bench, two elliptical treadmills, two recumbent bikes, on deck tai chi, yoga and aerobics. A personal trainer will be available.
· Indoor Dining Salon-An elegant, but informal Dining Salon will accommodate guests for dinner as an alternate to the new outdoor Topside Restaurant. The Atrium entrance to the Dining Salon will feature a baby grand piano. A new private dining area for small groups of eight to ten has been added to the refurbished Dining Salon. SeaDream's wine selection will be among the finest on any yacht. Additionally our "simply perfect and perfectly simple" Cuisine will feature world class dining in a relaxed yachting atmosphere.
· Main Lounge and Bar-A large 61 inch flat screen viewer will be available along with other high-tech audio-visual equipment to be used for music lectures and other presentations.
· Piano Bar and Casino-The Yacht Club bar is designed with elegant cherry wood dйcor giving it a classic yacht feel and design look. This area includes the ever popular piano bar a focal point of relaxing evening music with friends.
· The Library and Day Lounge-This space is a combination Library, Day Lounge and Living Room for books, DVDs. Guests will find comfortable chairs and writing desks with PC outlets.
· Guest Accommodations-All are being completely redesigned. Sixteen staterooms will be convertible to double or Commodore Club Staterooms making the SeaDream Yachts highly flexible in meeting individual or charter client requirements. Both SeaDream I and SeaDream II will accommodate from 47 to 55 couples based on how the staterooms are configured. Accommodations will be:
1. The Owner's Suite-A dramatic new, 450- square foot space is being created for highly discriminating guests seeking the ultimate in the yachting lifestyle. It will include a bedroom with tub and a separate shower with a view of the sea. A living room with guest bathroom, dining area and high-tech electronics is also available.
2. Commodore Club Staterooms-Eight combination (double) staterooms of 390 - square feet combined, provide extraordinary space on yachts of this size. They are equipped with his and her bathrooms and closets as well as a dining area which accommodates four.
3. Yacht Club Staterooms-There are 54 staterooms in this class. Each is 195-square feet and is divided into two separate living sections; a sleeping area near the windows and a sitting area inboard.
4. Stateroom Features-Each stateroom in all three classes will feature its own entertainment system with a flat screen TV, CD and DVD with an extensive selection of movies and music available. They will be internet-ready and have e-mail available on the TV. Feather bed with duvets or conventional top quality bedding, large bathrooms with multiple, massage jet showers, and lighted magnifying mirrors.
5. Stateroom Amenities-A range of in-stateroom amenities will include soft drinks and bottled water, a stocked bar, personalized stationary, guests' personal e-mail addresses capable of sending online postcards and a nightly feature called Sweet Dreams to feature books and other suitable gifts as well as night time gourmet delicacies.
· Summary of On Board Entertainment Features-SeaDream places a high emphasis on allowing flexibility and personal choice for its guests. Hence entertainment does not feature Las Vegas-styled revues but assumes its guests will enjoy seeking entertainment choices that appeal to them personally. It is not pre-programmed.
1. All TVs will have multiples.
2. Staterooms will feature CD and DVD capabilities with an extensive library of films and music available.
3. Staterooms are Internet-ready.
4. A pianist who will perform at the piano bar and during dining.
5. Movies under the Stars
6. The Marina for an array of Water Sports
7. Interactivity with Officers, Staff and Crew-go shopping for fresh fish with the chef. Or snorkeling, hiking, biking or golfing with one of the crew, an officer or even the Captain. After all, they know these sailing regions like the backs of the their hands.
Pimentel also announced that SeaDream has refined the itineraries for its two basic sailing regions-the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.
"For 2002 both SeaDream I and SeaDream II will use Nice as a hub of operations for seven-day itineraries sailing Nice-Nice, Nice-Rome and Nice-Barcelona. This allows for guests to select 7-, 14- or 21-day itineraries. Two marina and water sports activity days are planned during each seven day period. Ports of note are Portofino, St. Tropez, Port Vendre and Monte Carlo. SeaDream yachts will overnight in some ports allowing guests the opportunity for exciting shore side evenings. Arrivals and departures are not necessarily fixed and run by timetable. Captains are allowed the discretion to adjust for local opportunities.
"For our Caribbean sailings St. Thomas will be our primary hub with each of our yachts alternating St. Thomas-St. Thomas itineraries with one week visiting St. John, St. Kitts, St Barts, Saba, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke. Week-two itineraries will call on Marigot, Illes des Saints, Nevis, Jost Van Dyke, Virgin Gorda and Christiansted," said Pimentel.
"Our two yachts will be together in either Virgin Gorda or Jost Van Dyke for water sports and beach activities including a barbecue and dance on the beach. Both will feature a Caviar-in-the-Surf party at Jost Van Dyke, but on different days. Guests who choose to remain on the same yacht for 14-days would have a significant, port content change each week.
"We will also have a ten-week Miami-Miami program starting November 2002 and ending early January 2003. This will appeal to those interested in a private chartering experience without the necessity of flying. Ports included on the Miami-Miami sailings are: Nassau and Rose Island in the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos and Key West," he said.
SeaDream Yacht Club pricing for 2002 is from $2,200 for seven-day sailings in the Caribbean, double occupancy and $3,500 for seven-day sailings in the Mediterranean, double occupancy. Per diems are from $315 for the Caribbean and from $500 for the Mediterranean. All prices are plus Government fees, handling and services charges of $215 per person in the Caribbean and $235 per person in the Mediterranean.
SeaDream Yacht Club is the new yachting venture by Norwegian entrepreneur Atle Brynestad and Larry Pimentel, CTC. Pimentel is Chairman, CEO of Coconut Grove, Florida-headquartered SeaDream Yacht Club and a co-owner. Brynestad and Pimentel have brought into SeaDream a small group of colleagues, most of whom were with them earlier at Seabourn and Cunard. Aboard the yachts the officers are Scandinavian and the staff and crew international. Almost all officers and crewmembers have been sailing on their particular yacht for several years.
The yachts are also ideal for small meetings and incentive groups and are available for full charter and are ideal for small meetings and incentive groups.
"EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED"