STEPPING INSIDE

As you slide open the glass saloon door, set in a strong, polished stainless steel frame, you get the sense you are stepping into a high-end apartment, one designed to deliver all the delights of a lavish and contemporary city lifestyle.

Immediately to port there’s the aft galley – a generous and efficient two-person U-space just off to one side of any people traffic. Here, cockpit connectivity is cultivated with a wide opening glass window that brings the outdoors (and entertainment) inside, and confirms the galley as very much the ‘conductor’s podium’ of the social scene.

The 57’s galley itself is akin to a display kitchen for the latest in premium-brand appliances and conveniences, complemented by satin oak timber cabinetry with teak accents above the solid-surface bench tops. Its warm heart is a stainless steel cooking array that includes a combination oven/microwave, induction cooktop and rangehood. The refrigeration suite features both fridge and freezer drawers. And the well-placed dishwasher, within easy reach of the stainless steel sink and mixer tap, is also a back-friendly drawer style.

Directly opposite to starboard, almost as an extension to the galley, are further fridge and freezer drawers. These operate smoothly, as does all the cabinetry that opens and shuts on the 57, on soft-close runners. But, then, everything on the Riviera 57 Enclosed Flybridge is intended to run smoothly.

WIDE OPEN WELCOME

Opposite the galley, to starboard and above the bar area, is the stylish internal staircase that ascends to the flybridge. Carefully designed to minimise any ‘closed-in’ feeling or obscuring of views from the saloon, this floating teak tread staircase is elegantly suspended on polished stainless rails and strong steel supports encased in timber.

While this tempts us to head straight upstairs, we’ll come to the flybridge shortly, because right ahead of the galley and staircase the Riviera 57 Enclosed opens its arms wide to welcome you into the spacious saloon.

Here, to port, is a capital C-shaped deluxe dinette (convertible to a double berth) encircling a drop-down table, which can easily wine and dine six. Opposite, to starboard, is a generous L-shaped settee that provides ultimate comfort for at least five people.

Sink into any of these lounges and you can quickly appreciate the generous depth of padding and tailored upholstery, including the headlining, which make the boat feel so plush and sumptuous.

You’ll be forgiven for not noticing the soft-close drawers underneath the lounge, but then this is all part of the clever, unobtrusive way the 57 delivers clever lifestyle solutions.

From the saloon seating arrangements, (as well as from the cockpit) you also have a clear view not only of the almost 360-degree water-view vista, but the massive, wide-screen 48” LED TV that rises electronically from the forward dash, creating a floating sports arena or movie theatre experience that is enhanced by the Yamaha AV receiver with two zones and party function, and the subwoofer-enriched, 5-speaker Bose highfidelity audio system, with Apple TV and WiFi router.

If you wish, you can open the sliding glass side windows to enhance the fresh air and, in tandem with the huge windscreen forward, draw in plenty of natural light to heighten the sense of saloon spaciousness but can also be screened for privacy.

Or you may prefer to relax in air-conditioned comfort.

CALMING RETREAT WITHIN A RETREAT

The master stateroom, again defying convention for a vessel of this size, luxuriates right across the full beam. This sanctuary is accessed by its very own short, half-turn private staircase, continuing below the main companionway.

The master’s king-size island bed with innerspring mattress and upholstered bed headboard is set in the gentle ‘sweet spot’ right amidships, with real dancing room either side; even allowing storage cabinetry along both perimeters.

The master also has long windows each side with optional opening portholes, as well as but its own sofa, 32” LED TV integrated into a home theatre system and full walk-in cedar-lined wardrobe with full mirror and shoe racks.

Magnetic door holders on all doors are a nice touch too.

This stately master is a totally self-contained getaway space, served by its own private ensuite with solid surface non-slip floor (set slightly lower to contain water), vanity unit with porcelain feature sink with premium-brand fittings, as well as a separate frameless glass, large-scale shower stall.

Indeed, all the comforts of home.

VIP FORWARD STATEROOM

The forward guest stateroom (or VIP suite, if they’re very favoured friends) engenders no envy of the level of luxury in the master.

