Southern Cross

Southern Cross is an Aquila 545 designed for guests who value exceptional interior volume, comfortable accommodations and the feel of a much larger motor yacht. At 54 feet, she accommodates up to 10 guests in five cabins with five heads and offers an impressive amount of living space throughout the yacht.

The Aquila design is very different from many powercats. Rather than creating a continuous walk-through salon from the aft deck to the forward cockpit, Aquila uses the forward portion of the main deck for something completely different — a large, private on-deck master suite.

For many groups, that is one of Southern Cross’s biggest attractions.

On-Deck Master Suite

The master cabin occupies the forward portion of the main deck, giving the primary guests a level of space, privacy and accessibility that is unusual on a bareboat powercat.

Because the master is located on the main deck rather than down in one of the hulls, it feels much more like the primary suite of a traditional motor yacht. It is also an appealing arrangement for guests who prefer not to navigate stairs every time they go to their cabin.

The Aquila design dedicates the forward portion of the main deck to this impressive master suite, creating a very different layout and experience aboard.

Exceptional Interior Space

Interior volume is one of the biggest reasons we recommend the Aquila 545.

The salon and galley are exceptionally spacious for a 54-foot powercat, with the beam and overall design creating a large central living area where a full group can comfortably gather indoors.

Large windows provide excellent visibility and natural light, while the generous galley and dining areas make Southern Cross particularly comfortable for groups who expect to cook, dine and entertain aboard throughout their charter.

This additional interior space is especially noticeable during a week-long charter. Guests have room to move around, prepare meals and relax without the interior feeling crowded when everyone is aboard.

Five Cabins — An Excellent Family Layout

Southern Cross accommodates up to 10 guests in five cabins with five heads, but what makes the layout particularly appealing is the variety of accommodations.

The large on-deck master provides an exceptional primary suite, while the additional guest cabins offer comfortable private accommodations for the rest of the group. The fifth cabin features bunk beds, making it particularly well suited to children and giving Southern Cross an excellent layout for families and multigenerational groups.

Rather than designing every cabin identically, the Aquila 545 provides a combination of adult guest accommodations and a dedicated bunk cabin that works particularly well when parents, children and grandparents are traveling together.

Expansive Flybridge & Outdoor Living

While Southern Cross is particularly impressive inside, she still provides plenty of outdoor living space.

The large flybridge creates another major social area aboard, with seating and lounging space for guests to enjoy while cruising between islands or relaxing on a mooring.

The aft cockpit provides a comfortable outdoor dining and gathering area and easy access to the water.

Rather than carrying the dinghy on a hydraulic swim platform, Southern Cross uses an electric winch system to lift and secure the dinghy at the stern. This provides a secure and convenient way to carry the tender while underway.

Designed for Comfortable BVI Cruising

Southern Cross combines the stability and efficiency of a power catamaran with the interior volume and accommodations many guests associate with a larger traditional motor yacht.

The elevated helm provides excellent visibility while underway, and her substantial living spaces make her particularly comfortable for a full week exploring the BVI.

An on-water checkout is included on the first day of every Virgin Charter Yachts bareboat charter to make sure guests are comfortable operating the yacht before beginning their week in the BVI.

Why We Recommend Southern Cross

Southern Cross is one of our favorite choices for families and multigenerational groups who place a high priority on interior space and primary-cabin comfort.

The on-deck master is a major advantage for guests who prefer a large primary suite without going down into the hull, while the enormous salon and galley give the entire group an unusually spacious indoor living area. The fifth cabin with bunk beds is particularly useful for families traveling with children.

For groups of up to 10 who want exceptional interior volume, a true on-deck master, a family-friendly cabin layout and the substantial feel of a larger motor yacht, Southern Cross is an excellent choice.