Inside the Owner's Suite

The boat can be bigger, newer, and faster, but that’s not what makes a cruising life unforgettable. We sit down with Brooke and Braden Palmer, who cruise aboard Mermaid Monster with their four kids, to talk about what actually sticks after years of family yachting: the people you meet, the way a marina can turn into a neighborhood, and the tiny onboard traditions that somehow become the moments you remember forever.

We dig into the real purpose of yachting as a liveaboard family, from maintaining a floating home in a constantly corrosive marine environment to learning how to operate as a true team. They share two vivid “this is why” memories, including an extended stay that made them feel like residents of Boston and a calm sunset passage where pajamas and ice cream bars captured the freedom of being able to point the bow anywhere.

We also talk about raising kids aboard and what it develops that’s hard to replicate on land: being at ease talking with people of varying backgrounds, reading new situations, and siblings who become genuine best friends. Then we bring it home for anyone dreaming about the cruising lifestyle but only getting a few weeks a year, with straightforward, experience-tested advice: Don’t chase perfection, don’t over-focus on luxuries, and don’t let the dock become your default.

If you’re into yachting, family cruising, liveaboard lessons, and practical mindset shifts that make boat life possible, hit subscribe, share this with a friend who’s “waiting for the right time,” and leave us a review with your biggest question about getting underway.

A superyacht can be a symbol, or it can be a tool. Yacht owner Matthew Sawyer joins us to share how Norma Jean becomes a platform for measurable good, from ocean conservation to youth education, without turning philanthropy into a photo op. 

His sea story starts with growing up boating in California, feeling both the excitement and the nerves of heading out toward bigger water. That early relationship with the ocean still shapes his choices today. 

From there, we get real about yacht ownership: not just the horizon shots, but the “program” behind the scenes. Matthew talks about choosing where to cruise and why it changes with seasons of life, what makes the Exumas so special, and why Alaska delivers one of the most unforgettable cruising experiences on the planet. It’s a grounded look at what it means to operate a yacht responsibly while staying deeply connected to the places that make boating worth it. 

The heart of the conversation is superyacht philanthropy and marine conservation. Matthew explains how he learned his way into charitable work, why supporting ocean protection feels like a natural fit, and how a yacht can host local marine research, community activations, and high-impact fundraising. He shares the surprising Oceana auction story where a five-day charter sparked a bidding war and turned into three charters, plus what he’s learned from supporting the Boys and Girls Clubs and spending time with kids in their own space. If you’ve ever wondered how luxury yachting can translate into real community impact, this one offers a clear path forward. 

If this resonates, subscribe, share the episode with a friend who loves the water, and leave a review so more listeners can find it. What would you use your own “platform” to support?

Half the world sat between Jasmine Chong in New York and her brother Jason Tabalujan in Jakarta, and the pandemic made that distance feel permanent. Instead of waiting it out, they built a way back to each other: Celestia, a custom Indonesian yacht inspired by family roots and created to be a true sanctuary for gathering. What starts as a “crazy idea” becomes a deeply personal project shaped by memory, craftsmanship, and a shared love of the sea.

In this episode, they paint a vivid picture of what it was like to tap into traditional phinisi boatbuilding, a UNESCO-recognized art form. It explains why their hand-built ironwood yacht can still deliver modern comfort without losing her soul. Jasmine, a gifted fashion designer, walks through the realities of yacht interior design and hospitality design, ultimately choosing features that make life onboard feel open and human. Jason, with a finance background, took on the budgeting and operational processes. Along the way, they each surprised themselves, and each other, with the details that make the onboard experience distinctive, down to reef-safe amenities custom designed with intention.

The story goes beyond the boat, though. We talk about what happens when siblings shift from casual family conversations to deadlines and shared responsibility in creating a family sanctuary. You’ll also hear about the launch ceremony, the belief that a vessel carries a spirit, and how handpicking a crew from across Indonesia creates a kind of service that feels like family. If you’re curious about Indonesia yacht charter, heritage craftsmanship, and designing meaningful luxury, press play, then subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review.

A single night at sea can rearrange your entire life. Richard Hadida re-traces the moment it all clicked, when a fast-tracked sailing course and a charter for his sister's wedding turned into a 3 a.m. watch under the Milky Way, a guitar in the cockpit, and the sudden feeling of “Now I get it.” It’s a story about how bluewater sailing gets into your bones, even if you thought you already understood the water.

While he also shares - in a refreshingly honest way - why he bought Oyster Yachts, he reflects on the heart of sailing itself: the quiet, the rhythm, and the way a sailing yacht makes the journey the destination in a way powerboats rarely do. He connects that feeling to sustainability and long range ocean travel, then brings it full circle through the Oyster World Rally, where he’s circumnavigating with his wife Ally and their young son Harry. From deserted islands off Panama to weeks of island hopping in French Polynesia, he shares the family moments that feel like time slowed down, and the philosophy that drives it all: if your health, your opportunity, and your dream line up, why wait?

If this conversation sparks something in you, subscribe, share the episode with a friend who needs a push to “go now,” and leave a review so more listeners can find it.

Rough seas, barnacled commercial pilings, and a midnight decision to cross to the Faroe Islands don’t sound like “luxury yachting,” and that’s exactly the point. We’re joined by Erik Vonk, owner of the rugged explorer yacht Scintilla Maris, to talk about a style of cruising built around purpose, presence, and a boat that feels like it has a soul. If you’ve ever wondered what separates expedition yachting from a marina-to-marina loop, this conversation makes it real.

We dig into why Erik chose to reimagine a North Sea fishing trawler and why he worked to preserve her original character instead of transforming her into a conventional-looking yacht. That choice unlocks true seaworthiness, long-range autonomy, and the freedom to travel where many pleasurecraft simply can’t. From the Outer Hebrides to Icelandic waters, we talk about how the journey itself shapes decisions, why weather is part of the experience, and how capability expands your world rather than “ticking boxes” off a list.

Then the story widens into ocean conservation and marine science. Through Yachts for Science, Scintilla Maris becomes a stable research platform for scientists mapping marine biodiversity around Iceland with underwater drones, helping document what actually lives in huge areas of the ocean we still barely understand. We also explore a powerful idea: science-led charter trips where guests dive, learn, and explore with scientific guides, turning leisure into discovery.

If you want to understand cruising that feels meaningful and you’re willing to get comfortable with being uncomfortable, press play. Subscribe, share this with a fellow ocean-lover, and leave a review telling us: would you take the rough-water route on purpose?