ecstasea yacht ranking

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Private YACHT

NOT FOR CHARTER*

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• Amenities & Toys

ECSTASEA yacht NOT for charter*

86m  /  282'2 | feadship | 2004 / 2011.

Owner & Guests

Cabin Configuration

• Previous Yacht

Special Features:

• Two helicopter decks
• Fully equipped gymnasium
• Kaleidascape on-demand system
• Huge selection of water toys
• Two tenders
• Impressive interior volume
• Massage room and day spa
• Versatlile layout
• High spec styling

The award winning 86m/282'2" motor yacht 'Ecstasea' was built by Feadship in the Netherlands at their De Kaag shipyard. Her interior is styled by English designer design house Terence Disdale and she was completed in 2004. This luxury vessel's exterior design is the work of Terence Disdale and she was last refitted in 2011.

Guest Accommodation

Ecstasea has been designed to comfortably accommodate up to 15 guests in 8 suites. She is also capable of carrying up to 27 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht experience.

Onboard Comfort & Entertainment

Her features include beach club, gym, deck jacuzzi, WiFi and air conditioning.

Range & Performance

Built with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, with teak decks, she benefits from a semi-displacement hull to provide exceptional seakeeping and impressive speeds. Powered by 1 x gas turbine General Electric (LM 2500) 30,843hp engines, she comfortably cruises at 14 knots, reaches a maximum speed of 33 knots with a range of up to 5,000 nautical miles from her 138,000 litre fuel tanks at 15 knots. Ecstasea features at-anchor stabilizers providing exceptional comfort levels. She was built to Lloyds Register ✠100A1 SSC Yacht (P), Mono HSG, G6, LMC, UMS, SCM classification society rules, and is MCA Compliant.

PRIVATE YACHT - "Ecstasea" IS NOT FOR CHARTER

Sorry, motor yacht "Ecstasea" is a strictly Private yacht and is NOT available for Charter. Click here to view similar yachts for charter , or contact your Yacht Charter Broker for information about renting another luxury charter yacht.

"Yacht Charter Fleet" is a free information service, if your vessel changes its status, and does become available for charter, please contact us with details and photos and we will update our records.

Ecstasea Photos

Ecstasea Awards & Nominations

• International Superyacht Society Awards 2005 Best Power Interior Winner

NOTE to U.S. Customs & Border Protection

NOTE TO U.S. CUSTOMS & BORDER PROTECTION

Due to the international and fluid nature of the yachting business and the fact there is no global central industry listing service to which all charter yachts subscribe it is impossible to ascertain a truly up-to-date view of the market. We are a news and information service and not always informed when yachts leave the charter market, or when they are recently sold and renamed it is not clear if they are still for charter. Whilst we use our best endeavors to maintain accurate information, the existence of a listing on this website should in no way supersede official documentation supplied by representatives of a yacht.

Specification

M/Y Ecstasea

SIMILAR LUXURY YACHTS FOR CHARTER

Here are a selection of superyachts which are similar to Ecstasea yacht which are believed to be available for charter. To view all similar luxury charter yachts click on the button below.

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ECSTASEA Yacht – Dreamy $120M Superyacht

ECSTASEA yacht is a $75 Million superyacht built in 2004.

Her annual running costs are approximately ten to twenty million dollars per year. This gorgeous vessel can comfortably accommodate 14 guests with a crew of 24 on hand to cater to their needs.

ECSTASEA yacht interior

ECSTASEA’s interior was designed by Terence Disdale and his team. The yacht was most recently refit in 2011, suggesting she might be redone again soon. ECSTASEA can welcome fourteen guests in seven spacious cabins.

She has a massage room, a gym, a sauna, several indoor and outdoor bars and even a steam room.

Twenty-four crew members find space on board to help cater to the needs of guests onboard.

ECSTASEA yacht specifications

The ECSTASEA yacht was built in the Netherlands by the renowned yacht shipyard Feadship in De Kaag.

In 2004 she was the largest ever yacht built by Feadship, although she has since lost that title to the superyacht ANNA.

She has a total length of 85.95 meters (282 ft), a beam of 11.85 meters (38.11 ft), and a draft of 3.8 meters (12.6 ft).

Her gross tonnage is 2,107 tons. ECSTASEA is one of the fastest yachts in her size category and can reach incredible top speeds of 33 knots.

She cruises comfortably at an average speed of 14 knots. She is powered by four MTU engines as well as a gas turbine.

ECSTASEA exterior

Much like her interior, the exterior of ECSTASEA was designed by ​​Terence Disdale, who is based in the UK.

He started his career with no formal design training and now owns one of the most well-respected studios in the industry.

ECSTASEA is all white with a large helipad on the forward deck and even a small aircraft hangar.

She carries several tenders, including a 9.5 meter (31.1 ft) Vikal Limousine. The superyacht has a beautiful sundeck aft with a spacious seating area for guests.

The ECSTASEA yacht is known for carrying an impressive selection of water toys on board, including inflatables, jet skis, wakeboards, sea bobs, and even mountain bikes.

ECSTASEA price

ECSTASEA originally cost an estimated US $125 million, although she reportedly only listed for a price of US $75 million when the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi sold her to the owner in 2014. She generates an estimated US $10 to 15 million in running costs every ear.

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ECSTASEA is a 85.95 m Motor Yacht, built in Netherlands by Feadship and delivered in 2004.

Her top speed is 36.0 kn and her cruising speed is 25.0 kn and her power comes from a General Electric gas turbine engine. She can accommodate up to 12 guests. She has a gross tonnage of 2107.0 GT and a 11.5 m beam.

She was designed by Feadship De Voogt Naval Architects , who also completed the naval architecture. Feadship De Voogt Naval Architects has designed 49 yachts and created the naval architecture for 103 yachts for yachts above 24 metres.

Her interior was designed by Terence Disdale , who has 77 other superyacht interiors designed in the BOAT Pro database - she is built with a Teak deck, a Steel hull, and Aluminium superstructure.

