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Lady Atlantic Cruises It's like an Elegant River Boat Cruise of the South but on the Intracoastal Waterway in Florida

Daily sight-seeing cruises sunday brunch cruise, sunset cruise, friday night dinner cruise .

Lady Atlantic cruises operates year-around offering you a variety of cruises to choose from -- making sure to fit everyone's unique lifestyle.

You'll find Sunday Brunch Cruises , Friday Night Dinner Cruise, Daily Sight-Seeing Cruises, Live Entertainment Cruises and Holiday Cruises aboard this elegant yacht that is affectionately known to Delray Beach as Lady Atlantic.

Her lovely elegance is anchored at Veteran's Park, right near the Atlantic Bridge where all of her 105-feet can readily be seen by all who walk by.

Lady Atlantic Cruise Boat Anchored at Veteran's Park Photo Credit: Photographically Yours, Inc.

Below is the Lady Atlantic Yacht -- and her sister vessel affectionately and appropriately named Lady Delray. A couple of elegant ladies here!

Similar to River Boat Cruises, Delray Yacht Cruises the magnificent intracoastal waterway in Palm Beach County. The beauty captured on the intracoastal cruises is breathtakingly beautiful!  When cruising, you have the unique benefit of seeing the beauty on the intracoastal that can only be seen from the water. The sights you will see cannot be viewed via car or land. This beauty can only be seen from the luxury of a boat! I think you will be delightfully surprised on this cruise! Here's a few photos from the intracoastal...

Lady Atlantic and her sister Lady Delray to the left of her.

Views like this (of the mega-mansions) can only be viewed from the water.

Intracoastal view near Highland Beach, Florida looking southward.

Two Hour Sunday Brunch Cruise to Manalapan

Take a Sunday Brunch Cruise headed north on the beautiful Intracoastal waterway to Manalapan Island. Manalapan Island is one of the wealthiest communities in our country located in prestigious Palm Beach County.

An example of menus items for the Sunday Brunch Cruise include these yummy-delicious items: Vegetable & Cheese Frittata, Cinnamon French Toast with Maple Syrup, Oven Roasted Red Bliss Potatoes, Chef’s Pasta Selection, Meatballs Marinara, Honey Baked Ham, Seasonal Fruit, Coffee, Juice & Tea.

Two Hour Friday Night Dinner Cruise

Lady Atlantic's Friday Night Dinner Cruise heads south towards Manalapan Island located in prestigious Palm Beach County. Have your appetite ready to savor a Little Italy at Sea dinner buffet to include the likes of Caesar Salad, Garlic Bread, Chicken Parmesan, Baked Ziti, Meatballs Marinara, Chef’s Choice of Dessert, Coffee & Tea.

In addition to the Sunday Brunch Cruise, Friday Night Dinner Cruise and Live Entertainment Cruises on Lady Atlantic, Delray Yacht Cruises also offers year-around daily Sight-Seeing Cruises twice a day! The Sight-Seeing Cruise heads south touring through Delray Beach, Highland Beach and Pompano Beach.

Lady Atlantic going under the Linton Avenue drawbridge.

Lady Atlantic heading southward passing through Highland Beach. I just happened to be in a friend's condo at Highland Beach and captured this photo from the 11th floor.

As your cruise tour begins, the Captain of the yacht narrates landmarks and historical points of interest. You will first notice the Atlantic Avenue drawbridge. This is a real authentic drawbridge that opens every 30 minutes for boats to pass through. You can watch it open and close as you cruise through it.

Cruising through the Atlantic Avenue Drawbridge

The first bridge at this location was built in 1911. It was a hand-cranked drawbridge. Can you imagine that!   Hand-cranked! You will now notice that the bridge is operated by a Bridge Tender who sits comfortably in an air conditioned Bridge Tender House. The Bridge Tender House was constructed originally in 1952. It was later redesigned in 1991 by local architect Robert Currie.

Atlantic Avenue Drawbridge and Bridge Tender House on the Right Photo Credit: Photographically Yours, Inc

Holiday Cruises

Delray Yacht Cruises also offers Holiday Cruises! You'll find holiday cruises for:

• Thanksgiving
• Holiday Boat Parades in December for Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, and Boca boat parades
• Christmas Lights Holiday
• New Year's Eve Dinner & Dancing
• Valentine's Day
• Easter Brunch Cruise
• Mother's Day Brunch Cruise
• Father's Day Brunch Cruise
• 4th Of July Fireworks Cruise
• Steel Drum Cruise
• And lots more!

Check out Delray Yacht Cruises Holiday Cruise schedule for dates and times for all their cruises.

This is typical "winter" weather in November in South Florida. As you can see... it is a BEAUTIFUL DAY for a boat cruise on the intracoastal!

Entertainment Cruises

Come enjoy Lady Atlantic's Entertainment Cruises this summer with state-of-the-art entertainment system, a full cash bar and a pub-style menu. Enjoy entertainment like reggae music and classic rock.

Information & Hours of Operation

Cost: For current rates and schedules of all the Delray Yacht Cruises, please visit their website here.

Address: 801 E Atlantic Avenue (at Veteran's Park), Delray Beach, FL, 33483. Click here for map for parking and location. Hours: Please see their website as their hours vary according to cruise schedule.

Rates: View price & cruise schedule here. Phone 561-243-0686 Email: [email protected] Website: Delray Yacht Cruises

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Delray yacht cruises.

ABOUT THE Delray Yacht Cruises Experience the calm waters of the Intracoastal Waterway aboard the Lady Atlantic & Lady Delray while enjoying your favorite beverage or snack on a two-hour narrated tour past some of the area’s most beautiful mansions. See a variety of marine life in its natural habitat. Learn a little about the area’s history. Cruise from Veterans Park on East Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach south to Boca Raton. There are also occasional cruises north towards Manalapan Island. Delray Yacht Cruises also offers Holiday Lights Cruises during December and Evening Cruises on select weekend evenings.

