I lived the high SES life aboard the Royal Albatross Sunset Sail

I’ve always wondered what it’s like to lead the luxe life, to own a private yacht and sail out into the sunset just like in the movies. That is, until I got a glimpse of this life aboard the Royal Albatross Sunset Sail – the experience was picturesque and everything I imagined it to be. Most importantly, it is actually affordable for young working adults who wish to occasionally indulge in the finer things in life, be it for a romantic date or a special celebration with family.

But before I get to my 2.5-hour high SES experience, here’s a quick overview of the luxury tall ship.

Royal Albatross Overview

Comprising 4 masts, 22 sails, more than 650 square metres of canvas and over 60,000 customisable RGB lights, the Royal Albatross stands tall as the largest charter yacht in Singapore. For all its beauty and majesty, the tall ship was featured as billionaire Bruce Wayne’s private yacht in The Dark Knight (2008 movie).

My colleagues and I get so excited, we arrive a whole hour before departure time.

Welcome Aboard!

6pm – We board the Royal Albatross at Resorts World Sentosa, next to the entrance of Adventure Cove Waterpark. We are told to deposit our shoes at the dock to prevent damage to the yacht flooring. What ensues is a series of ‘oh wow’ moments as we’re given a quick tour of the ship.

The Upper Deck, which sits up to 100 guests, offers magnificent views along Singapore’s southern coast. Naturally, this is where most of the ship’s guests choose to hang out throughout the Sunset Sail. Just in case you’re wondering, the photo above has #nofilter.

After an introduction of the ship, guests are given a welcome mocktail of burnt caramel tonic. Thoughts running through my mind include, “I can’t remember the last time I was given a welcome drink”, “So this is what it’s like to be a V.I.P.” and “Does this mean I’ve made it in life?”

Needless to say, we also use this time to capture countless #aesthetic Insta-worthy shots aboard the Royal Albatross. Word of advice: check-in early if you don’t want to be photobombed by other guests.

The Sunset Sail Begins

7pm – The ship sets off into the sunset at the most beautiful point of the golden hour. I mean…

…just look at how stunning this is!

7.30pm – The sun sets completely, and the ship’s crew begins derigging. This not only allows the cooling sea breeze in – it gives guests full view of the starry night sky as well. Although the process isn’t meant to be a performance, I personally find it quite a spectacle as the crew maneuvers up and down the rigs so swiftly like ninjas in the night.

The party begins

8pm – Dinner is served. I generally associate buffets with a lack of quality, but the spread aboard the Royal Albatross Sunset Sail proves me wrong. From freshly made bruschettas right down to its juicy beef steak, every dish in the lineup is prepared using quality produce and simply so well executed.

Of course, no yacht party is complete without live entertainment. The crew tells us that the singer in the photo above is the Sunset Sail’s main act, and everyone can definitely see why. On top of having pipes for days, she walks around the entire Upper Deck during her set to mingle with and dance alongside guests, making it feel very much like an intimate gathering among friends.

If you don’t post about it, did it really happen?

8.40pm – We realise how pretty the RGB lights are, and decide we need to have a #squadgoals photoshoot by the stairs. After all, how else is anyone going to believe us when we say we were on Bruce Wayne’s private yacht?

The saloon deck also lends itself a Tumblr-esque photo spot that has some serious nautical and Christmas vibes, so we think to ourselves, “Why not?”

P.S. don’t forget to tag us @rwsentosa!

Ending the Sunset Sail with a bang

9pm – We are told by the ship’s crew to standby on the Upper Deck for a Wings of Time fireworks display. I’ve watched the show on Sentosa before, but watching it from a distance aboard a yacht is an entirely experience altogether.

As tacky as it may sound, it really feels like a climactic New Year’s countdown scene from a romance movie. 10 out of 10 would recommend this if you’re looking to sweep your girl off her feet.

All good things must come to an end

9.30pm – We arrive back at Resorts World Sentosa for disembarkation, and I take one last look at the vessel that brought my last 2.5 hours’ worth of a high SES fairytale. “I want to do it again,” I think to myself.