ECSTASEA is in the top 5% by LOA and in the top 10% by speed in the world. She is one of 65 motor yachts in the 80-90m size range, and, compared to similarly sized motor yachts, her cruising speed is 10.06 kn above the average, and her top speed 17.64 kn above the average.

ECSTASEA is currently sailing under the Cayman Islands flag, the 2nd most popular flag state for superyachts with a total of 1361 yachts registered. She is currently located at the superyacht marina Albany Marina, in Bahamas, where she has been located for 1 week. For more information regarding ECSTASEA's movements, find out more about BOAT Pro AIS .

Specifications

• Name: ECSTASEA
• Yacht Type: Motor Yacht
• Builder: Feadship
• Naval Architect: Feadship De Voogt Naval Architects
• Exterior Designer: Feadship De Voogt Naval Architects
• Interior Designer: Terence Disdale
• Refits: 2020-05-24,2020-12-19,2021-12-10,2023-04-28,2022-12-03,2018-12-10,2019-05-07

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M/Y Ecstasea is one the fastest superyachts in the world

Built by Dutch yard Feadship , M/Y Ecstasea is one of the fastest superyachts in the world.

She is unconventional and remarkable. Her initial owner wanted a fast yacht. Very fast. And Feadship delivered. Ecstasea can reach a top speed of 30 knots, and cruises at 25 knots.

To reach this speeds she needed a high bow and an impressive power plant.

Power is provided by no less than four diesel engines MTU 16V4000 M70, each delivering 3,111 hp. Also, for extra power, the captain can rely on a gas turbine that can deliver more that 30.000 hp. Total power is 46,843 hp.

M/Y Ecstasea was built for the Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich and sold to another owner in 2009 for an undisclosed sum.

The launch of the remarkable motoryacht Ecstasea represented a number of milestones in the evolution of the superyacht industry. This space has been optimized to incorporate an extensive selection of cutting edge facilities. Ecstasea's exterior is distinguished by a powerful and modern signature, with a high bow for cutting through the waves. The challenge of matching the hull form required for 30-plus knots with a sleek look appropriate for a yacht of this speed has been successfully met.

The helicopter hangar in the bow is completely hidden, without a hint of the horizontal sliding hatches either technically or in terms of style. With a seam in the centerline of the boat, the hatch slides open in two halves to port and starboard.

The 86m superyacht can accommodate 14 guests in seven double cabins. Interior design is by Terence Disdale while the exterior design is by De Voogt.

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About Ecstasea

The launch of the remarkable motoryacht Ecstasea represented a number of major milestones in the evolution of the superyacht industry. This space has been optimized to incorporate an extensive selection of cutting edge facilities. Ecstasea ’s exterior is distinguished by a powerful and modern signature, with a high bow for cutting through the waves. The challenge of matching the hull form required for 30-plus knots with a sleek look appropriate for a yacht of this speed has been successfully met. The helicopter hangar in the bow is completely hidden, without a hint of the horizontal sliding hatches either technically or in terms of style. With a seam in the centerline of the boat, the hatch slides open in two halves to port and starboard.

Ecstasea’s launch specifications

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Technical specifications

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Ecstasea Specifications

• Name Ecstasea
• Model Custom
• Flag Bermuda
• Class Lloyds Register
• Hull NB 790
• Hull Colour -
• Naval Architect De Voogt Naval Architects
• Exterior Designers De Voogt Naval Architects Terence Disdale
• Interior Designer Terence Disdale
• Length Overall 86.0m
• Length at Waterline -
• Draft (min) -
• Draft (max) 3.8m
• Gross Tonnage 2107
• Cabins Total 7
• Cabins 1 Master / 4 Double / 2 Twin
• Hull Configuration -
• Hull Material Steel
• Superstructure -
• Deck Material Teak
• Fuel Type Diesel / Gas Turbine
• Manufacturer MTU/GEC /
• Model 16V 4000 M70 + GE LM 2500 / GE-LM 2500
• Power 33943 hp / 25610 kW
• Total Power 33943 hp / 25610 kW
• Propulsion Twin Screw plus Waterjet
• Max Speed 30 Kn
• Cruising Speed 25 Kn
• Fuel Capacity -
• Water Capacity -
• Generator -
• Stabilizers -
• Thrusters -
• Amenities -
• Yacht Builder Feadship View profile
• Naval Architect De Voogt Naval Architects No profile available
• Interior Designer Terence Disdale View profile

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A General Description of Motor Yacht ECSTASEA

This 86 metre (282 foot) luxury yacht was built at The Feadship Royal Van Lent Shipyard in 2004. Motor Yacht ECSTASEA is a imposing superyacht. An exciting important detail of this interesting motor yacht is her heli pad. The firm of naval architecture whom authored this yacht's design work on the yacht is De Voogt Naval Architects. The vessel had interior is the talent of Terence Disdale Design. Luxury yacht ECSTASEA is a quality yacht that can sleep up to 14 guests on board and has approximately 25 qualified crew.

The New Build & Designing relating to Luxury Yacht ECSTASEA

De Voogt Naval Architects was the naval architect firm involved in the formal superyacht plans for ECSTASEA. Also the company De Voogt Naval Architects expertly collaborated on this undertaking. Interior designer Terence Disdale Design was selected for the overall internal ambience. the Netherlands is the country that The Feadship Royal Van Lent Shipyard constructed their new build motor yacht in. After her official launch in 2004 in Kaag she was handed over to the happy owner following final finishing. A fairly large feeling is manifested with a total beam (width) of 11.5 metres / 37.7 ft. With a 3.8m (12.45ft) draught (maximum depth) she is deep. The material steel was used in the building of the hull of the motor yacht. Her superstructure over the hull is built from aluminium. In 2009 further refit work and updating was in addition finished.

