Aquavistas
Newsflash. This is not a new question. In fact, as anyone who tracks luxury travel, luxury products, luxury real estate, and of course, private jets and superyachts will tell you, there are countless companies working hard to provide that one special thing that all of the world’s wealthiest want.
So you’d think that chartering a yacht that costs anywhere from $1-4 million/per week would always be on the top of the “This is what you get the person who has everything,” list, right? Well, yes and no.
Of course, the people who can afford to spend that kind of money on a yacht charter are a pretty select group. But, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Oftentimes, just being able to charter a large yacht in a beautiful place is only the beginning. In many cases, the things that make escaping on a superyacht truly memorable for people who can have whatever they want, whenever they want, are the things that help them connect in simple, human, heart-felt ways.
And that’s what veteran TV producer Charlie Moretti seems to have figured out. He founded Aquavistas to provide on-board entertainment—from private concerts with an opera singer or tribute band, elaborate treasure hunts, murder mysteries, to burlesque or magic shows—simply because they make superyacht vacations even more fun and meaningful. But I’ll let him explain.
“So what are the guests like?” I ask. “These are some pretty demanding people who can have anything they want, right?”
What Moretti has discovered over the years is that it’s rarely about adding more spectacle. “The yachts are already spectacular,” he tells me. “The destinations are already world-class. We’re not competing with that.”
Instead, he says, the real opportunity lies in something simpler, yet a lot more fragile: “It’s about creating a space where guests can actually relax into the moment without feeling like they have to impress anyone.”
On a yacht charter, the guest list is usually small—family, close friends, maybe a couple of longtime business partners. “There’s no outside audience,” Moretti explains. “It’s just your tribe.” That intimacy changes behavior. When the right music kicks in during a tribute performance, he says, “people are up dancing within the second or third song.” Everyone knows it’s not the original artist—but that almost makes it better. “The pressure disappears,” he laughs. “And once the pressure’s gone, the fun takes over.”
The same thing happens during one of Aquavistas’ elaborate treasure hunts or James Bond–inspired murder mysteries. Guests are handed tuxedos, secret identities and the necessarily suspicious side mission. On paper, it sounds theatrical. In reality, it’s liberating. “When the environment is carefully designed,” Moretti says, “people feel safe enough to let go. They stop managing how they look and just enjoy themselves.”
Moretti credits part of that insight to his background in television production, including time working alongside Disney. “What most people don’t see,” he explains, “is how much structure goes into creating something that feels spontaneous.” In other words, the freedom guests experience is the result of thoughtful design behind the scenes.
Aquavistas
And that’s where these onboard experiences seem to make the biggest difference. Whether it’s grandparents competing alongside grandchildren in a treasure hunt or a group of lifelong friends singing along to a favorite song on the aft deck, the magic isn’t just in the performance—it’s in the shared moment. And those are the moments that tend to stick.
And it seems he makes it look like child splay when it can be anything but, as Edmiston charter broker Matthew Grant puts it: “I had the pleasure of working with Aquavistas for three of their signature shows onboard a 107-metre yacht with just 24 hours’ notice. The quality of the entertainment was exceptional, and feedback from guests was overwhelmingly positive. Each show offered a distinct experience, combining world-class talent with engaging presentation.”
Yet for Charlie, it is all about feelings and memories: “What we’ve realized is that creating core memories is as meaningful for the parents as they are fun for the kids. We know because when repeat clients call us back after five years and say ‘You remember that awesome thing that we did with the kids?’ The parents carry the memories too!”
So, what do the world’s wealthiest superyacht guests really want?
Charlie Moretti of Aquavistas seems to know.
This story was originally published on forbes.com and all figures are in USD.
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