Delray Yacht Cruises has been offering cruises in Delray Beach since 2003.

- 2-hour sightseeing cruises (Wednesday through Sunday at 1:30pm)

- 2-hour evening cruises (select Fridays and Saturdays at 5:30pm)

Call 561.243.0686 for reservations.

Thanks for cruising with us!

**Interested in a Private Charter? Palm Beach County’s only experienced charter yacht operation features the area’s newest and largest yacht, built in 2008, comfortably seating 120 people for dinner. Conveniently located in Delray Beach & also serving the Palm Beaches & Fort Lauderdale. Contact us at 561-243-0686 for more information.

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Delray Yacht Cruises

801 E Atlantic Ave Delray Beach, FL 33483

(561) 243-0686

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Overview: Convention & Business Services

Overview: tours & sightseeing.

• Reservations Required
• Reservations Recommended
• Parking Available
• Bus Parking
• On-Site Restaurant/Food Vendor
• Specials/Coupons for Groups
• Family-Friendly
• Restrooms On-Site
• Tours Available
• Event Coordinator On-Site
• Catering On-Site
• Entertainment On-Site
• Free Parking
• Group Dining
• Outdoor Seating
• Reservations Accepted
• Self-Parking

Additional Details

• Sunday: call for schedule
• Monday: call for schedule
• Tuesday: call for schedule
• Wednesday: call for schedule
• Thursday: call for schedule
• Friday: call for schedule
• Saturday: call for schedule
• Contact Phone #: (561) 243-0686
• Group Rates: call for group rates
• Reception Capacity: 150
• Seating Capacity: 120
• Deposit Policy: call for details
• Cancellation Policy: call for details

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Delray Yacht Cruises

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Review Highlights

“ We had a pre wedding cruise on the Lady Atlantic for lots of out of town guests so I was planning this long distance. ” in 6 reviews

“ This is one of our favorite things to do in Delray Beach, we love enjoying time with friends and family, and taking a two hour cruise up and down the intercoastal. ” in 2 reviews

“ It was a little difficult to hear the narrator on the top deck and he seemed a bit too monotone - borrrring. ” in 4 reviews

Location & Hours

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801 E Atlantic Ave

Delray Beach, FL 33483

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About the business.

Delray Yacht Cruises offers Private Charters, Sightseeing Tours, Brunch, Luncheon & Dinner Cruises as well as Live Entertainment & Holiday Cruises aboard our two yachts, the Lady Atlantic & Lady Delray. Cruises operate year round from our Delray Beach location. Conveniently located in Veteran's Park on Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach. …

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We had a good experience on this boat tour on New Years Eve day. Boarding was not managed well and the advanced reservations don't seem to help at all. Signage/instruction was poor and as a result of a 40 minute boarding process, we didn't have ideal seats. I would recommend arriving early if you want a nice table/will be snacking on board but hopefully these guys fix this aspect of the business. Overall we had a good experience. We paid about $30 which is what I'd expect a two hour tour to cost. It's slightly cheaper with local residency and 2 and unders go for free. You go down the inter coastal on this tour and you get to see all of the mega mansions and crazy infinity pools. The tour guide is as good and we learned a lot of interesting facts about Delray Beaches' history. I like that there is a lot of space on board and three different levels for different experiences. Because the boat is so big, you barely feel the small waves generated from the water traffic and it's a pretty relaxing ride. I'd recommend coming at the holiday times with the Xmas decorations. They have a decent array of snacks and smaller meal options on board but it's not like it used to be with the dinner cruises. You should plan to spend $8-$15 on smaller snack-e type options and drinks. We tried the $13 frozen daiquiris, which were ok but a bit on the sweeter end (fair amount of alcohol).

On board, top deck

Looking out as the bridge goes up

The sunset cruise is a delightful adventure. The staff is lovely and Captain Nigel gives a terrific narration as he navigates the intracoastal waterway.

We decided to do the holiday cruise with Santa. Wanted to have a nice little cruise down the inter-coastal with the mini. Upon arrival there weren't any signs to where the check in was but it wasn't hard to find. A little hut right by the boat. No area for a line so we just lined up behind the closest person to the boat. Before boarding we got to take a picture with Santa as a family. I believe the price for the photo was 10 dollars. Which wasn't bad. We had drinks and our son had tenders. Prices were very reasonable. My wife had a Baileys hot chocolate. And I decided on khalua and chocolate. And my oh my both were delicious. My wife had to fight me to get her drink back. The cruise took us up and down the inter coastal and as it was doing that. The kids were able to sit and take pics with Santa. After pics and everyone for to see him. He got up and walked around and greeted the kids again. My only gripe was (and nothing the cruise staff or business did wrong) that the parents of the children on board just let their kids run loose. Kids running up and down. Screaming and going on about. While the parents just sat and drank. It almost felt like I was in a daycare. Again. Not the business fault at all. But overall we had an amazing time and definitely would recommend it.

Beautiful evening to be on the intercoastal we went down to Boca turned around and came back to Delray. There was a lot of indoor seating but we wanted to be outside and enjoying the view. It was a bit cramped outside on a sunset cruise. We went an hour in each direction and tickets were $28 per person. The other people on the boat we're very friendly and interesting. There was a menu with the appetizers frozen drinks wine and beer. I enjoyed my piña colada and my husband's strawberry daiquiri was too sweet and chemically for him, Our drink tab was $30 including tip.