Engines & Speed On M/Y ECSTASEA:

The 16V 4000 M70 + GE LM 2500 engine installed in the motor yacht is made by MTU / GEC. Connected to her MTU / GEC engine(s) are twin screw propellers / 1wj (kamewa). The main engine of the yacht generates 3100 horse power (or 2281 kilowatts). She is equiped with 4 engines. The combined thrust for the boat is therefore 6200 HP / 9124 KW.

On board Superyacht ECSTASEA She has Guest Accommodation Potential:

Providing quarters for a limit of 14 yacht guests overnighting, the ECSTASEA accommodates everyone luxuriously. This ship uses approx 25 professional qualified crew to manage.

A List of the Specifications of the ECSTASEA:

Miscellaneous yacht details.

During Sept 2009 ECSTASEA visited Antibes, in France. This motor yacht has traveled the cruising ground near Département des Alpes-Maritimes during the month of October 2009. The Feadship Motor Yacht was designed to have a helicopter platform facility. Heinen & Hopman is the type of AC to regulate the temperature. ECSTASEA features a teak deck.

ECSTASEA Disclaimer:

The luxury yacht ECSTASEA displayed on this page is merely informational and she is not necessarily available for yacht charter or for sale, nor is she represented or marketed in anyway by CharterWorld. This web page and the superyacht information contained herein is not contractual. All yacht specifications and informations are displayed in good faith but CharterWorld does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the current accuracy, completeness, validity, or usefulness of any superyacht information and/or images displayed. All boat information is subject to change without prior notice and may not be current.

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“The way we design, is we design fully custom, fully unique yachts, we start with a blank piece of paper and we start asking the client how they use the boat, what they want to do on board, what kind of experience they have but we also want input on what kind of styling they like... It’s about getting to learn about the owner and how they want to use the boat.” - Ronno Schouten, Design Manager of De Voogt Naval Architects

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Take a sneak peek at the biggest and most expensive boats at 2024's Palm Beach yacht show

The Palm Beach International Boat Show kicks off later this week.

Eight megayachts are expected to be on display for would-be buyers and charter customers.

These are the show's biggest yachts — and how many millions of dollars they are going for.

The Palm Beach International Boat Show — the yacht world's flashiest event stateside — is returning this year with over 800 boats for both deep-pocked potential owners and window shoppers to peruse.

While it's impossible to know what exactly will be on display until the show begins on Thursday, it's expected that eight megayachts — generally defined as ships over 60 meters long — will be docked at the show and at nearby marinas like the Rybovich Marina in the ritzy Florida town.

Some of these are for sale at eye-popping prices, but others are available to if in case you fancy living like a billionaire for a week or two this summer (and if you have six figures to spare on a vacation).

These are the eight biggest yachts that will be at the Palm Beach International Boat Show and nearby marinas, in size order.

Nero: 90.1 meters

Price: From $497,000 a week (charter) Standout features: Pizza ovens, beauty salon, massage room, resistance pool

Reportedly owned by Irish billionaire Denis O'Brien, Nero is modeled after J.P. Morgan's 1930s ship , and was built in 2007 and updated in 2021.

She now boasts a gym on her sundeck with multiple cardio machines and a beauty salon, and has an on-board beautician for manicure, pedicure, hair, and massage needs. There's also an upgraded movie theater, two new pizza ovens, and both a pool and a jacuzzi.

For those who want to go overboard, she has more than a dozen toys, including a waterslide, Jet Ski, and flyboard.

Victorious: 85 meters

Price: From $876,600 a week in the summer and $950,000 a week in the winter Standout features: Hammam (Turkish bath), wine cellar, wood-burning fireplace, children's playroom

Victorious brings a party vibe to the yacht show. With a beach club on board, a wine cellar, a cigar clubroom , multiple bars, and a lounge with a piano, the vessel is made for entertaining. Plus, there's a playroom and movie theater to entertain the kids.

For tamer charter clients, Victorious has a suite of wellness features such as a gym, massage room, beauty salon and hammam, or Turkish bath — perhaps a custom request of her owner, Turkish businessman Vural Ak.

She also boasts a treasure trove of water toys, including Jet Skis, jetsurfs, inflatable kayaks, and scuba equipment.

Casino Royale: 72 meters

Price: TBD Special Features: Infinity pool, helipad, private jacuzzi

Purchased and refitted by car dealer magnate John Staluppi last year, Casino Royale is the latest of his James Bond-inspired yachts (he's also owned an Octopussy and a Skyfall, among others).

Casino Royale has a helipad that turns into a dancefloor, an infinity pool, and a wellness center with a gym and sauna. The owner's cabin has its own deck, which features a private bar and jacuzzi.

However, the boat's price isn't listed, and while she's not necessarily officially for sale, that might change depending on who's prepared to buy, Mr. Bond.

Talisman C: 70.6 meters

Price: $60 million (or from $567,000 a week to charter) Special features: Massage and beauty room, private library

Likely the largest yacht for sale (not just charter) at the show, the Talisman C is a 2011 six-bedroom boat. The owner's cabin comes with an en suite bathroom, dressing room, private library, and crystal chandeliers.

Amenities include a gym, a beauty room, oversized jacuzzi, and a fully equipped bar. Her crew of 19 includes a trained masseuse, and the toy room comes equipped with a wakeboard, eFoil , and WaveRunners.

Joy: 70 meters

Price: From $650,000 a week Special features: Disco club, basketball court, onboard fitness instructor

Superyacht Joy testifies to the fact that owners want as many on-board experiences as they can get.

There's an expansive suite of fitness features, including a basketball court (don't shoot that hoop too hard!), a personal trainer on staff, boxing equipment, and a handful of machines. For post-workout winddowns, there's a spa with a steam room and onboard masseuse. And for entertainment, there's both an outdoor and indoor cinema, and a disco club.