Positioning a queen-size walk-around bed with innerspring mattress in pride of place, again with good side access, you’ll discover plenty of fragrant, cedar-lined, gown-length hanging space, bedside tables with timber tops and also an ensuite bathroom which, with two-way entry, also serves as the day head.

Natural light filters into the VIP stateroom courtesy of fixed hull windows with tinted, tempered glass with blinds for privacy, while fresh air is delivered through two hatches, which can be screened for privacy.

The air-conditioned VIP also has a 22” LED TV / DVD combination unit and stereo with iPod interface, including two speakers.

ACCOMMODATION FOR ALL

The starboard stateroom is also air-conditioned and features adult-sized upper and lower beds, also with innerspring mattresses.

This stateroom also has a mirror and drawers, a hanging locker with LED lighting and drawers below, a hatch with Oceanair blind, and reading and overhead lighting.

Here there’s a choice for an optional 19” LED TV / DVD combination unit and stereo with two speakers and iPod interface, including two speakers.

FUTURISTIC FLYBRIDGE

The new Riviera 57’s fully enclosed flybridge is another complete revelation and, at first, you’ll think you’re still down in the saloon … so generous is the space.

But blink and check again – there’s a modern helm station up here, set forward for the cruiser and comprising state-of-the-art technology that includes the full features of the innovative glass bridge navigation and C-Zone digital switching systems.

We shall go into detail on these state-of-the-art technology when we sit you at the fully adjustable skipper’s seat shortly, but first we invite you to try the flybridge’s enormously comfy L-shaped seating which has convenient and clever rod storage underneath, table, and slumber seat with fridge forward which is ideal designed for relaxing in style whilst under way.

There’s also a wet bar aft with sink and secure bottle storage, all serving to keep you refreshed, and nice and close to the staircase so the galley can easily feed prepared delicacies up to the gathering – simply send your request via intercom.

And if you desire your own personal soundtrack to the view: the air-conditioned flybridge area also sports a new entertainment system embracing 28” LED TV, AM / FM / DVD /CD and iPod interface stereo with 4 speakers.

Now look up: just as subtly integrated is a huge sliding electric sunroof which, together with slide-open side windows, creates a virtual sky lounge full of light, space and fresh air. You will also notice the padded headlining has both normal and red night-vision lighting.

Aft is a rear awning window and sliding door – also set in strong and highly polished stainless steel frames – that open out to the rear deck of the flybridge where there is a large lounge and aft docking station with joystick for IPS, or throttles and bow thruster for the shaft-drive model. Clears, with zipper-opening panels, can be fitted here too should you wish to expand the flybridge space even further.

WINDOW TO THE FUTURE

State-of-the-art glass bridge navigation systems very much confirm Riviera’s commitment to emerging technology, with dependability and easy to use functionality – all designed to enhance your time aboard.

And it certainly places the supremely seaworthy Riviera 57 Enclosed Flybridge at the very forefront of world-class recreational motor yachts of this size.

IPS already offers the incredible ease of joystick maneuverability, Dynamic Positioning System for stationholding while preparing lines and fenders or while waiting off a fuel jetty, as well Anti-Corrosion Protection and Auto-Pilot, as well as optional auto-trimming features.

However, the glass bridge takes the overview and control of engines and navigation, including optional charts, sonar and radar (even auto-pilot), to extraordinary new heights … and all in one place.

In the case of IPS, it also extends to optional auto-trim and full slow-speed steering whilst underway, as well as the outstanding maneuverability of SportFish mode and the clean presentation of bait using the exhaust bypass features of Clear Wake.

The shaft drive 57 Enclosed Flybridge models – also with glass touch-screen navigation features at the bridge – have twin controls operating bow and stern thrusters both at the helm and aft flybridge docking station, as well as Electronic Vessel Control (EVC) levers integrating with cruise control, low-speed mode and single-lever mode.

Courtesy of the Quickshift gearboxes, owners of the 57 Enclosed shaft drive models with CAT C12.9 engines also have the choice to incorporate Twin Disc’s Express Joystick System (EJS) which smoothly and simultaneously actuates and controls engines, transmissions, propellers and thrusters, enabling a skipper to easily, precisely and confidently manoeuvre the yacht in challenging docking situations.