The High Five: D'Natalin II

Yacht
Charter brokers often show clients photos of D’Natalin II’s top deck when trying to close a deal—and rightly so. This yacht’s entire sundeck is devoted to guest use, with no flying bridge helm area for the captain (as many yachts this size have far forward). In place of where those steering controls would otherwise be is a massive sunpad surrounding a large Jacuzzi, which you can sit in (champagne in hand) as you watch the world go by during your cruise. It’s a breathtaking spot, for sure.

The middle of the sundeck includes a large bar and dining area that’s perfect for casual lunches and cocktail parties. The aft end of the sundeck has additional dining areas and chaise lounges, great again for casual dining or simply lounging around.

Not only are each of these three sundeck areas terrific unto themselves, but because of D’Natalin II’s size, they’re also relatively separated. You can have a great deal of privacy in the Jacuzzi even if the rest of your charter party is having lunch in the aft dining area.

The yacht’s interior could use a little sprucing up, especially the comforters and other soft goods in the cabins, but the main gathering areas are nicely maintained—and the owner just invested in a Quantum At-Rest Stabilizer System. It keeps the yacht from rolling with the waves whether on the move or at anchor and adds a tremendous amount to guest comfort onboard. (These kinds of stabilizers are becoming must-have equipment on the newest motoryachts being launched all over the world today.)
 
Crew
We had 10 crew working onboard during our charter, but the nature of our cruise meant we got to know the stewardesses the best. Stephanie Naylor, April Kern and April Scafidi each had never-ending smiles on their faces as they tended to everything from laundry duties to meal services. They worked very well together as a team, and each seemed genuinely happy in their jobs.

As you read in our main review feature, we felt Capt. Jeff Palmer lacked a bit of the personal decorum usually required for serving at the helm of a yacht of this caliber, but we did not see any such problems filtering down to the rest of the crew. On the contrary, Palmer has selected a talented group of individuals who tend to their guests with great care, and we have nothing but good marks for everyone from the chief engineer to the laundry stewardess.

The most impressive crewmember, in our opinion, was chef James Postill.

Chef
James Postill is an Australia native who has worked for the owner of D’Natalin II for about two years. He earned a chef’s trade certificate from William Angliss College in Melbourne, and he has served as personal chef to Australia’s prime minister. His versatility is outstanding, and he is well-trained in everything from Pacific Rim and Mediterranean dishes to French, Mexican-American, Thai and Japanese preparations. His desserts are terrific, too, with a foundation gained by working in a bakery from age 14 to age 17.

“I can pretty much do any kind of cuisine,” he told our CharterWave expert. “It’s just more demanding on yachts. You’re the only chef. The dishwasher. The shopper. The menu planner. You’re a one-man show.”

Our expert’s favorite meal (well, it was more like the finale of a meal) was James’ mud pie. Talk about deep, rich, melt-into-your-gut chocolate! It’s amazing what a good chef can do with nothing but chocolate buttons, butter, corn syrup, vanilla, eggs and sugar.

That’s not to say James won’t change his focus to more healthier indulgences if you have different tastes than our resident chocoholic.

“The challenge with charter,” as he puts it, “is getting new people aboard and figuring out what they like. Everything’s got to be spontaneous. The comments that come back, what you like and don’t like, that sets the tone. A lot of chefs have a seven- or fourteen-day menu. I like to experiment.”

Accommodations
D’Natalin II’s master cabin is forward on the main deck, and it leaves no question about the owner’s preferences for having the best stateroom on the yacht. Spanning the entire width of the boat’s 29-foot beam, it includes private sitting and dressing areas along with a stunning his-and-hers bathroom.

The VIP cabin is down its own staircase, also forward from the main deck. It’s exceptionally private, with a queen-size berth for a couple who want to hide away long after everyone else has begun their day in the main saloon and other gathering areas.

The remaining four guest cabins are below, all with twin-bed configurations. The beds are sized fine for adults, which makes this yacht an excellent choice for corporate charters or for groups of friends who don’t want to share a bed, but who don’t mind sharing a cabin. Our CharterWave expert stayed in one of these twin cabins and was perfectly comfortable the entire cruise.

Destination
There’s a reason most charter brokers recommend the Virgin Islands for first-time and long-time charter clients alike: The place is pretty, there are plenty of charter yachts to choose among, and the islands are so close that you’re hardly ever more than an hour from your next destination.

Countless articles have been written about the Virgins, so we’ll spare you the general talk about what a terrific boating location it is. We will, however, recommend that you make time in your schedule to visit some of our favorite yachtie places, including Foxy’s on Jost Van Dyke and Pusser’s on Tortola. The cruise-ship crowds simply don’t get to those joints, which makes them all the better for hanging out into the wee hours with friends.