{"id":11662,"date":"2023-11-08T10:00:13","date_gmt":"2023-11-08T02:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/aa-highway.com.sg\/?p=11662"},"modified":"2023-11-21T17:18:00","modified_gmt":"2023-11-21T09:18:00","slug":"step-aboard-for-a-regal-experience-on-the-royal-albatross","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/aa-highway.com.sg\/step-aboard-for-a-regal-experience-on-the-royal-albatross\/","title":{"rendered":"Step Aboard For A Regal Experience On The Royal Albatross!"},"content":{"rendered":"

One man\u2019s passion for the sea has created the winds that fill the sails of Luxury Tall Ship Royal Albatross. Highway speaks to Mr Peter Pela, AA Member and Founder-CEO of Tall Ship Adventures Pte Ltd.<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n
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Mr. Peter Pela, AA Member and Founder-CEO of Tall Ship Adventures<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The Royal Albatross Sunset Dinner Cruise<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What is The Royal Albatross?<\/strong>
\nThe Royal Albatross is a traditionally rigged Barquentine Tall\u00a0Ship with square sails, whose design dates back to the\u00a017th<\/sup> and 18th\u00a0<\/sup>century. Formally known as Windy Il and operating from\u00a0Navy Pier in Chicago, she sailed on Lake Michigan during the\u00a0summer months taking guests for short sailing experiences\u00a0and occasionally participating in tall ship races. Today, the\u00a0Royal Albatross, Asia’s only luxury Tall Ship is berthed in\u00a0Singapore and was recently awarded Singapore’s Most Outstanding Attraction Experience\u00a0(Winner, Singapore Tourism Awards, 2022).<\/p>\n

How did The Royal Albatross come about?<\/strong>
\nIt was really a stroke of fate that saw me cross paths with this magnificent Tall Ship. I was exploring new career options after deciding to leave the IT industry at the age of 50, when I decided to pursue my passion for water activities such as fishing, diving and sailing. I was looking out for a suitable yacht and it was during my time in Chicago that I discovered Windy II was for sale. I remember thinking to myself how magnificent she would be in Singapore and the rest was history.<\/p>\n

What were some of the challenges you faced as you transformed the ship to become the attraction it is today?<\/strong>
\nSingapore is one of the world\u2019s busiest shipping ports – a very different environment compared to the lakes in Chicago. So, initially the Singapore authorities would not entertain allowing more than 60 persons on board. To be a commercially viable venture in Singapore, I needed a sailing capacity of up to 130 passengers, which meant having to take on major safety upgrades to international passenger ship certifications.<\/p>\n

As the saying goes – <\/em>in for a penny, in for a pound. So<\/em> I took on the challenge to obtain all the necessary international certifications, which turned out to be a long voyage indeed! We are talking about an extensive modification to the vessel such as replacing the entire rig, strengthening the hull, installing watertight bulkheads, extending the keel, new decks and designing a new interior. It was a massive passion project and learning curve for me as I did not have a strong nautical background. After five years versus the planned 2.5 years and millions invested, the reconstruction was finally completed and we launched her in Singapore in 2014 as the Royal Albatross.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Her Royal Highness Princess Anne with Pete and the Royal Albatross crew, onboard the Royal Albatross<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Pete with Hollywood Actress Jane Seymour (James Bond: Live and Let Die)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What are your most memorable moments onboard The Royal Albatross? <\/strong>
\nWe\u2019ve had many celebrities on board but the most memorable moment was hosting Her Royal Highness Princess Anne on board which was the finale to a charity event we supported that raised over $500,000 for the Mission of Seafarers.<\/p>\n

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The Royal Albatross multi award-winning Sunset Dinner Cruise<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What sets the Royal Albatross apart from the contemporary cruises that Singaporeans are familiar with?<\/strong>
\nThe Royal Albatross is a one-of-a kind, uniquely Singapore maritime experience and Asia\u2019s only Luxury Tall Ship. Our cruises are short, typically lasting around three hours from sunset, sailing around Singapore\u2019s southern coastline with semi-fine dining and live entertainment on our open breezy decks under the stars. It\u2019s an extremely romantic and memorable experience. With only a handful of Tall Ships left in public service worldwide, being able to sail on one is exceedingly rare.<\/s><\/p>\n

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Mercedes AMG GLE 53 Coupe Owner Pete with Tyson (Singapore Special)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The Royal Albatross World First Dog Cruise<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What gave you the idea for the World\u2019s first Dog Cruise?<\/b>
\nHaving two rescue dogs of my own, I understand that fur babies are part of the family and an experience of a lifetime is always better shared with those you care about. Unlike contemporary cruises, the Royal Albatross is not only pet-friendly, but also holds special Pet Cruises such as the world\u2019s first Cat Cruise and the world\u2019s first Dog Cruise. For pet lovers, it\u2019s a unique way to bond with your fur baby and share a special experience with your entire family. The doggies love the experience, as it\u2019s all about them with a seat at the table (high-chairs provided) and enjoy three-course fine-dining menu (complete with caviar).<\/p>\n

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The Royal Albatross City Lights Dinner Cruise<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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I always envisioned a sail on board the Royal Albatross to be an unforgettable experience of a lifetime in terms of it being unique, luxurious, enjoyable and romantic – thereby creating a lifelong memory. Many of our clients are celebrating, so we have attractively-themed packages for all manner of events, occasions and important life moments with friends, colleagues, families and couples.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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It is heartwarming that our guests constantly leave us glowing reviews on social media with 98% of our customers rating us 5\/5 which we are exceedingly proud of. As word goes around, it has contributed to many of our accolades \u00ad- 24 in fact (to date) including some pinnacle industry awards such as those voted in the top 1% of global attractions (TripAdvisor 2022) as well as Winner of the Most Outstanding Attraction Experience in 2022 in the Singapore Tourism Awards and the winner of this year\u2019s Luxury Lifestyle Awards for the Best Luxury Experience in Singapore!<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Royal Albatross Breakfast Cruise with International Buffet Breakfast<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Special celebrations onboard the Royal Albatross<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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What is a must-try activity for first-time sailors of the Royal Albatross?
\n<\/strong>I would recommend the Royal Albatross\u2019 seven-course degustation menu for the ultimate culinary journey and gourmet dine-and-sail experience. The food is truly amazing. For birthdays, we do offer celebratory packages and we specialise in setting up the perfect environment for a marriage proposal. If you\u2019re looking to impress (and get a \u2018yes\u2019), look no further than the Royal Albatross!<\/p>\n

Singaporeans are known for their love of good food, so what is special about the Royal Albatross\u2019 Dining Experience? Please tell us more!<\/strong>
\nWhat is exciting about our dining experience is that we take pains to craft an epic foodie journey with our selection of international classics inspired by the Golden Age of Sailing and the Singapore Story, all served with a distinctive Singaporean twist. All of our food is sourced from certified Halal suppliers, freshly prepared and cooked on board by our own team of Singaporean Chefs, then served on our upper deck under the stars surrounded by water. The mood lighting makes the setting very romantic! Our unique Royal Albatross four-course and seven-course degustation menus feature divine dishes inspired by the best recipes and ingredients from Spain, India, Latin America, France, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam and Australia.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Here are samples of some of the mouthwatering dishes we offer on board:<\/p>\n