If you’ve ever been stuck in traffic on your way from Manhattan to the Hamptons or had to endure the inconvenience of driving from Miami to Palm Beach, The Twenty Five aims to take some of that pain away.
The company plans to offer a transportation option to coastal destinations in a unique watercraft. The service lets you sit back, enjoy the ride, and maybe even arrive closer to your final destination with fewer transfers.
The service will likely beat air and road travel for reaching some of the most desirable coastal destinations in North America. No one wants to deal with airport formalities or lengthy traffic jams when there's an alternative. We caught up with Neill Etheridge, co-founder of The Twenty Five, to ask about the upcoming members-only service.
What specific frustrations with existing journeys to destinations such as the Hamptons and Palm Beach convinced you that there was an opportunity for a new transportation network?
Having lived along the coast, I experienced these frustrations firsthand. Reaching the Hamptons, for example, can take two and a half to three and a half hours, even though the journey is only about 85 or 90 miles. Seasonal congestion affects cars, buses and ferries, while other alternatives can be expensive or leave travelers far from their final destination. Many of the people we expect to serve live near the water, yet they often arrive at an airport only to face another congested ground journey. The combination of congestion, cost and inconvenient arrival points made the opportunity for a better waterfront network clear.
Why did you choose a membership model over an open-access model?
A membership model allows us to create a secure, carefully managed environment that offers greater privacy and confidence. Founder-owner members will hold a stake in the company’s future and share an interest in its long-term success. A broader subscription membership, generally driven by invitation and supported by a straightforward application process, will make the service available to a wider audience while preserving the quality of the experience. The objective is not simply exclusivity; it is to build a trusted community around the service.
The 12-passenger, all-electric REGENT Viceroy Seaglider is a unique vessel. How do its capabilities inform potential routes and the overall member experience?
The Seaglider is particularly well suited to connecting destinations along coastlines and accessible waterways, especially for journeys of approximately 150 to 180 miles. A traveler arriving by private jet in Fort Lauderdale, for example, could use our service to reach a home farther down the coast or in the Bahamas. Similarly, someone arriving at LaGuardia could transfer to a Seaglider and continue toward a waterfront destination.
Because it can operate as a vessel within harbors and marinas, the Seaglider can serve access points that are impractical for many other transportation options. That versatility allows us to open new routes while bringing members closer to where they actually want to be.
Beyond access to the Seaglider, what other benefits will members receive?
Members will receive priority access and premium privileges across the platform. Over time, we expect membership to unlock a broader collection of benefits through relationships with private aviation and other transportation providers. We also plan to partner with hospitality companies, marinas, yacht-charter operators and other businesses in the marine sector. The goal is to create a curated ecosystem that enhances the entire journey, not simply the time spent aboard the Seaglider.
How are prospective members helping determine which routes and waterfront access points should launch first?
We are currently focused on recruiting founder members, and their preferences will help inform our plans. However, the timing of our first deliveries and the season in which they arrive will be major factors in determining where we launch. A winter delivery would likely favor an initial focus on South Florida, while a spring delivery could support a Northeast launch for the spring and summer season. As the broader membership grows, demand will play an increasingly important role in determining scheduled routes, waterfront access points and where we concentrate our assets.
What will distinguish The Twenty Five from charter aviation, helicopters, ferries and premium car services when members evaluate convenience, privacy and reliability?
We are not trying to replace those services. We are building a network that connects them more effectively. Through partnerships and an AI-supported booking platform, we intend to help members identify the most efficient combination of transportation options for an entire journey. The Twenty Five will distinguish itself through speed, privacy and an elevated experience from booking through arrival. We are not simply trying to give members an hour back; we want to make the journey itself more enjoyable.
What operational, regulatory and infrastructure milestones must be reached before the first journey?
The principal near-term milestones are the Seaglider’s flight-testing program and final certification by the U.S. Coast Guard. As the first delivery approaches, we will work with REGENT, our operating partner Hornblower and the Coast Guard to obtain the necessary approvals for our initial routes. That process will establish where, when and at what speeds the craft may operate along each route. Certification, delivery, route-specific approvals and the operating platform must all be in place before the first commercial journey. We will undertake the relevant approval process again as the network expands into new regions.
The company has discussed routes across the United States and the Caribbean. Do you envision expanding the service to additional markets over time?
Yes. We describe our markets as “chapters,” with the East Coast as our first. The Bahamas forms part of that initial opportunity, while the wider Caribbean, particularly the Leeward Islands and destinations such as Saint Barthélemy, Barbuda, Antigua and Saint Kitts is likely to be our first broader international expansion. The West Coast is another major priority, and we also see potential around Chicago and the Great Lakes, subject to regulatory requirements. Longer term, we are evaluating markets in France, Italy and Greece, potentially around 2029 or 2030, as enough craft become available to support those operations.