Triumph: 65.4 meters

Price: From $707,600 a week in the summer and $650,000 a week in the winter Special features: Sauna, helipad, banana boat

This 2021 superyacht is named after Triumph motorcycles — a reported favorite of her rumored owner, British businessman Chris Dawson — and even has one on display as an art piece in the upper deck's lounge. The primary suite is 1,400 square feet and has its own study , and there's a sauna, an indoor-outdoor gym, a helipad, and a massage room spread among her six decks.

She boasts an "armada of water toys," including two kinds of Jet Skis, electric water bikes, and a banana boat.

Seanna: 64.5 meters

Price: $54,000,000 (or from $462,000 a week to charter) Special features: marble foyer, movie room, sundeck pool

The recently refurbished Seanna is available for sale and charter.

Her indoor-outdoor gym is on sea level so that passengers can take a dip after a session with the onboard personal trainer. There's also a sundeck pool, a helipad, a two-room massage facility, and, for the more cerebral guests, a library with an electric fireplace.

There are a number of toys on board, including a popular water trampoline and two WaveRunners.

Come Together: 60 meters

Price: $65,000,000 Special Features: DJ and videographer on board, ice bath, sauna

Next-to-new yacht Come Together is looking for a new owner after doing charters during the 2023 season.

The Beatles' influence is evident beyond the yacht's name, with guitars dotting the sky lounge and a crewmember who doubles as a DJ. There's also an outdoor cinema and bar for entertainment and an ice bath and sauna for the day after the party. The owner's suite has a private study and lounge, and each guest cabin has its own ensuite.

The sale includes a number of toys, like Jet Skis, kayaks, and Seabobs.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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Ecstasea Queensland Australia

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Ecstasea is a 60 foot sailing yacht operating for the last eight years to stunning Upolo Reef and Cay on the Great Barrier Reef, 30 kilometres off the cost of Cairns , Queensland.

The Ecstasea offers you an alternative to the large, noisy, crowded, tour vessels upon which most visitors experience the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef.

They give guests an intimate, personalised day out on the reef, the maximum number of guests is limited to 20 (their license is for 34) allowing them to cater for any special needs their guests may have. On the voyage out to Upolo Reef an informative presentation is given about the reef, its creation, evolution and the many wondrous creatures living there.

Their visitors are given instruction on the use of the snorkelling equipment and guided tours are conducted of their exclusive site at Upolo, diving is also available for the beginner or advanced.

A delicious lunch is served while at the reef and a fruit platter a little later in the day (vegetarian lunches available with advance notice) Ecstasea stays at the reef for approximately three and a half hours allowing plenty of time for snorkelling, diving, relaxing and a visit to the pristine sand cay.

Ecstasea departs for a leisurely sail home, powered by the wind alone, complimentary wine and cheese is served during the return voyage.

Ecstasea is an accredited Eco-tourism operator.

Ecstasea Reef and Sail Adventures

Enjoy a relaxing, fun filled day at Upolu Reef 30 kilometres off the Coast of Cairns on the Great Barrier Reef. The tour includes Hotel Pick-up and return, snorkelling equipment and instruction, snorkel tours, glass bottom boat, delicious lunch, coffee and tea (all day), wine and cheese on return voyage, free scuba demonstrations, fresh water shower and hands on sailing experience on board the ‘Ecstasea’. Maximum 20 guests (licensed for 34).

Website: www.reef-sea-charters.com.au

Popular Activities

• Scuba-Diving
• Snorkelling
• National Park

Accommodation In Cairns

Discover some of the accommodation in and around Ecstasea

• 181 The Esplanade
• Acacia Court Hotel
• Agincourt Beachfront Apartments
• Alassio Palm Cove
• All Round Motel – Inn The Pink
• All Seasons Cairns Gateway Resort
• All Seasons Sunshine Tower Hotel
• Amaroo at Trinity
• Angsana Resort & Spa
• Argosy on the Beach
• Bay Village Tropical Retreat
• Beachfront Hideaway
• Bellevue At Trinity Beach
• Best Western Cairns
• Bohemia Resort Cairns
• BreakFree Royal Harbour
• Cairns Aquarius
• Cairns Beach Resort
• Cairns Coconut Caravan Resort
• Cairns Colonial Club Resort
• Cairns International Hotel
• Cairns Plaza Hotel
• Cairns Queens Court
• Cairns Queenslander
• Cairns Reef Apartments And Motel
• Cairns Resort by Outrigger
• Cairns Student Lodge
• Cairns Villa & Leisure Park
• Cascade Gardens
• Castaways Trinity Beach
• Citysider, The
• Club Crocodile Hides Hotel
• Comfort Inn City Sheridan
• Comfort Suites City Terraces
• Comfort Suites Trinity Beach Club
• Coral Horizons Beachfront Apartments
• Coral Sands Resort
• Coral Towers Holiday Suites
• Costa Royale Prestige Apartments
• Country Comfort Sunlodge
• Ellis Beach Bungalows and Leisure Park
• Figtree Lodge
• Golden Sands Beachfront Resort
• Grosvenor In Cairns
• Heritage Cairns
• High Chaparral Motel & Holiday Units
• Hilton Cairns
• Holiday Inn Cairns
• Hosted Retreats Australia Pty Ltd
• Hotel Cairns, The
• Il Centro Apartment Hotel
• Il Palazzo Boutique Hotel
• Inn Cairns Boutique Apartments
• Inn The Tropics
• Kewarra Beach Resort
• Koala Court Holiday Apartments
• Lakes Cairns Resort & Spa, The
• Mango Lagoon Resort and Wellness Spa
• Mantra Amphora Resort
• Mantra Trilogy
• Marlin Cove Resort
• Marlin Gateway Apartments
• Marlin Waters Beachfront Apartments
• Mediterranean Beachfront Apartments
• Melaleuca Resort
• Mercure Hotel Harbourside Cairns
• Meridien at Trinity
• Mid City Luxury Suites
• North Cove Waterfront Suites
• Novotel Rockford Palm Cove
• Oaks City Quays
• Oasis at Palm Cove
• Oasis Resort Cairns
• On The Beach Holiday Apartments
• Outrigger Beach Club and Spa
• Pacific International Hotel
• Palm Cove Beach Saray’i Hotel
• Palm Cove Tropic Apartments
• Palm Royale Cairns
• Palms at Trinity
• Paradise On The Beach Resort
• Prime Trinity Beach Pacific Apartments
• Quality Hotel Sheridan Plaza
• Quality Inn Rainbow Southside
• Rainbow Inn
• Reef Retreat, The
• Royal Palm Villas
• Roydon Beachfront Apartments
• Rydges Esplanade Cairns Resort
• Rydges Plaza Cairns
• Rydges Tradewinds Cairns
• Sanctuary Palm Cove
• Sea Change Beachfront Apartments
• Sea Temple Resort and Spa Palm Cove
• Sebel Reef House and Spa, The
• Shangri-la Hotel, The Marina, Cairns
• Shooting Star Apartments
• Sofitel Reef Casino Cairns
• Sunrise Beach Lodge
• Teewah Rise – Luxury Escape
• Tradewinds McLeod Holiday Apartments
• Trinity On The Esplanade
• Tropic Sunrise Holiday Units
• Voyages Wrotham Park Lodge

