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As Far As You Can Sea: World’s Largest Superyachts

Multimillion-dollar mega yachts.

by Emma Treagus Updated on May 22, 2024

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With onboard swimming pools, cinemas, helicopter landing pads, and spas, the world’s largest superyachts have more facilities than your ‘average’ five-star hotel.

Owned by some of the world’s wealthiest people—along with a few anonymous owners who’d prefer to keep their luxury transport a secret—these mega yachts redefine the word “boat” into something indescribably sleek, stylish, and seriously impressive. 

If superyachts are your thing, you’ll want to read on for all the facts and figures on all of the largest yachts in the world.

The 26 largest yachts in the world

Multimillion-dollar mega yachts: Our ranking methodology

A superyacht or mega yacht is typically a motor yacht or sailing yacht with a length of 30 meters (100 feet) or more. For this ranking, we looked at the superyachts and luxury expedition mega yachts that are used privately or made available for charter. We excluded so-called ‘residential superyachts’ (think Njord and The World), which are essentially luxury apartment buildings at sea where people own private residences inside the superyacht rather than the whole yacht. By researching diverse, reliable sources like Wikipedia and the Superyacht Times, we compile a list of the largest yachts in the world.

Curious about other striking superlatives? Check our round-up of the most expensive cars in the world and the most expensive private jets in the world . They are both perfectly good alternatives to owning a yacht. And if you prefer to stay home, we’ve ranked the biggest homes and the most expensive houses in the world to give you some inspiration too.

26. Y721 (aka Koru) | 417 feet—127m

Ever wonder where Jeff Bezos spends his downtime? As of today, we’re predicting it to be on his $500 million superyacht. Y721—nicknamed Koru—is 127m long. And featuring three sky-high slender masts, Koru is said to be the largest sailing yacht in the world . 

With dark exteriors and natural wooden decks, Koru is inspired by another one of Bezos’ yachts—the Black Pearl. The clean lines and classically curved bow speak to an understated elegance despite the yacht’s mammoth size. While a long line of portals indicates at least 9 guest cabins. In light of all the secrecy surrounding Koru, we doubt Bezos will ever charter her out, but we can still dream.

25. Al Mirqab | 436 feet—133m

Adorned with cascading chandeliers and gold accents, Al Mirqab is renowned for its unrivaled interiors. Surrounded by suspended glass artworks, a grand staircase floats throughout the four floors. And inspired by authentic Arabian styles, the magnificent superyacht is reminiscent of a magic carpet ride through the seas . 

Built for the former Prime Minister of Qatar, Peterswerft-Kusch spared no expense in delivering Al Mirqab to an impossibly high standard for luxury. The large swimming pool is a standout feature as it opens up into the sea, creating the ultimate playground for adults. Al Mirqab has a capacity for up to 60 guests and is manned by an equal number of crew. Although you have to be invited by the politician himself as Al Mirqab isn’t available for private charter.

24. Serene | 439 feet—134m

Adeptly named, the magnificent superyacht embodies the serenity of a life at sea. Serene was built in Italy for a Russian owner in 2011. She was leased to Bill Gates for the Summer in 2014 for $5 million per week. 

Designed by Reymond Langton, the 134m mega yacht marries elegant sophistication with state-of-the-art technologies. The seven decks leave ample space for guests to soak in scintillating views. While the underwater viewing room—nicknamed the Nemo room—is a permanent gallery of resplendent sealife. The real-life snow room makes up to four inches of snow. And whilst this may seem odd when your billionaire boss asks for snow—you make it snow.

23. Crescent | 445 feet – 136 m

Yet another Lurssen masterpiece, Crescent pays homage to classic naval designs with traditional architecture and elegant interiors. Formerly named Project Thunder, she was built in Germany and delivered to Igor Sechin in 2018. The Russian oligarch’s superyacht was seized by Spain after sanctions were placed on Russia in 2022. 

Crescent features low bulwarks and full-height windows to maximize the view from the center of the boat. Her distinctive wing station provides unrivaled views for up to 18 guests. But don’t get your hopes up—Crescent is strictly for private use only and isn’t available for charter. 

22. Savarona | 446 feet – 136m

Savarona is the second-largest yacht built by Blohm & Voss and spends most of her time in the Mediterranean. This luxury superyacht is one of the oldest in the market — a perfect fusion of traditional charm and modern facilities. 

Previously named Gunes Dil, Savarona was designed by Cox & Stevens, with interior design carefully handled by Donald Starkey. She’s available to charter on a weekly basis and has been refurbished over the years. Back in the day, her cost price was $4 million, and in 1989, she was chartered by Kahraman Sadikoglu, owner of the Turkish Sadikoglu Group, who spent an estimated $50 million on refurbishing her from top to bottom.

21. Flying Fox | 446 feet – 136m

Flying Fox is known as the most expensive charter yacht in the world , and a week aboard will set you back around $3 million. Chartered by the one and only power couple Beyonce and Jay-Z in 2021, it’s filled to the brim with all of the luxury facilities you could ever possibly want. 

The Flying Fox is rumored to be owned by Jeff Bezos, although that’s a claim that’s never been totally certified. She spends most of her time in the Mediterranean, specifically Cannes, Capri, and Sardinia, although she’s recently visited Norway, too. She can accommodate the largest helicopters on the market, and it reportedly took more than 50 meetings with her owner for interior design to be completed.

20. Rising Sun | 454 feet – 138m

The Rising Sun’s original owner, Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle Corporation, sold her in 2010 as he considered her too large. Famously used by David Geffen for self-isolation, Rising Sun has also been a popular hang-out spot for celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Beatrice, the Princess of York. 

She’s a Superyacht with impressive attention to detail like interiors kitted out in teak and onyx and endless features like a full gym, a large wine cellar, a sauna, and a spa. She’s got a full-size basketball court that doubles up as a helicopter landing pad and a private cinema for those long evenings spent at sea.

19. Al Salamah | 457 feet – 139m

Al Salamah is part of the Omani Royal fleet and started her very secretive life in Genoa. Known as the world’s biggest superyacht right up until 2016, she’s a sleek masterpiece of a ship, with a distinctive cream color and beach club design. 

Al Salamah does everything in multiples, from the five galleys onboard (the main galley, a bakery, a crew galley, an owner’s diet galley, and an Arab galley), three hospitals (one for the owner, one for guests, and one for the crew) and 2,000 sqm of floor space. She was put on sale briefly for $280 million USD, before being delisted and instead given as a gift to the Crown Prince of Bahrain. 

18. Solaris | 458 feet – 139m

Everything about Solaris was supposed to be kept a secret when she was being built—a secret that didn’t last long when her huge size was spotted undergoing sea trials in the North Sea. One of this Superyacht’s main attractions is her beach club on the top floor: the perfect spot for relaxation during those long days out at sea. 

That beach club comes complemented with endless other stylish amenities, like a large helipad, sun deck, and a crane to launch tenders, toys, and subs. Interior design is largely unknown, but, if it’s anything as sleek and white as its exteriors, it’s sure to be impressive.

17. Scheherazade | 459 feet – 140m

Two helicopter landing pads, two outdoor Jacuzzis, and two outdoor fire pits: Scheherazade doesn’t hold back with not only the essentials but also the luxuries. Previously named Lightning, “Scheherazade” is mostly associated with a female character in the Middle Eastern folk tales in the series One Thousand and One Nights. 

Not much is known about this superyacht, and even her birth and building process were referred to under a codename: Project Lightning. No one involved in her creation, even Lurssen, has revealed anything about her interiors or her owner. All that’s really known is that she sailed from Germany to Norway initially after completion. 

16. Ocean Victory | 460 feet – 140m

Ocean Victory has traveled all over the world, from Europe to Southeast Asia and back again. Owned by Russian billionaire Viktor Rashnikov, she’s the upgraded vessel to follow his purchase of the 76-meter Ebony Shine. 

She’s one designed with pure luxury in mind, from the six individual swimming pools onboard to the 300-square meter spa area. She’s beautiful both inside and out, with a unique concept designed by Espen Oeino and interior designer Alberto Pinto. The largest superyacht ever built in Italy, Ocean Victory shows some of the finest in the world when it comes to premium quality adventures at sea.

15. Yas | 463 feet – 141m

Yas is known best for its seamless and rather unusual design — one that’s a little different from most superyachts out there. The owner of Yas wanted a yacht that lived up to his own heritage; one with a backbone reminiscent of the navy and with abstract lines throughout. 

He chose an existing boat in Abu Dhabi, which was deconstructed within the region before being shipped off and renovated into the wonder that it is today. The Yas yacht was originally a Dutch navy frigate, which you’d never guess from strolling around onboard today.

14. Nord | 465 feet – 142m

Nord’s distinctive bow design has never been seen before on a yacht. That’s one of the first things you’ll notice about her. The next thing you’ll notice is her unusual design, which verges on battle-esque and has been called “ a warship wearing a tuxedo ” by Dan Lenard of the Italian design studio Nuvolari-Lenard. 

She’s one of the best superyachts out there for fun, with a sports and diving center on the lower deck, a swimming pool higher up, overlooking the ocean, and a fleet of tenders. She was designed for global exploration: a yacht that will calmly cruise her way all across the world.

13. Sailing Yacht A | 469 feet—142.8m

Challenging the status quo and pushing design boundaries, Sailing Yacht A is an enigma. The sail-assisted superyacht was built in Germany and delivered to Russian tycoon Andrey Melnichenko in 2017. However, she was seized by the Italian police force, Guardia di Finanza, in 2022 after sanctions were placed on Russian businessmen following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

Distinguished by soaring rotating carbon fiber masts, Nobiskrug’s hybrid approach to superyachts makes Sailing Yacht A more eco-conscious than other luxury yachts of her size. The u nderwater viewing pod molded into the keel speaks to her unrivaled innovation. And many balconies are enclosed by some of the largest pieces of curved glass ever made. 

12. El Mahrousa | 478 feet – 146m

El Mahrousa had a few different names in her time, ranging from the translated “The Protected” to El Horreya, which in Arabic translates to “Freedom.” It’s not surprising that she’s had more than one name when you take into account her age. As the oldest superyacht in the world, she’s undergone a lot of restoration over time, including multiple lengthenings and faster engines. 

She was renamed back to El Mahrousa in 2000 and gained even more recognition for being the first ship to cross the new Suez Canal extension in 2015. Back in her original days, she was built on the River Thames and took her first trip in 1867.

11. OK | 479 feet—146m

Delivered in Japan in 1982, OK is one of the largest and most unique superyachts in the world. Sprawling over 479 feet, the water giant is engineered to submerge almost seventy percent. This is accredited to the work done by Karmarine Shipyard. While the majority of the vessel was built by Oshima Shipping, it was privately converted to a semi-submersible yacht in Turkey. 

The superlative finishing on OK superyacht was designed by Timur Bozca, winner of the Younger Designer of the Year award in 2015. The blueprint being as many games as possible. The extraordinary vessel has the uncanny ability to hold over seventy toys, including a sailing yacht, a sea plane, tenders, buggies and even a tennis court.

10. Opera | 480 feet—146.4m 

Like many of the most majestic water titans, Opera was delivered by Lurssen in Germany and built for Abu Dhabi royalty. This time, the owner is Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, son of the founder of the United Arab Emirates. And while it may not be quite as astronomical as Lurssen’s previous builds—Azzam, Blue and Dilbar—the streamlined vessel is equally impressive onboard. 

The three-story superyacht proves large enough for a pair of helipads and two swimming pools, amongst many other toys, while simultaneously making room for up to 48 guests and 80 crew members. When it comes to the interior, details are sparse, but we do know that it was designed by Terence Disdale, a London firm renowned for creating bespoke luxury spaces. 

9. Prince Abdulaziz | 482 feet – 147m

The Prince Abdulaziz’s yacht was ordered by King Fahd, who named her after his son Prince Abdul Aziz. Now, she’s owned by his brother, Abdullah. Just one of the yachts owned by the Saudi royal family, she’s spotted frequently throughout Europe, especially in Cannes, where the royal family owns a property. 

She’s been redecorated once — in 2007 — in a project that took 15 months to complete, without even taking into account the rest of the ship’s upkeep. The Prince Abdulaziz is known for its combination of bold colors and fusion of traditional and modern design, thanks to its influence from the late David Hicks.

8. A+ | 483 feet – 147m

What do you do when the name “A” is already taken for your superyacht? Choose the next closest thing: A+. Previously named Topaz, this superyacht was the world’s fourth-largest luxury yacht when she was built, before being stripped of that particular title only a few years later. 

Nevertheless, she’s a seriously impressive superyacht, with endless facilities like a large jacuzzi, double helicopter landing pads, a swimming pool with a swimming platform and underwater lights, as well as a fitness hall, cinema, and a large conference room. She’s also well equipped with water toys, like jet skis, inflatable boats, a catamaran, and even a mini-submarine.

7. Al Said | 508 feet – 155m

Another Superyacht built, shrouded in secrecy, Al-Said was referred to as “Project Sunflower” the entire time she was being created, right up until she was delivered to her owner in 2008. Not much is known about Al Said, from her movements through to her amenities — although she is known to have a huge concert room with space for a full 50-person orchestra. 

