First Impression: Muse

Date reviewed: October 2006

Muse is a grown-up yacht with grown-up toys, a grown-up crew, and a top-tier entry-level base rate that appears to be worth paying—if being onboard an elegant, exciting new motoryacht appeals to you more than finding a bargain in the same size range.

The $91,000 weekly base rate is a function of the yacht’s newness, as Muse is just the second 123-foot Palmer Johnson motoryacht to be designed in cooperation with Italian interior décor specialists Nuvolari and Lenard. From the moment I stepped onboard with Nigel Burgess charter broker Tom Collins, I knew this yacht was different. Her interior décor is far sleeker, more contemporary, and more stylish than most other boats in her size range (or even bigger), but not in an overtly fashion-forward way that might go out of style. Muse is more aptly described in comparison to the actress Nicole Kidman, who always seems to look sleeker, more contemporary, more stylish than every other rail-thin actress in Hollywood, but with a timelessness somehow built into her own look.

I chatted briefly with Capt. Walter Wetmore, who is new to me but has an established history onboard other charter yachts. He says Muse’s décor is enhanced by the cabin design in terms of attracting adults who expect more than the same-old interior layout and style.

“We have four almost-equal staterooms,” Wetmore told me. “Usually [on boats this size], there’s one cabin with twin beds, and couples who want to split the [weekly charter rate] end up having to switch cabins in the middle of the week [so nobody gets stuck with the kiddie cabin].”

That certainly is one great selling point, as is the 32-foot Conquest powerboat that Collins says Muse tows at no additional cost to the charter party. Yes, there is also a smaller, traditional dinghy, but as Collins pointed out to me, that doesn’t always cut it for four couples who are interested in sun and fun.

“In the Caribbean,” he explained, “if you want to go exploring or do water sports, it’s hard to put eight people in a 13-foot rubber boat. The Conquest is cool.” (He’s right about that, in my experience, and I’m sure he’s had many a challenging afternoon during his years of serving as a charter boat captain himself.) 

First mate Mike Regan gave me a full tour of Muse and proudly told me that he’d been working with Capt. Walter for nearly three years, having logged 12,500 sea miles together in 2006 alone. That’s high praise, in my book, and probably means it’s true when Mike says, “He’s a patient and knowledgeable captain who brings the best out of his crew.” All good things for charter guests.

I loved the small buffet area at the base of the main staircase, in the center of the hallway that leads to most of the guest cabins. It’s a small space where stewardesses can set up coffee, fruit and danishes for guests who want to enjoy a leisurely morning in their bathrobes down below before joining the rest of the charter party in the yacht’s main gathering areas.

I also was impressed with the hot-rod Sea Doos that Mike told me come with two sets of keys, one that hold the speed down for beginners, and others that let the personal watercraft rip at a skin-flapping 75 mph apiece. Grown-up toys, indeed.

If you’d like to learn more about Muse, go to the Nigel Burgess website, www.nigelburgess.com. —Kim Kavin