More Tours In Cairns

Discover some of the tours options around Voyages Wrotham Park Lodge

• Adventure Tours Australia
• Aero-Tropics Air Services
• AJ Hackett Bungy Cairns
• Amity Tours
• Balloon With Hot Air Port Douglas and Cairns
• Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises
• Billy Tea Bush Safaris
• Blazing Saddles Cairns Adventures
• Cairns Dive Centre
• Cairns Habitat Cruises
• Cairns Heli Scenic
• Cape York Motorcycle Adventures
• Captain Cook Cruises – MV Reef Endeavour
• Compass Cruises
• Coral Princess Cruises
• Down Under Dive
• Down Under Helicopters and Cairns Helicopter School
• Down Under Tours Australia
• Explorer Ventures – M/V Nimrod Explorer
• Exploring Oz
• Fishing Cairns
• Fishing The Tropics
• Foaming Fury
• Food Trail Tours
• Frankland Islands Cruise and Dive
• Great Adventures Reef & Green Island Cruises
• Heritage 4WD Safari Tours Pty Ltd
• International Coaches and Tours
• Koala Golf Cairns
• Mareeba Wetland Tours
• Mike Ball Dive Expeditions
• Ocean Spirit Cruises
• Oz Tours Safaris
• Passions of Paradise
• Paul’s Parachuting Xtreme Skydiving
• Personal Adventures
• Pro Dive Cairns
• Reef Encounter
• Reef Magic Cruises
• Reefwatch Air Tours
• RnR White Water Rafting, Cairns, Queensland
• Santa Maria Yacht Charter
• Skydive Cairns
• Spirit of Freedom
• Springmount Station Horseriding
• Stardancer Sailing Cairns
• Stay Upright Off Road Motorcycle Tour Centre
• Sunlover Helicopters
• Sunlover Reef Cruises
• Swagman Outback Safaris
• Taka Dive Adventures
• Tandem Cairns
• Trek North Safaris
• Tropic Wings Coach Tours
• Tropical Horizons Day Tours
• Tusa Dive Charters
• Wild Escapes Pty Ltd
• Wilderness Challenge
• Wooroonooran Safaris

Add Your Insights

Share your inside knowledge, whether it be good places to stay or eat nearby, unusual places to visit in the area and any other useful information about this destination that does not normally appear in brochures or websites.

Explore The Outback

Australia has a vast remote interior, much of it largely untouched. By night, the outback is deathly quiet, with the only light provided by the stars and the moon - a perfect oportunity for stargazing. Explore the isolated heart of the country, meet and connect with Aboriginal people and experience one of the oldest living cultures in the world. Go ‘walk-about’ and immerse yourself with Australia’s endless outback horizons.

Australia's Natural Wonders

Australia is a land of immense and diverse natural beauty. You'll see things here that you just won't see anywhere else in the world. Each corner of Austalia has an endless array of stunning natural landmarks just waiting for you to take the time to explore.

Australia has wide variety of accommodation options to suit most budgets and travelling preferences. Choose from luxury lodges, boutique hotels, serviced apartments, motels, bed and breakfasts, caravan parks as well as youth and backpacker hostels.

Australia's Best Islands

Around the coast of Australia there are many amazing islands that are an unforgetable pleasure for all who visit. Naturally, the Great Barrier Reef dominates any list of great Australian islands, with pristine wonders like the Whitsundays, Dunk Island and Lizard Island. Further off the east coast is the spectacular Lord Howe Island and off the coast of South Australia is the unspoilt Kangaroo Island.

Popular Things To Do

Discover some of this month's most popular Australian experiences.

TODAY'S TOP TOURS

• Opal Air Pty Ltd
• Wayward Bus Touring Company
• Whitsunday Quad Bike Bush Adventures
• Wadda Tourism Pty Ltd
• Tall Ship Sailing School
• Jindabyne Adventure Booking
• Cossack Adventure Cruises
• Willis’s Walkabouts
• WesternXposure
• Wandering The Lake Cruises
• Radeka’s Downunder Star Gazing Presentation Coober Pedy
• Australian Prospectors and Miners Hall of Fame
• Barking Gecko – MTB Tours
• Barrier Air Charter

THIS MONTH'S TOP TOURS

• Captain Cook Cruises – MV Reef Endeavour
• Macka’s Barra Camp
• Capricorn Coast Trail Rides
• Hel-a-va Jet Boats
• Camel Tours & Treks SA
• Summerland Surf School
• Oz Experience
• Gibb River Road Bus Service
• Bush Mail Run
• Lovick’s High Country Adventure

