First Impression: Baton Rouge

205-foot Icon motoryacht

Date toured: May 2011

Baton Rouge is a 205-foot motoryacht that launched in September 2010 from the Icon shipyard in Holland. She is the second in a series of motoryachts that began with the 205-footer named Icon, which is also available for charter. While the two yachts are similar, they also have distinct differences—most substantially, that Baton Rouge has a fifth deck for guest use.

Deckhand Caroline Birchall told me that the decks are described, from top to bottom, as the sundeck, bridge deck, upper deck, main deck, and bottom deck. There are guest accommodations on three of them. A pair of queen-bed VIP cabins are on the upper deck, the master suite is on the main deck, and four additional guest cabins (two with king-size beds, and two with convertible twin or king beds) are on the bottom deck.  Yes, that is seven cabins total even though the yacht only charters for 12 guests. Charter clients can either spread out as they wish or bring a supernumerary such as a nanny or bodyguard along.

Another difference between Icon and Baton Rouge is interior décor. While Icon was filled with light tones, Baton Rouge offers a combination of light fabrics and rich, darker woodwork. Both yachts have a beautiful contemporary ambience, but I heard a number of charter brokers say that they thought Baton Rouge had more of an elegant weight to her—and I agreed.

One thing that Icon and Baton Rouge have in common is the presence of a teak beach club on the bottom deck. A swim platform drops out of the yacht’s stern to reveal indoor-outdoor seating, a scuba diving center, and a full gymnasium complete with recumbent bicycle, treadmill, and Technogym equipment.

My tour began on the main deck aft, which is used as a stowage space for tenders and toys—and boy does Baton Rouge have a lot of them. I saw a 26-foot limousine tender, a pair of Yamaha Wave Runners, a pair of Yamaha Jet Skis, two Segway standing scooters for use on land, three Seabobs, two Windsurfers, an air chair that can be pulled behind the tender, gear for kite surfing, and gear for scuba diving. There are literally enough toys aboard Baton Rouge that guests can sample a new one—or two—every day without repeating an experience even once.

Also on the main deck are the main salon and formal dining room—which seats as many as 14 people for sit-down affairs—with the master suite far forward. The master suite is segmented with sliding doors that lead to a bathroom, dressing table, walk-in wardrobes, two separate offices, and a sleeping area. If all the doors are open, the space feels like a large personal apartment.

One level up is the upper deck, which has an observation lounge far forward. The two guest cabins are amidships on this deck, followed by a sky lounge aft. There is also outdoor dining on this deck, with seating for 14 guests. I noted the sheer size of the sky lounge, which had four distinct seating areas in addition to a bar.

The bridge deck one level up from there is almost exclusively for crew use, save the aft portion. There, charter guests will find expandable dining, seating, an oversized hot tub with swimming jets, and sunpads beneath misters to keep sunbathers cool. (The misters also can be used by anyone in the hot tub.)

The sundeck is exactly as its name implies, with a massive sunpad, an amidships bar, a small table for snacks, chaise lounges, and a day head with shower. Also on this level is an open space where a lighting system and full disc-jockey equipment have been built-in to create a discotheque setting under the stars at night.

Throughout the yacht, guests have access to V-SAT Internet service as well as Wifi. A Kaleidescape entertainment system provides on-demand music and movies, and there are iPod docking stations in the main salon, sky lounge, gymnasium, and guest cabins. Quantum zero-speed stabilizers have been installed to minimize the yacht’s motion both under way and at anchor.

Birchall told me that after Baton Rouge launched in September 2010, she spent the winter season doing finishing work at the shipyard. The yacht’s first charters were scheduled to take place during the summer 2011 season in the Mediterranean, with the yacht making her Caribbean debut during the winter 2011-12 season.

The lowest weekly base rate to charter Baton Rouge is €420,000 for 12 guests with 16 crew. Burgess Yachts is the management company, and any reputable charter broker can help you book a week onboard.--Kim Kavin