Cruising
World’s largest charter superyacht Flying Fox in Maldives
Currently exploring the countless islands of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean is the 136-metre superyacht Flying Fox.
The largest motor yacht available for charter in the world has been spotted in the Maldives, according to Superyacht Times.
When did the Flying Fox arrive?
It’s not clear when the Flying Fox arrived in the Maldives or who chartered it.
In late March, the Maldives enforced a blanket suspension of on-arrival visa in a bid to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus.
All international airlines have since suspended scheduled operations to the Maldives.
Even before the visa suspension, the Maldives had closed its borders to arrivals from some of the worst-hit countries.
Cruise ships and foreign yachts were also banned from docking at any of the country’s ports.
But the Maldives has since relaxed the border restrictions, introducing a special entry visa for resort owners, investors and diplomats.
So, could it be that the Flying Fox is just riding out the pandemic, cruising the waters of the Maldives? Or, did the VIP that chartered the superyacht get a special permit?
A look at the Flying Fox
Part of Monaco-based Imperial’s fleet of charter yachts, the mammoth measures a staggering 466 feet in length and nearly 74 feet in width.
Built by German yacht maker Lürssen and delivered in 2019, the vessel lays claim to the 14th largest interior in the world, according to Superyacht Times.
That ample space provides room for 22 guests and a crew of 54. It also holds 11 staterooms, including a private master suite on the top deck with its own jacuzzi, and a number of VIP suites with terraces and ensuite bathrooms.
Elsewhere, the tastefully appointed Mark Berryman–designed bar area includes a two-storey saloon, a wooden fireplace, a huge dining table with enough room for every guest and a movie theatre with state-of-the-art A/V capabilities.
The boat’s self-proclaimed “curvy and extraordinary” exterior, which was designed by Espen Øino, includes a 39-foot swimming pool, an extra-wide swim platform, beach club, on-deck jacuzzi and sundeck, not to mention a beauty salon and barbecue area.
There’s also a 13,000-square-foot spa that offers a hammam, sauna, massage area and a gym.
And just for kicks, the yacht also boasts not one but two helipads — because you never know who might be flying in for a visit.
Should you get antsy on the vast deck, no need to get cabin fever. The Flying Fox has a small fleet of nine tenders, a professional dive centre and a plethora of recreational toys, including four Sea-Doo jet skis, four Seabobs, kayaks, paddleboards and four Vespa GTS Super 300s in case you need to explore any nearby islands.
Despite its gargantuan size, the boat is no slouch when it comes to performance, either. According to Imperial, the superyacht is capable of a top speed of 20 knots and cruises at 15 knots.
Cover photo: Zidhan Ibrahim. Rest of the photos sourced from Imperial.
Cruising
Last call to cruise Maldives aboard Four Seasons Explorer
Last call! The stunning Four Seasons Explorer will be cruising through the sun-drenched turquoise atolls until May 1, 2023 – leaving intrepid explorers just a few months to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime Maldivian odyssey between the two Four Seasons resorts of Kuda Huraa and Landaa Giraavaru before the boat relocates to thrilling new waters.
This is an incredible final opportunity to escape on an all-inclusive 3-, 4-, or 7-night Winter of Wonders cruise on board the luxurious three-deck, 11-cabin catamaran, experiencing multiple bucket-list encounters each day.
Guests can dive and snorkel isolated reefs, encounter rare marine animals up close, dine under the stars in the middle of nowhere and indulge in spa treatments on remote, uninhabited islands. Retiring to 10 spacious cabins or the unrivalled Explorer Suite to reenergise and rejuvenate, each cruise fluidly adapts to the needs of onboard guests and the best of the surrounding waters on any given day.
Secure one of the last remaining places on Four Seasons Explorer – Four Seasons only “floating resort” – before she bids farewell to the Maldives for the last time.
To be one of the last guests to experience a Maldivian atoll cruise aboard Four Seasons Explorer, contact the Central Reservations Department team at tel: (960) 66 00 888 or email reservations.mal@fourseasons.com.
