A Summer Mystery Aboard SHERAKHAN

When charter broker Cambry Czuplak got the call from “N”, the client, she knew this was going to be different. Having skipped on holidays for a few years in a row to focus on work, the principal wanted to catch up with his closest family friends. To boot, he’d just celebrated the professional milestone he had made these sacrifices to achieve. This wasn’t to be big, or huge, no… Epic was the brief.

The stage: SHERAKHAN. A boat that only a year ago the client thought would be “too much”… This time, it was perfect.

Yacht entertainment specialists Aquavistas began their journey under the name Luxury Treasure Hunts, with their first Treasure Hunt aboard the charter yacht NERO in 2021. The week-long entertainment involved a three-day treasure hunt through the Greek islands of Kefalonia, Ithaca and Zakynthos – which ended with a Police boat chase which that principal still isn’t certain was real or staged. The Greeks wouldn’t give away the secrets.

Founded by Charlie Moretti, a film and television producer with over 15 years of experience, the company quickly evolved into an entertainment label dedicated to creating moments that live forever, through immersive, cinematic experiences.

Today, Aquavistas offers over 20 different shows designed specifically for superyachts. These range from intimate illusions to grand-scale themed productions and are tailored to match specific guests’ occasions onboard (anniversaries, celebrations or multi-generational family get-togethers).

Their mission “to craft core memories” resonates with a new generation of charter guests (and owners) who seek authentic moments that lead to unique stories which become core memories (and part of family lore).

So when Cambry’s client, a visionary entrepreneur and family man, requested “the charter of a lifetime” to reunite his closest friends and their families, she turned to Aquavistas to elevate the charter into an unforgettable experience.

The charter wasn’t just a vacation; it was a reunion of childhood friends who hadn’t been together for years. After learning more about the group and their dynamic, Charlie and his team put together a week-long entertainment itinerary that blended the cruising grounds of the Côte d’Azur with experiences that would bring surprise, emotions, and pure theatrical magic.

Eleven shows in seven days, spanning live music, murder mystery featuring a real Bond girl, cabaret performances, and a Michael Jackson tribute that had guests dancing beneath the stars. Working closely with the captain and crew, each show was tailored to the guests’ personalities, with Aquavistas weaving every performance into the yacht’s daily activities. Every detail furthered the Principal’s second request: that no one should ever stop being surprised (and that the entire itinerary had to remain a secret until each show was about to happen). The cloak-and-dagger logistics were in full swing for the entire week.

To capture the joy, drama and suspense, Aquavistas gifted a full film and photography crew, producing a 45-minute cinematic film for the guests to take home. “Our goal,” said Charlie, “is to create core memories – moments that stay alive in people’s hearts for decades after the show. The film helps us curate the best version of that memory for them”.

Behind the scenes, it was the personal touches and thoughtful gestures that transformed the trip from special to legendary. When the guests arrived in Nice, for example, they had no idea how their vacation would unfold (or that they would be on a yacht at all!).

Each had an invitation marked with a red question mark, with instructions that simply said that a taxi would collect them for a “surprise holiday.” On arrival, they were told their accommodation had fallen through and they were ushered toward a modest “tour boat”, which turned out to be SHERAKHAN’s adventure tender disguised as a local tour boat with Nice football club stickers and a fake TripAdvisor rating stuck on the windshield.

SHERAKHAN’s Chief Stewardess Manon and Charlie acted as tour guides, entertaining the group until Charlie produced an envelope with the same red question mark, and as the tender circled the bay, the guests spotted a Giant flag on board SHERAKHAN – and so the adventure started.

The Principal was also treated to a number of surprises, including an evening performance where the opening beats of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” played across the deck, and the crew emerged from hidden hatches in full zombie attire, accompanied by smoke, lights, and a full rendition of the iconic choreography.

The crew had to receive the choreography two months ahead of time and with the help of Manon (a music teacher in a past life, a music aficionado in this one) were drilled until they could perform amidst the smoke, lights and various show effects that went on during the performance. As a lifelong Michael Jackson fan, “N” described the performance as “pure magic.”

Another guest, recovering from knee surgery, thought he would have to miss the charter entirely (to the horror of his accompanying family) and although he made it out to the South of France, had to sit out the water activities. Charlie, seeing his bittersweet attitude to is waited for the opportune moment to put something together: While the others went on to explore Eze on foot, he got the help of the deck crew to put lines out over the swim platform, get some life vests together to create a raft and with two swim instructors in the water, got the guest in the water for a memory-making twenty minutes of blissful bobbing up and down the Azure waters of the famous Cote.

When the week eventually came to a close, the Principal sent a note to the team expressing his thanks. “I can’t thank you enough for an exceptional week. It was an unqualified success beyond my every expectation.”

Cambry echoed his words, describing it as her favorite charter of all time. “The trip was one we will all forever remember and treasure. The celebration of love and friendship was at the core of what life is all about. Charlie and the Aquavistas team were incredible – they didn’t just organize the entertainment; they built a world for us to live in.”

Perhaps this classic Hollywood fairy tale ending will lead to many sequels.