A Princess in Phang Nga Bay – Phuket Lifestyle

PHUKET: What makes a boat luxurious is not only the boat itself, it’s the quality of service on board. Boat Lagoon Cruises Luxury Charters proved this point clearly on their recent promotional cruise.

I’ve seen it all – the spacious interiors, attention to detail, high quality materials, a design that combines beauty with comfort. In many ways, the White Pearl Princess 60 motor yacht is similar to any other luxurious boat available for rent in Phuket. Looking at it from the pier is a pleasure, standing on its deck even more so. To sail on it through the deep blue waters surrounding Phuket is one of the things that makes life here worth living. On that Thursday morning cruise, I felt pampered and it felt good.

The food is great, a range of antipasti from Two Chefs Bar & Grill, designed to suit the palettes of guests from different backgrounds as well as to complement the wines served on board. The potato salad filled cakes suited the taste of the Russians and Germans on board, the Gazpacho helped cope with the heat and the mushroom pies filled up empty stomachs.

However, that’s just a glimpse at the full menu available to Boat Lagoon Cruises’ customers. There are five different themed buffet menus to choose from: International, Asian, Italian, barbecue and seafood. Standout dishes include smoked pork tenderloin with mango salsa and poached Maine lobster. Let’s not forget the desserts either; who could pass up the sumptuous blueberry cheesecake, or the chocolate cake with amaretto cream?

Then there is wine. We rinsed all these culinary delights down with a nicely balanced, new world Sauvignion Blanc and a tangy, refreshing Prosecco. Guests who charter the yacht can choose from over 20 different wines, among them, the Whispering Angel rose awarded a silver medal by the Decanter magazine or a Nipozzano Riserva Chiantifrom Frescobaldi.

The high-class wine and food set the mood for the rest of the cruise and the mood is all about fun. One of the biggest advantages of sailing on a private yacht is that you can go wherever you want, whenever you want to. For example, to a beautiful, white sand beach on one of the smaller islands east from Phuket, a beach usually filled with tourists. But when we get there, holidaymakers are nowhere to be seen and we have the place all to ourselves and we leave just as a big, tourist-filled boat arrives to disturb the tranquil atmosphere.

Back on board, one can just sit in the shadow of the spacious sunroof, enjoy a chat with one of the fellow VIPs, sip on a drink, munch on some more snacks or just gaze in astonishment at the rock formations of Phang Nga Bay in the distance. Or if you’re a more adventurous type, hop on a jet-ski available for the guests and cut through the waves. Don’t worry about scams and extractions, this is not Patong. And if a few minutes of this high speed fun leaves your muscles sore, there is a masseuse waiting on the White Pearl to soothe away your aches.

Stepping on the dry land at the Boat Lagoon marina a few hours later felt a bit like waking up from a dream, a good dream.

The White Pearl Princess 60 can hold up to 12 passengers. Indulging in eight hours of pure pleasure aboard her costs 199-230,000 baht, depending on the season. The price includes fuel, crew and hostesses, drinks and snacks, National Park fees, gourmet breakfast and lunch, use of on-board equipment, insurance and transportation to and from the pier. Custom itineraries, overnight and half day charters are available on request.

The cruise was sponsored by the Phuket Gazette, PGTV, Railand Magazine, BB&B (wines), Two Chefs (food), Phuket Beer and Princess Yachts South East Asia.

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