Full Circle: A Journey Home To Jacksonville

Nearly 90 years later, their granddaughter—Leslie (now Lezlee)—and her husband, Capt. Rob, would go on to launch the only luxury dinner yacht operation in Downtown Jacksonville. Coincidence? Maybe. But I believe in signs. And life has a poetic way of bringing things full circle.

The Royal Princess herself has a story of transformation. Originally built as a steel workboat in 1991 in Louisiana, she was later converted into a three-deck passenger vessel and brought to New York Harbor, where she became one of the city’s premier private charter yachts, hosting weddings and milestone celebrations.

Capt. Rob and I purchased her in 2007 after operating a smaller charter vessel in the harbor. We lovingly renovated her with a traditional aesthetic and hosted hundreds of fabulous events while raising our two children, River and Skye. I managed sales and marketing; Rob, the maritime operations. Our kids grew up answering phones with me—“NY Boat Charter”—and tagging along to weddings. As they got older, they started helping out on deck.

But five years ago, life changed. Rob was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease that led to liver failure. He needed a transplant to survive. After extensive research, we discovered that his best chance at a transplant was in Florida, where the organ allocation system worked more favorably for his condition. The Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, one of the top transplant hospitals in the world, became our lifeline.

To be eligible for the transplant list, we had to relocate temporarily. And after three long years of waiting, Rob received his life-saving liver transplant on September 10, 2020—right here in Jacksonville. It was our second chance.

After the transplant, we returned to New York and made the difficult decision to let go of the Royal Princess. In 2021, she was bareboat chartered and relocated to Miami with plans for her eventual sale. But, as life would have it, she came back to us—weathered, in need of TLC, and seeking a new home.

Once again, she followed us to Jacksonville. And once again, she mirrored our lives.

Rob had needed a transplant—his vital organ failing under years of stress. The Royal Princess, too, had become unstable, burdened by excessive weight that compromised her structure. Her transformation began with removing over 100,000 pounds from her frame—gutting her down to the bones. Like surgeons, our welders replaced weakened steel and aluminum. Deck by deck, we’ve been rebuilding her—this time in a modern style, fit for the vibrant Jacksonville market.

Rob is the visionary behind her rebirth. I’m the storyteller. Our children, now young adults, are part of the journey—River will soon be serving as a third mate aboard the Royal Princess.

Jacksonville represents more than a city. It is rebirth. It is homecoming. It is a place where our family’s story—past, present, and future—intersects with purpose.

We’re honored to breathe new life into this city and give people an exciting reason to come Downtown—to experience the beauty of the St. Johns River in luxury and style aboard a yacht with heart and history.

This was always our destiny. And we are so grateful for this full-circle moment.