See all photos from Andrea U. for Delray Yacht Cruises

This is one of our favorite things to do in Delray Beach, we love enjoying time with friends and family, and taking a two hour cruise up and down the intercoastal. From the moment you get on the boat, and everybody is warm and friendly, they gave proper instructions on safety, which is very important. The first thing I do is go to the top of the boat that is the best point of view enjoy and relax. The servers come over, there is a variety of food and drinks to choose from, there is bar to get a special drink. As you just enjoy you are relaxing the sun, the boat goes at a speed where you can actually enjoy the sites and the homes, along with the state parks and see some wildlife. If you live here in Palm Beach County, or you have visitors, family and friends come in from out of town this is the perfect getaway for a couple of hours to make you feel special. Then, when you get off the boat, there's a variety of things to do in Delray Beach. Happy sailing!

Celebrating

Family day out!

Overall it was a positive experience with nice narrative about the houses on the intracoastal. The lost points were on the non refundable tickets and the water bottles that they made us discard to purchase inside. They actually asked to look inside our purses.

Good people and easy rental. Helpful crew that gave good advice on how to navigate the intercoastal and what spots to hit

I was invited for my birthday with 15 other family members on a relaxing trip on the water. I enjoyed this - it was different. I like boats and being on the water so it was a nice way to spend some time. Would have much rather had a live band and dancing available. But maybe that's offered at other times. Overall, its a few hours of nice water and home views.

Great way to see the intracoastal and spend time on the waterway!! Great beverage service!!

We were on a 2 hour tour on the Lady Atlantic out of Delray, Florida! Boat was beautiful! Got a table on the upper deck and couldn't have asked for a better day. Our server Kate was excellent and kept us hydrated. The tour up the Intercoastal was relaxing and we dreamed of owning one of those homes. Affordable for a very enjoyable afternoon. The company was top notch! Always a good time with our parents!

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Lady Atlantic and Lady Delray - Delray Yacht Cruises

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• Florida (FL)    
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• Delray Beach - Things to Do    
• Delray Yacht Cruises

Best value for 32.00 a person in the Palm Beaches!( Senior prices) Staff is efficient..The boat is... read more

A great tour of Delray and Boca Raton. The guide was great as were the food and beverages. I would... read more

Lady Atlantic and Lady Delray

Best deal for a New Year's Eve celebration. They also have day and dinner cruises throughout the year. NYE was all inclusive with a 3 and a half hour cruise up and down the intracoastal, ending at midnight in the water where you were able to see the fireworks at Old School Square. Dinner, champagne toast, party favors, open bar, DJ spinning tunes all night. AWESOME!!! No driving involved, except to and from the ship, but we live 5 minutes up the street so no big deal for us. This was our third time doing this on NYE. Although they have cut down on the cocktail hour food, the main courses were good and you could go back for seconds and thirds, as long as the food held out. Great staff. Very friendly, very attentive.

The year before we went on the holiday light cruise with this company and we were assigned to take larger boat. We had a lovely time. The problem is they choose which boat you go on. This year we were assigned to the smaller boat. By the time we boarded, All outside seating was taken. It was standing room only. The speaker system if you chose to sit inside blasted your ears off. Outside the diesal fumes made me sick. Avoid this company!

Took the holiday lights cruise. Gets you in the spirit of the season!🎄 Food we ordered was cold-nothing worse than cold fries and mozzarella sticks.

Lovely cruise that showed you gorgeous homes and filled you with information about the intercoastal waterway also.

The Delray Yacht Cruise is a very enjoyable way to spend two hours on the inter-coastal waterway enjoying a small taste of the sea, the view and the history of area we cruised. Starting from Delray at the Atlantic Avenue dock heading south you see magnificent water edge estates of the "rich & famous". There is a live narrative by one of the staff pointing out various homes, parks and providing interesting background about the estates and history of the various sections of the waterway. There is food service aboard from snacks to more substantial meals, beer,wine, soft drinks plus "special" drinks are also available. The cost of the food in not inexpensive, yet reasonable considering that you on a floating attraction. Tip: before purchasing your tickets go to their website, download and print the discount coupon that can be applied to the ticket purchase. Also call to make a reservation. Be aware that when you do, it is a recording and voicemail. There is no confirmation. Just show up. Upside totally enjoyable. Downside, all the passengers try to crowed onto the top deck. Suggestion - if you don't have to be outside on the top deck, you'll get the best view from the enclosed first deck. This is a great activity for guests from out of town.

This is the second time we took the afternoon cruise out of Delray with my family while visiting Florida. It is nice,relaxing and a fun afternoon. The staff was attentive and we enjoyed a few drinks and snacks while cruising and enjoying the sights. Definitely worthwhile!

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Attributes highlighted by couples.

Imagine your next event with the backdrop of South Florida’s Intracoastal Waterway captivating your guests. Celebrations are meant to be enjoyed right from the beginning. Why not enjoy your celebration from the first planned details to the moment your final guest leaves. Let Delray Yacht Cruises make this a special experience.

Our cruise directors are available to assist you with every detail of your celebration. With three luxurious decks, your guests will have plenty of room to roam and no one will need to travel far for boarding, as the Delray Yacht Cruises is docked right at Veterans Park in Delray Beach, just a hop, skip and jump from the downtown Delray shops and dining.

Delray Yacht Cruises is proud to offer private charters aboard our yacht, the Lady Atlantic. Our yacht can accommodate groups up to 150 passengers in elegant comfort.

Palm Beach County’s only experienced charter yacht operation features the area’s newest and largest yacht, built in 2008, comfortably seating 120 people for dinner. Contact us at 561-243-0686 for more information.

