Review: Feadship 223' "Lady Christine"

Taking a page from the classic Art Deco, the designers, with Lord and Lady Laidlow’s enthusiastic permission, decided to reminisce in theme, about the Paris Exhibition of 1925; and while nothing is actually copied, that era’s passionate, artful flavor adds a delightful presence. Lady Christine’s Main Entrance on the Main Deck, sporting yet another symbolic, stylized Royal Crest in soft white, against the almond-caramel field. Very rich, conceptual design planning. A key note here is the use of marquetry, inlaid work in small pieces of veneer for decorations which complement the Art Deco approach so well. Woods used include birch, maple, cherry in a rich blending of design. Other woods flavoring the interior are macassar ebony, cherry, maple, amboyna burr.

Just inside her Main Deck Entrance at the flawlessly executed entryway’s broad etched glass doors, a foursome of cleverly appointed easy chairs with an abbreviated table, poised before the convenient stand-up bar. Also note, at the close-in side, a fully reconditioned Bechstein grand piano was refaced with inlays to match the room decor, ready to serenade her music-loving guests with the unforgettable. The piano has a climate control device to keep it tuned in a room that is subject to various levels of humidity due to Lady Christine's fold-out beach platforms.

Along the top of the bar, note a series of compact etchings in a glass base paying tribute to images taken by the Lord's photographer during a safari trip, which come to view as white carvings of African scenes; zebras on the wild plains. Original handwork, meticulously executed.

An alternate view of the entryway bar, with chairs and table facing the deserted harbor inlet. Note the enigmatic ovoid spotlight in the ceiling; another swirling, circular, planetary-like light system.

Just off the previous view, the evening dining table in richly polished mahogany, awaits the call to sumptuous dinning experiences. Chairs and chair backs also feature the crest design, as noted previously, though now in carved, dark ebony wood fashioning the chair backs.

Lady Christine’s dining table is a rare beauty, with stately candelabra, even folded napkins, chairs, all reverberating with the stylized Royal crest, fully opened. The table seats ten, comfortably. Did we mention the view?

A corner hutch in the dining display exposes the extraordinarily detailed cabinet work by the Feadship craftsmen on this Lordly ship, emphasizing the attention given to every consideration.

Her Foyer exhibits this magnificent mural, depicting a castle in all its glory, with, of all surprises, the yacht "Lady Christine" in the foreground. It is here the Art Deco theme approach manifests its most piquant flavor.

Up the Foyer stairs, another lightly entertaining, detailed illustrative mural, dating back to the early days of automotive travel – an early Rolls Royce perhaps – and in the background, a steaming paddle-wheeler. Then even more; overhead a magical, joyfully decorated balloon; and an ancient biplane from the early 1918s, surveying the scene.

On the Lower Deck, four Guest suites, three doubles, one with twin berths. The yacht’s guest quarters are also lush, well fitted, situated athwartships for less movement; yet still exhibiting excellent taste, presenting a book shelf and night stand.

Her Guest Bath is no less dedicated to the luxury mode, with bold, plated accessories, marble topped wash basins for two and a sweeping vanity-mirror.

The Lady’s galley is conveniently laid out with two lengthy, wide corridors separated by an island prep station, flaunting an aggregation of stainless steel cookers on one side and hearty white-streaked black marble opposite, for endless activity and creative food mastery. Food prep here in this delightful kitchen is a creative Chef’s dream.

Watching movies “at home” can be such a comfortable pleasure, that is if you happen to be cruising with the Lady Christine. Plush couches and a marvelously large screen, in a sound dampened theatre is a wonderful treat. This Cinema, designed by Jean Guy Verges, with Rodney Black Studios, is sumptuously entertaining.

Her crew mess is also well provided for in spacious, airy quarters with plenty of light from inside as well as ample ports. A comfy, deep couch is abetted by strong, padded, stainless steel stools.

Aft of the owner's observation room is the owner’s is a delightful gym for the ambitious body toner, with multiple challenging pace / climb / stretching modules. All strategically arranged so that the whole fitness brigade may be entertained at one session.

Numerous washers and dryers are located on the tank deck, each serviceable from behind. The tank deck is a city unto itself with higher than average ceilings granting unobstructed headroom to cold storage, ship's supplies and ancillary equipment.

Ready and waiting in the bowels of the ship, any number of tenders and water toys are closeted, for guests eager to enjoy at their leisure, in guarded coves, anywhere in the world.

Her enormous, two-story-plus tall engine room is also fastidiously arranged for adequate and intricate servicing of the grand 2x MTU 12V4000 M60 engines, operating 1320 kW @ 1800 rpm, with 4x Quantum non-retractable zero-speed stabilizers. Generators are also MTU – 8V2000 M50, which are absent in this engine room. Instead, they are placed down-low, in the tank deck within dedicated and separated generator rooms to isolate the ship from noise and vibration.

Lady Christine has chalked up extraordinary cruising plans; sailing to the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Alaska, Ecuador, South America. And of course, numerous exciting locations in the fabled Med. Underway, going away, Her Ladyship resembles all that a private yacht could care to present; extensive beauty, enormous room, enviable design. It’s no wonder Lord Irvine Laidlaw, summing up feelings on the entire project now and in the future, proclaimed:

“You really do have to live aboard a Feadship to appreciate it; that bow to stern,
sun-deck to tank-deck, everything the product of incredible design and workmanship. ​

<end>

***​

Specifications:

Builder: Royal Van Lent
Type: Twin Screw Motor Yacht, Steel hull, aluminum superstructure
LOA: 223’
Beam: 41’
Draft: 11’10”
Speed: 15.5 kts
Fuel Capacity: 47,500 US Gals.
Water: 11,900 USG
Design: De Voogt Naval Architects
Interior: Rodney Black Design
Propulsion: 2XMTU 12V4000 M60m 1320kW @ 1800 rpm
Generators: 3XMTU 8V2000 M50 (silent)
Stabilizers: 4X Quantum non-retractable zero-speed

Accommodations:

Owner: Full Beam Suite
Guests: 8 Guests in four staterooms
Crew: 19 in 10 crew cabins, plus 2 in Capt. cabin

For more information contact:

Feadship Holland
Zijlweg 148C, P.O. Box 5238,
2000 GE Haarlem, Netherlands
http://www.***********
+31 (-23) -524-70-00

***​