Enjoy a Gourmet Lunch on the Equator with Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa in the Maldives

The Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa in the Maldives is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2008. One unique aspect of the resort will be the novel option for guests to dine on the equator. Guests will cruise aboard Shangri-La’s luxury yacht 75 kilometres north from the resort to the meeting place of northern and southern hemispheres, drop anchor and savour a gourmet lunch with fine wines on the equator line.

In addition, guests will be able to fish, snorkel and visit Fuvahmulah, the third largest island in the country, on the full-day cruise aboard the 21-metre sailing yacht. The yacht features two luxury cabins with en-suite bathroom, an indoor lounge area, spacious timber decks with sun loungers, and an on-deck dining area.

The Indian Ocean day-journey will begin with breakfast on deck, where passengers can keep a lookout for the many spinner dolphins swimming in the area. Champagne corks will fly upon reaching the equator line, celebrating arrival at one of the world’s most unusual lunch venues.

Later the captain will anchor the yacht by Fuvahmulah, an island famous for Thundi beach, located at the northern-most tip and formed by small, white, unusually smooth and shiny round pebbles. Guests will be able to snorkel or stroll along the picturesque shore. The cruise ends with sunset cocktails on deck as the yacht sails back to the resort.

Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa in the southern Maldives, on Addu Atoll, will feature 142 villas with views of the ocean or the island’s natural lush vegetation. The Maldives’ second international airport, Gan International Airport, is an eight-minute boat ride away from the resort and Male International Airport is 70 minutes by domestic flights operating around the clock.

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