I tried the new Omaze-style draw for superyacht holidays and lived like a billionaire for a £10 raffle ticket

Scottish Sun

9 hours ago

AS I shake the hand of Captain Harry, the blue-eyed Greek god in command of this luxury superyacht, I wonder if this is the first time he's welcomed aboard a guest wearing a dress from Primark.
This Mediterranean-based boat costs upwards of 100,000 euros a week to rent (or 'charter' to use the yachty term) - so what am I doing on it, in an old H&M bikini and sunglasses I got for free with a magazine?
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Samantha Rea taking in the view from the deck of the Daloli, a 33 metre superyacht
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She flew into Athens then was driven to the swish marina where the Dalioi is docked
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The yacht boasts three decks, five bedrooms, seven crew and an array of 'toys' including jet skis and paddleboards
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Samantha tries out one of the boat's jet skis
I mean, who do we usually see on superyachts? Celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton, Beyonce, The Beckhams, Kylie Jenner, Kendall Jenner, and billionaire Jeff Bezos with his fiance Lauren Sanchez, all clad in designer clobber that costs more than I'd be able to spend on a holiday itself.
Yet here I am, in a nautical striped bargain that I bought in Primarni last summer, stepping onto the Daloli, a 33 metre yacht with three decks, five bedrooms, seven crew and an array of 'toys' including jet skis, paddleboards, seabobs and waterslides.
Then there's the massive TVs, a hot tub, huge lounge and dining areas, and the drinks cabinet equivalent of Mary Poppins's never-empty carpet bag…
I definitely don't have the money to charter it myself, and I don't tend to mix with millionaires who might.
In fact, if I ever imagined myself on a yacht, I'd be more likely to picture myself slaving away Below Deck-style, scrubbing stains off some spoilt celebs' sheets - because surely the lavish superyacht lifestyle is only for oligarchs and A-listers?
Well, it turns out that, actually, it's no longer exclusive to the super rich - because as of now, with the launch of Anchord's prize draw, anyone can win a week aboard, just by buying a raffle ticket.
And that's why I'm here - to get a sneak peek inside the superyacht where the first winners will spend a week living like royalty.
Inside the invite-only superyacht 'sea hotel' with four-story penthouse - & another $450m 'twin' ship is on the way
Having flown into Athens, I've been driven to Alimos Marina, in the south of the city, where the Dalioi is docked, in prime position.
The marina's glorious backdrop of sunshine, palm trees and Greek flags means I already feel like I'm on holiday - but of course, the Daloli is not a hotel, it is a superyacht, and so off we sail into the Mediterranean.
As the boat heads south, so do I - downstairs to see my cabin. I am delighted to find a double bed, immaculately made with crisp white bed linen.
There's a wardrobe with hangers, as well as cupboard space, a stonking great TV, and an ensuite bathroom stacked with Molton Brown miniatures.
Having been worried about forgetting my shampoo, it quickly becomes apparent that at this level of luxury, everything is taken care of.
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Samantha sips champagne in the top deck jacuzzi
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Posing from a superyacht pretty much guarantees that you'll be winning at Instagram, says Samantha
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With the launch of Anchord's prize draw, anyone can win a week aboard the yacht
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Taking in the stunning view from the top deck of a yacht is no longer exclusive to the super rich
Spoilt like a celebrity
There are shaving kits, toothbrushes, sun hats and sun lotion in a choice of factors. There is even a yoga mat and a foam roller to ease any muscle soreness after an invigorating swim.
There are windows - or portholes - in both my bedroom and my bathroom.
It means I can see the sea as I shower, and this turns out to be a uniquely enjoyable experience. It has spoilt me for all other bathrooms, as I would now like surrounding-sea-views for all my showers.
Heading back upstairs, I'm told that we'll be anchoring in a bay near Aigina, one of the Saronic Islands just off the Greek mainland, in the Saronic Gulf.
Here we will be doing watersports with the smorgasbord of equipment that is somehow tidily tucked away on board - despite the fact that even Stacey Solomon and the Sort Your Life Out team would struggle to fit it all in a double garage.
As a G&T is handed to me on the sun deck, it strikes me that this stratospheric level of being looked after is one that I would love to get used to
But first we're having lunch, and as I enter the dining room, I suspect we may have a stowaway in the form of interior design guru Kelly Hoppen, who's snuck on board to do the tablescaping.
It turns out it's one of the stewards, whose attention to detail would probably see them stacking up followers on Instagram, and somehow they conjure up an entirely new tablescape for every meal.
The food? Well, as I'm sure you've guessed by now, there is an excellent chef on board. He serves platters of freshly cut fruit, makes the best tzatziki I've ever eaten, and even panders to my poached egg preferences.
I would like to take him home, and I consider downloading Happn, the dating app that shows you nearby singles - perhaps this could be the route to keeping him in my kitchen?
Then I come to my senses as it dawns on me that he'd be unlikely to give up his life on a superyacht just to make my dinner.
However, as a G&T is handed to me on the sun deck, it strikes me that this stratospheric level of being looked after is one that I would love to get used to.
So if you'd like to spend a week being spoilt like a celebrity, here's how…
Just £10 enters you into Anchord's raffle for a week-long holiday, and it won't be lonely at the top (…deck!) because the prize is for six - with everyone's food and booze included, as well as a £5,000 voucher to pay for flights and transfers.
Raffle tickets for the first prize draw went on sale on Monday 2nd June, with four weeks to snap up a ticket before the draw. After that, there will be a draw every four weeks.
The Omaze of holidays
Summer trips will be in the Mediterranean, while winter wins will be in the Caribbean.
The yachts will vary, but they will all be between 25 metres and 45 metres in length, with the winners of the first raffle spending a week sunning themselves like celebrities on the Daloli.
So Anchord is basically the Omaze of holidays - instead of winning an effing big fancy house, you win a fancy vacay on an effing big yacht. Hurrah!
Now, call me superficial, but I can smugly say that posing on a superyacht pretty much guarantees that you'll be winning at Instagram.
Even in a swimsuit that's about as old as the average Love Islander, I got more 'fire' emojis in response to my pics than I have for almost anything else I've posted on Insta.
And living the life of a celeb doesn't stop with a week on the yacht, because winners also get the kind of philanthropist kudos that comes with being a celebrity benefactor like Angelina Jolie, Dolly Parton, and George and Amal Clooney.
Why? Because for every raffle, a minimum of £10,000 will be donated to the children's hospice Naomi House & Jacksplace, with an additional sum being donated to a hospice in each winner's local area.
Having spent a night on the Daloli as a guest, I know that in the future when I picture myself on a superyacht, I won't see myself emptying bathroom bins of soiled loo roll in the manner of a stressed steward in Below Deck.
Instead, I'll have flashbacks to sipping champers in the top deck jacuzzi, while the chef prepares me a fresh seafood barbeque and a handsome crew member invites me for a spin on a jet ski.
I'm feeling optimistic that this experience will raise my manifesting game - so much so that I imagine it's only a matter of time until the Law of Attraction works its magic and I sail off on another superyacht…
Raffle tickets are available at anchord.co.uk
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Samantha gets ready for some watersports
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She adds: 'I'm feeling optimistic that this experience will raise my manifesting game'