Affluent Page - Index

Affluent Page - affluentpage - Index

and harp, and even a pile of pillows for kids to lie on. This
is a design choice that greatly affects life onboard, since
with such a large vessel, rooms can quickly begin to feel
like small convention centers. Not so onboard Sherakhan,
which dwarfs most other charter yachts in every harbor,
but which feels supremely intimate to those lucky enough
to travel aboard.
This is true even of the staterooms, which are at once
large and cozy. The crew led me to one of the cabins
with twin beds, where my luggage awaited me—and,
where on most charter yachts, I might feel as though I
had been assigned a “kiddie cabin” instead of a queen- or
king-bed accommodation. Here on Sherakhan, though,
I was impressed by the room’s size, wondering how big
the VIP suites must be (enormous, I would later learn).
All the staterooms have different color schemes—mine
was trimmed in red, yellow, and orange with different
surface textures, even in the art. And, like the main
salon, the rooms are designed with smaller nooks to
create an enveloping ambience. There was a sitting area
in front of a flat-screen TV and a large, marble-trimmed
bathroom with a rain shower and a hot tub. I also had a
desk and chair, in case I needed them in addition to the
full library down the hall with a computer station and
cozy leather chairs.
Such are the kinds of extravagances that a yacht of this
caliber can afford her guests, and the grand treatment is
evident in the onboard service as much as in the vessel’s
construction. Sherakhan’s 18 crew have a “your wish is our
command” attitude, and it is on display beginning at sunrise
every morning, when a dizzying array of freshly prepared
breads, pastries, and breakfast delights are made available
to guests who arise at various hours. Even if guests are
up before the sun, the crew go out of their way to ensure
perfect comfort. I was standing on deck in my pajamas one
dawn, enjoying a meditative moment before the sun rose
MARCH/APRIL 2009 AFFLUENT PAGE LUXURY INDEX 41