Currently, she’s flying the flag of Oman and has spent a lot of time in its surrounding waters. Her interior was styled by British designer design house RWD, with exterior design being credited to Espen Oeino. When she was delivered to the Sultan of Oman, she replaced a previous ship of a smaller size. 

6. Dilbar | 511 feet – 156m

Dilbar, or Project Omar, as it was originally known as, is another superyacht designed with the help of exterior expert Espen Oeino, but with interiors strikingly designed by Andrew Winch. Dilbar is famously known as the world’s largest yacht by gross tonnage (interior volume) but as the fifth-longest superyacht in the world. 

She’s home to a spa pool and beach club, as well as a large private cinema, spacious cabins set high on the main deck, a spacious dining room, and a salon with its own piano. She’s just as classy and beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside.

5. Blue | 527 feet—160.6m

Sunday blues simply cease to exist on one of the world’s most extravagant superyachts. The elegant behemoth was built for member of the ruling family of Abu Dhabi and billionaire, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2022. Valued at over $600 million, Blue is one of the most expensive superyachts in the world. And with a strong emphasis on the environment, this superyacht is also one of the most sustainable. 

Blue strives to be as environmentally friendly as possible. She is equipped with a highly efficient Diesel-Electric Hybrid Propulsion Concept developed by Lürssen’s own engineering specialists. And the wastewater treatment plant allows water to be disposed of in drinking water quality.

4. Dubai | 531 feet – 162m

Dubai had multiple names in the planning stages—including Panhandle, Platinum, and Golden Star. Owned by the ruler of Dubai, it was aptly named after its home country and comes with all of the luxurious amenities you’d expect from such a name. 

The Dubai comes complete with a huge swimming pool and two jacuzzis. Further down, you’ll find a large dining room with striking blue and burgundy decor and space for up to 90 guests. Dubai usually spends her time moored at Sheikh Mohammed’s private island in front of his summer palace in Dubai. She’s basically the definition of a floating palace.

3. Eclipse | 533 feet – 162.5m

It took around five years for Eclipse to be built from start to finish. While she was always designed to be a huge, luxurious Superyacht, the focus was more on decking it out appropriately rather than breaking any records. An award-winning superyacht, she’s incredibly spacious, with endless rooms to explore and a sleek, neutral color palette running through. 

The Eclipse’s owner, Roman Abramovich, was more focused on facilities: he wanted more than one helicopter pad and a large swimming pool, too. Other than that, designer Terry Disdale had free reign for the rest of the superyacht. It’s just as much a clean piece of architectural styling as it is a stunning experience on deck.

2. Fulk Al Salamah | 538 feet – 164m

Fulk Al Salamah translates to “Ship of Peace” and that’s something that sounds like a given when you’ve taken a look at this superyacht’s incredible layout. Developed under the codename Project Saffron, Fulk Al Salamah is more of a support vessel than she is a typical superyacht. 

While she might still come complete with all of the necessities for a particularly relaxing voyage, she’s more so known for being a transport ship for the Royal Navy of Oman. She’s also used as a sort of friendship boat — pun intended — and is often sailed across the world with the intention of strengthening ties with the Sultanate. In some ports, influential people are welcomed onboard.

1. Azzam | 590 feet – 181m

Most superyachts in the top 10 category have a few mere inches between sizes, but the Azzam shoots far ahead with a large amount of extra length. The largest superyacht in the world, she was never designed to win the title — rather just to be a sleek and elegant vessel. Azzam was crafted backward, with the plans for her interior confirmed long before her exterior was fully signed off. 

Her length only came to be as such to incorporate everything required for the interiors, which added an extra 35 meters to her overall size. She’s also designed to look smaller than she actually is, with a blend of indoor and outdoor living. It took more than 4,000 people to build Azzam , clocking up six million man-hours over a period of four years.

The largest yachts in the world: Conclusion

The largest yachts in the world are:

• Azzam—590 feet
• Fulk Al Salamah—538 feet
• Eclipse—533 feet
• Dubai—531 feet
• Blue—527 feet
• Dilbar—511 feet
• Al Said —508 feet
• A+—483 feet
• Prince Abdulaziz—482 feet
• Opera—480 feet
• OK—479 feet
• El Mahrousa—478 feet
• Sailing Yacht A—469 feet
• Nord—465 feet
• Yas—463 feet
• Ocean Victory—460 feet
• Scheherazade —459 feet
• Solaris—458 feet
• Al Salamah—457 feet
• Rising Sun—454 feet
• Flying Fox—446 feet
• Savarona—446 feet
• Crescent—445 feet
• Serene —439 feet
• Al Mirqab—436 feet
• Y721 (aka Koru)—417 feet

The most expensive yacht in the world

The fact that the History Supreme, the world’s most expensive superyacht, comes coated in gold, is only part of the reason for its high cost. A superyacht with a real-life Midas touch, it was sold to an anonymous Malaysian businessman for $4.8 billion. 

Robert Kuok, the richest Malaysian businessman, is the rumored owner of History Supreme, but no one has confirmed for sure. The History Supreme also comes with plenty of other impressive touches: a master bedroom decked out in platinum, a wall feature made from meteoric stone, and a genuine T-Rex dinosaur bone, to add to the list. 

She took three years to build from scratch and comes with 10,000 kilograms of solid gold and platinum. Other seriously luxe features are her 68 kilograms 24-carat gold Aquavista Panoramic Wall Aquarium and a liquor bottle adorned with a rare 18.5-carat diamond . The base of the vessel comes wrapped in gold, too.

Frequently asked questions about the world’s largest yachts

The largest yachts in the world are owned by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, Roman Abramovich, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Alisher Usmanov. Our guide tells you more about all the biggest yachts in the world .

At 417 feet (127 m), Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ sailing yacht, Koru (formerly Project Y721), is one of the world’s largest yachts.

The 181-m (590 ft) Azzam is the world’s longest yacht in length, but the 156-m Dilbar has a much larger internal volume (measured in Gross Tons) at 15,917 GT (Gross Tons) versus 13,136 GT for Azzam. As such, Dilbar is the world’s largest yacht in volume. Read our full guide to discover the largest yachts in the world .

The biggest yacht in the world is the Azzam , which has an estimated cost of $600 million. She’s owned by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and is not currently for sale.

In terms of the number of megayachts, the largest superyacht-owning country is the United States. Nationality-wise, beyond American, an increasing percentage of superyacht owners are Turkish, Greek, Emirati, German, Australian and Dutch.

About the author

Emma Treagus

Women’s fashion & travel editor.

A former fashion assistant and budding entrepreneur who calls the world her home, Emma writes many of Luxe Digital’s women’s style and travel stories, drawing on her passion and experience for slow fashion alongside an appreciation for current trends. When she’s not getting her way with words, you’ll find her exploring a new city (at quite a walking pace)—locating the nearest sushi restaurant or devouring a book on the beach.

Learn more about Emma Treagus

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Despite the pandemic, the superyacht world continues to welcome new entries. These are the world’s biggest yachts by length.

Even in a pandemic, the size of the global superyacht fleet keeps on growing. The top 25 largest yachts in the world now total a combined 11,849 feet, with the smallest yacht on the list,  Maryah , measuring a whopping 410 feet. Built by shipyards all over the world—from the Netherlands to the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Turkey, Greece and the United Kingdom, to name just a few—new launches and refits are delivered each year. The 2021 newcomers hail from Lürssen, Dream Ship Victory and Lloyd Werft. With many new gigayacht builds in the pipeline, the list will be much more competitive in the coming years. Here are the world’s top 25 yachts by size, from  Maryah  to  Azzam.

25. ‘Maryah’ (410 feet, 1 inch), Neorion

Neorion’s  Maryah  Photo: Manuel Hernández LafuenteWATCH

This former Russian research vessel was originally launched by the Szczecinska yard in Poland. In 2010, it underwent a five-year rebuild at the Elefsis yard in Greece. The stodgy research vessel that went in reappeared in 2014 as a thoroughly modern custom-built superyacht. The UK-based  H2 Yacht Design  did both the interior and exterior, incorporating all the luxuries one would expect in a yacht this size. The swimming pool, spa, contemporary decor (including custom furniture, signature joinery, and bespoke details like fixtures and lighting), and generous interior space turned the ugly duckling into a swan.  Maryah , which reaches a top speed of 18 knots powered by a twin azipods propulsion system, has accommodation for 54 guests.

24. ‘Octopus’ (414 feet), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Octopus  Elizabeth Withe

Originally built by Lürssen for Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen, eight-decked  Octopus  is the world’s largest expedition yacht. Allen kept all the luxurious features of a superyacht, but wanted  Octopus  to be able to set anchor at the ends of the earth for exploration. The Lürssen, delivered in 2003, has storage for two helicopters, seven tenders, a large SUV and an internal dock that extends through the hull holding two submersibles. A glass-bottomed observation lounge makes for spectacular viewing when cruising. The yacht has been involved in multiple exploration discoveries, aided by its onboard dive centre and hyperbaric chamber. Espen Øino drew the exterior, including a full-sized basketball court on the aft deck, while Jonathan Quinn Barnett did the interior. The yacht underwent a refit in 2019. It reaches a top end of 20 knots.

23. ‘Al Mirqab’ (436 feet, 4 inches), Kusch Yachts

Kusch Yachts’ Al Mirqab  Photo: Shutterstock / PitK

Launched in 2008,  Al Mirqab  was built for Qatar’s former prime minister under the supervision of  Kusch Yachts  in the  Peters Werft shipyard  in Wewelsfleth, Germany. The Tim Heywood exterior includes a long, navy-blue hull with a white superstructure. The yacht’s diesel-electric propulsion involves an azimuth pod drive and gives the 436.4-footer a top end of 21 knots. Its interior by Andrew Winch won several awards, with images showing Arabic-influenced motifs on the marble floors of large social areas. The yacht’s centerpiece is a stunning, complicated floating staircase encircled by custom-made glass panels.  Al Mirqab  has staterooms for 36, and crew quarters for 45.

22. ‘Serene’ (439 feet, 3 inches), Fincantieri

Fincantieri’s  Serene  Photo: Nick Wells

Serene  was  Fincantieri ’s launch into the superyacht segment, and what a debut it was. The largest yacht ever launched in Italy when it was delivered in 2011 (surpassed three years later by  Ocean Victory ), the Espen Øino seven-deck design features a long, sleek blue hull, crowned by a white superstructure. The somewhat racy curves serve as a nice counterpart to the more serious-looking sections of the yacht, which include cutouts along the main and upper decks to allow strong visibility from the saloon and staterooms. The curved balconies on three levels are a nice touch that work aesthetically—and practically for better views. The open stern area has a winter garden (enclosed glass house) that allows dining in all seasons.  Serene  also has two helipads and a hangar, a big swimming pool, and a tender garage large enough for a submarine. Pascale Reymond of Reymond Langton Design created the 43,056-square-foot interior for the Russian owner, though its details have remained closely guarded.

21. ‘Crescent’ (443 feet), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Crescent  Photo: Klaus Jordan

Espen Øino’s dark hull and tiered superstructure was one of the most exciting launches of 2018. Custom-built Project Thunder, as it was called internally at Lürssen, features cut-outs along the hull sides that allow full ocean views from the saloon on the primary deck, as part of  Crescent ’s distinctive curved superstructure. Its most noteworthy feature is the jaw-dropping bank of three-deck-high windows in the center of the yacht. This architectural feature serves as the centerpiece of a very compelling design. The yacht has accommodations for 18 guests in nine staterooms. Little is known about the François Zuretti-designed interior, other than Lürssen describes it as being “traditionally styled.” If it lives up to  Crescent ’s brash exterior, the complete yacht promises to be an entirely groundbreaking design.

20. ‘Savarona’ (446 feet, 2 inches), Blohm+Voss

Blohm+Voss’s  Savarona  

Launched in 1931,  Savarona  was built for American heiress Emily Roebling Cadwallader. The yacht was eventually acquired by Turkey to be the presidential yacht of Kemal Atatürk, founder of modern Turkey.  Jane’s Fighting Ships  described the yacht in 1949 as “probably the most sumptuously fitted yacht afloat.”  Savarona  was later converted to a training ship for the Turkish Navy and, in 1978, destroyed by fire. The yacht laid in tatters for 10 years. A Turkish businessman spent around $45 million refurbishing  Savarona , commissioning Donald Starkey for the interior and replacing the original steam-turbine engines with modern Caterpillar diesels. The yacht’s interior was refitted again in 2013, once again becoming the official presidential yacht in 2014.  Savarona  features a swimming pool, Turkish bath, 280-foot grand staircase, a movie theater, and a library dedicated to Atatürk.

19: ‘Flying Fox’ (446 feet, 2 inches), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Flying Fox  Photo: Courtesy of SuperYachtTimes/Youtube

Delivered jointly by Imperial and Lürssen in 2019, 446.2-foot  Flying Fox  is the largest yacht available on the charter market. Key features of the Espen Øino-designed exterior are a curvaceous dove-gray hull and a 3.7-foot swimming pool that runs athwartship on the main aft deck, the largest ever found on board a yacht. A two-decked spa also gives guests access to a cryosauna, hammam and relaxation room with a fold-down balcony at sea level. Packed to the rafters with the latest amenities, the yacht holds a diving center, decompression chamber and two helipads.  Flying Fox  is PYC compliant and can accommodate 25 guests.

