How do you improve a 20-year-old yacht that continues to be a perennial favorite on the charter market?
That was the question facing the owners of Force Blue, which was 206 feet length overall when Royal Denship delivered it in 2002. The yacht is now 229 feet long and has a redesigned exterior, a swim platform extension to create a beach club, a redesigned main deck aft and refurbished staterooms.
“The whole stern of the yacht is redefined, creating an exceptional open lounging and sunbathing area at sea level,” says Daniela De Marco, Fraser’s head of charter management in Europe. “This fantastic new space connects directly to the yacht’s well-being area to offer an incredible space for relaxation and pampering, and also offers direct access to the water to jump straight from treatment to the sea.”
That well-being area has long been a calling card for Force Blue, which had an oversized spa long before it became common practice to incorporate them into superyacht designs. There’s a dedicated masseuse and beautician on board, and the well-being area includes a steam shower, hammam, mud bath, sauna, hot tub, hydro massage, massage room and hairdressing salon. The space is in addition to the onboard gymnasium, which has a treadmill, a Power Plate, a stationary bicycle, a Kinesis gym machine, a leg press, free weights and more—should guests tire of being outside with the Flyboard, hoverboard, paddleboards, scuba gear and various other water toys.
Force Blue also has a rare ratio of 12 guests to 21 crew, who, De Marco says, are “always going the extra mile to exceed the guests’ expectations.”
The Big Booking: Eight Weeks of Onboard Relaxation
This past summer, Force Blue completed an eight-week charter for clients, who, according to management company Fraser, are already talking about booking the yacht again for another vacation. Fraser has managed the yacht since 2005, keeping it in the fleet through several owners. Unlike some yachts that occasionally charter, it’s a priority aboard Force Blue to secure charter bookings. The yacht alternates seasons between the Mediterranean and Caribbean.