• New South Wales
• Blue Mountains
• Broken Hill
• Coffs Harbour
• Darling Harbour
• Hunter Valley
• Lord Howe Island
• Port Macquarie
• Port Stephens
• Snowy Mountains
• Tweed Heads
• ... More NSW Destinations
• Airlie Beach
• Cape Tribulation
• Coolangatta
• Fraser Island
• Mission Beach
• Port Douglas
• Rockhampton
• Sunshine Coast
• Whitsunday Region
• ... More QLD Destinations
• Port Arthur
• ... More TAS Destinations
• Bells Beach
• Mornington Peninsula
• Phillip Island
• Port Campbell
• Warrnambool
• ... More VIC Destinations
• Northern Territory
• Alice Springs
• Uluru/Ayers Rock
• Kings Canyon
• ... More NT Destinations
• South Australia
• Adelaide Hills
• Kangaroo Island
• Flinders Ranges
• Outback South Australia
• Port Lincoln
• Yorke Peninsula
• Wilpena Pound
• ... More SA Destinations
• Western Australia
• Margaret River
• ... More WA Destinations
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• Experiences By State
• Nothern Territory
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• Hot Air Ballooning
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• 4WD Outback Adventures
• Australian Motorcycle Tours
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• City Walking Tours
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• Learn To Surf in Australia
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• Horse Riding
• Australia's Best Beaches
• Bondi Beach
• Cable Beach
• Cottesloe Beach
• Four Mile Beach
• Gold Coast Beaches
• Hyams Beach
• Manly Beach
• Ninety Mile Beach
• Noosa Beach
• Scarborough
• Surfers Point
• Whitehaven Beach

Haulover Inlet

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Boaters List

Superyacht Ecstasea Crushes Simpson Bay Bridge Operator’s shack!

The Superyacht Ecstasea was going through the Simpson Bay Bridge in St Maarten when a hatch that was left open smashed into the bridge operator’s shack, knocking it into the water. The bridge operator thankfully was not in the shack, he was just outside wincing as his office crumbled.

Serving as a gateway to the Caribbean for many superyachts, the Simpson Bay Bridge in St Maarten has seen its fair share of dings and scratches from passing vessels. In fact earlier this year we posted a video of the Superyacht Azteca scraping its hull badly against the bridge. In that incident the bridge was spared major damage, but the yacht surely had hundreds of thousands of dollars in repairs done to get it back in shape.

This weekend the Superyacht Ecstasea was making its way through the bridge and as usual there were many onlookers at a neighboring bar with their phones out, trained on the beautiful yachts coming through the bridge. The Ecstasea gave them something to record as it had an open hatch jutting out on the bow, the office crumbles when the (well-made) hatch pushes into it.

The bridge operator is no doubt thanking his lucky stars that he was outside the shack when the yacht came through.

Check out the video for yourself here:

Check out the last incident we saw at the bridge with the Superyacht Azteca!

Update: The shack’s remains have been cleaned up and traffic continues to flow through the bridge. One upside, the view of the bridge traffic from the famous Simpson Bay Yacht Club has improved! Meanwhile the Ecastasea has been repaired and cleaned up (see below) and was spotted in St Barts with the rest of her billionaire owned friends. Including the 533 foot Eclipse owned by Ecstasea’s former own, Roman Abramovich!

Many, many captains have had white knuckle moments at this bridge. Most get through with at worst a little scratch. Watch it being done right when Steve Jobs’ Feadship is recorded from above as it is expertly maneuvered through the bridge.

Click here to read about the captain that got very lucky as his yacht nearly smacks into the jetty at the Boca Raton inlet:

Watch as this yacht almost smashes into the rocks at Boca Raton Inlet

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From Russia, Elaborate Tales of Fake Journalists

As the Ukraine war grinds on, the Kremlin has created increasingly complex fabrications online to discredit Ukraine’s leader and undercut aid. Some have a Hollywood-style plot twist.

Credit... Devin Oktar Yalkin for The New York Times

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By Steven Lee Myers

• Published March 18, 2024 Updated March 20, 2024, 2:33 p.m. ET

A young man calling himself Mohamed al-Alawi appeared in a YouTube video in August. He described himself as an investigative journalist in Egypt with a big scoop: The mother-in-law of Ukraine’s president had purchased a villa near Angelina Jolie’s in El Gouna, a resort town on the Red Sea.

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Open this article in the New York Times Audio app on iOS.

The story, it turned out, was not true. Ukraine denied it, and the owner of the villa refuted it. Also disconnected from reality: Alawi’s claim to being a journalist.

Still, his story caromed through social media and news outlets from Egypt to Nigeria and ultimately to Russia — which, according to researchers, is where the story all began.

The story seemed to fade, but not for long. Four months later, two new videos appeared on YouTube. They said Mohamed al-Alawi had been beaten to death in Hurghada, a town about 20 miles south of El Gouna. The suspected killers, according to the videos: Ukraine’s secret service agents.

These claims were no more factual than the first, but they gave new life to the old lie. Another round of posts and news reports ultimately reached millions of internet users around the world, elevating the narrative so much that it was even echoed by members of the U.S. Congress while debating continued military assistance to Ukraine.

Ever since its forces invaded two years ago , Russia has unleashed a torrent of disinformation to try to discredit Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, and undermine the country’s support in the West.

This saga, though, introduced a new gambit: a protracted and elaborately constructed narrative built online around a fictitious character and embellished with seemingly realistic detail and a plot twist worthy of Netflix.

“They never brought back a character before,” said Darren Linvill, a professor and director of the Media Forensics Hub at Clemson University, who has extensively studied Russian disinformation.

The campaign shows how deftly Russia’s information warriors have shifted to new tactics and targets as the war in Ukraine has dragged on, just as Russian forces on the ground in Ukraine have adjusted tactics after devastating battlefield losses.

Groups with ties to the Kremlin continue to float new narratives when old ones fail to stick or grow stale, using fake or altered videos or recordings and finding or creating new outlets to spread disinformation, including ones purporting to be American news sites .