18. ‘Rising Sun’ (454 feet, 1 inch), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Rising Sun  Photo: Courtesy of Lürssen

Designed by the original guru of yacht designers, Jon Bannenberg,  Rising Sun  was built by Lürssen for Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, and is currently owned by billionaire David Geffen. The yacht was delivered in 2004 and last refitted in 2011. Defined by banks of windows across the superstructure,  Rising Sun  has 86,000 square feet of living space in 82 rooms. It can accommodate 18 guests in nine cabins, with the capacity to carry up to 46 crew. The interior by Seccombe Design includes a gym, cinema, and wine cellar. The rear cockpit deck was designed as a basketball court. Geffen received a global media backlash in 2020 for his “tone deaf” social media posts that pictured himself on board his yacht during Covid-19 lockdown.

17. ‘Al Salamah’ (456 feet), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Al Salamah  Lürssen

When Lürssen launched  Al Salamah  in 1999, it was the third-largest yacht in the world. Its ranking at number 14 shows how much has changed in the last 20 years. Code-named MIPOS, or Mission Possible, the yacht was designed by  Terence Disdale . The large imposing exterior is primarily protected space, with an upper deck exposed to the elements.  Al Salamah  has staterooms for 40 guests, including two owner suites, 11 VIP staterooms, and eight twin cabins. The yacht can carry up to 96 crew and has a top speed of 22 knots.  Al Salamah  was last refitted in 2009.

16. ‘Scheherazade’ (459 feet, 3 inches), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Scheherazade  Photo: SuperYacht Times/YouTube

The owner of 459.3-feet Lürssen-built  Scheherazade  (formerly known as Project Lightning) finally took delivery of the mega yacht in June 2020 after it was pictured during sea trials in November 2019. What can so far be deciphered from available photography includes two helipads, forward and aft, and a large beach club aft, as well as a reported seven-foot beam. Very few details have yet been released of the highly private vessel, including even the names of designers or naval architects involved with the build.

15: ‘Ocean Victory’ (459 feet, 3 inches), Fincantieri

Fincantieri’s  Ocean Victory  Photo: Trevor Coppock / TheYachtPhoto.com

The largest motoryacht ever built in Italy, Fincantieri’s  Ocean Victory  was delivered to its owner in 2014. The seven-deck exterior by Espen Øino includes two helideck platforms and a hangar belowdecks, as well as exceptional outdoor social areas, and a floodable tender dock.  Ocean Victory  has accommodations for 28 guests as well as quarters for 56 crew.  Ocean Victory  also has six pools, a 3,300-square-foot spa, and an underwater observation room. The interior by Alberto Pinto remains a secret.

14: ‘Solaris’ (459 feet, 3 inches), Lloyd Werft

Solaris  by Lloyd-Werft Courtesy Lloyd Werft

The 476-foot  Solaris  is one of the largest yachts to deliver in 2021, and yet still little is known about it. The highly private, vast explorer is built by German shipyard Lloyd Werft and undertook sea trials in the North Sea. The eight-deck exterior is by Australian designer Marc Newson and features a displacement steel hull with bulbous bow and steel superstructure with teak decks. Reportedly owned by Roman Abramovich, it houses a large helipad, sun deck and spacious beach club aft. Lloyd Werft built the Russian billionaire’s previous explorer yacht  Luna , which he reportedly sold for $360 million to his close friend Farkhad Akhmedov in 2014.

13. ‘Yas’ (462 feet, 6 inches), Abu Dhabi Mar

Abu Dhabi Mar’s  Yas  Photo: Harvey Barrison

As a converted yacht,  Yas  is one of the most interesting vessels on this list. The dolphin-like exterior was originally a former Dutch Navy frigate that launched in 1978 and eventually sold to the navy of the United Arab Emirates, where it was renamed  Al Emirat . The yacht underwent its dramatic conversion in a facility in Abu Dhabi’s main port, emerging as a gleaming superyacht in 2011, with one of the most interesting profiles on the water. It was eventually delivered four years later. The design by the Paris-based Pierrejean Vision, defined by massive glass surfaces, can accommodate 60 guests and 58 crew members. Mated to a steel hull, the superstructure is the largest composite edifice ever built.  Yas  is capable of a 26-knot top speed and was last refitted in 2019.

12. ‘Dream Symphony’ (462 feet, 6 inches), Dream Ship Victory

Dream Symphony  by Dream Ship Victory Courtesy Dream Ship Victory

Sailing yacht  Dream Symphony  is a magnificent 462.7-foot schooner built by the Turkish shipyard Dream Ship Victory. When delivered in 2021, she will become the largest private sailing yacht in the world, knocking current largest sailing yacht,  Black Pearl , off the podium. Featuring naval architecture by Dykstra Naval Architects and an exterior and interior by Ken Freivokh, she reunites the same team who were behind the legendary  Maltese Falcon ’s ground-breaking Falcon dynarig.  Dream  Symphony’s hull is being built in wood – glued and laminated using the latest epoxy and composite techniques. Wood, carbon and stainless-steel run throughout the contemporary interior, while the rig includes Hoyt booms for maximum control.  Dream Symphony  boasts a fully private owner’s duplex, with master suite, salon, and office at main deck level, and a further spa, gym and treatment rooms on the lower deck. A sheltered open deck between the owner’s facilities and the guest deck house can be closed off to bad weather, creating concealed channels for full protection. And when the sun is shining, a double-height glass swimming pool features a rising floor that can doubles up as a touch-and-go helipad or dancefloor.

11. ‘Nord’ (466 feet),  Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Nord  (Project Opus) Photo: SuperYacht Times/Youtube

Nord  (Project Opus) has been a long time coming. She was announced in 2015 but didn’t hit the water until November 2020 when she conducted sea trials in the Baltic Sea. The 466-foot yacht features interior design by Italian studio Nuvolari Lenard and is Lürssen’s first yacht launched from its newly upgraded floating shed at its facility in Vegasack. Boasting many top tier amenities, the yacht includes a sports and diving center on the lower deck, multiple tenders ranging in size up to 50-feet and a large swimming pool. The two helipads support the yacht’s long-range cruising capabilities for autonomous remote exploration and a retractable hangar means the helicopter can slide neatly into the superstructure for storage when not in use. A generous 20 staterooms accommodate 36 guests across six decks, while a sleek aft-sloping superstructure gives Nord an individual profile on the water.

10. ‘A’ (468 feet, 5 inches), Nobiskrug

Nobiskrug Sailing Yacht  A  Photo: Courtesy of Nobiskrug

Delivered in 2017, the futuristic look of sailing yacht  A  includes smooth, silver-metallic surfaces and windows that look nearly invisible, three composite masts that bend slightly, and a deck hidden by high bulwarks. The Philippe Starck-design is a wild fantasy yacht of the future. The 468-foot sailing yacht is a technical victory for German yard  Nobiskrug , which developed composite fashion plates to create the unusual shapes, without any compromises in strength or fluidity. It has the tallest freestanding composite masts on any sailing vessel, a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system and state-of-the-art navigation systems. The boat also reportedly has an underwater viewing platform in the keel. “Sailing yacht  A  is undoubtedly one of the most visionary projects Nobiskrug has ever been involved in,” said Holger Kahl, the firm’s then managing director. Starck’s interior remains a secret. The yard reports the yacht has a top speed of 21 knots. She remains today the world’s largest sailing yacht three years after her launch.

9. ‘El Mahrousa’ (478 feet, 1 inch), Samuda Brothers

Egypt’s royal yacht,  El Mahrousa  Screengrab

El Mahrousa , which means “the protected” in Arabic, is currently Egypt’s presidential yacht, though the 478.1-footer has a separate history as that country’s royal yacht. The London-based Samuda Brothers began the build in 1863, and it was launched in 1865. It was originally built for the Ottoman governor of Egypt, Khedive Ismail, and later carried three Egyptian kings into exile. The yacht was also at the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. The world’s oldest superyacht features external design by the British naval architect Sir Oliver Lang, and has had multiple modifications over the years, including a lengthening by 40 feet in 1872 and another 17 feet in 1905. During the second refit, the owners replaced its paddle-wheel engines with turbine-driven propellers. The yacht, in care of the Egyptian Navy, occasionally goes to sea for a day or two. In 2015, it was used to inaugurate the new Suez Canal.

8. ‘Prince Abdulaziz’ (482 feet, 3 inches), Helsingør Værft

Helsingør Værft’s  Prince Abdulaziz  Photo: Shutterstock / Artesia Wells

This custom yacht, launched by Helsingør Værft in Denmark in 1984, was most recently refitted in 2005. The 5,200-tonne  Prince Abdulaziz  is one of the Saudi Royal family’s yachts, its first owner being King Fahd. Designed by Maierform, the yacht was the longest and tallest in the world at the time of its launch. At 482.3-feet,  Prince Abdulaziz  held the title for 22 years until  Dubai  launched in 2006. The late David Nightingale Hicks, known for his use of bright colors, was the interior designer. The lobby is said to be a replica of the  Titanic . Last refitted in 2005, it is rumored to be carrying surface-to-air missiles, though that may be an urban legend.

7. ‘A+’ (483 feet, 1 inch), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  A+  Photo: Klaus Jordan

Very little is known about  A+  (formerly  Topaz) , which was launched by Lürssen in 2012, other than it is the fourth-largest yacht ever built by the German shipyard. Tim Heywood Designs did the exterior, which features helipads on the foredeck and amidships on an upper deck. A lower aft deck includes a swimming pool. The German yard has not released any images of the Terence Disdale interior. Reported to be owned by Manchester City Football Club owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahnan – Emirati royalty and deputy prime minister of the UAE –  A+  has a top speed of 22 knots, and can carry 62 guests and up to 79 crew.

6. ‘Al Saïd’ (508 feet, 5 inches), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Al Saïd  Courtesy of Shutterstock

Another 500-plus-foot yacht from Lürssen, the original Project Sunflower gained its official name of  Al Saïd  following its launch in 2016. Espen Øino’s exterior is akin to a classic cruise liner, complete with the twin exhaust stacks in the center of the superstructure. Owned by the Sultan of Oman, six-decked  Al Saïd  can carry 154 crew and, according to some sources, 70 guests. Lürssen says  Al Saïd  has a top speed of 22 knots. The London-based Redman Whiteley Dixon studio designed the interior, which includes a concert hall that can hold a 50-piece orchestra.

5. ‘Dilbar’ (511 feet, 8 inches), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Dilbar  Photo: Josep Baresic

The 2016 launch of  Dilbar  gave Lürssen the distinction of not only building the longest yacht ever ( Azzam ), but also the largest in terms of volume. Espen Øino designed the exterior, creating a full-bodied superstructure of long, flowing decks, along with two helicopter pads.  Dilbar  also has an 82-foot swimming pool that can hold an incredible 6357-cubic-feet of water, and according to Lürssen, is the world’s longest on a yacht. The interior by Winch Design is defined by its “rare and exclusive luxury materials,” says the builder, declining to go into detail. Lürssen added that the world’s largest motor yacht was one of the most complex and challenging yachts ever built, because of its dimensions and technology. Despite  Dilbar ’s volume, the designers did a masterful job making the yacht look relatively svelte, with no obvious bulges along the length of the light ivory and bronze-accented hull. In June 2020, Dilbar returned to Lürssen for a significant refit, the details of which are yet to be revealed.

4. ‘Dubai’ (531 feet, 5 inches), Platinum Yachts

Sheikh Al Maktoum’s yacht,  Dubai  Bigstock

This Andrew Winch design was originally commissioned for Prince Jefri Bolkiah of Brunei as a joint project between Blohm+Voss and Lürssen, before it was halted in 1998 with just a bare hull and skeletal superstructure. The hull was sold to the government of Dubai, and, under the direction of the country’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, work on the 531.5-footer began again, though this time by Platinum Yachts.  Dubai  delivered in 2006 and is now the sheikh’s royal yacht, with accommodations for 24 guests and quarters for 88 crew. The seven-decked yacht has an impressive 70-foot-wide atrium, landing pad for a Black Hawk helicopter, submarine garage, disco, and cinema. Full certification was obtained from Lloyd’s Register in October 2006, and it can reach a top speed of 26 knots.

3. ‘Eclipse’ (533 feet, 1 inch), Blohm+Voss

Blohm+Voss’s  Eclipse  Photo: Shutterstock / R_Pilguj

Stately  Eclipse , the 533.1-foot yacht delivered to billionaire Roman Abramovich, took five years to design and build. When it left the Blohm+Voss shipyard in Hamburg in 2010, it was the world’s largest yacht. The interior has 17 staterooms and a palatial master suite, with the capacity to carry 85 crew. Both the interior and exterior are designed by Terence Disdale. A proportional profile is defined by tiered decks that sweep upward and bend ever so slightly at the aft ends.  Eclipse  has a 185-foot-long owner’s deck and, at the time of its launch, the largest swimming pool on any superyacht (the bottom raises and converts to a dance floor). Other features reflecting its stature: the capacity to hold three helicopters, including one in its belowdecks hangar, a sophisticated stabilization system, six tenders, and an enormous spa, gym, and beach club. Hybrid diesel-electric engines are connected to Azipod drives that give  Eclipse  a top-end speed of 21 knots, with a range of 6,000 nautical miles.

