Today we’d like to introduce you to Lezlee P-Bellanich.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Our story didn’t begin as a business plan—it began as a fight for life.
Before everything changed, we were operating a yacht charter business in New York. It was the life we had built, and the industry we knew well. But in 2020, my husband, Capt. Rob, was facing end-stage liver failure, and everything shifted. We came to Jacksonville for the care of the Mayo Clinic, holding onto hope. On September 10, 2020, he received the liver transplant that saved his life.
That moment became a turning point for our entire family.
In the years that followed, we rebuilt—physically, emotionally, and financially. Through that process, we felt a deep calling not just to return to what we had done before, but to create something meaningful right here in Jacksonville—something that would bring life and energy to the downtown waterfront and reflect the gratitude we carry every day.
That vision became Jax Yacht Charter.
What started as an idea turned into the restoration and relaunch of our charter vessel, Royal Princess – a tri-level, 125-foot yacht into a unique hospitality experience on the water. It hasn’t been easy—we’ve navigated significant challenges, from funding and logistics to building operations in a new city—but each step has strengthened our resolve.
Today, Jax Yacht Charter’s Royal Princess is more than a business. It’s a symbol of resilience, second chances, and purpose. It’s a place where people come to celebrate life’s moments, big and small, and where we get to turn our journey into something that serves others.
Along the way, our children, River and Skye, have become part of this mission, working alongside us and growing into it, which has made the journey even more meaningful.
We’re still building, still learning, and still dreaming—but everything we’ve created is rooted in gratitude and the belief that even the hardest chapters can lead to something beautiful.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all—it’s been anything but a smooth road.
Our journey has been marked by very real challenges, starting with my husband’s life-threatening illness in 2020. Walking through end-stage liver failure and a transplant changed everything for our family. At the same time, we were navigating the loss of our previous business in New York and starting over in a completely new city.
After his transplant, we made the decision to lease Royal Princess to an operator in Miami, assuming he would ultimately purchase the vessel after three years. It felt like a stable path forward while we rebuilt our lives. But in 2023, after relocating from our home to St. Augustine to start fresh, that plan unraveled. The operator defaulted, and we were forced to repossess the yacht.
What we discovered next was shocking—Royal Princess was over 100,000 pounds overweight. That created serious safety, engineering, and financial challenges that we had to address immediately, on top of everything else we were already navigating.
From there, the hurdles continued—unexpected restoration costs, complex regulatory requirements, staffing challenges, and constant pressure around funding and cash flow. We also had to rebuild—personally and professionally—learning a new market in Jacksonville, trusting people again, and stepping into a larger operational role than we had ever managed before.
But every struggle has shaped what this business is today. It’s made us more resourceful, more disciplined, and deeply grounded in our purpose. So no—it hasn’t been smooth—but it’s been meaningful, and every challenge has played a role in getting us to where we are now.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Royal Princess is a 125-foot luxury yacht experience based in Jacksonville, Florida, offering curated public cruises and private charters designed to bring a higher level of hospitality to the downtown waterfront. Our vessel is a U.S. Coast Guard certified passenger vessel for
Up to 180 passengers with average guest counts between 75-125 with a spacious lower level dining room, second level entertainment deck/River bar, and top open air deck with Skye bar.
At our core, we specialize in elevated private charter experiences—weddings, corporate events, celebrations, and fully customized cruises tailored to each client. While private charters are our primary focus, we also offer specialty ticketed cruises, including brunch, sunset, and themed experiences that allow the public to enjoy the yacht in a more accessible way. We work with local vendors including preferred caterers and live entertainment.
We are also the only luxury yacht chartering business of its kind in Jacksonville, which allows us to offer a truly unique experience that simply doesn’t exist elsewhere in the market. Guests aren’t comparing us to another local option—what we provide stands in a category of its own.
A major milestone for our brand was being awarded a ten-year contract with the City of Jacksonville to operate from a prime, beautifully located dock downtown on the SouthBank Riverwalk. This has positioned us at the center of the city’s waterfront revitalization and allows us to be a consistent, visible part of Jacksonville’s growth and energy.
What truly differentiates us is our story and our standard. This isn’t a corporate concept—it’s family-built, hands-on, and purpose-driven. After walking through a life-altering season, we’ve built this brand with a deep sense of gratitude and intention. That shows up in how we treat our guests, how we train our crew, and how we show up for our city.
We also bring a unique combination of maritime expertise and hospitality focus. With my husband’s background as a captain and our family’s history in yacht chartering, paired with a strong emphasis on guest experience, we’ve created something that blends professionalism with warmth—something people can feel the moment they come aboard.
Brand-wise, what we’re most proud of is that Jax Yacht Charter/Royal Princess represents more than a service—it represents a second chance. It’s a symbol of resilience, excellence, and bringing life back to Jacksonville’s riverfront in a fresh, exciting way.
What we want readers to know is this: whether you’re celebrating something big or just looking for a unique night out, Royal Princess is designed to create moments you don’t forget. And behind every cruise is a family and a team that truly cares about making it special.
How do you think about luck?
I don’t think of it as luck as much as I think of it as timing, faith, and perseverance—but there’s no question that both “good” and “bad” luck have played a role in our story.
What some might call bad luck—my husband’s illness, the loss of our previous business, the operator defaulting on our yacht, or discovering the vessel was over 100,000 pounds overweight—those were incredibly difficult moments. At the time, they felt like setbacks we weren’t sure we could overcome.
But looking back, those same moments shaped everything. They forced us to make decisions we wouldn’t have otherwise made, brought us to Jacksonville, and ultimately led to the life-saving transplant at Mayo Clinic. They also pushed us to take back control of Royal Princess and rebuild it into what it is today.
On the other side, we’ve experienced what people might call good luck—meeting the right people at the right time, being awarded a ten-year contract with the City of Jacksonville, and finding opportunities that aligned with our vision. But even those moments came after a lot of hard work, persistence, and showing up when things were uncertain.
So while luck has certainly played a role, I believe it’s really been about resilience—continuing forward through the hard moments and being ready to step into the opportunities when they come. In many ways, what looked like the worst setbacks became the greatest turning points in our story.
Pricing:
- $75pp – Ticketed Summer Series with f/b for onboard purchase
- $105pp – Ticketed Brunch Cruises
- $125pp – Ticketed Dinner Cruises
- 75 person paid minimum for Private Yacht ($105pp-$165pp) with Food/Beverage separately
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jaxyacht.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaxyachtcharter
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jaxyachtcharter
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jax-yacht-charter
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jaxyachtcharter
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@jaxyachtcharter