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Delray Yacht Cruises

Lady Atlantic 105′ – Guests 149

Lady atlantic, dinner cruises , party & wedding yachts.

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Boat Miami offers the Lady Atlantic for Dinner Cruises, Parties, and Weddings. We know the ins and outs of what would be best for your event. We believe in customer satisfaction and putting our clients’ needs foremost in our advice. Contact us today for more information!

• 4 Hours $2250+
• 6 Hours Call/Email for Pricing
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• Menu from $43+
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Tax and gratuity not included.  Contact our friendly and knowledgeable Boat Miami operators for more details.

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U.S. Eyes $156 Million Yacht in Dubai Linked to a Russian Oligarch

The U.S. Justice Department is taking steps to seize the Madame Gu, a 324-foot luxury yacht, but it will be diplomatically thorny.

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By Kate Kelly ,  Michael Forsythe and Julian E. Barnes

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — On a clear morning in late October, the jewel-blue hull of the Madame Gu, one of the world’s most luxurious superyachts, gleamed, its aluminum rails shimmering in the sun. Workers on the pier said they had recently seen people painting, cleaning and generally keeping the ship with its helipad and six guest staterooms in pristine condition.

In past years, such a scene would not have been noteworthy. Many superyachts come and go from Dubai’s Mina Rashid Marina, best known as the home of the Queen Elizabeth 2, the trans-Atlantic ocean liner-turned-hotel that dominates the waterfront here.

But Russia’s war in Ukraine has turned an otherwise routine tableau into a diplomatic battleground between the United States and the United Arab Emirates, an important American ally that has established itself as a safe haven for Russian money and assets out of the reach of U.S. sanctions.

The $156 million Madame Gu epitomizes the problem. In June, the United States designated the vessel, which is linked to Andrei Skoch, a Russian steel magnate and lawmaker under sanctions, as blocked property. That means the yacht cannot use American companies for its upkeep, employ U.S. citizens or even use the dollar. The Justice Department is now taking steps to seize the Madame Gu, according to people with knowledge of the plan.

But the United States can’t seize property in a sovereign nation without permission from its government. The Emirates, which has taken a friendlier position toward Moscow, is balking at cooperating with the United States to pursue oligarchs, American officials said. The Kremlin is also using oligarch-controlled companies in the Emirates to acquire war supplies that the West is trying to keep out of Russia’s reach, according to a Western official involved in the sanctions effort against Russia.

Emirati officials did not comment specifically on the Madame Gu but said in a statement that they took their role “protecting the integrity of the global financial system extremely seriously.”

A closer examination of Russian assets in the Emirates shows that even before the war in Ukraine, Dubai had become a playground for Russians with links to President Vladimir V. Putin. At least 38 businessmen or officials with ties to the Russian president own homes in Dubai that are collectively valued at more than $314 million, according to the Center for Advanced Defense Studies. Five of those owners are under U.S. sanctions.

Since the Russian invasion, Dubai has established itself as a safe haven for Russian yachts and aircraft unable to sail or fly elsewhere. After Russian jets were barred from the European Union in late February, the Emirates became the destination for 14 percent of all private flights leaving Russia, up from 3 percent before the invasion.

“It’s frustrating when you see huge assets that are sitting out there and it appears that the country is not cooperating,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Democrat of Rhode Island, referring to the Emirates. “It would be nice if there were more common cause against Putin while he’s busy shelling hospitals and schools.”

Mr. Whitehouse is sponsoring legislation that would use proceeds of the sales of seized Russian assets to help rebuild Ukraine. Senior officials at the Treasury and State Departments have also complained publicly about the situation.

U.S. officials view the presence of superyachts in places like Dubai and Bodrum, Turkey , as a symptom of wider Russian circumvention of sanctions and continued access to financial markets. Yachts have also come to symbolize the decadence of Russia’s oligarchs, especially at a time when Russian soldiers are scrounging for body armor and sleeping bags on the front lines.

Pursuing the Madame Gu

Built by the Dutch firm Feadship and put into service in 2013, the Madame Gu has a large helicopter pad on its forecastle with a hangar underneath that can double as a squash court when the chopper isn’t on board. The vessel has berthing for 36 crew members, according to one trade magazine.

Mr. Skoch, a member of Russia’s Parliament who is linked to assets worth billions of dollars, according to U.S. court filings, has had sanctions imposed on him twice by the United States, first in 2018 and then after Russia’s invasion this year. The Treasury Department has cited his “longstanding ties to Russian organized criminal groups.”

Mr. Skoch could not be reached and did not respond to messages left at his office at Parliament.

In an interview in October about the government’s broader efforts to go after the assets of oligarchs, Andrew Adams, a federal prosecutor leading the Department of Justice’s KleptoCapture task force, declined to discuss the Madame Gu. But the United States, he said, is warning companies they must not do business with individuals and assets under sanctions. The government, he said, will pursue oligarch-owned assets whose sale could be used to aid Ukraine.

“Where we know there is an asset that can potentially provide significant remuneration for Ukraine, that obviously is an attractive case to pursue,” he said.

U.S. officials are likely to use the case they made for impounding a $90 million Airbus business jet linked to Mr. Skoch in August as a blueprint for seizing the Madame Gu, said people familiar with the plan.

That means investigators will aim to show that the owner of the vessel, or the companies that have been providing services to it, have intersected with the U.S. financial system.

“If there are U.S. dollars or a U.S. nexus associated with supporting this vessel, massive enforcement actions could take place,” said Adam M. Smith, a former official overseeing sanctions at the Treasury Department. Companies that provide support to entities under sanctions could potentially face their own sanctions, said Mr. Smith, who is now a lawyer at Gibson Dunn in Washington.