2. ‘Fulk Al Salamah’ (538 feet, 1 inch), Mariotti Yachts

Mariotti Yachts’  Fulk Al Salamah  Screengrab

Little information has ever been released about the world’s second-longest superyacht, custom-built  Fulk Al Salamah , and it has been shrouded in mystery since first announced in 2014. Even the overall length of 538.1 feet has been estimated from AIS data. However, built and delivered by Italian builder Mariotti Yachts in their Genoa shipyard in 2016, the imposing vessel is believed to be owned by the Omani royal family. Exterior design is by Studio de Jorio, and it is considered by some to resemble more of a support vessel than a superyacht. Nonetheless, aerial photography shows an impressively large helideck, raked masts and a bathing platform.

1: ‘Azzam’ (592 feet, 6 inches), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Azzam  Screengrab

It’s not surprising that the world’s longest yacht hails from a shipyard with 13 out of the 25 top builds in the superyacht arena. Unfortunately,  Lürssen  could never really boast about  Azzam  after its launch in 2013 because of the owner’s penchant for privacy. Mubarak Saad al Ahbabi directed a team of designers and engineers who started with the bare concept, worked through the technical challenges of what might be the most complex superyacht ever, and finished with an unusually large vessel that can top the 30-knot mark. Nauta Yacht’s exterior features a long, sleek forward area, with well-proportioned tiers moving up to the skydeck. Lürssen describes the interior by Christophe Leoni as “sophisticated, with luxurious decor inspired by the Empire style of the early 19th century.” Its gas turbines, connected to water jets, push  Azzam  to more than 30 knots, giving it the ability to operate at high speed in shallow waters. She also boasts an impressive build time for a yacht of her size, with construction taking only three years after one year of engineering.  Azzam  was last refit in 2020 at MB92 in Barcelona.

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• Lurssen Yachts

On the 5th April 2013 Lürssen, the leading shipyard for large luxury yacht building, launched the 180m yacht AZZAM - the largest motor yacht in the world. The sleek and elegant superyacht features exterior design by Nauta Design.

Fulk Al Salamah

• Mariotti Yachts

This 164-metre (538ft) superyacht was built in Italy by Mariotti Yachts and now sits in the Omani capital as part of the royal fleet. The Italian built superyacht is currently the second largest privately owned yacht in the world, after Lurssen's Azzam.

• Blohm + Voss

Roman Abramovich's yacht Eclipse has received a huge amount of industry attention, not just for its size but for the celebrity of its owner. Eclipse is the largest and most expensive superyacht ever built. When initially ordered she was estimated to cost approximately £330million, by the time she was delivered however, her overall costs were closer to the £1billion mark due to the extra luxury fittings and security measures required by her owner. With a crew of up to 60, Eclipse is a giant of the sea. She was the fourth superyacht comissioned by Abramovich.

• Platinum Yachts

This magnificent yacht was originally commissioned by Prince Jefri Bolkiah of Brunei. Construction was suspended in 1998 and the vessel left unfinished until HH Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum secured the rumoured $300 million project. Platinum Yachts took the mega yacht to completion and in 2006 launched Dubai to become the world’s largest private yacht. Today however, Dubai is the second largest privately owned yacht in the world.

Launched in February 2022, Project Blue is Lurssen's latest secretive yacht project. With little revealed about her specifications and designers, her expansive size was confirmed by the German shipyard following her launch: an incredible 160m. Project Blue will be Lurssen's second-largest superyacht, and is due to be delivered in 2023. She was recently spotted in Bremerhaven, Germany, making her way out to sea for her maiden sea trial. She is expected to have a beam of 21m, and a gross tonnage of 15,320 GT. Her other specifications are currently unknown.

Originally known as Project Omar, the 156 metre superyacht Dilbar was launched in 2016 after over 4 years of construction. A favourite with yachtspotters worldwide, Dilbar is considered the largest superyacht in the world by volume.

Like most royal superyachts, little is known about Al Said, a giant mega yacht formerly codenamed "Project Sunflower". She was delivered to the Sultan of Oman in 2008 as a replacement for a smaller mega yacht of the same name. At a stunning 155m, Al Said consists of six large decks and features striking exterior and interior design by Espen Oeino International, the same company that designed the stunning 127m mega yacht Octopus. According to reports, Al Said is said to accommodate as many as 70 guests and 154 professional crew, as well as featuring a concert room capable of accommodating a 50 piece orchestra.

When construction of A+ (formerly named Topaz) first began she was forecast to be the 4th largest yacht in the world and to measure approximately 147m (482’3’’ft). Having left her floating shed at the Lürssen shipyard located in Bremen, Germany, she is now ready to claim that mantle and undergo the final phases of construction.

Prince Abdulaziz

• Helsingor Vaerft

As one of the yachts of the Saudi Royal Family, Prince Abdulaziz is used to conduct official business as well as for pleasure. The largest yacht built in the 20th century, the interior alone took 15 months to complete. Originally built for the late King Fahd of Saudi Arabia who named the yacht after his son, it is now owned by his brother Abddullah.

Very little is known about Lurssen's mysterious superyacht OPERA. At 146m, the superyacht will be the sixth largest yacht Lurssen has built at the time of her launch in September 2022. OPERA was first spotted in May 2021 when she transported to the yard's Bremen outfitting facilities in Germany.

El Mahrousa

• Samuda Bros.

This Egyptian presidential yacht is not only one of the world’s largest but also one of the oldest. Built in 1865 in London, the yacht was intended for the King of Egypt. Originally named Mahroussa, El Horriya was extended in 1872 and again in 1905.  Nowadays she is berthed in Alexandria and is listed as a training ship by the Egyptian Navy.

Developed by German shipyard Lürssen, construction of Project Luminance is underway at their facilities near Lemwerder. Due to enter the esteemed list of the Top 10 largest superyachts in the world, information about the 145m superyacht is limited at this moment in time. Lürssen are world-famous for their incredible innovations and their capacity to build extremely large mega yachts filled with numerous features. Photos that have been captured of the boat indicate that she will have considerable deck space with plenty of room left over indoors to be packed out with luxury.

SAILING YACHT A

Sailing Yacht A is a highly unique vessel, with an LOA of 142.81m. She is one of the world’s largest and the most advanced superyachts with a number of unique features, including an underwater observation pod, hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system and premium navigation systems. Her three masts are the tallest and most highly loaded freestanding composite structures in the world. Her futuristic design was created by Philippe Starck, her smooth silver-metallic surfaces challenging the expectations of conventional aesthetics.

As one of the most well-known builders of Top 100 yachts, Lurssen's NORD (formerly Opus and Redwood) has been highly anticipated as one of the largest ever to launch from the German yard. Also the largest project set to launch in 2020, at 142m, she will accommodate up to 36 guests in 20 cabins and was designed by Nuvolari Lenard.

• ADMShipyards

The 141m superyacht Swift141, now christened 'Yas', was successfully launched by ADMShipyards in November 2011; entering the record books as both the largest launch of 2011 and most significant superyacht in recent history. ADMShipyards, members of Privinvest, has proudly announced the launch of their first superyacht. At 141 meters, this stunning private yacht ranks as the sixth largest superyacht in the world.

• Lloyd Werft

Project Solaris is the revolutionary explorer yacht built by German masters of engineering Lloyd Werft. Topping off the yard's record for ultra large luxury yacht build, Project Solaris is an estimated 139m+ explorer yacht at the German giant's shed.

Scheherezade

As with most yachts in construction at Lurssen, little is known about this 140m project. We do not yet know the designer or architect, but she has been spotted moving around the build-hall. Her sightings have lead yacht spotters on the docks of the yard to aptly name her 'Project Lightning.' We hope to see her launch towards the end of 2019.

Ocean Victory

• Fincantieri Yachts

The largest yacht ever built in Italy and one of the ten largest in the world, Fincantieri has announced the successful delivery of Project Victory - a 140 metre superyacht launched in 2014 - under the official name of Ocean Victory.

Code named as Mipos (short for Mission Possible) during her construction, Al Salamah belongs to Saudi Arabian Defence Minister Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz. Kept a great secret, rumours tell that she has over 80 rooms, a helipad, and an indoor swimming pool complete with glass roof. A real working wonder, this yacht was completed in 1999 after only two years.

Owned by media bigwig David Geffen, Rising Sun is rumoured to have been commissioned by Ellison specifically to be larger than Paul Allen’s Octopus. This 2004 yacht is spread over five decks and is equipped with everything from Jacuzzi bathrooms and wine cellars to a top deck basketball court.

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Top 49 Largest Yachts in the World – 2023

These are the biggest yachts in the world with a combined length of 20,343 feet.

The largest yacht in the world measures an incredible 590 feet!

Built by world-renowned shipyards  Lürssen , Blohm+Voss , Oceanco and Lloyd Werft , to name just a few – new yachts are built every year with increasing magnitude.

With the likes of  Amadea  coming in at #49 and working down to  Azzam  at #1, these yachts are a sight to behold. 

Length : 106.10 m (348.1 ft)  |   Year : 2017

Measuring in at a length of 348.1 ft Amadea was built by Lurssen Shipyard and launched in 2016.

Her modern exterior was by  Espen Oeinio  while Zuretti Interior was responsible for her gorgeous interior. 

Amenities that are of note include a double-height atrium, a 10-metre infinite pool, a 12-metre D-value helipad, a cinema and a spa area.

She also has a winter garden, coupled with the owner’s deck. 

Length : 106.50 m (349.41 ft)  |   Year : 2017

As the name suggests, this magnificent superyacht truly is a Dream .

Launched in 1997 this rare gem belongs to Greek billionaire, George Prokopiou. 

Some of her most noteworthy features include a sundeck, a swimming pool, a spa and a comprehensive gym. 

Her exterior was designed in a way to accommodate large groups of guests and to equally provide spacious outdoor lounges on the main deck aft.

47. Black Pearl

Length : 106.7 m (350 ft) |   Year : 2017

Black Pearl is one of two ‘sailing’ yachts on the world’s biggest yachts list.

She measures a length of 350 ft and was built in 2017 by well-known Oceanco. 

She features a 3-mast Dynarig system (masts free stand with the yards rigidly attached to the masts).

When the sails are adjusted the whole mast rotates in place and there aren’t any gaps between the sail resulting in twice the efficiency of a square rig. 

Length : 107 m (351 ft) |   Year : 2020

Lana is without a doubt one of the most luxurious yachts in the world.

Built by Benetti Shipyard and delivered in 2020 this 107-metre-long beauty was also designed by the Benetti Design Team.

Some of her most notable features include a cinema room, a large pool, impressive outdoor salons, a plethora of water toys and tenders, a beach club with folding terraces and a massage room.

She also boasts a centralized audio-video system catering to all areas onboard. 

45. Andromeda

Length : 107.40 m (351 ft)  |   Year : 2016

Andromeda is a stunning yacht that was launched in 2016 and measures a length of 107.4 metres making her 43rd on this list. 

The exterior of this vessel was designed by Oscar Mike, with her interior designed by well-known H2 Yacht Design. 

Andromeda includes a swimming pool, a helicopter deck with a garage, a spa and a large selection of tenders.

Andromeda has an amazing sea-keeping ability and her combination of ultimate luxury and expedition-style cruising makes her a sight to behold.

44. Luminosity

Length : 107.60 m (353 ft ) |   Year : 2020

Luminosity was built by Benetti Shipyard in 2020 and measures a length of 108 metres.

Her stunning exterior was designed by Reymond Langton Design Ltd, whereas her interior was the responsibility of Zaniz Interiors. 

Luminosity boasts many luxurious facilities.

Those worthy of note are: a beach club with a counter-flowing swimming pool, a gym, a plunge pool, a massage room, a bar, as well as several lounging and dining areas. 

She was designed to allow unmatched natural lights through her windows and in addition to this she has a glass elevator that offers access to all her decks. 

Length : 108 m (354 ft)  |   Year : 2019

Belonging to James Packer, Ije is a 108-meter yacht that was built by Benetti Shipyard and delivered in 2019.

She is a rare beauty when it comes to yachts of this size with her exterior designed by RWD. 

Ije has many wonderful features including a main desk aft swimming pool, an indoor cinema, an observation deck, several dining and sunbathing spots as well as an extensive collection of water toys. 

42. Bravo Eugenia

Length : 109 m (358 ft)  |   Year : 2018

Coming in at 40th on this list is Bravo Eugenia . The sleek exterior of this 109-meter vessel was beautifully designed by the well-known Nuvolari Lenard. 

Bravo Eugenia is able to comfortably accommodate up to 44 passengers, 14 of which are guests and the other 30 crew. 

She has many great guest facilities such as a beach club, a spa massage room with a sauna, a steam room, a plunge pool and a rain shower. 

