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Soneva partners with ALEXA Private Cruises to curate Maldivian charter experiences

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Soneva, the luxury resort operator with sustainability at its core, has partnered with ALEXA Private Cruises to offer guests unrivalled charter holidays in the Maldives, sailing their 38-metre ALEXA J yacht to the Indian Ocean.

ALEXA J is an exclusive experience, with a maximum capacity of two adults and two children, and a dedicated crew of six: Captain, Chief Engineer, Star Chef, Spa Therapist, Dive Instructor, and Stewardess.

Guests can choose from bespoke itineraries varying in length: 10 nights split between ALEXA J and Soneva in Aqua; 14 nights split between Soneva Fushi and ALEXA J; and 21 nights split between Soneva Fushi, ALEXA J, and Soneva Jani.

All the experiences have been hand-picked by the founders of ALEXA Private Cruises and Soneva. Rates start at $11,435 per night.

An example of the 14-day itinerary begins in Male where guests are greeted at the international airport and escorted to Soneva Fushi.

Day two and three are spent at Soneva Fushi, relaxing in the spa, enjoying water sports and ending with a Private Sandbank Dinner with a menu designed to suit the guests’ preferences with the help of the Executive Chef.

On Day four, guests board ALEXA J, meet their Cruise Director and crew, take a tour of the yacht and enjoy a massage, before heading to Hanifaru Bay which is often frequented by the majestic manta rays between May and December. As the sun sets refreshing cocktails are served, or a wine tasting can be arranged, followed by a five-course dinner.

Cruise to the island of Goidhoo on Day five to hike to the island’s freshwater lakes and tropical forest. Here, the unique coral formations in the Rose Garden make for a unique snorkelling trip. In the evening, a lavish barbecue dinner will be set up on the sands of a deserted beach.

An underwater safari at Innafushi is the main event on Day six, followed by a gourmet dinner on the aft deck terrace, and a private cinema can be arranged on the top deck for movies by moonlight.

On Day seven, ALEXA J cruises to Hithadhoo Island, the capital of the Addu Atoll. Here guests can visit the Addu Nature Park or try their hand at sustainable big game fishing for snapper and groupers. In the evening, the chef can arrange a seafood barbecue, picnic or candlelit dinner on the beach.

Day eight sees ALEXA J moored off the island of Kendoo in the north of the Baa Atoll for snorkelling, diving and exploring the nearby islands.

On Day nine, ALEXA J returns to Soneva Fushi for one more night, Sonu’s Picnic is a ‘must’: snorkelling off a deserted island with lunch prepared by the chef.

Days 10-14 are back on Soneva Fushi’s island of Kunfunadhoo, experiencing more of the resort with private stargazing at the Observatory, dinner in the middle of the jungle or sunbathing on the sandbank.

Day 13 is particularly special with a Private Sandbank Experience where guests spend the night in a Bedouin-style tent with its own bathroom, after a candlelit dinner, on an uninhabited sandbank. Breakfast will be delivered in the morning.

The 14-day itinerary starts at $145,000++ for two guests.

ALEXA J is a beautifully designed sailing yacht that combines a sense of old-world charm with all the modern comforts. It is the only yacht in the Maldives built for just one couple or small family.

The superyacht experience is uniquely configured with just one VIP Master Cabin with the flexibility of an additional multi-use play cabin for small families. ALEXA J combines stylish interiors and world-class bespoke service with the rare luxury of complete privacy.

ALEXA J’s chef, Johan, will take guests on a journey through a myriad of Asian flavours, making each meal a culinary memory worth cherishing.

On the upper deck there is a rooftop lounge, dining area, and yoga and meditation space.

The main deck houses the master bedroom with en-suite bathroom and walk-in closet, living room, the bridge, and open-air dining and lounge area.

On the lower deck is the playroom cabin (where the children can sleep) with en-suite bathroom, galley, engine room and crew quarters.

Soneva is a pioneering family of hospitality properties, offering holistic encounters in luxurious and inspiring environments – from world class resorts to outstanding natural locations.

Soneva Fushi, Soneva Jani and Soneva in Aqua in the Maldives, and Soneva Kiri in Thailand rebuke the traditional concept of luxury and instead promise the luxury of time, purity and solitude. Every day, guests are encouraged to discover sandy feet, inspired minds and full hearts.

Combining luxury with a conscientious approach to sustainability and the environment, and proactively changing the nature of hospitality, it delivers intuitive service and meaningful experiences to the guests.

Cruising

Last call to cruise Maldives aboard Four Seasons Explorer

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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.

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Dive into luxury at sea with Four Seasons Explorer seasonal cruise routes

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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.

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Cruising

Superyacht Nord in Maldives

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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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