This year the United States has carried out two high-profile seizures of yachts tied to Russians under sanctions, working with cooperative governments. The $300 million Amadea was taken in Fiji in May and sailed to San Diego under an American flag. In April, the United States worked with Spanish police to seize the $90 million Tango.

A Problematic Partner

Diplomatically, the Emirates has been reluctant to take a clear anti-Russian position when it comes to the war in Ukraine. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the United Arab Emirates, recently met with Mr. Putin in St. Petersburg, and the Emirati foreign minister recently hosted his Russian counterpart. Yet Sheikh Mohammed has also talked with Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, more than once and recently gave the country $100 million in humanitarian aid.

The United States has publicly expressed dismay over the mixed messages.

During a visit to Dubai in June, Wally Adeyemo, the U.S. deputy treasury secretary, warned of the need for vigilance and proactive steps in combating Russian evasion. That same month Barbara Leaf, the State Department’s under secretary for Near East Affairs, said at a congressional hearing that regarding the Emirates, she was “not happy at all with the record at this point” on sanctions enforcement. Mr. Adeyemo reiterated his concerns in a meeting with Emirati officials in October in Washington.

A senior State Department official said in a statement to The New York Times that the agency continues “to reinforce the importance of conducting enhanced due diligence to prevent sanctions evasion and investigating allegations of such activity” to the Emirates.

The Treasury Department declined to comment on the Madame Gu or the relationship with the Emirates.

Last month, the Treasury Department announced it had placed sanctions on an Emirates-based company, Constellation Advisors Ltd., that the American government said was operating on behalf of a nephew of another Russian oligarch, Suleiman Kerimov. Mr. Kerimov, according to American court documents, was the owner of the Amadea superyacht .

American officials are also worried the Russian government is using the Emirates to acquire military supplies for its war in Ukraine. On Nov. 15, the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on two Emirates-based transportation firms that had worked with another Iranian firm under sanctions, which in turn had helped transport drones and personnel from Iran to Russia.

Moored in Dubai

Based on a recent visit to Dubai’s Mina Rashid Marina , where the Madame Gu is moored, it is clear that international companies are playing a critical role in its care.

The Emirates-based company DP World, through its subsidiary P&O Marinas , oversees the pier where the Madame Gu is moored. Employees from another DP World subsidiary , World Security, staff the small guard box at the entrance. That makes DP World, which is owned by Dubai’s royal family, potentially vulnerable to American sanctions.

DP World “fully complies with all applicable local and national laws and intends to continue doing the same regarding the Madame Gu and other vessels utilizing our services,” said Adal Mirza, a spokesman for the company. He added that DP World had not yet heard from the United States or other countries that had placed Mr. Skoch under sanctions, including Britain and the European Union.

A generator set that dock workers said in late October was powering the Madame Gu — two container-like structures near its stern — bore the distinctive orange logo of Aggreko , a British company. The generator set was connected to the superyacht by thick cords; one of the containers was emitting grayish exhaust.

At the Mina Rashid Marina, soon after Aggreko was contacted by The Times, workers removed the generator. “Having identified that the generator was being used to power a vessel that is allegedly connected to a sanctioned person, we immediately terminated this rental and have since recovered the generator,” the company said in a statement.

Mr. Mirza, the DP World spokesman, said the Aggreko generator had been replaced with one from a local supplier.

P&O Marinas arranged for the diesel generator to provide power for the Madame Gu because that part of the pier, a holding area, has no shore-supplied electric power, said a port official in Dubai, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to talk to the press.

“At the end of the day, if the U.A.E. hasn’t imposed sanctions, it’s not really their job to enforce other countries’ laws within their borders,” said Nabeel Yousef, a Washington-based partner at the law firm Freshfields, where he runs the sanctions practice. Nevertheless, “companies should not take comfort in the fact that their country has not imposed sanctions,” he added, “because even the smallest connection to the U.S. can lead to U.S. penalties.”

There has also been a notable absence onboard the Madame Gu in recent weeks: a flag. Unlike other ships moored nearby, including the Quantum Blue, a superyacht linked to the billionaire Sergei Galitsky, the Madame Gu appears to be stateless, apparently having been deflagged by the Cayman Islands.

Cayman Islands officials didn’t respond to an emailed inquiry about the ship’s status.

If DP World were to face fallout from U.S. sanctions enforcers, it wouldn’t be the first time the company has been the focus of attention in Washington. In 2006, DP World was seeking to manage some terminal operations at six American ports but dropped out of the deal after a bipartisan uproar in Congress.

Anton Troianovski contributed reporting from Turin, Italy, and Oleg Matsnev from Berlin.

Kate Kelly covers money, influence, and policy as a correspondent in the Washington bureau of the Times. Before that, she spent twenty years covering Wall Street deals, key players and their intersection with politics. She is the author of three books, including "The Education of Brett Kavanaugh." More about Kate Kelly

Michael Forsythe is a reporter on the investigations team. He was previously a correspondent in Hong Kong, covering the intersection of money and politics in China. He has also worked at Bloomberg News and is a United States Navy veteran. More about Michael Forsythe

Julian E. Barnes is a national security reporter based in Washington, covering the intelligence agencies. Before joining The Times in 2018, he wrote about security matters for The Wall Street Journal. More about Julian E. Barnes

Our Coverage of the War in Ukraine

News and Analysis

Ahead of the U.S. elections, Russia is intensifying efforts to elevate candidates  who oppose aid for Ukraine and support isolationism, disinformation experts say.

President Vladimir Putin said that claims Russia planned to invade other countries were “nonsense,” but warned them against hosting  warplanes meant for Ukraine.

