First Impression: Whale's Way

Date toured: June 2007

I have a 2-year-old puppy named Stella. When my husband and I rescued her from a nearby shelter, we were told she was a Labrador mix. Now that she’s fully grown, we can see quite clearly that she’s got some beagle in her, definitely a lot of pointer, and most certainly a little pit bull. She follows her nose, sprints as fast as a racehorse, and destroys anything we allow her to chew.
     Needless to say, Stella has been quite a handful to raise—and as she’s matured into a well-trained dog, we’ve come to love her quite a lot. We hate leaving her behind when we go on even the shortest trips, and we know she wouldn’t be allowed onboard most charter yachts.
     You can imagine, then, the size of the smile on my face when I stepped onboard the 74-foot motoryacht Whale’s Way and met Oliver, a 5-month-old Golden Doodle who lives onboard with the crew and welcomes friendly fellow canines for charters with a $1,000 security deposit. There are so few proper yachts that will accept dogs as part of the charter party, and the ones that do often aren’t in the greatest condition. Whale’s Way is the best of both worlds, a nicely maintained motoryacht that will let you bring your pooch along for the ride. (Oliver can also stay ashore during your charter, if you prefer a people-only environment.)
     Oliver came onboard this year along with  Eddie Persichetti and Cailyn Krembs, who joined the yacht as captain and stewardess/chef in January 2007. Persichetti previously was the first mate onboard the motoryacht Condalora, while Krembs’ background is in nursing and working with groups like Outward Bound and the Boy Scouts of America. I thought they both had energetic personalities, and they made me feel welcome the moment I stepped onboard. (I think they’d even enjoy the company of my crazy puppy Stella, they were so down to earth.)
     Whale’s Way itself has a beach house feel. She’s comfortable in a way that feels upscale, but not elegant. For instance, the day I was onboard, the crew had a lovely selection of cheeses out for tasting. The brie was labeled, but the label itself was made of a toothpick and paper card. 
     There are three adult-size cabins, the master with a king-size bed and two guest cabins, one with a queen and one with a full. The master has its own staircase, which gives it a nice, secluded feel. There’s also a “kid’s cabin” (see photo at right) that you might see advertised in the brochures, but really, it is a set of built-in bunk beds inside of what otherwise is used as a pantry. Any small kids who sleep here will be comfortable,  but they’ll share a bathroom with the master cabin and won’t have room to do much else but sleep in their own cabin.
     Whale’s Way is based in Bristol, Rhode Island, during summers and in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, during the winter season. She is ideal for six guests and carries two crew at a weekly base rate of $18,000, or about $3,750 per person with 25-percent expenses factored in. The yacht is part of the fleet at The Sacks Group Yachting Professionals. Contact any reputable charter broker to book.—Kim Kavin