A video appeared on TikTok last month claiming to show a Ukrainian doctor working for Pfizer accusing the company of conducting unlawful tests on children. On the social network X, a man claiming to be an associate producer for Paramount Pictures spun a tale about a Hollywood biopic on Mr. Zelensky’s life.

The tale attributed to Mohamed al-Alawi is not even the only baseless allegation that Mr. Zelensky had secretly purchased properties abroad using Western financial assistance. Other versions — each seemingly tailored for a specific geographic audience — have detailed a mansion in Vero Beach, Fla., and a retreat in Germany once used by Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi minister of propaganda.

The Russians have “demonstrated adaptability through the war on Ukraine,” Microsoft wrote in a recent report that disclosed Russia’s fraudulent use of recorded messages by famous actors and celebrities on the Cameo app to try to smear Mr. Zelensky as a drug addict.

Even when debunked, fabrications like these have proved exceedingly difficult to extinguish entirely.

YouTube took down the initial video of the character Mohamed al-Alawi, linking it to two other accounts that had previously violated the company’s policies. The accusation still circulates, however, especially on platforms, like X and Telegram, that experts say do little to block accounts generating inauthentic or automated activity. Some of the posts about the video appear to have used text or audio created with artificial intelligence tools; many are amplified by networks of bots intended to create the impression that the content is popular.

What links the narratives to Russia is not only the content disparaging Ukraine but also the networks that circulate them. They include news outlets and social media accounts that private and government researchers have linked to previous Kremlin campaigns.

“They’re trolling for a susceptible (and seemingly abundant) slice of citizens who amplify their garbage enough to muddy the waters of our discourse, and from there our policies,” said Rita Katz, the director of the SITE Intelligence Group, an American company that tracks extremist activity online and investigated the false claims about the villa.

The Making of a Fake Journalist

The video first appeared on Aug. 20 on a newly created YouTube account that had no previous activity and almost no followers, according to the Institute of Strategic Dialogue, a global nonprofit research organization in London, which traced the video’s spread.

The man appeared in a poorly lit room reading from his computer screen, which was reflected in his thick glasses. He appeared to be a real person, but it has not been possible to verify his actual identity. No one by the name of Mohamed al-Alawi appears to have produced any previous articles or videos, as would be expected of a journalist. According to ActiveFence, an internet security company, the character has no educational or work history, and no network of friends or social connections online.

The video, though, showed what purported to be photographs of a purchase contract and of the villa itself, creating a veneer of authenticity for credulous viewers. The property is, in fact, part of a resort owned by Orascom Development, whose website highlights El Gouna’s “year-round sunshine, shimmering lagoons, sandy beaches and azure waters.”

An article about the video’s claim appeared two days later as a paid advertisement, or branded content, on Punch, a news outlet in Nigeria, as well as three other Nigerian websites that aggregate news and entertainment content.

The article had the byline of Arthur Nkono, who according to internet searches does not appear to have written any other articles. The article quoted a political scientist, Abdrulrahman Alabassy, who likewise appears not to exist except in accounts linking the villa to the corrupt use of Western financial aid to Ukraine. (Punch, which later removed the post, did not respond to requests for comment.)

A day later, the claim made its first appearance on X in a post by Sonja van den Ende, an activist in the Netherlands, whose articles have previously appeared on propaganda outlets linked to the Russian government, according to the Institute for Strategic Dialogue. (She also served as an election observer in an occupied territory of Ukraine during Russian parliamentary elections in September.)

Within days, reports about the villa appeared on X in French and Romanian, and in English on three different Reddit forums.

According to Roberta Duffield, director of intelligence for Blackbird.AI, an internet security company, nearly 29 percent of the accounts amplifying the reports appeared to be inauthentic bots, an unusually high number that would normally indicate a coordinated campaign.

Eight days after the video appeared, Russia state television networks like Channel One, Rossiya 24 and RT (in Arabic and German) reported it as a major revelation uncovered by a renowned Egyptian investigative journalist.

The story seemed to stall there. Naguib Sawiris, the scion of the Egyptian family that owned the development, curtly denied the sale in a reply on X.

And no more was heard from or about the character called Mohamed al-Alawi — until late December.

That was when two new videos emerged on a YouTube channel called “Egypt News,” claiming that he was dead.

The channel had been created the day before. One video showed a man identified as Alawi’s brother, Ahmed, answering questions from another man.

The police, he said, told him that they suspected his brother had been beaten to death by “Ukrainian special forces who acted on behalf of President Zelensky or another high-ranking official.”

He spoke with his hand cupped over his face to obscure his identity. The other video showed what was said to be the site of an attack, though the images were indistinct. “I can’t tell you anything else,” he said in the video, which YouTube later removed. “I’m afraid for my family.”

The video also tried to explain away some of the obvious holes in the initial story, including why there was no evidence online of Alawi’s previous work. “It was his first big assignment,” the man said.

The new episode spread as the first video had. A day later, an article about the death appeared on an obscure website created last year called El Mostaqbal, a name similar to but unrelated to the actual news organization in Lebanon.

“A reporter who announced that Zelensky’s mother-in-law brought a luxury villa has died under mysterious circumstances,” the headline read. Other reports that followed dropped any uncertainty and began referring to his “murder.”

In fact, Egypt’s Ministry of the Interior said there were no reports or evidence that anyone resembling the man in the video had been “subjected to harm.” The statement went on to note that the property itself had not been sold.

Still, according to the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, posts about the supposed killing were viewed a million times on X on Dec. 25.

It also appeared on the website of the Middle East Monitor, or MEMO, operated by a well-known nonprofit organization in London and financed by the government of Qatar. A journalist who once reported from Moscow for The Telegraph of London, Ben Aris, cited it at length on the platform, though, when challenged, he said he had just made note of the rumor. “I don’t have time to check all this stuff myself,” he wrote.

