First Impression: Maraya

Date toured: May 2008

I must admit, I spent most of my time onboard the new 177-foot CRN Maraya in the galley, where I was collecting video for a future CharterWave Chef of the Month vidcast feature. (Wait till you see the chocolate fondant with homemade mascarpone ice cream and spiced berries. The smell alone had me drooling!) Hanging out with the crew in the galley is an unusual way to get to know a charter yacht, and in the case of Maraya, I must say the experience truly helped to form my favorable opinion of the yacht. Yes, she’s a brand-new build. Yes, she is beautiful inside and out. But I can also tell you, firsthand, that this crew knows how to work together as a team to provide top-notch service.
     My two hours in the galley were at a time when the crew was preparing and serving a three-course lunch to charter brokers, some of whom represent the biggest-name celebrities in the world. The idea, of course, is to impress the brokers so they will recommend the yacht to their clients—and I can tell you (without naming names) that in at least one case, that is exactly what happened. The brokers I know best reported back to me that from their view at the table, the food and service were terrific.
     I’ve been in more than a few galleys during events like this one, and I’ve seen everything from dictatorial chefs to complete disarray. In the case of Maraya, I saw chef Lindsay Wilson and chief stewardess Andrea Wilson (yes, they’re married) working hand-in-hand to create the best possible experience, always in professional command of the rest of the crew, but also always injecting a good bit of humor into the workday. These folks not only understood how to do their jobs, but also how to enjoy themselves at the same time. That bodes incredibly well for having a happy crew, keeping that crew together, and maintaining top-notch service standards for future charter clients.
     On that note, Maraya is one among a growing number of large charter yachts that has two captains who rotate time on and time off, giving them a chance to have a life with a family ashore and increasing the odds that they will remain with the yacht for a longer period of time overall. Maraya’s captains are Richard Hodgson and Paul Were, both of whom have resumes that include other large, impressive yachts. Hodgson was involved in Maraya’s construction, as well.
     Maraya herself was the belle of the industry-only charter yacht show in Genoa, which speaks to the quality of the boat. She’s a brand-new build from CRN in Italy, and she has what is quickly becoming  that yard’s signature feature: a private outdoor balcony on the starboard side of the main deck's master suite (see photo above). Onboard Maraya, the balcony actually lowers while the yacht is at anchor, with this section of the side of the yacht actually flattening out like hydraulic swim platforms do onboard other yachts. Very nifty, indeed.  
     She takes 12 guests altogether, with a large VIP cabin on the bridge deck and the remaining four cabins on the bottom deck. Two of the cabins have twin-size beds (see photo at right), though the twin cabin on the yacht’s starboard side has one “oversized” twin, which would work well for, say, a nanny sharing a cabin with a child.
     The yacht’s elevator runs from the bottom deck up to the bridge deck, all of which have a contemporary, minimalist décor. The weekly base rate is 300,000 euro, and Maraya is part of the fleet at Camper & Nicholsons International.
    Contact any reputable charter broker for more information.—Kim Kavin