Overview
- Reporting in late August 2026 shows Fertitta is conducting a multi‑stop 'coastal diplomatic tour' aboard the 383‑foot Boardwalk and continues to host high‑profile events in multiple Italian ports.
- The Boardwalk is a 383‑foot, roughly $450 million megayacht with helipads, pools, hot tubs and extensive guest facilities that Fertitta is using at his own expense for the voyage.
- The tour has visited locations including the Bay of Naples, the isles of Venice and Bari and has brought local lawmakers, military figures and business leaders aboard for receptions.
- The yacht parties have prompted public protests in cities such as Venice and questions from critics about the use and cost of Italian police, helicopters and boats for security, while some Italian officials have praised Fertitta's ties to the country.
- Fertitta was appointed U.S. ambassador by President Trump, a placement that echoes a wider pattern of political appointees using private resources for representational diplomacy and that is now raising broader questions about influence, optics and diplomatic norms.