First Impression: Serenity

Date toured: February 2008

Serenity is hull number one in the new 116-foot motoryacht series from Lazzara Yachts. The company plans to build two 116s each year, and the line is sold out through spring 2009, but for now, Serenity is the only one of her kind available for charter—and she’s the only yacht that I’ve seen in this size range that combines a luxury interior with handicapped accessibility.
     Capt. Scott Gaffga, who previously worked onboard the popular 98-foot charter motoryacht Destiny, oversaw Serenity’s build in the shipyard before taking command. The yacht’s owners have a sister who uses a wheelchair, so one of Gaffga’s main priorities during the build was ensuring accessibility for when the family wants to go boating together.
     To that end, Serenity has flush-level wood floors throughout her main deck, so there are no thick carpets or door lips on which a wheelchair might get stuck. There’s a chair lift that runs alongside the stairway leading down to the guest cabins, which also are specially designed. The cabin closest to the chair rail has a 30-inch door instead of the standard 28-inch version, to make wheelchair access easier. There’s also a wide door in that cabin’s bathroom, which features a low sink and shower railings. The cabin itself has a wall with doors that connect to the adjacent cabin, so a caregiver can have immediate access if required. (The photo at right shows the view from the handicapped-accessible cabin through the doors to the adjacent cabin. The entrance door to the handicapped-accessible cabin is to the right of the frame shown here.)
     What I like most about all these features is that, with the exception of the chair rail along the stairway, you might not even notice them if you weren’t looking for them. Lazzara managed to maintain the yacht’s overall interior design while incorporating the handicapped features, meaning that all the cabins and areas are perfectly lovely for guests who don’t use wheelchairs, as well.
     You will see Serenity marketed for 10 guests, but Gaffga says that’s ideal for six adults and four children—and I agree with him. One of the cabins is small (on other 116s, it will be a study) and jam-packed with twin beds plus Pullman berths ideally suited for four children to share. If you have adults only in your charter party, then eight is the ideal number of guests for comfortable accommodations onboard.
     When I toured the yacht during her U.S. debut in February 2008, she had not yet signed on with a charter management company and was asking $165,000 per week—a shocking number given her price range. In recent weeks, she has signed into the fleet at Robert J. Cury & Associates, which wisely knocked $100,000 off that number to get Serenity’s charter rate more in line with that of her competition.
     Any reputable charter broker can give you more information about booking.—Kim Kavin