PROWLING AROUND THE COAST OFF KATA, IN SOUTHWEST PHUKET, IS ONE OF THE ISLAND’S MOST LUXURIOUS CRUISING VENUES, THE 43-FOOT KATA ROCKS CATAMARAN
By Madeleine Becker
The KR Cat by Kata Rocks is a large catamaran and part of the food and beverage line-up oered by the ultra-trendy and luxurious Kata Rocks Villa Resort.
The dining experience aboard KR Cat by Kata Rocks is an exceptional blend of luxury, fine cuisine, and breathtaking scenery. This private catamaran oers an intimate and bespoke setting, perfect for couples, families, or small groups.
There are only 12 places available on each daytime cruise , which can either be booked as a private charter, or by couples happy to join others on a shared cruising basis. I experienced the latter and found it a lot of fun to meet likeminded holiday makers who could afford to indulge in the best.
Two programmes are offered, an all-day five and half hour cruise and a popular evening sunset cruise, which is a little shorter at two and half hour’s duration.
The beauty of this operation is that there is no time wasted having to make a lengthy transfer before getting onboard. After a welcome drink and registration at the resort’s Clubhouse, you have just a few metres of gently sloping rocks to traverse before boarding the motor tender, which takes you to the KR Cat moored close-by.
Once onboard you quickly appreciate how beautifully designed this yacht is. There are spacious lounges, sundecks, and plenty of shaded areas, including the dining table section. I was a little nervous that we would be unable to escape the other guests, but not a bit of it, there are lots of areas where you could capture some intimate moments on a private sunbed.
We participated in the daytime cruise, which started from 9am for registration, before setting sail at 10am. The highlight of the trip was the sumptuous lunch served on board, with plenty of fresh seafood and meats, cooked to your liking at the onboard BBQ station.
Throughout the day, a curated selection of wines and champagnes were served, as well as freshly blended juices if you preferred to cut back on the alcohol. The attentive sta were excellent, always on hand when you needed them, but discreetly absent when you didn’t!
This is truly a fine dining experience, and the chefs were prepared for any special dietary requirements, something that is discussed with guests beforehand during the onshore registration process.
Given the shorter cruising time, the evening cruise catering is a little dierent to the daytime fayre. Instead of the substantial buet style lunch, guests enjoy more of a tapas and canapes experience, allowing them to move around the deck and find the perfect spot to watch the spectacular setting sun.
Onboard entertainment is provided, we enjoyed flamenco style music from a very accomplished guitarist who added to the ambiance of this luxury Andaman Sea adventure.
Depending on currents and weather conditions the captain decides the direction of the cruise. Regardless of whether he heads north to the huge beaches of Karon and Patong, or south to the pretty bay at Nai Harn and Phuket’s most southerly point Promthep Cape, you are guaranteed spectacular scenery. We stopped close to some sheltered rocks for some superb snorkelling, which included a turtle sighting and some extravagant lionfish.
Also onboard for the more athletic guests were paddle boards and iAquas, and of course all of the snorkelling equipment you will need. Very easy to get in and out of the water, and you are welcomed back onboard with a warm freshwater shower.
The day ended all too quickly, so we tried to extend to join the sunset cruise, but sadly it was fully booked so we had to be content with a sublime day at sea. The KR Cat experience is ideal for those seeking a blend of culinary excellence and natural beauty, with the added thrill of being aboard a world-class luxury vessel.
It is essentially a Kata Rocks unique 5-star boutique resort experience on the water.
If you decide to join one of these cruises, you should book via the QR codes , and I can guarantee that it is likely to be the highlight of your holiday as it was for us.