41. Radiant

Length : 110 m (361 ft)  |   Year : 2009

Launched in 2009 by German shipyard Lurssen, Radiant is a 110-meter-long superyacht.

Radiant is owned by Emirati billionaire, Abdulla al Futtaim. 

Radiant was designed by Tim Heywood and her slender interior was designed by well renowned Terence Disdale.

She comes equipped with a helipad, a gymnasium, a cinema and a spa. 

The security specifications of Radiant are known to be the highest ever conceived for a superyacht. 

40. Al Raya

Length : 110 m (361 ft)  |   Year : 2008

Launched in 2008 in Germany, Al Raya was carefully built by Lurssen Shipyard.

Her exterior design was the work of  Tim Heywood  and the interior was designed by  Alberto Pinto . 

Al Raya was built with steel and aluminium and its major features include a large pool, a cinema, a sauna/steam room, a massage room and even a hospital. 

Length : 110 m (361 ft)  |   Year : 2018

Anna is a 110-meter long superyacht with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure that was designed by Michael Leach Design.

She was launched in 2018 and she is the largest yacht ever built by Feadship. 

This magnificent vessel belongs to Dmitry Rybolovlev, a Russian businessman who is renowned for becoming the president of Monaco’s football club AS Monaco.

Length : 110 m (361 ft) |   Year : 2017

Kaos is a 110-meter yacht that has the capacity to accommodate up to 31 guests and a crew of 45.

She is powered by MTU engines which gives her the power needed to reach speeds up to 18.5 knots.  

She comes equipped with a large swimming pool, a helicopter deck and fuel facilities, a large elevator, a steam room, a gym and a large beach club.

Length : 111.50 m (366 ft) |   Year : 2019

Formerly known as Lady Gulya, Alaiya is a stunning yacht that was launched in 2019.

She measures a length of 111.5 meters and was specially built by Lurssen Shipyard. 

Lady Gulya has 29 cabins which give her the capacity to comfortably accommodate 18 guests and 38 crew members. 

The interior and exterior of this massive yacht were designed by the reputable Winch Design.

Some of the most notable features include Two helicopter pads, a resort-inspired spa, a massive swimming pool as well as palatial staircases that are only seen in palaces.

36. Le Grand Bleu

Length : 113 m (371 ft) |   Year : 2000

Le Grand Bleu was built by Bremer Bulkan Shipyard in 2000 and she measures a length of 112 metres.

It is estimated that she has a worth of approximately US $150,000,000.  

Built with a steel hull and an aluminium superstructure she can reach speeds up to 17 knots. 

Le Grand Bleu has the space to comfortably accommodate up to 55 people at a time (35 of which are crew, 20 of which are guests).

35. Pelorus

Length : 115 m (377 ft) |   Year : 2003

Pelorus measures a length of 114.5 metres and was launched in 2003 by well known Lurssen shipyard. 

Her unique design was the work of Tim Heywood and the interior was the work of Terence Disdale.

This gorgeous vessel has the space to accommodate 18 people and a crew of 41 spread across 20 cabins.

Pelorus can reach speeds up to 20 knots.

Length : 115 m (377 ft)  |   Year : 2010

Built in 2010 by Lloyd Werft, Luna is well known as the world’s biggest expedition yacht.

With a length of 115 metres and a top speed of 22.5 knots, Luna can comfortably accommodate 18 guests spread across 9 rooms.

Previously owned by Russian billionaire Abramovich, she was sold for approximately $300,000,000 in 2014 to Akhmedov (an Azerbaijani born billionaire).

Length : 115.1 m (377 ft)  |   Year : 2021

The AHPO yacht is a spectacular new superyacht built by  Lurssen  and delivered in 2021.

The popular Italian designer  Nuvolari Lenard  styles the exterior and interior of this beauty.

Accommodating up to 16 guests in 8 cabins the superyacht includes a variety of facilities including a dancefloor, movie theatre, beach club, gym and spa.

 Owned by the Jamaican billionaire Michael Lee-Chin, the yacht can be chartered for approximately $2,720,000 per week, when available.

32. Navtilvs

Length : 115.76 m (380 ft) |   Year : 1973 |  ShipSpotting.com © Nektarios Papadakis Navtilvs is a motor yacht measuring a length of 115.7 metres.

She was built by Hellenic Shipyards in Greece back in 1973 making her one of the oldest yachts on this list.  She has a beam of 14.4 metres, a draft of 4.29 metres and a whopping volume of 3,156 GT. 

31. Atlantis II

Length : 115.82 m (381 ft) |   Year : 1980

Atlantis II is a 116-meter-long yacht launched in 1981 by the Hellenic shipyard.

It is estimated that she is worth approximately US $100,000,000. 

Designed by Caeser Pinnau she has the space to accommodate 26 guests across 13 cabins as well as a crew of 17 in 8 cabins.

Atlantis II is powered by Pielstick engines, resulting in the power to reach speeds up to 14 knots.

30. Ulysses

Length : 116 m (381 ft)  |   Year : 2008

Ulysses is a 116.1-meter long yacht that was built in Norway in 2018 and is the flagship of Kleven.

She is powered by Caterpillar engines which gives her the ability to reach speeds of 12 knots. 

She has a total of 39 cabins which can accommodate 30 guests and 48 crew members.

Her gross tonnage is a whopping 6862 GT and she has a beam length of 18 metres. 

Length : 116.41 m (382 ft)  |   Year : 2008

Turama is a powerful welded steel vessel with a length of just under 117 metres.

She was built by Finnish shipyard Rauma and features an extensive teak decking which offers ample space to accommodate her guests. 

Originally built as a cruise ship she was converted into the luxury megayacht she is today. 

28. Motor Yacht A

Length : 119 m (390 ft)  |   Year : 2008

Coming in this list in 27th position, Motor Yacht A is a glamorous yacht designed by Philippe Starck and launched in 2008.

Built by the world-renowned Blohm + Voss shipyard, she measures a length of 119 metres. 

Russian entrepreneur Andrey Melnichenko is the owner of this vessel and it is believed the name “A” was used in order to make the vessel appear first on shipping registers.

27. Alexander

Length : 122 m (400 ft)  |   Year :1966|  ShipSpotting.com © fabianv Alexander is a luxury yacht with an elegant design that was built back in 1966 by Lubecker Flender Werke in Germany.

She features a steel hull and measures just under 122 metres with the ability to accommodate 80 guests.  She was previously known as Regina Maris – a passenger vessel that was then converted into a megayacht between the years 1985 and 1987. 

26. Al-Lusail

Length : 123 m (404 ft)  |   Year : 2017

Al Lusail is a gorgeous 123-meter long vessel that was built by Lurssen in 2017 and her unique design makes her stand out from afar. 

Owned by the Emir of Qatar – Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani she can accommodate 36 guests and a crew of 56 at a time. 

She features her very own gym, an elevator to service all the decks, a swimming pool, a tender garage and a movie theatre. 

25. Golden Odyssey

Length : 123.20 m (404 ft)  |   Year : 2015

Golden Odyssey is a 123 m (404 ft) long superyacht which means it is one of the top 49 longest superyachts in the world. 

She was launched in 2015 and was built by the famous ‘Lurssen shipyard’.

The lucky owner of this magnificent vessel is Prince Khaled Bin Sultan.

Golden Odyssey can accommodate 32 guests in 16 cabins as well as a crew of 60 in 30 cabins.

She was designed by Martin Francis Design with Alberto Pinto designing her interior.

Length : 124.40 m (408 ft)  |   Year : 2010

Katara , also known as Project Crystal is a 124-metre yacht that was built by Lurssen Shipyard in Bremen, Germany.

She is one of the world’s largest yachts with a helipad and a plethora of tenders. 

She flies a Qatari flag and her home port is Doha which gives support to the belief that her name is an interpretation of the word ‘festivity’.

It was planned by Espen Oeino International which is also responsible for the planning of over 50 other well-known super yachts.

Length : 125 m (410 ft)  |   Year : 1991

Initially intended for use as a Russian research vessel, Maryah was built in Poland in the 1990s before later being acquired by Sheikh Tahnoon.

She was sent to Greece and rebuilt in 2014 by Elefsis Shipyard. 

She measures in at a length of 125 metres and can reach a top speed of 18 knots.

Maryah’s large interior can accommodate up to 54 guests.

22. Octopus

Length : 126 m (413 ft)  |   Year : 2003

Built-in 2003 this 126m long beauty belongs to American business magnate, Paul Allen.

Powered by Mercedes Diesel engines she can reach a speed of 20 knots while hosting 26 guests.

Octopus is home to a large helicopter hangar on the main deck which are home to two helicopters.

She also has a glass-bottom pool and a 10-person submarine which floats into Octopus through a large hatch.

She also has a music recording studio, a cinema, a gym and a medical centre.

21. Al Mirqab

Length : 133 m (436 ft)  |   Year : 2008

Al Mirqab , the 133m Super Yacht wonder can be seen in the footage arriving in Gibraltar.

Built in 2008 she is comprised of a whopping 38 cabins. 25 of which are for the crew, and the remaining 13 for guests.

With a volume of 9,604, she is one of the largest superyachts in the world and is owned by Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani.

With a net worth of over $1 Billion, he was the Prime Minister of Qatar from 2007 to 2013.

Length : 134 m (440 ft)  |   Year : 2011

Serene was launched in 2011 and measures an impressive 134 metres.

She was built by Fincantieri – one of the world’s largest shipbuilding groups.

She was designed by Espen Oeino with the interior designed by Raymond Langton Design.

She has the capacity to accommodate 24 people and a crew of 52.

Powered by MTU engines she can reach speeds of up to 18 knots.

19. Crescent

Length : 135.50 m (445 ft)  |   Year : 2018

Crescent is a Super Yacht built in 2019 by famous shipyard Lurssen.

She is the 17th longest superyacht measuring a length of 135 metres. 

Powered by MTU engines it is estimated her top speed is 20 knots with a cruise speed of 12 knots.

Her large size has the room to accommodate 18 guests with a crew of up to 40.

Crescent features a retractable helicopter hangar and a large pool which is rumoured to have a glass bottom.

18. Savarona

Length : 136 m (446 ft)  |   Year : 1931

Savarona was built by Blohm + Voss in 1931 for Emily Roebling Cadwalader, the granddaughter of the Brooklyn Bridge engineer.

At the time she cost around $4 million which is over $80 million in today’s value. 

She was the largest superyacht in the world when she was first launched and now she sits in 17th position.

17. Flying Fox

Length : 136 m (446 ft)  |   Year : 2019

The breathtaking and unprecedented outside plan praised by her pigeon dark frame planned by winning designer Espen Øino makes Flying Fox an astounding vessel. 

At 136-meter length, her 22.5m wide shaft guarantees an open living space along with an extraordinary plan on both outside and inside. 

Her rich, contemporary inside plan from Mark Berryman offers 11 lodges for 25 visitors all with private ocean see patios.

16. Rising Sun

Length : 138 m (453 ft)  |   Year : 2004

The Rising sun yacht is a 138-meter-long superyacht built by famous shipyard Lurssen in 2004.

It has a steel hull and aluminium superstructure. 

Powered by 4 MTU engines she can reach a top speed of 28 knots.

She is currently the 6th largest yacht in the world and was holidayed on by Oprah Winfrey in the summer of 2013.

15. Al Salamah

Length : 139 m (456 ft)  |   Year : 1999 Al Salamah is a motor yacht which belonged to the former Saudi Arabian Crown Prince and was put for sale for $280,000 in 2013.  It was later given to Bahraini Crown Prince, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa as a gift.

Construction began by HDW in Kiel, Germany and was finished by Lurssen. 

14. Solaris

Length : 139.7 m (458.4 ft)  |   Year : 2021

Solaris was newly launched in 2021 by Werft and belongs to Roman Abramovich who also owns the second-largest yacht in the world, Eclipse.

 She has a volume of just over eleven thousand tonnes and it is estimated that she can accommodate up to 36 guests and a crew of 60.

13. Ocean Victory

Length : 140 m (459 ft)  |   Year : 2014

Ocean Victory is a 140-metre super yacht that was built by Italian shipbuilding company Fincantieri in 2014.

As of 2021, she is the 13th longest superyacht.

Ocean Victory was designed by Espen Oeino with the interior designed by Alberto Pinto.

She has the capacity to accommodate 84 people with 28 being guests and a crew of 56.

Powered by Wärtsila MTU engines she can reach speeds of up to 19 knots.

Length : 141 m (463 ft)  |   Year : 2012

Measuring in at a length of 141m Yas was originally a Dutch navy frigate.

The original steel superstructure was replaced with a new superstructure of composite materials in 2013.

She is one of the largest superyachts in the world.

Due to the size of the structure, the interior decks, support and shell were built in sections in order to facilitate shipping and assembly.

She can accommodate up to 60 guests with a crew of up to 56 at disposal.

Length : 142 m (466 ft)  |   Year : 2021

Nord was launched in 2019 and strikes an imposing 142m in length.

She was built by Lurssen shipyard which is at the top of the game when it comes to Yachts of this magnitude.

 Lurssen was responsible for the naval architecture while the styling for both the exterior and interior design came from Nuvolari Lenard, a multi-award-winning studio.