A large-scale Russian missile and drone attack damaged power plants  and caused blackouts for more than a million Ukrainians in what Ukrainian officials said was one of the war’s largest assaults on energy infrastructure.

Symbolism or Strategy?: Ukrainians say that defending places with little strategic value is worth the cost in casualties and weapons , because the attacking Russians pay an even higher price. American officials aren’t so sure.

Elaborate Tales: As the Ukraine war grinds on, the Kremlin has created increasingly complex fabrications online  to discredit Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, and undermine the country’s support in the West.

Targeting Russia’s Oil Industry: With its army short of ammunition and troops to break the deadlock on the battlefield, Kyiv has increasingly taken the fight beyond the Ukrainian border, attacking oil infrastructure deep in Russian territory .

How We Verify Our Reporting

Our team of visual journalists analyzes satellite images, photographs , videos and radio transmissions  to independently confirm troop movements and other details.

We monitor and authenticate reports on social media, corroborating these with eyewitness accounts and interviews. Read more about our reporting efforts .

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

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A Brief History of Superyachts

And how they explain the world..

Tim Murphy January+February 2024 Issue

James Clapham

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When the US targeted Russia’s oligarchs after the invasion of Ukraine, the trail of assets kept leading to our own backyard. Not only had our nation become a haven for shady foreign money, but we were also incubating a familiar class of yacht-owning, industry-dominating, resource-extracting billionaires. In the  January + February 2024  issue of our magazine, we investigate the rise of American Oligarchy—and what it means for the rest of us. You can read all the pieces  here .

The luxury yacht may be the world’s most exclusive form of transportation. But there are only a hundred-some that meet the definition of a gigayacht—a pleasure craft 295 feet or longer. Their opaque ownership records offer a glimpse of modern wealth and power: Over two dozen are linked to Gulf royals, businessmen, or states, and 20 to citizens (past or current) of the former Soviet Union. At least 23 have reportedly belonged to Americans, including founders of Microsoft, Netscape, Amazon, WhatsApp, and Snapchat. The widow of a German retailer who thrived under Hitler owned one; a UK tax exile and a Formula 1 dad still do. Yugoslav strongman Tito’s old yacht makes the list; Dominican dictator Trujillo’s does too. Take a cruise through the history of the vessels and their—somewhat—more modest sister ships.

1895: Nineteen years before World War I, the future King Edward VII of England punches his nephew, Kaiser Wilhelm II, in the face, after the German’s 121-foot yacht, Meteor II , defeats the royal Britannia in a race off the Isle of Wight.

1954: Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis ushers in an era of postwar one-upmanship with his 325-foot Christina O . It features a pool that converts into a dance floor, furniture made from whale foreskin, and pornographic carvings.

1963: During his final birthday party aboard the presidential yacht Sequoia , JFK chases future Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee’s wife, Antoinette, into the bathroom and gropes her. “I guess I was pretty surprised, but I was kind of flattered, and appalled, too,” she says later. The ship’s visitor logs are destroyed after Kennedy’s assassination.

1984: King Fahd of Saudi Arabia builds the record-breaking 482-foot Prince Abdulaziz .

1987: Sen. Gary Hart (D-Colo.) drops out of the presidential race just before photos emerge of him with model Donna Rice aboard the yacht Monkey Business .

1988: Donald Trump acquires Nabila , which previously belonged to the Saudi arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi and was featured in the James Bond film Never Say Never Again . He renames it Trump Princess , adds a disco, and changes the helipad’s “H” to a “T.”

1991: After one of Trump’s casinos files for bankruptcy, he sells Trump Princess to his bank—which flips it to a Saudi prince. A new yacht, the Trump Princess II , which he boasted would be “something in excess of 400 feet long, closer to 500 feet,” is never built.

British publisher Robert Maxwell’s body is found in the Atlantic Ocean, where he had been cruising on a 180-footer named for his daughter—the Lady Ghislaine . The vessel is eventually resold to Anna Murdoch, Rupert’s second wife.

1994: At a cocktail party on the oligarch Petr Aven’s yacht in the Caribbean, Boris Berezovsky meets Roman Abramovich, calling him a “nice boy who wanted to discuss commercial projects.” He and Abramovich begin working together to acquire Sibneft, a Russian state oil company.

1997: Construction ends on The Limited and Victoria’s Secret owner Les Wexner’s ­316-foot Limitless . The project was overseen by his good friend Jeffrey Epstein.

1999: Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison buys the 191-foot Izanami from a Japanese seller. He changes the name to Ronin , he said later , after “the local newspapers started pointing out that Izanami was ‘I’m a Nazi’ spelled backwards.”

2001: Months before Enron files for bankruptcy, former CEO Jeffrey Skilling asks a company executive for advice on finding a yacht broker. “This industry is known for crooks and thieves,” he warns Skilling.

2002: House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Texas) promises to strip “corporate kingpins of their ill-gotten gains,” after scandals rock Enron and WorldCom. “We’re coming after the yacht.”

2003: DeLay charges donors $500,000 a pop for tickets to a yacht cruise.

2005: Ellison shoots down rumors he issued orders midconstruction to have his newest yacht, the 454-foot Rising Sun , extended to outdo Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s recently launched 414-foot Octopus .

Rep. Duke Cunningham (R-Calif.) pleads guilty to federal bribery charges after being caught living rent-free on a yacht, called the Duke-Stir , that was moored in Washington, DC, and owned by a defense contractor.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s 531-foot Dubai surpasses Prince Abdulaziz as the world’s longest yacht.

2006: Media mogul Barry Diller reveals the world’s longest sailing yacht, the 305-foot Eos , whose prow features a 9-foot-tall sculpture of his wife, Diane von Furstenberg.

