Each week we place a spotlight on one of the world’s finest superyachts for charter. This week, the charter yacht is 60-metre Dream.
Hot on the heels of another refit in 2023, the 60-metre superyacht Dream has returned once more to the charter market with a gleaming interior by Bannenberg & Rowell. A bastion of the charter fleet since her delivery in 2001 (as Excellence III), Dream has long been considered the perfect charter yacht, and now she returns to continue this trajectory.
Key features
Built in 2001 by German shipyard Abeking and Rasmussen, the 60-metre superyacht has always had volume on her side. With a gross tonnage of 1,092, she lies at the upper end of the scale for 60-metre superyachts. As a result, her interior space is impressive with seven well-appointed cabins, including a 110 square-metre master suite and sizeable living spaces including a large sky lounge, gym and massage room.
Described as offering "the right balance of large yacht ambience with the compelling attraction of a warm and congenial nautical experience" by Burgess, her central agent, it’s the Bannenberg & Rowell interiors in particular that have revived her grandeur spectacularly.
In 2013 Bannenberg & Rowell first unveiled the results of a two-year refit. Here her owner had specified that he wanted a boat that would appeal to the charter market. “Having chartered extensively we knew what we wanted and, more importantly, we knew what didn’t work,” the owner said at the time of its relaunch.
With this, the owner specified “many more amenities” than you might expect to find on a boat of her size — a cinema, beach club, gym — not to mention a sophisticated contemporary interior that was uncluttered, well-planned, hard-wearing and, crucially, broad in appeal.
Upon entry to the main deck lounge, which is loosely separated from the main deck dining room, the focus on precious wood is evident. Capturing this theme are the polished panelled floors, covered with a blue circular custom rug and freestanding white furniture with wooden sides. Through a wide corridor, which is embellished with Asian sculptures, the dining room follows the same palette and is flooded with natural light, thanks to Dream’s large main deck windows.
A collection of rare woods continue in the sky lounge, which benefits from warmer tones, cream sofas and a cream carpet with orange hues. Designed as the place to cosy into or for an after-dinner retreat, the lounge is also home to a 103-inch cinema screen as well as a games table.
Out on deck, the theme of ample space continues with a large bridge deck aft dining area and a sun deck with a large bar, sun lounges and a Jacuzzi surrounded by sun pads. And, in the sea, guests can make use of Jetskis, Seabobs, water-skis and inflatable towables.
Why is Dream the perfect charter yacht?
Having held a reputation as a fine – and particularly popular – charter yacht, Dream has always ticked the essential charter boxes. Entertainment-wise, you can’t really fault her as she not only carries all the gear but has gone above and beyond with cool additions like inflatable trampolines and waterslides.
Her Bannenberg and Rowell styling is elegant but retains a welcoming feel, helped by the use of wood and her calming blue and white colour palette. That said, darker, lacquered woods in the master and VIP cabins do emanate a luxurious feel, which is accentuated more by full honey-coloured marble bathrooms and a VIP office that has an impressive library, backlit with red light.
What’s special about Dream?
Since she was delivered as Excellence III, she has always been a popular choice. Her exterior, designed by Donald Starkey, is now quite different from her original navy-blue hull, but is still impressive, with a well-balanced profile and smart grey hull.
Now with her newly revived, elegant interiors, the offering has been elevated once more. The space on board, along with the cabin arrangement, make Dream a good family charter vessel, especially with her sky lounge and cinema space to snuggle into.
However, her smart spaces and cocktail bars make her a more grown-up offering too. Cinema aside, the sky lounge has a games table for entertainment and a gym for those who wish to keep up the routine on board.
Thanks to her dedicated massage room, the charter crew can include a masseuse for treatments on board.
Spending most of her time in the Indian Ocean, her exterior spaces are well set up for time out on deck. There's plenty of space for sunbathing, cocktails on deck or relaxing in the Jacuzzi.
Dream is available to charter with Burgess with a weekly rate of $430,000 in the Indian Ocean. She is also offering a deal at the moment of 10 days for the price of seven.