Nord can accommodate up to 36 people over the 20-suite layout.

10. Sailing Yacht A

Length : 142.95 m (469 ft)  |   Year : 2017

Sailing Yacht A was built in 2017 and measures a length of 143 metres long.

She has a beam of 25m and 8 decks. 

She is the world’s largest sailing-assisted motor yacht in the world.

Powered by MTU engines and with the sails as assistance, she can reach a top speed of 21 knots.

She features a 1-foot thick glass underwater observation area.

9. El Mahroussa

Length : 145.72 m (478 ft)  |   Year :1965 |  ShipSpotting.com © Walter Maifarth El Mahroussa currently serves as Egypt’s presidential yacht previously being the country’s royal yacht.

She was built by the British shipbuilding firm Samuda Brothers.  She is the oldest active superyacht having undergone a number of alterations during its years of service. 

8. Prince Abdulaziz

Length : 147 m (482 ft)  |   Year : 1984

Measuring an empowering 147 metres, Prince Abdulaziz was built in 1984 and was once the biggest yacht in the world. 

Due to many new yacht builds she now is the 7th biggest yacht. 

Her large size allows her to accommodate 64 guests and 65 crew members at any given time.

Prince Abdulaziz yacht was built in Denmark by Helsingor Vaerft after being ordered by King Fahd who named her after his son Prince Abdul Aziz.

Length : 147 m (482 ft)  |   Year : 2012

Launched in 2012 A+ measures in at a whopping 147 metres making her the 6th largest yacht in the world. 

She was built by the famous boat yard Lurssen in Bremen, Germany. 

She has twin Pielstick diesel engines with enough power to reach a cruising speed of 22.9 knots and a top speed in excess of 25.5 knots.

Among her features, she has zero-speed stabilisers, a helicopter landing pad, a swimming pool, a gym, a cinema and a tender garage.

Her lighting system pictured above also lights underwater.

Length : 155 m (509 ft)  |   Year : 2007 |  ShipSpotting.com © Vincent Thépaut Al Said is a 155-meter superyacht owned by the Sultan of Oman.

Construction was ordered in 2006 through the Lurssen shipyard and was launched in September 2007.  At the time of her launch, she was the world’s second-biggest yacht but since then she has been pushed back into the fifth position. 

Length : 156 m (512 ft)  |   Year : 2016

Dilbar is a 156-meter-long super yacht that was launched in 2016.

She was built by Lurssen shipyard which is at the top of the game when it comes to Yachts of this magnitude. 

She was designed by Espen Oeino with the interior designed by Andrew Winch Design.

She has the capacity to accommodate 36 people and a crew of 84.

Powered by Wärtsila diesel-electric engines she can reach speeds up to 22.5 knots.

Length : 160 m (524 ft)  |   Year : 2022

The Blue superyacht , a breathtaking 160-meter vessel designed by Terence Disdale and built by Lürssen, redefines luxury yachting by combining unparalleled opulence with a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.

As the fourth-largest yacht in the world, Blue boasts state-of-the-art diesel-electric hybrid propulsion, advanced wastewater treatment technology, and an array of lavish amenities, setting a new benchmark for innovation, elegance, and eco-friendly practices within the luxury yachting industry.

Length : 162 m (531 ft)  |   Year : 2006

Measuring a length of 162m Dubai is the world’s third-biggest yacht, built by Platinum Yachts.

She is owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum – the ruler of Dubai who has a Net Worth of $5 billion. 

It was the biggest yacht in the world from 2006 to 2009 however it was replaced by Eclipse and Azzam.

Dubai has four MTU diesel engines which can accelerate it up to a speed of 26 knots.

Length : 162.50 m (533 ft)  |   Year : 2010

Measuring a whopping length of 162 metres, Eclipse is the second biggest yacht in the world. 

Built-in 2010 by Blohm and Voss she was the largest until April 2013 when Azzam was launched.

Although she is known as the $1.5 billion yacht, Eclipse’s actual cost price was around $700 million. 

She is owned by Russian billionaire Roman Arkadyevich Abramovich who is known to be one of the world’s wealthiest people having sold his oil company for $13 billion.

He also owns a second superyacht, Solaris.

1. Biggest Yacht In The World – Azzam

Length : 179.7 m (590 ft)  |   Year : 2013

Azzam is the largest yacht in the world measuring a whopping 180 metres.

Built by Lurssen she is estimated to have cost $600 Million. 

Powered by MTU engines she can reach a speed of 31 knots which is achievable by her shallow draft relative to her size.

Due to her large size, Azzam can comfortably accommodate 36 guests and has a crew of 60.

• Articles and Guides

The Biggest Boats in the World

16th jan 2023 by samantha wilson.

Boats are a fascinating and centuries-old invention. From the smallest RIBs  and Jon boats to the very largest superyachts and cruise ships, the spectrum is one of the most diverse of any industry on the planet. While you ponder your next boat, or get to grips with the mechanics, repair and upkeep , spare a moment to think about the innovation that goes into some of the biggest boats to grace our oceans. These true behemoths are astounding feats of engineering and innovation. From river steamboats to superyachts and cruise ships.

Here are some of the largest ships in the world in 2024

The largest cruise ship: symphony of the seas, the largest ocean liner: rms queen mary 2, the largest sailing yacht: the golden horizon, the largest motor superyacht: azzam, the largest sailing superyacht: sailing yacht a, the largest explorer yacht: rev ocean, the largest supertanker: hmm algeciras, the largest paddlewheel steamboat: the american queen.

Cruise liners just keep getting bigger and bigger, and the gargantuan Symphony of the Seas, the 25th ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet, stands as the biggest cruise ship in the world. She set sail on her maiden voyage on 23rd March 2018 and is today based out of Port Miami, Florida. Her jaw-dropping statistics include a length of 362 metres, which can accommodate 5,518 passengers and 2,100 crew. Her 18 decks are home to 23 restaurants as well as 25 pools, whirlpools, FlowRider surf simulators and waterslides. 

Built as the world’s largest ocean liner, the RMS Queen Mary 2 was launched in 2004 and completed her maiden voyage in tandem with the now decommissioned RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2). With a length of 345 metres, and an interior designed with classic elegance, the Queen Mary 2 harks back to a time when cross-Atlantic travel was all ocean-going. Differently to a cruise ship, an ocean liner is designed to transport passengers and the Queen Mary 2 is currently the only such ship operating between Southampton and New York. 

Before the invention of the engine, boats had relied on the power of the wind for centuries, and great galleons once explored the far corners of our earth. Today, most sailing ships are dwarfed by the superyachts and cruise liners which surround them, but there are some which are truly vast. The 162 metre, five-masted Golden Horizon is the world’s largest sailing-vessel and an almost perfect replica of the France II, which was built in 1913. There is a staggering 6,000 square metres of sail on the modern-day passenger ship, which can accommodate 300 passengers and 140 crew. With swimming pools, a gym, spa, and restaurants it is a truly impressive floating masterpiece. 

It took more than 4,000 people over four years to build the sleek, elegant 180 metre long Azzam, the largest superyacht in the world – a title it has held since it was launched in 2013. Azzam  is also one of the fastest yachts on the planet with a top speed of 33 knots thanks to her two conventional diesel engines and efficient two 9,000kW MTU engines – which are so quiet that the chandelier in the main salon doesn’t even make a tinkle underway. Accommodating 36 guests and 80 crew she is an understated yet sublimely beautiful vessel. 

Shrouded in mystery, Sailing Yacht A is the largest private sailing superyacht on the planet at an incredible 142 metres long. She was built in 2017 by Nobiskrug shipbuilders for Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko and features state-of-the-art design as well as a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system and navigation systems. Her design is futuristic, with almost invisible windows ensuring not a glimpse can be had of her no-doubt magnificent interior. 

REV Ocean is so innovative that she has created her very own class of yacht. While she is often described as a superyacht, her function isn’t for leisure or recreation. Built by Norwegian billionaire Kjell Inge Røkke, REV Ocean is truly revolutionary as her purpose is to cruise the world’s oceans, from the tropics to the polar regions, gathering vital scientific data to be used to create a healthier planet. She is equipped with state-of-the-art scientific equipment and on-board laboratories, a moon pool, research hangar, and accommodation for 90 people – mainly scientists - on board at any time. While the 183-metre-long vessel can be chartered, all profits go back into the ship’s research and conservation projects which focus on climate change, plastic pollution, and unsustainable fishing. 

Measuring a mammoth 400 metres long and 61 metres wide, the HMM Algeciras is the current biggest cargo ship in the world. It is the first of a fleet of 12 identical vessels to be built for HMM, and will ply the route between China and Europe. Known as Megamax-24 container vessels, the number 24 refers to the amount of containers that can be placed across the width of the ship. There can then be 12 towering layers stacked above the deck and another 12 beneath the deck. HMM Algeciras made her maiden voyage in 2020, dwarfing other tankers as she made stops in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, and the UK before returning to Asia. 

Plying the waters of the great Mississippi River, the American Queen is the largest paddle wheel steamboat in existence. She is adorned with antiques and a décor of Victorian charm, and has 222 elegant staterooms which can accommodate 436 passengers. She was built in 1995 and is 127 metres long, and in addition to facilities such as a pool, gym and spa, the opulent riverboat she has a library dedicated to the famous writer Mark Twain. The American Queen cruises along the mighty Mississippi past great southern cities such as New Orleans and Memphis as it takes in America’s heartland. 

Discover boats big and small on Rightboat.com. With thousands of boats for sale across the world, and a team of helpful, friendly experts to guide you along the way, you can be sure to find the perfect boat to suit you. 

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Written By: Samantha Wilson

Samantha Wilson has spent her entire life on and around boats, from tiny sailing dinghies all the way up to superyachts. She writes for many boating and yachting publications, top charter agencies, and some of the largest travel businesses in the industry, combining her knowledge and passion of boating, travel and writing to create topical, useful and engaging content.

More from: Samantha Wilson

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Top 10 largest explorer yachts in the world

Helipads. Dive centres. Ice-breaking hulls. Submersibles. What makes an explorer yacht? True to their name, explorer yachts are well equipped to take on adventurous journeys to the most far-flung places in the world. Equipped with a long-range and vast storage capacity for food, fuel and water to enable weeks at sea, expedition yachts are increasingly popular with owners wanting to leave behind the popular Mediterranean and Caribbean cruising grounds for more challenging adventures. We round up the top 10 largest explorer yachts in the world, starting with a new entry from German shipyard Lürssen...

Solaris | 139.7m

One of the most memorable launches of 2021, the 139.7 metre super explorer yacht Solaris travelled to the top of this coveted list of expedition yachts when she hit the water last year. The highly secretive project is built by Lloyd Werft , which also delivered the 115m explorer Luna in 2010, the fourth largest explorer yacht in the world. Spread across an impressive eight decks, Solaris was designed by Australian designer Marc Newson and hit the water for the first time at the German yard in February 2021. While nothing has been made public about the project, images of the superyacht show a large helipad, sun deck and spacious beach club aft.

• Builder: Lloyd Werft
• Country of build: Germany
• Delivery year: 2021
• Length Overall: 139.7 m
• Gross Tonnage 11247 t

More about this yacht

More stories, octopus | 126.18m.

Originally built yacht for the late Paul Allen, one of the founders of Microsoft, Octopus  is one of the most famous explorer yachts in the world. The yacht has the capacity for two helicopters at the same time, with landing pads on the aft deck and foredeck. The helipad on the aft deck also has a hangar to store the helicopter away in big seas.

Octopus also has an internal dock, which is perfect for storing the toys that every explorer yacht should have. When the dock is filled with water a 20 metre submarine and a tender of similar size are able to float in and out of their chocks. Once they are secure the water is pumped out before the yacht gets underway.

Paul Allen and the crew of Octopus used the yacht as part of an eight year search for a sunken ship. In 2015, they discovered the long-lost wreck of Japanese ship Musashi , which sunk during the Second World War.

• Builder: Lurssen
• Delivery year: 2003
• Length Overall: 126.2 m
• Beam: 21.01 m
• Gross Tonnage 9932 t

Yachts for charter

Ulysses | 116.15m.

After four years in construction, Ulysses first hit the water in summer 2018. The explorer yacht is almost 10 metres longer than her predecessor, the 107 metre Andromeda (formerly Ulysses ), which was commissioned by the same owner, New Zealand's richest man Graeme Hart. Kleven finished the yacht's technical build in Norway in December 2016, after which Ulysses was sent to Bremerhaven for interior and external completion under the project management of Dörries Maritime.

Ulysses is equipped with a heli-hangar on the top deck, a Bell 429 helicopter, and a fleet of high-speed and day-cruising tenders including a 21 metre Princess 68 stowed inside the well deck. Inside, her huge 18 metre beam is able to accommodate up to 66 guests.

• Builder: Kleven
• Country of build: Norway
• Delivery year: 2018
• Length Overall: 116.15 m
• Gross Tonnage 6862 t

Luna | 115m

Delivered in 2010, Luna  was built for Roman Abramovich as an upgraded replacement for his former exploration yacht Le Grand Bleu .

