Checkmate offers fun and games

Checkmate is a 145-foot (44.2-meter) Benetti Vision that is as head turning as she is elegant, with a striking black hull offset by a white superstructure—a combination sure to be unique in any harbor. The 2013 launch is now available for charter with Northrop & Johnson, which says Checkmate will be cruising in the Caribbean this winter. The yacht accommodates 10 to 12 guests in five staterooms including a main-deck master with 180-degree views over the bow. Cherry and burr madrone woodwork, accented by Italian marble, carry from the master throughout the guest spaces to create an elegant setting no matter where guests choose to relax. At-anchor stabilizers, a sun-deck hot tub and dayhead, VSAT-supported high-speed Wi-Fi and indoor-outdoor dining in the bridge-deck skylounge are just a few of the top-notch charter amenities. The lowest weekly base rate is $200,000.

For more information:njyachts.com or any charter broker.

M&M: Eye candy and a sweet experience

She looks like a gentleman’s yacht from the 1920s but was delivered by Bilgin Yachts in 2012 with state-of-the-art technology and systems. Now, the 160-foot (48.7-meter) M&M has joined the Ocean Independence charter fleet, cruising year-round in the Mediterranean. Her at-anchor stabilizers should keep all 12 guests comfortable in six staterooms, including the main-deck master and belowdecks VIP, both of which are full beam. Turkish craftsmanship blends rich woodwork and cream-colored fabrics throughout, simultaneously capturing the Golden Age of yachting while offering a contemporary update on the style. The owner of M&M chose a red, white and blue color scheme for M&M’s exterior sun pads and loungers, creating a classic ambiance that perfectly suits the yacht’s navy-blue hull. The lowest weekly base rate is $145,548.

For more information:oceanindependence.com or any charter broker.

Imperial Princess sails for the sun

Designers Bannenberg & Rowell worked with Princess Yachts to create the 131-foot (39.9-meter) Imperial Princess, which launched in 2012 as hull number one in the builder’s new Princess 40M line of M Class long-range cruising yachts. She is now part of the Burgess charter fleet and offers guests the latest communications and entertainment technology, including AppleTV, integrated iPod controls and VSAT-supported high-speed Wi-Fi. Her amenities include at-anchor stabilizers, foldout balconies in the main salon and a tender garage with a privacy screen that lets the space double as a teak beach club. Both the master and VIP staterooms are full beam, and the master suite includes an office as well as a his-and-hers bath. Imperial Princess accommodates 10 guests and is expected to cruise this winter in the Caribbean and the Bahamas. The lowest weekly base rate is $140,000.

For more information:burgessyachts.com or any charter broker.

For a feature article on Imperial Princess, click here.