Cruise tip question...charter tipping?

In a recent post, The Times website reported that "Cruise-ship passengers are becoming increasingly hostile to a system of tipping that is more mandatory than discretionary, and is used to subsidise crew salaries, rather than reward good service."

The big cruise company like giant Royal Caribbean International admits that it is “rethinking” its policy...

Royal Caribbean International has announced that it will be reviewing its on-board tipping policy due to the lack of gratuities from British passengers.

Charter tips is an old debate and charter yacht crew have come to expect tip's as part of their income. Although charterers are generaly High Net Worth Individual, the tipping policy is sometimes an issue: what effect will tipping change in the cruise industry have on the charter industry ?

Have a look at the Times article here: Times Online

Moran Yacht: Florida yacht broker gets prison time for offshore tax evasion

"I am really very sorry for opening this account and not reporting it"
Broker Robert Moran at the hearing

According to IBI News, "Florida yacht broker Robert Moran was last week sentenced to two months in prison for offshore tax evasion.

IBI News also reported that "As a convicted felon, Moran will lose his Florida license to sell new yachts."

Quote of the day...

“We had a Russian client who ordered a yacht and then withdrew even though he had to give up the 40 percent deposit...”
Wally spokeswoman Monica Paolazzi

Economic Crisis & Superyacht market trends

New yacht: Luxury Yachtmakers at Monaco Show Cut Prices Up to 20%
>> Bloomberg

Second hand super yacht : My Shanti and Boadicea sold !!!
Accoding to globes.co.il website: "Shari Arison has sold her yacht "My Shanti" for $103 million, six months after putting it up for sales. "Boat International" reports that she made the sale on Tuesday at the Monaco Yacht Show."

In March, Arison put up the 64.5 meter yacht at Fort Lauderdale-based broker Merle Wood Associates Inc. agent Peter Croke confirmed the sale, adding that the firm represented both Arison and the buyer.

Burgess Yacht have also announced the sale of the 70.5 metre Amels "Boadicea".

Picture of the day: Leopard 46m

Click to enlarge - copyright Charterminute.com

The Leopard 46m "Pure One" was at anchor Saturday afternoon near Cannes (ile de Lerins).
On the picture, we can see the foreward dining area shaded by a bimini top.

Designed by the famous italian architect Andre Bacigaluppo, "Pure one" is one of the first Leopard 46m built by Arno shipyard.

She can reach a top speed of 32 knots thanks to her central booster and she is available for charter at a 210,000 euros per week.

From carbon racer to floating villa...

WHY Wally-Hermès Yachts - all images courtesy Hermès

If you thought that the design of superyacht A was bad, you might not want to read this...

WHY is the first yacht project unveiled by the joint venture announced last year between the famous Paris fashion house Hermès and the Monaco yacht builder Wally.



According to Luca Bassani Antivari, president and chief executive of Wally “ WHY is designed to be a luxury floating villa safer and more stable than a typical yacht...”.

According to Hermès source, the future yacht also features solar panels that will help save at least 200 tons of diesel fuel a year. There is a 25-meter interior swimming pool plus a 38m beach...



Length: 58m
Beam: 38m

"Everybody’s dream is to live on an island, in complete freedom, without constraint,
with the independence that only self-sufficiency can provide. A piece of land with
a beautiful villa partly fulfils this aspiration because it is static.
A yacht offers the freedom to move, but does not have the space of a property.
WHY has it all: space, stability, movement, independence, peace. WHY goes even further.



This revolutionary concept of the moving island is developed with the latest and most advanced sustainable technologies, recycling thermal energy, as well as any organic and inorganic waste.
The architecture of the whole project fits perfectly in the environment – there are no excesses, nothing is superfluous, the impact on the sea is minimum.



A new and unique way to live on the sea while caring about it, protecting it, and loving it. All this has always been my dream too, and when I met Pierre-Alexis Dumas I realised that this dream could come true thanks to the common values and ethical principles we share.'
Luca Bassani Antivari, President and CEO of Wally

Picture of the day: SY Penelope

Click to enlarge

The 38m-127ft sailing yacht Penelope (ex: Talofa IV, ex Sayonara) was at anchor during the Cannes Boat Show.

Built in 1968 by Chantier de la Perrière in France, she was designed by the French architect Cornu.
When she was launched, this 38m schooner was the largest private sailing yacht in the world to be built in aluminium.

A windy day for SY Gliss...

Monday afternoon was a windy day in the Antibes area and the 32m Philippe Briand designed sloop "Gliss " had to face a strong East wind.



First, the crew decided to drop their anchor...in the middle of Port Vauban (photo 1)



Following a first attempt and despite the thruster, the superyacht missed berth.

Two crews from another sailing yacht decided to help the Swiss yacht that has a lot of windage.
(picture 2 and 3)



Well done Boys !!!

2009 Cannes Boat Show II

Click to enlarge - Heesen Necklace II, Feadship Paraiso and CRN Pestifer

First impression & Trends

1. Less big toys except Camper & Nicholson fleet (first picture)
2. Less yachts: there is still room for big yachts in Port Canto
   
3. Save money: most brokerage companies have no stand
4. The yachts on display are slightly smaller than last year (Monaco Yacht Show?)
   
5. There is a lovely red carpet...but where are the clients ?
   
   

Click to enlarge


Click to enlarge

2009 Cannes Boat Show

Click to enlarge

The big yachts are already on display at the 2009 Cannes Boat Show which takes place 9-14 September in the quays of le Vieux Port and Port Canto.

Here is a picture that shows the Port Canto pier with a selection of second-hand superyachts (click on the picture to read the names) that are for sale with international brokerage companies like Camper & Nicholson, Oceanstyle...

It seems that there is also a new player: Ancasta Yacht Dpt. with the Mangusta 108 "Four Friends" !

However, unofficial but well-informed sources confirmed that 10% of the exhibitors (mostly superyacht brokers) have cancelled this year...

New boat show trend: put the yacht for sale...at anchor near the boat show (Cannes & Monaco Boat Show).