The yacht was later sold to Roman Abramovich's close friend, Farkhad Akhmedov in April 2014. The new owner sent her to the yard in Germany for an extensive 14-month refit costing €50 million and including around 130 jobs. Sporting exterior design by Frank Neubelt, Luna is famous for a low aft deck that sacrificed interior volume in favour of more space for sunbathing. The swimming pool takes centre stage and made headlines for being the largest ever seen on a superyacht at the time of delivery. Elsewhere, the yacht features two tender garages, a gym and an expansive beach club wrapping around a spa, with a steam bath, plunge pool and sauna. Two helipads sit on the upper deck while the entire lower deck is dedicated to the crew. Luna is ice-classed and built to the highest possible standards, allowing her to travel to the far reaches of the world's oceans.

• Delivery year: 2010
• Length Overall: 115 m
• Gross Tonnage 5655 t

Le Grand Bleu | 112.8m

Le Grand Bleu was built for US telecommunications tycoon John McCaw who subsequently sold the yacht to the Russian businessman Roman Abramovich who had Le Grand Bleu refitted to his own specifications. The main addition was the 4.8 metre swim platform. Le Grand Bleu is now reportedly owned by Ambramovich's friend and business associate Eugene Shvidler.

The yacht has many features that make her ideal for exploration, including a large tender garage with storage for two sports boats as well as a landing craft capable of carrying a 4x4 Land Rover for excursions ashore. Le Grand Bleu even has a 22 metre sailing yacht and a 21 metre Sunseeker motor yacht stored on the aft deck. The yacht is operated by a massive crew of 65 staff.

• Builder: Bremer Vulkan
• Delivery year: 2000
• Length Overall: 112.8 m
• Beam: 17.68 m
• Gross Tonnage 5496 t

Andromeda | 107.40m

First commissioned by New Zealand businessman Graeme Hart as Ulysses , Andromeda is now reportedly owned by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg . A capable explorer yacht ready for any conditions, Andromeda was built at Kleven Verft, a Norwegian company known for building offshore commercial vessels.  Specially designed to have a long-range,  Andromeda  is capable of carrying 36 guests to the furthest corners of the world’s oceans and is equipped with an extensive inventory of toys and tenders, including six motorbikes, two ATVs, a helicopter, a twin-hulled 50-knot support boat, a Sealegs amphibious RIB and full-on landing craft. Guests each get very generous quarters, spread across three decks, with the choicest digs being the two VIPs on the boat deck, each with its own private superyacht balcony .

• Delivery year: 2016
• Length Overall: 107.4 m
• Gross Tonnage 5937 t

Tranquility | 91.5m

The 91.5m explorer yacht Tranquility was the first yacht built to PYC standard when it was first delivered in 2014 by Dutch yard Oceanco originally called Equanimity. Since then, the yacht has enjoyed a colourful reputation, after being seized by Indonesian authorities at the request of the US Department of Justice in 2018 . The yacht hit the headlines again in 2019 as the renamed Tranquility when it played host to Kylie Jenner, who celebrated her 22nd birthday on board . However, one thing has remained constant. Tranquility has remained among the top 10 largest explorer yachts in the world since being it was first delivered in 2014. Spanning five decks, Tranquility is packed with premium superyacht features, including a foredeck helipad, spa and wellness area and 20 metre swimming pool. The tender garage houses two 10.5 metre Hodgson tenders – one sport and one limousine that can carry up to 12 guests and two crew each. Tranquility is well equipped for adventure with a range of water toys including Jet Skis, Wave Runners, SeaBobs and an electric surfboard.

• Builder: Oceanco
• Country of build: Netherlands
• Delivery year: 2014
• Length Overall: 91.5 m
• Beam: 14.6 m
• Gross Tonnage 2999 t

Voyager | 91.4m

The 91.4 metre explorer yacht Voyager is not only one of the largest explorer yachts in the world, but one of the most adventurous . The yacht travelled more than 27,000 nautical miles in 2020, exploring a selection of far-flung locations such as South Africa, Madagascar and Antarctica. The explorer entered this list in 2019, when it completed a three-year conversion from a supply ship into an explorer yacht. The yacht was first built by Swiftships in 1997 as Candy Trader with an initial length of 63 metres. It was later renamed HOS Trader in 2003 and used as an offshore supply ship. Now, the yacht features five decks and a crew of 70. Other features include multiple galleys, pantries and media rooms and a standout deep dive centre – one of the primary purposes of the yacht.

• Builder: Swiftships
• Country of build: United States of America
• Delivery year: 1997
• Length Overall: 91.4 m
• Gross Tonnage 1194 t

Ice | 90.1m

One of the most iconic yachts in the world , Ice  was sold to Suleiman Kerimov following delivery and is more than just imposing and stylish. Ice is also environmentally friendly, extremely quiet and free from vibration thanks to two Azipod units powered by up to eight Deutz generating sets. This provides household power and doesn't sacrifice performance, with the yacht still capable of reaching 18.6 knots.

One of the world's largest explorer yachts, Ice has an arsenal of toys and sailing dinghies as well as a helipad for the Eurocopter EC135 helicopter. A range of 6,000 nautical miles means she can travel anywhere in the world.

• Delivery year: 2005
• Length Overall: 90.1 m
• Gross Tonnage 3268 t

Olivia O | 88.5m

Like many explorers on this list, the 88m Olivia O was built by a yard better known for its commercial vessels. The yacht was delivered by Ulstein Verft in 2020 and designed by legendary superyacht designer Espen Øino . Characterised by a striking reverse bow and explorer profile, Olivia O is believed to be the first time Ulstein’s trademarked X-Bow has appeared on a yacht. The feature pierces smaller waves and reduces pitching and roll in high seas. With a reported gross tonnage of just under 5000GT, Olivia O has plenty of room down below, including accommodation spread over five decks for a total of 20 guests in eight cabins, including Pullman beds. Olivia O also carries a full-time crew of 30. The interior, which was designed by Droulers , is “orientally themed”, specifically around Japan. Other features include a gym, cinema room, large swimming pool and helipad.

• Builder: Ulstein Verft
• Delivery year: 2020
• Length Overall: 88.5 m
• Beam: 16.3 m
• Gross Tonnage 4989 t

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• This 400-Foot Megayacht Has a Bonkers Underwater Lounge, and It’s About to Debut in Monaco

If you want a sneak peek before the September show, the elaborate 400-footer with its Nemo lounge and massive duplex owner's suite, is available for weekly charter for $3.25 million.

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The latest Kismet will make its public debut at the Monaco Yacht Show in late September. For now, it’s chartering in the Med, either with owner Shahid Khan or with guests willing to pay about $3.25 million per week.

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The current 400-foot Kismet is a supersized, more refined version of the last vessel, with the same features and even more extravagance, including an underwater Nemo lounge (a bubble in the bottom of the hull for seeing marine life) beneath the cinema, a duplex owner’s suite, a Balinese-inspired spa, and a retro, neon dance floor. Oh, and the jaguar on the bow is permanent this time.

The boat, which accommodates up to 12 guests in 8 staterooms, has a crew of 37. But for social events, it can hold dozens of people, including dining options for 24 on the upper deck, 18 on the main deck and 14 on both the top and pool decks.

It’s the third boat for Khan by Lürssen, which builds the world’s largest superyachts. “The yacht has exceeded all expectations of the client,” noted Peter Lürssen, the firm’s managing partner.

Beyond the amenities, including a DJ station, a custom Boganyi grand piano, a teppanyaki cooking station, and many others, it has a hybrid diesel-electric power train. That hybrid system makes it one of the world’s largest vessels that can go into full-electric mode in eco-sensitive areas, while also having features like a heat-recovery system for heating the pools.

Last year, Khan was supposed to meet with journalists at Monaco to discuss Kismet and his career as a yacht owner, but the then- Kismet (renamed Whisper ) sold just before the show, so that never happened.

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It's Mark Zuckerberg's turn to have a hot yacht summer

• Mark Zuckerberg's new yacht, Launchpad, is enjoying its summer debut.
• The megayacht recently stopped in Mallorca and has since ventured further into the Mediterranean.
• It looks like Zuckerberg may dethrone Jeff Bezos as king of this year's superyacht season .

Move over, Jeff Bezos . Mark Zuckerberg is looking like this summer's Poseiden.

While the Amazon founder made waves last year with the debut of his megayacht Koru, Zuckerberg is the name on the yacht world's lips this season.

Rumors began surfacing in March that the Meta CEO had purchased Launchpad — a Dutch-built, 118-meter motor yacht originally built for a Russian oligarch.

By May, the transaction seemed all but confirmed when both the yacht and Zuckerberg made their way to Panama to celebrate his 40th birthday with a fete that included a few spins on his infamous hydrofoil .

Now that summer is here, Zuckerberg has debuted Launchpad — and her support superyacht Wingman — on the biggest stage in the yachting world: the Mediterranean.

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Zuckerberg this month treated his family to a trip aboard Launchpad off the coast of Mallorca. The family, sporting matching t-shirts, celebrated Father's Day and Zuckerberg's dad's 70th birthday, he wrote in a caption posted to Instagram. Local news outlets spotted Zuckerberg, his wife Priscilla Chan, and their three daughters on the Spanish island and aboard the yacht, which was outfitted with water slides and other toys.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mark Zuckerberg (@zuck)

From there, the yacht sailed to the Ligurian Sea, the spit of the Mediterranean between the Italian Riviera and Corsica.

It's likely the yacht will continue to crisscross the Mediterranean this summer. If Zuckerberg continues to post photos of his travels, we may glean more details about how he has customized the ship to his liking.

For now little is known beyond the fact that she is built by Feadship, the shipyard behind Larry Ellison's Musashi . Photos from SuperYacht Times show Launchpad features a large swimming pool and helipad. The final purchase price is not public, but a new yacht of that size would likely cost nine figures upfront and millions of dollars a year to maintain.

Perhaps, like Bezos did last year, Zuckerberg will entertain some of the most famous names in entertainment or business. ( Bezos and his fiancée, Lauren Sanchez, had an engagement party last year aboard Koru that counted Bill Gates and Leonardo DiCaprio as guests. On Friday, Bezos and Sanchez were spotted riding wave runners in the Aegean Sea alongside Kim Kardashian near the 127-meter yacht). Alternatively, Zuckerberg might prefer the privacy that is paramount to many in the superyacht world.

Whether Zuckerberg shows up as a bon vivant or doting family man this summer, Launchpad fits well into one of the most successful CEO rebrands in recent years, in which Zuckerberg went from being perceived as a robotic, mistrusted tech nerd to a kind-of-relatable, fun, fit tech bro.

Now he's got one of the largest yachts in the world to add to his cool factor (even though, regrettably for Zuckerberg, it is a mortifying nine meters shorter than Koru).

Watch: The scariest things OceanGate's CEO said about deep-sea diving

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When yachts go down: Why orcas are evil geniuses

Posted: 9 July 2024 | Last updated: 9 July 2024

Despite being dubbed the "killer whale," the orca has enjoyed a pretty family-friendly image, whether it's putting on shows with humans at Sea World or starring in 'Free Willy.' But just like how its classification as a whale is misleading (it's actually the largest subspecies of the dolphin family), so too is its friendly reputation.

Orcas live in all the world's oceans, from the Arctic Ocean and Antarctica to warmer tropical seas, and in every single one they are menaces, apex predators at the top of the food chain, ruling with an iron fin! Massive, agile, and extremely intelligent,  they are the most powerful and deadly animals in the water. And as if that weren't enough, there have been increasing reports in recent years of their species serial killing, vengefully sinking boats, torturing other animals for sport, and more.

The most recent incident was more serious than the average boat attack. A 50 ft (15 m) yacht was rammed off course in the Strait of Gibraltar by orcas and eventually sank due to the damage. The two passengers aboard the boat, named the Alboran Cognac, began to feel heavy blows to the hull and rudder around 9 AM local time on Saturday. The yacht began taking on water and they radioed for assistance. Thankfully, an oil tanker in the area took them aboard and brought them to Gibraltar. In the meantime, the yacht slowly sank—another victory for the killer whales. Orca rammings have become common in this area, and are attributed to a subpopulation of around 15 whales collectively named Gladis. 

Have we got your attention? Then click through to learn more about the evil genius of orcas.

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They kill babies

Orcas are known to snatch baby sea lions, sperm whales, and seals. As the fastest swimming mammals with sophisticated social coordination and extremely powerful bodies, they most certainly can attack adult animals, as you'll see in this gallery.

They are known to attack young humpback whales by separating the baby from the mother and then delivering continuous blows on the young whale until it dies.

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They kill for sport

BBC Earth's Steve Backshall caught a pod of orcas swimming up onto shore to snatch a baby seal from the sand—a move that is actually very dangerous and requires a lot of effort for them because at 5,000-6,000 lbs they risk being beached. But for all that effort surely they're getting precious food, right? Wrong.

The orcas started apparently playing with the baby seal, tossing it out of the water and passing it around. After a long while, and after the baby seal eventually died, they left the carcass behind.

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Backshall found many pup carcasses washed up on the shore, seemingly unharmed except for orca teeth prints in their bodies. These babies were killed for what seems to be sport.

