Peninsula's new private cruiser plies the river

The Peninsula Shanghai is upgrading its fleet of luxury vehicle services by including an Italian yacht at the cost of $1 million.

The new cruiser, an Azimut 47 Flybridge, has replaced the former Princess yacht that has been in service for about four years, when the luxury hotel became the first to start offering private cruises along the Huangpu River in 2013.

Decorated in the livery of the 151-year-old hospitality brand, the 14.5-meter cruiser can carry a maximum of 10 passengers, as well as one pilot and one sailor.

It hit the water in March.

The cost of a river cruise starts from 8,000 yuan ($1,160) per hour, plus a 15 percent service charge, ranking it among the most expensive boat trips on the river.

Guests can also order the hotel's signature afternoon tea, or other food and beverages beforehand, at an extra charge. Charter or bespoke packages are available upon arrangement, with costs calculated by hour.

"We are delighted to introduce the Azimut 47 Flybridge yacht to our existing fleet of vehicles," said Joseph W.Y. Chong, the hotel's general manager. "The cruiser will allow our guests to enjoy the iconic skyline and dramatic waterways of China's largest metropolis."

A typical cruise experience offered by the Peninsula begins with a chauffeured ride from the hotel lobby to the dock at the upper reaches of the Huangpu River, about 10 minutes away.

An hour is sufficient for a round trip and a panorama of the most quintessential parts of the river and the views along the banks, which comprise the century-old Bund promenade on the west bank and the towering skyscrapers of Pudong on the east bank.

The area has received a plethora of prominent figures, as arriving by boat used to be the most convenient way to visit the city, which used to be known as the Paris of the Orient.

Peninsula Hotels boasts a longstanding tradition of providing luxury fleet services, partly due to its founding family's personal interest in automobiles and aviation.

In 2006, the Peninsula Hong Kong broke its own previous record for the single largest order of Rolls Royce automobiles-14 long-wheelbase Phantoms built to custom specifications.

The Peninsula Shanghai currently owns and operates a fleet of five Rolls Royce automobiles, including one vintage 1934 Phantom, as well as nine BMWs for chauffeured rides.

With an ambition to offer its guests a complete experience of the city by road, water and air, it is also working closely with the municipal government to get an official license to use its helicopter apron on a regular basis.

The apron, atop the hotel's 15-story building, is included as one of Shanghai's 50 spots for helicopter take-off s and landings for emergency use, and the only one located on a commercial building.

xujunqian@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 04/22/2017 page10)