Action
Dive into luxury at sea with Four Seasons Explorer seasonal cruise routes
After many months cooped up at home, and many missed travel experiences, Four Seasons Explorer – the brand’s only floating resort – offers marine adventurers a ticket to fresh sea air, blissful seclusion, bucket-list experiences, and a different view every morning with two extraordinary seasonal cruise itineraries: Winter of Wonders, and Summer of Mantas.
Available to a maximum of 22 guests at a time, the gleaming 39-metre (128 foot), three-deck vessel takes divers, snorkellers and avid adventurers on all-inclusive three-, four- or seven-night odysseys into some of the Indian Ocean’s most abundant waters, complete with gourmet dining, spa therapies, water sports, island visits and Four Seasons inimitable service standards.
From now until May 29, 2022 (and again from October 31 to December 18, 2022), experience a different extraordinary every day with Winter of Wonders cruises: endless bucket-list encounters across five atolls, from coral-ceilinged caves to camera-happy sharks, swim-through tunnels to a fish-filled wreck. Winter of Wonders cruises sail between Four Seasons two sister Maldivian Resorts on a 3-, 4- and 7-night itinerary, departing from Kuda Huraa on Mondays and Landaa Giraavaru on Thursdays.
From June 27 to October 31, 2022, itineraries change to Summer of Mantas, in line with the huge seasonal aggregations of manta rays and whale sharks that come to the region to feed. Get up close and personal with the world’s largest known population of manta rays alongside The Manta Trust team dedicated to studying them during an epic gentle giants odyssey through the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and into Rasdhoo, North and South Ari Atolls. Summer of Mantas cruises depart from and arrive back to Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru on a 3-,4- and 7-night itinerary.
Each of the 10 air-conditioned staterooms offer blue-hued views through large windows, along with spacious ensuite bathrooms, refrigerated private bars, and flat-screen LCD TVs. For the ultimate luxury, the expansive Explorer Suite boasts an abundance of interior space, a wall of windows, and its own sunbathing deck.
A floating 5-Star PADI Dive Centre, Four Seasons Explorer features the latest Scubapro dive gear, Cressi snorkelling gear and Olympus cameras, while a team of multi-lingual instructors share the full spectrum of PADI courses at a bespoke pace with highly individualised attention.
Sandbank spa treatments, gourmet dining, and water sports take the Four Seasons experience to sea within sleek, chic interiors that include a new sun deck, a lounge, a library, a restaurant and two bars.
The boat is also available for private dive, surf or leisure charters for groups of up to 22.
With the health and safety of its guests and staff a top priority, Four Seasons Explorer provides the ultimate care, confidence, trust and comfort through its Lead With Care programme – heightened health and safety protocols led by global experts that include enhanced cleanliness, physical distancing measures in shared spaces, and empowering staff training grounded in emotional intelligence. In addition, Four Seasons App and Chat provide the reassurance of contactless real-time interactions in 100+ different languages.
For the oceanic adventure of a lifetime, contact Central Reservations at tel: (960) 66 00 888, email: reservations.mal@fourseasons.com or book online.
Cruising
Superyacht Nord in Maldives
Currently exploring the countless islands of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean is the 142-metre superyacht Nord, owned by Russian billionaire Alexei Mordashov.
Since late December, Nord has been spotted in Baa Atoll, home to several world-leading luxury resorts, as well as the southern island-atoll of Fuvahmulah, which is world-renowned for diving with tiger sharks.
Delivered in 2021 as one of the largest superyachts in the fleet at 10,154 GT, she was built at the German shipyard Lürssen in Bremen with Moran Yacht & Ship overseeing her build. Formerly known as Project Opus, she was designed inside and out by the Italian studio Nuvolari Lenard.
Made from steel and aluminium to PYC standards, the warship style vessel encompasses six decks and can accommodate up-to 36 guests across 20 cabins.
On bridge deck level, a large helicopter landing deck aft with fold-down side platforms provide shelter for Nord’s helicopter that can be stowed away in a retractable hangar that slides neatly into the superstructure when not in use.
A large sports and diving centre on the lower deck, oversized swimming pool on the main deck and a fleet of custom tenders are just some of the other features on board this impressive vessel.
Photos: Ammadu/Ajaaibu
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