2007: Diller opens a Manhattan corporate headquarters­­ at a Frank Gehry­–designed building that itself has been likened to a sailboat . It’s across the street from where Eos ties up.

2008: George Osborne, the No. 2 official in the UK’s Conservative Party, relaxes on Russian aluminum magnate Oleg Deripaska’s yacht while vacationing with his family in Greece. He denies an accusation that he solicited funds, explaining in a statement that they discussed “Russian history” and drank tea.

2009: As his marriage falls apart, Tiger Woods retreats to a 155-foot yacht called Privacy .

2010: Abramovich’s new ship, Eclipse , surpasses Dubai as the world’s longest yacht. The 533-foot vessel features a submarine, anti-missile systems, and lasers to thwart paparazzi .

2011: During an unsuccessful suit seeking $5 billion he believed Abramovich owed him from the sale of Sibneft, an exiled Berezovsky claims that his former partner helped purchase the yacht Olympia for Vladimir Putin. When the BBC publishes a supporting account from another Russian businessman five years later, Abramovich’s lawyers dismiss the allegation as “a rehash of speculation and rumours.”

2012: As GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney faces criticism for holding investment funds in the Cayman Islands, his campaign invites donors to party on Cracker Bay . The ship, owned by the founder of The Villages retirement community, flies the Cayman Islands’ flag.

2013: UAE leader Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan launches the 593-foot Azzam , surpassing the Eclipse .

2014: The Wall Street Journal reports that Ellison has basketball hoops on “at least two of his yachts” and had someone follow in a smaller boat “to retrieve balls that go overboard.”

2016: Allen’s Tatoosh drags its anchor through a protected zone in the Cayman Islands, destroying 14,000 square feet of coral.

2017: After leaving office, Barack and Michelle Obama retreat to the South Pacific aboard David Geffen’s yacht, where they’re joined by Oprah, Tom Hanks, and Bruce Springsteen.

Abramovich’s business partner, Eugene Shvidler, blocks views of the Statue of Liberty while anchoring his 370-foot Le Grand Bleu in New York Harbor for a month.

Addressing the national Boy Scout Jamboree, Trump tells an anecdote widely assumed to allude to sex parties on a yacht belonging to the developer of the Levittown suburbs. “You’re Boy Scouts, so I’m not going to tell you what he did,” he said. “But you know life.”

Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) buys a yacht and on the same day votes to cut taxes on yachts.

2018: Rupert Murdoch is airlifted to UCLA after collapsing on a yacht trip with his fourth wife, Jerry Hall. “He kept almost dying,” a source tells Vanity Fair .

Republican Florida Gov. Rick Scott designates a billionaire donor’s marina as a special anti-­poverty opportunity zone.

Someone unties Seaquest , a superyacht belonging to Trump administration Secretary of Education (and billionaire) Betsy DeVos, causing it to crash into a dock on Lake Erie.

Businessman Jho Low, who financed The Wolf of Wall Street , is accused of taking part in a $4.5 billion scheme to siphon Malaysian state development funds and using some to purchase a $250 million yacht.

2019: Actress Lori Loughlin is arrested in a college admissions bribery scheme . Her daughter, USC student Olivia Jade, is vacationing in the Bahamas— on a yacht belonging to USC board of trustees chair Rick Caruso.

Following an investigation into corruption in the Nigerian oil industry, the US government auctions off businessman Kolawole Aluko’s Galactica Star , six years after Jay-Z rented out the vessel for Beyoncé’s 32nd birthday. A former Enron unit attempts to claim a portion of the proceeds.

Clarence Thomas visits an Indonesian preserve for Komodo dragons with billionaire Harlan Crow on the conservative megadonor’s Michaela Rose .

ArtNet reports that a $450 million (reputed) da Vinci that was supposed to be in an Abu Dhabi museum has been spotted hanging in Mohammed bin Salman’s personal yacht, Serene .

Kylie Jenner holds her 22nd birthday party on Low’s yacht, now under new ownership.

2020: “[I]solated in the Grenadines avoiding the virus,” Geffen writes on Instagram from Rising Sun , which he purchased in 2010. “I’m hoping everybody is staying safe.”

Steve Bannon is arrested off the coast of Connecticut by US Postal Police while aboard the fugitive Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui’s 150-foot Lady May .

Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. dresses up as a character from the TV show Trailer Park Boys for a costume party aboard a NASCAR mogul’s yacht. He later posts a photo of himself to Instagram with his fly unzipped and his arms around his wife’s assistant.

2021: NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre testifies that he took refuge on Illusions , a Hollywood producer’s yacht, after the Newtown and Parkland mass shootings. “I remember getting there going, ‘Thank God I’m safe, nobody can get me here.’”

During a bitter divorce, the Daily Mail reports that Tatiana Akhmedova, wife of the Russian Azerbaijani billionaire Farkhad Akhmedov, hired a team of British special forces veterans to seize his yacht, Luna , in an effort to enforce a Marshall Islands court ruling. They settle instead, and he keeps the boat.

Port Azure , dubbed the world’s first harbor designed exclusively for megayachts, opens in Gocek, Turkey. It bills itself as a place where “problems big and small go away.”

2022: Amid reports a historic bridge will be dismantled so Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ newly built Koru can leave Rotterdam’s shipyards, residents threaten to pelt the sailboat with eggs . The city changes plans.

A Ukrainian mechanic is arrested in Mallorca for attempting to sink a vessel owned by his boss, a Russian arms dealer.

Biden promises oligarchs he’s going to “take their ill-begotten gains” after the invasion of Ukraine. “We’re going to seize their yachts.”

Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder avoids a congressional subpoena on the team’s misogynistic culture while cruising the Mediterranean on his yacht, Lady S .