It appeared in English on a site, Clear Story News, that Mr. Linvill of Clemson’s Media Forensics Hub had previously linked to Russia’s disinformation efforts. (The site lists no contact information)

Mr. Linvill described the process as a form of “narrative laundering” — moving false claims from unknown or not credible sources to ones that, to the unwitting at least, seem more legitimate.

More Elaborate Narratives

The Institute for Strategic Dialogue studied three other complex narratives about Ukraine, as well.

One featured a French journalist who claimed that the son of George Soros — a regular target of Russian and far-right political attacks — had secretly acquired land for a toxic waste dump in Ukraine. An unnamed doctor in Africa said in another that an American medical charity, the Global Surgical and Medical Support Group, was harvesting the organs of wounded Ukrainian soldiers for transplants for NATO officers.

Then there was the case of a man calling himself Shahzad Nasir, whose profile on X identifies him as a journalist with Emirates 24/7, an English-language news outlet in Dubai, though he has no apparent bylines on the site.

In November, he claimed that cronies of Mr. Zelensky bought two yachts — Lucky Me and My Legacy — for $75 million. His evidence, like Mohamed al-Alawi’s, includes photographs of the vessels and purported purchase agreements.

In fact, as the BBC documented in December, the yachts had not been purchased and remained for sale. Despite numerous efforts by fact checkers to dispel it as rumor, the claim circulated extensively.

Last month, the character Nasir reappeared in another video. This time he had a new version of the tale, claiming that the purchases had been scuttled after he exposed the secret deal.

The ramifications of these campaigns are difficult to measure precisely. There are signs, though, that they resonate even when proved false.

Senator J.D. Vance, a Republican of Ohio and an outspoken critic of Ukraine aid, seemed to embrace the claim in December during an interview on “War Room,” the podcast hosted by Stephen K. Bannon, the onetime adviser to former President Donald J. Trump.

“There are people who would cut Social Security — throw our grandparents into poverty — why?” Mr. Vance said. “So that one of Zelensky’s ministers can buy a bigger yacht?”

That prompted a public rebuke this month from a Republican colleague, Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who ridiculed those who repeat unproven allegations.

“They’ve heard somebody say that if we pass this bill, that we’re all going to go ride to Kyiv with buckets full of money and let oligarchs buy yachts!” he said of critics of the assistance to Ukraine, in what he later called a reference to Mr. Vance’s comments. “I wonder how the spouses of the estimated 25,000 soldiers in Ukraine who have died feel about that? I mean, really, guys?”

Karoun Demirjian contributed reporting.

Audio produced by Parin Behrooz .

An earlier version of this article misstated, in one reference, the name of a group at Clemson University that studies disinformation. It is the Media Forensics Hub, not the Digital Media Hub.

How we handle corrections

Steven Lee Myers covers misinformation for The Times. He has worked in Washington, Moscow, Baghdad and Beijing, where he contributed to the articles that won the Pulitzer Prize for public service in 2021. He is also the author of “The New Tsar: The Rise and Reign of Vladimir Putin.” More about Steven Lee Myers

Our Coverage of the War in Ukraine

News and Analysis

A day after securing a new term in a rubber-stamp presidential election, President Vladimir Putin of Russia said he would not back down in Russia’s war against Ukraine .

With additional American aid still in doubt, Lloyd Austin, the U.S. defense secretary, called for “creative, adaptable and sustainable ways” to continue arming Ukraine  and praised European allies who were trying to bolster Kyiv’s military.

Ukraine fired a volley of exploding drones  at Moscow and other targets on the final day of Russia’s presidential vote, the local authorities said, continuing a flurry of attacks timed for the election .

Symbolism or Strategy?: Ukrainians say that defending places with little strategic value is worth the cost in casualties and weapons , because the attacking Russians pay an even higher price. American officials aren’t so sure.

Elaborate Tales: As the Ukraine war grinds on, the Kremlin has created increasingly complex fabrications online  to discredit Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, and undermine the country’s support in the West.

Targeting Russia’s Oil Industry: With its army short of ammunition and troops to break the deadlock on the battlefield, Kyiv has increasingly taken the fight beyond the Ukrainian border, attacking oil infrastructure deep in Russian territory .

How We Verify Our Reporting

Our team of visual journalists analyzes satellite images, photographs , videos and radio transmissions  to independently confirm troop movements and other details.

We monitor and authenticate reports on social media, corroborating these with eyewitness accounts and interviews. Read more about our reporting efforts .

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Sean strickland tells jon jones to 'sack up' and fight tom aspinall, conor mcgregor to 'retire on a yacht', share this article.

Sean Strickland had some choice words for Jon Jones and Conor McGregor .

The former UFC middleweight champion was asked about heavyweight champion Jones’ interaction with interim champ Tom Aspinall , where Jones removed Aspinall’s hand from his shoulder. Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) wants to fight Stipe Miocic upon his return, but Strickland thinks he should simply unify his belt with Aspinall.

“At the end of the day, Jon Jones is a piece of sh*t,” Strickland told The Schmo . “I know that, the whole world knows that, we don’t need to reiterate his past. He needs to sack up, fight Aspinall and f*cking just get the sh*t done.”

Strickland, who’s campaigning to rematch middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis , was also harsh on McGregor. “The Notorious” is currently promoting the release of his movie “Road House,” which premieres March 21 on Prime Video.

McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) vented his frustration on the lack of communication with the UFC in regards to his return. He hasn’t competed since breaking his leg in July 2021, but Strickland questions if the fans’ desire to watch him compete is still there.

“I don’t know, man. Do we really care about Conor McGregor these days? I mean, he’s a juiced-out, roided-out guy,” Strickland said. “I mean, do we still care about Conor McGregor? Is he still a name in the UFC? Dude, go retire on a yacht. Be done with your sh*t.”

Tom Aspinall reacts to Jon Jones faceoff: 'I wasn't there to be disrespectful'

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