Adventure
Aphrodite
Summer and Fall Off-site
Aphrodite
A Legend On the Water, Now Available for Private Excursions
Step aboard the iconic Aphrodite yacht, where you and five of your guests will enjoy a two-hour cruise around Watch Hill and surrounding waters.
Aphrodite—an elegant and sleek 74-foot “Commuter Yacht” that launched in 1937—is a completely restored vessel that once carried luminaries that include Shirley Temple, Fred Astaire, Nelson Rockefeller and President Roosevelt. After nearly being lost to history, Aphrodite came into the possession of Ocean House owner and proprietor, Charles “Chuck” Royce, who began a complete restoration of the yacht, and re-launched her in 2005.
- Choose from several unique coastal routes:
- Enjoy a cruise along the charming and historic villages of Stonington, Mystic and Noank; cross Long Island Sound to see the beaches and famous lighthouse of Montauk; or motor past the beautiful homes of Watch Hill and nearby Fisher’s Island.
- Additional hours may be arranged to accommodate dining, shopping, and sightseeing experiences at your preferred destination. Cruises to longer-range destinations such as Block Island can also be arranged by request.
- Each cruise accommodates up to six people.
- Sparkling wine and a cheese and charcuterie board are included.
More About Aphrodite Excursions
Availability & Ages
- Aphrodite excursions are available daily, based on availability.
- Aphrodite accommodates six (6) passengers maximum per USCG regulations.
- Children 12 and over are permitted; any children under 12 years old must be approved by the Captain. Pets are not permitted on the boat.
Cancellation and Payment Policies
- 7 days’ notice is required to cancel, otherwise 50% of total fee is forfeited. Same day cancellations and no-shows forfeit the full fee.
- Cancellations due to weather or water and safety conditions, which are at the sole discretion of the Captain, are fully refundable. If a guest cancels due to weather and the captain determines that the conditions are safe, the full fee will apply. Cancellations by Ocean House, prior to, or during the cruise, due to weather, safety conditions, equipment failure, or other, are at the complete and sole discretion of the captain and/or Ocean House, and are fully refundable by Ocean House. If a guest cancels due to weather and the captain determines that the conditions are safe, the full fee will apply.
- Credit card pre-payment is required.
Suggested Dress
Casual, non-slip shoes, and a warm jacket for evening cruises.
The History of Aphrodite
Originally built by the Purdy Boat Company in May of 1937 for Wall Street financier, John Hay (Jock) Whitney of Long Island, Aphrodite has its own comprehensive history. This elegant and sleek 74-footer would whisk Whitney on a journey down the Long Island Sound to his Wall Street office.
Over the years, Aphrodite’s guest list became a “Who’s Who” for summer day cruises with such luminaries as Fred Astaire, Sir Laurence Olivier, Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Henry Ford II, FDR advisor Harry Hopkins, Shirley Temple and Nelson Rockefeller. In April 1942 she was commissioned as a Coast Guard auxiliary vessel and spent her war-time career ferrying dignitaries and transporting President Roosevelt to and from his Hyde Park home. In 1983, John Pannell, owner of the Harbor View Marine repair company, restored the yacht and relaunched the Aphrodite in 1984.
In 2003, Pannell sold Aphrodite to her present owner, classic boat enthusiast Charles Royce, who began a complete restoration of the yacht to bring her systems up to today’s standards. The Aphrodite went through complete restoration using the original boat as a template at the Brooklin Boat Yard. True to the Royce’s nature, and similarly done with the Ocean House, the first stage of the project was to extensively catalog all aspects of the boat for later reference. Once this historical documentation was completed, reconstruction began with the replacement of the original backbone, stem, floors and the reframing of Aphrodite’s signature torpedo stern. Once the framing work was completed, the hull was then re-planked, as originally built, with two layers of Philippine mahogany and copper rivets. A new deck, along with the crafting of Aphrodite’s distinctive cabin and interior accommodations was then finalized. In October of 2005, the Aphrodite’s owners departed the Center Harbor waters for the yacht to begin a new life based in Watch Hill, Rhode Island.