For those who wish to enjoy a luxury holiday on a boat, but feel queasy just thinking about the ocean swell, a solution has docked in London.
With a four-star deluxe rating and 136 guest rooms spread over five floors, the 102-metre Sunborn London is part of a growing concept - the yacht hotel.
The first of its kind in the English capital offers holidaymakers and business travellers the opportunity to retire to their private cabin on board a superyacht after a day of sightseeing, shopping and meetings.
The US$67m yacht features full propulsion but has been designed to be permanently moored.
According to Sunborn, the hotel is ideal in sites of sensitive environmental or heritage status as no permanent footprint is created.
“There are significant financial benefits in being able to build where there is no available land, particularly when a waterfront location is next high-value commercial real estate,” the company said in a statement on its website.
“Floating hotels can be easily relocated and they offer the security of a hotel investment that can be moved for economic reasons or where a location has become politically unstable.”
The Sunborn London is moored at the western end of the Royal Victoria Dock, with venues such as Canary Wharf, the O2 Arena and Emirates Air Line all close by.
Guests are treated to a bar, lounge and fine-dining restaurant, while business travellers can deal with clients in the conference rooms. There are four executive suites providing polished timber sundecks with views across the River Thames, and bespoke furnishings maintain the heightened sense of luxury.
The company opened the 142-metre Sunborn Gibraltar in March and is set against the backdrop of the 1,400 foot Rock of Gibraltar and has 189 guest rooms within its seven storeys.
Plans are also under way to open another yacht hotel in Barcelona.
ioxborrow@thenational.ae
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The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm
Torque: 300Nm at 1,900rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh130,000
On sale: now
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The specs: 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali
Price, base / as tested Dh207,846 / Dh220,000
Engine 6.2L V8
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 420hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque 624Nm @ 4,100rpm
Fuel economy, combined 13.5L / 100km
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Director: Edgar Wright
Starring: Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx, Lily James
Three and a half stars
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The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
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RESULTS
6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (Dirt) 1.600m
Winner: Miller’s House, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Kanood, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
7.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Gervais, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.15pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Important Mission, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.50pm: The Entisar Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Firnas, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
9.25pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Zhou Storm, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
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