By
Jon Ingleton |
This article was first published in the Autumn/Winter 2019 issue of International Cruise & Ferry Review. All information was correct at the time of printing, but may since have changed.
Founded by Norwegian entrepreneur Atle Brynestad in 2001, SeaDream Yacht Club has quietly gone about its business with two boutique mega yachts delighting guests for almost two decades. Originally part of the Cunard fleet, these graceful vessels are still popular with guests, but Brynestad is now expanding his fleet with his first purpose-built newbuild. He has enlisted the help of YSA Design to create something spectacular.
“The owner has been working on this project for the past 20 years,” says Trond Sigurdsen, partner and chairman at YSA Design. “His vision is to build a ship that has everything that he wanted to give to SeaDream guests – the right size cabins, balconies, the perfect deck arrangement, marinas, restaurants and the ideal blend of onboard activities.”
Highlights on the 220-guest SeaDream Innovation will include 110 ocean-view suites. “SeaDream’s current ships don’t have balconies, but the company has worked hard to create a special deck ambiance so guests can enjoy outdoor living,” explains Sigurdsen. “SeaDream Innovation will give them both – and everything else that Brynestad has been planning for so long. She will retain the private club feeling but elevate the standards on every level.”
SeaDream Innovation’s design will also be true to the company’s Norwegian roots. “There’s a very Scandinavian feel to the ship – a contemporary take on our heritage look,” explains Catherine Smith-Kielland, senior interior and textile designer at YSA Design. “The ship must forge relationships with her loyal passengers and appeal equally to new and younger guests.”
Among the amenities on the 155-metre-long, 15,600gt yacht will be three marinas. “Taking a short walk to touch the water in the morning or having a seafood barbeque metres from the sea in the evening is an exclusive pleasure,” remarks Sigurdsen. “SeaDream’s older ships have lots of personality and we’re building a similarly strong character for the newbuild.”
YSA Design has also found a clever way to manage the conflict between the size of the ship and the ambitious variety of spaces SeaDream is seeking. “The environment around guests is changing all the time, so the onboard experience will take them into nature’s designs as often as possible, whether that’s by eating alfresco, playing on the marinas, sleeping under the stars or lazing on deck,” says Smith Kielland.
Creating the right onboard lifestyle is key. “Guests often stay on the ship for a long time to enjoy life at a sedate pace, so there are no big blocks of bright colours or striking patterns; the design is something that they will discover slowly over weeks or even months,” says Sigurdsen. “It has a different rhythm – everything will be soft, and nothing will shout at you.”
Certainly, SeaDream Innovation will offer a completely different concept to anything else at sea. “She’s designed for seasoned travellers who have done everything else and really want some special experiences and stories to take home,” explains Smith-Kielland.
Brynestad may have started his love affair with SeaDream Innovation 20 years ago, but it’s clear that her allure will soon captivate everyone who sails on her.
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