First Impression: Iris
Date toured: May 2007
Iris is a 75-footer built in 2004 by the company Azimut, which is known the world over for crafting sleek, stylish motoryachts. In the United States and Western Europe, this size Azimut would be considered an average charter yacht. But in the improving Greek charter marketplace, Iris is a standout in terms of amenities and décor. She’s one of the few modern motoryachts available at all, and one of even fewer with light-colored woodwork and fabrics in her guest areas.
She still has her original owner and original captain, who has been in the charter business since 1985. He’s worked with Iris’s steward for three years, and with the deckhand and chef for eight years—which tells me that the crew on this yacht is a solid team.
The yacht is promoted as taking eight or ten guests, depending on whether you want to use the two bunk-style Pullman berths. You won’t be able to fit ten guests at the main indoor dining table (actually, I think that even eight people are going to be a squeeze), but the crew says most people prefer to dine out on deck anyway, at an expandable table that will easily fit ten people plus a few more friends for cocktail hour. Also worth noting is that this outdoor dining table can be shaded by a bimini, so your skin won’t be roasting along with whatever main course the chef has prepared.
As with many yachts in Greece, smoking is allowed in the main saloon, but not in the cabins. The crew members smoke, as well, something to keep in mind if you are bothered by cigarette smoke.
Also worth noting is that there are individual satellite receivers running only to the master and VIP cabins, which means that those are the only two cabins that can choose to watch one television show while the rest of the yacht watches another. This won’t matter to guests in the twin cabins, where there are no televisions at all.
Iris is part of the fleet at Big Blue Yachting. Contact any reputable charter broker for rates and additional information.—Kim Kavin
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