Missing Russian superyachts are spotted waiting out sanctions at Port Azure.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) criticizes Joe Biden for vacationing in Delaware while vacationing on a luxury yacht in Italy.

After sailing through Fiji on his yacht Aquarius , briefly retired Disney CEO Bob Iger tells friends he misses his wife and is bored with life.

New York Republican congressional candidate George Santos brokers a $19 million deal to sell a superyacht called Namaste to a Long Island car dealer.

Bankrupt crypto exchange FTX reveals in court filings that founder Sam Bankman-Fried’s hedge fund once spent $2.5 million on a yacht, which a top executive named Soak My Deck .

2023: Bezos takes possession of Koru . The $500 million, 417-foot sailboat comes with a bust that resembles his fiancée Lauren Sánchez—and its own second, 246-foot “shadow” support yacht with crew quarters and a hangar for the helicopter she pilots.

After divorcing Jerry Hall, Rupert Murdoch vacations on the Christina O with Abramovich’s ex-mother-in-law.

As TV and movie writers and actors strike, the Wall Street Journal reports that Iger, now back at work, has been regaling visitors to his Burbank office about the new, longer yacht he’s building.

Measuring Contest

Iconic gigayachts through the years

1931: Sea Cloud , Marjorie Post: 359 ft.

1981: Atlantis II , Stavros Niarchos: 380 ft.

2003: Octopus , Paul Allen: 414 ft.

2005: Rising Sun , Larry Ellison: 454 ft.

2010: Eclipse , Roman Abramovich: 533 ft.

2013: Azzam , Sheikh Khalifa: 593 ft.

Illustrations by Anthony Calvert

The Few, The Loud

Some famous faces aboard gigayachts

Steven Spielberg reeled out his anchor off Cannes.

A part of Katy Perry got stuck exiting a dinghy on her way to Barry Diller’s yacht.

Mohammed bin Salman purchased his yacht, Serene , just hours after he saw it.

Jerry Jones made a draft pick aboard his Bravo Eugenia to deepen the Cowboys’ bench.

Mariah Carey was engaged to a gigayacht owner, before the fantasy ended.

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On-board menu.

On-board the Lady Atlantic & Lady Delray, we offer a full cash bar (for Adults over 21 years of age with valid ID), non-alcoholic beverages, smoothies, and other drinks to quench your thirst.

Whether you are looking to have a light snack or lunch on your cruise, we’ve got you covered. We have everything from chips, candy and other snacks to sandwiches, hot dogs & salads. We accept cash, Visa & MasterCard on-board the yacht.

All menu items are prepared to order by our on-board culinary team. Daily Specials are also available!

Onboard Menu: (offered on daily sightseeing cruises)

Tortilla Chips & Salsa • Pretzel Bites • Chicken Tenders •  Hot Dog  • Caesar Salad •  Grilled Cheese Sandwich • Chef’s Choice of Daily Sandwich Selections •  Cheese or Chicken Quesadillas • Margherita Flatbread •  Buffalo Chicken Caesar Wrap •  Chicken Caesar Wrap *all prices subject to 18% service fee and 7% FL sales tax.

A fully stocked bar is available on all cruises offering Mixed Cocktails, Wine, Beer & Non-Alcoholic Beverages.

*The above items are subject to change*

Please note that we do not allow any outside food or beverage to be brought aboard the yacht. 

Our clients say

“We had a wonderful time, the weather was perfect and the young ladies on gentleman on board were excellent hosts. I’ve recommended you and your cruise line to three other tennis clubs in my area. I know at least two of them will contact you.  We’ll look into doing this again.”

“Just to let you know, we had such a great time on Thursday night.  All the members loved the trip — and can’t wait to do it again.  Again, many thanks.  “

“Thank you so much. You did a great job and I will 100% recommend you for another occasion. You made everything very nice.” 

“This is the first opportunity I have had to write about the wonderful evening our group had. Everyone at the hospital is still talking about the graciousness of the staff, music, being on the main salon and looking out on the beautiful intracoastal made it a night to remember.”

“Thank you so much for all your work on Tuesday. I had  wonderful time and so did everyone else. Perhaps next year we can do the trip going North. Thanks again to you and Sarah and your crew for a great job.”

“I just want to thank you for making our cruise so special. The food was delicious and the little area you gave us worked out great.  My friends really enjoyed the day.  Thanks again”

“On behalf of the British Women’s Club, I would like to express our sincere thanks for a fantastic sailing/brunch that was enjoyed by everyone in our group this past Sunday.  Your staff were so friendly, courteous and helpful, which always makes for a more enjoyable experience, and we will certainly keep you in mind for our future outings!”

“Everyone loved it, and had a great time. Thanks for all of your efforts, and for coordinating everything. Many thanks to the Captain as well for flying the Jolly Roger, that was really great. Thanks to all the rest of the crew too, it really was a lot of fun.”

“We all had a great time… My family had a great time, thanks to you and your staff!  We will definitely recommend Delray Yacht Cruises to our friends. Pleasure working with you, everything went so smoothly.”

Thank you for all your help. We had a great time!”

“We were so very pleased with every aspect of our brunch cruise aboard the Lady Atlantic.  Many thanks to each and every member of your team for making last Sunday so enjoyable and memorable”

“We had a wonderful time. Everything was perfect!”

We felt that the experience was first rate. The staff, service and food were all excellent. We have gotten wonderful feedback from our guests about it. Thank you so much. We’ll be back for a special occasion soon.

“We felt that the experience was first rate. The staff, service and food were all excellent. We have gotten wonderful feedback from our guests about it. Thank you so much. We’ll be back for a special occasion soon.” 

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