Surplus killing

Backshall's team also found in British Columbia a pod of orcas that had encountered a fully grown male Steller's sea lion. They cornered the sea lion and began beating it down for a long time, but then came another sinister surprise.

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The orcas brought in their calves, who then also began beating down on the sea lion. They were passing down this lesson, and perhaps it may have made more sense if they all feasted on the sea lion afterwards, but instead of finishing it off they all suddenly abandoned the unmoving body. Backshall hypothesized that their surplus killing—killing not designed for food—is a matter of compartmentalizing their lives. Socializing, traveling, and educating are not for food-related hunting.

They have a wicked technique

Orcas are known to use a strike of their tails to stun fish, or to create a powerful wave that launches bigger creatures well into the air.

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Paralyzing power

With their tails they can incapacitate sharks or flip them over to induce something called tonic immobility, putting the shark into a state of paralysis, according to Live Science.

They work smarter, not harder

Orcas are reportedly known to work together in coordinated attacks to create even bigger waves that can knock prey off from their safe perches on floating ice and into the water.

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"Playing" with stingrays

In Mexico's Sea of Cortez, a stingray minding its own business was approached by an orca that swatted it with its tail in what National Geographic called “play.” Although orcas do eat stingrays, the orcas appeared to be merely showing off as they slapped and circled it for over an hour before letting it sink to the floor uneaten.

The largest creatures on Earth aren't safe

Nothing says confidence like going after the biggest creature on Earth: blue whales. Orcas were recorded killing and eating blue whales in three separate attacks off the coast of Australia since 2019, according to a paper published in Marine Mammal Science.

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They have a twisted appetite

The attack in March 2019 was reportedly coordinated by at least 12 orcas, led by eight adult females and one male, with younger ones watching. The report said that after an hour of attacking, three females rammed the blue whale on its side, pushing it underwater, while two others attacked its head, and one other swam inside the whale's mouth and started eating its tongue.

Sure, the tongue is reportedly nutritious and delicious, but the orcas that ate the tongues of the blue whales did it while the whales were still alive!

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They kill dolphins

Not even their own Delphinidae family is safe. Orcas will eat other species of dolphin, typically ramming them to stun them after a high-speed chase before going in for the kill.

Disemboweling sharks

In 2017, a pair of killer whales embarked on a killing spree, slaughtering at least eight great white sharks, but in the strangest way. In all but one case, the sharks' bodies were left intact to rot, but they had a clean tear in their shoulders and their liver was gone.

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In 2023, the same pair of killer whales embarked on another killing spree, slicing out the livers of 19 broadnose sevengill sharks in a single day with near-surgical precision, and leaving their carcasses to wash ashore off the coast of South Africa. It later came out that these orcas have been extracting livers from sevengills and great white sharks since at least 2015.

Smart serial killers

Scientists concluded that the orcas must have learned that consuming shark livers provides high energy and nutrients—because of their large quantities of fats and vitamins—and remembered exactly where to attack to get the liver without having to tear through the shark and damage their teeth.

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The duo were eerily coordinated in their kills, with one distracting the shark before the other went in for the kill. It's a strategy that requires high levels of intelligence and social cooperation. And they seemed to pass the skill on, as they were recorded performing the shark-liver technique in the presence of four other orcas, National Geographic reported.

They're excellent stalkers

Researchers found that orcas are nearly silent before making a kill, neither vocalizing nor using their echolocation, because they are aware that seals, porpoises, and their other prey have excellent hearing, reports Science Daily. They also hunt under cover of night, and eavesdrop on prey to find their food.

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Coming after boats

In a string of aggressive incidents beginning in 2020, orcas started attacking boats off the southwest coast of Europe, according to a study published in June 2022 in the journal Marine Mammal Science. These attacks have become increasingly more frequent with time.

In May 2023, orcas sunk three boats off the Iberian coast. In each case, the orcas slammed up against the boats and specifically went after the boat's rudder.

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They're vengeful

A theory put forward by Alfredo López Fernandez, a biologist at the University of Aveiro in Portugal, suggested that the aggressive behavior began with a female orca who was likely struck by a boat and traumatized, leading her to start ramming sailing vessels. People aboard the attacked boats also said they saw mother orcas teaching the little ones how to charge into the rudder.

They're like a gang

Scientists guess that the vengeful orca likely inadvertently taught her gang how to ram boats, as orcas are social creatures that can easily learn and reproduce behaviors performed by others.

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They kill sea turtles

Footage from 2016 showed orcas tossing turtles into the air before eating them, playing with their food. In 2018, a small pod of orcas near the Galápagos Islands was caught on camera as they pushed, spun, and dragged sea turtles around—but without eating them.

They eat penguins in the grossest way

Orcas near Antarctica developed a complicated technique for hunting the penguins that live there, which involves catching them in shallow water. Once they catch them in their mouths, they “squeeze the body out like toothpaste,” as National Geographic explained, “and leave the wrapper” behind.

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Not even moose are safe

Moose occupy a very different habitat to orcas and aren't even known prey for the killer whales, yet in the summer when they feed on aquatic vegetation, swimming between various islands along the coast of Canada and Alaska, there have been a few cases recorded of orcas attacking them.

Inflicting fear, enacting violence

Orcas might be the star of family-friendly shows, but they're especially talented at inflicting fear in other species—even great white sharks and blue whales—and carrying out immense violence. They have meticulously maintained their reputation as the most feared predators in the ocean.

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But humans can't pass judgment

Before we start to judge orcas, it's important to remember our own species is also notorious for its members who kill for sport, vengefully sink ships, kill our own kind, exploit other animals, and sit all too comfortably at the top of the food chain. See also: The world's smartest animals

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Magic Johnson Spends Fourth of July on Epic Yacht Vacation in Spain with Wife Cookie and Famous Friends

The NBA legend's Instagram dispatches also feature his traveling companions: LaTanya and Samuel L. Jackson, and Cedric the Entertainer and Lorna Wells

Magic Johnson/Instagram

Earvin " Magic" Johnson 's summer yacht adventure is sailing on!

Magic, 64, and his wife Earlitha "Cookie" Johnson , 65, have shared several updates on their annual Mediterranean vacation via Instagram, many of which feature their friends and traveling companions LaTanya and Samuel L. Jackson ; John and Vicki Palmer; and Cedric the Entertainer and Lorna Wells.

On Saturday, July 6, the NBA legend shared an Instagram post of himself posing in front of a glorious sunset from the boat while in Spain. "Look at the amazing sunrise I got to enjoy at 6 am this morning before my workout in Spain," he wrote in the caption. 

Magic wore casual attire in the photo, which showed him leaning against a couch on the yacht's deck. He opted for a gray and blue Los Angeles Baseball T-shirt with matching blue pants. 

That same day, he shared a collaborative post with his wife of over 30 years that showcased the group’s visit to the Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma in Mallorca, Spain. 

“Today, we had an amazing day exploring in Palma de Mallorca, Spain with our friends! We visited one of the largest Mediterranean Gothic churches in Spain that took over 400 years to build," the Believing in Magic author wrote in the caption.

Cookie went on to praise the church for its "beautiful" stained-glass windows. "I definitely recommend a visit if you’re in Spain, we were all in awe," Cookie added. 

The carousel showed Magic and Cookie embracing one another while sitting outside, a group snap inside of the cathedral, and videos and photos of the landmark's interior as they explored.

In a post from Friday, July 5, the athlete gave insight into how he spent the Fourth of July holiday while traveling. “A great day celebrating the Fourth of July with our friends overseas," he wrote in a caption.

In the first photo of the post, the Johnsons were smiling as they posed with the Palmers and Jacksons, all of whom were dressed for the holiday. The inside of the boat was adorned with red, white and blue balloons, along with other themed decor.

The crew chimed in on the celebration as Magic posted a video of them dancing with American flags as the friend group cheered along. The festivities also included a donut wall with themed desserts. 

That same day, Magic shared a video of himself having a "magical start" to his morning by "cutting loose" on a jet ski. At the start of the clip, he raises his hand to wave at the camera.

The group kicked off their summer vacation on July 1 with the basketball player announcing their trip via an Instagram post with the caption: "We are officially on vacation!! 😁 Hanging out with our great friends John and Vicki Palmer and Sam and LaTanya Jackson at Boca Grande in Barcelona, Spain! The food was *chef’s kiss*."

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The following day, Magic shared videos to his Instagram Stories of their views of the Spanish island of Ibiza from the yacht.

While visiting the Mediterranean destination, the group dressed up to dine at the "farm-to-table" Can Palau De Dalt restaurant, located in the Casa Maca Hotel.

In the same post, Magic shared a photo of the six of them standing on a staircase on the boat with a view of its grand entrance.

Last year, the Johnsons had their luxurious six-week vacation on the same yacht – identified as the Phoenix 2 superyacht . They began their journey in Antibes, France before making their way around the Mediterranean including stops in Portofino, Capriccioli, Capri, Positano, Nerano and Sicily in Italy ; the Corinth Canal, Mykonos, Oia, Kefalonia, Kalami and Santorini in Greece ; Montenegro; and Dubrovnik, Croatia. 

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The luxury yacht has offered charter prices that start at €1,200,000 per week, or roughly $1,299,770, per week, according to its website .

Included in the price of the seven-cabin superyacht, which can accommodate up to 12 guests, is a crew of 29 people. The primary cabin is a split-level apartment with its own private stairwell. The suite features panoramic views of the ocean and a private terrace fitted with a jacuzzi. The remaining cabins are connected by a central elevator across three decks of the ship.

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July 8, 2024

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To boost ocean research, some scientists are turning to superyachts

by Laurel Chor, Bloomberg News

For almost two years, Robert Brewin collected data from the bow of a superyacht as it sailed pristine waters from the Caribbean Sea to the Antarctic Ocean.

The Archimedes, a 222-foot "adventure" yacht then owned by the late hedge funder James Simons, boasts a gym, a jacuzzi and an elevator. But between 2018 and 2020, Brewin was concerned only with the boat's Sea-Bird Scientific Solar Tracking Aiming System, installed to measure light reflecting off of the water. A senior lecturer at the UK's University of Exeter, Brewin and his colleagues were analyzing microplankton—microscopic organisms at the base of the marine food chain—by studying the ocean's color. The Sea-Bird's readouts helped them verify satellite imagery.

Brewin's was not your typical superyacht itinerary, but he is one of hundreds of scientists to have used an adventure yacht—also known as expedition or explorer yachts—to conduct research on the ocean. In a paper published in Frontiers in Remote Sensing , Brewin and his co-authors touted the potential of "harnessing superyachts" for science, concluding that "reaching out to wealthy citizen scientists may help fill [research capability] gaps."

It's a view shared—and being pushed—by the Yacht Club of Monaco and the Explorers Club, a New York City-based organization focused on exploration and science (of which, full disclosure, I am a member). In March, the groups co-hosted an environmental symposium that included an awards ceremony for yacht owners who "stand out for their commitment to protecting the marine environment ." The Archimedes won a "Science & Discovery" award.

"If a yacht is operating 365 days a year, rather than having it sit idle it'd be much better for it to contribute a positive return through science and conservation," says Rob McCallum, an Explorers Club fellow and founder of US-based EYOS Expeditions, which runs adventure yacht voyages.

EYOS charters yachts from private owners for its excursions, and is a founding member of Yachts for Science, a four-year-old organization that matches privately owned yachts with scientists who need time at sea. (Other members include yacht builder Arksen, media firm BOAT International, and nonprofits Nekton Foundation and Ocean Family Foundation.) Yachts for Science will enable about $1 million worth of donated yacht time this year, McCallum says, a figure he expects to hit $15 million by 2029.

"There's a personal satisfaction that we are contributing to something that is bigger than us," says Tom Peterson, who co-owns an insurance underwriting company in California and has what he jokingly refers to as a "mini superyacht."

Every year for the past decade, Peterson has donated about 15 to 20 days of time and fuel on the 24-meter Valkyrie to scientists, who he takes out himself as a licensed captain and former scuba dive operator. He often works with the Shark Lab at California State University Long Beach, and allows researchers to stay aboard for days at a time instead of having to constantly make the 1.5-hour trip to and from shore.

To link up with scientists, Peterson works with the International SeaKeepers Society, a Florida-based nonprofit that engages the yachting community to support ocean conservation and research. "The more we understand things about the ocean in general, the better we all are in the long run," he says.

When "superyacht" and "the environment" appear in the same sentence, it's usually in a different context. In 2019, one study estimated that a single 71-meter superyacht has the same annual carbon footprint as about 200 cars. In 2021, another paper found that superyachts were the single greatest contributor to the carbon footprint of 20 of the world's most prominent billionaires, accounting for 64% of their combined emissions.

"If you really want to respect the environment, you can just go surf," says Grégory Salle, a senior researcher at the French National Center for Scientific Research and author of the book Superyachts: Luxury, Tranquility and Ecocide. Salle is open to the idea that superyachts could be used to advance scientific research, but says it's contradictory for anyone to buy a superyacht and claim to be truly concerned about the environment.

McCallum says people who own adventure yachts tend to be younger than your standard superyacht owner, and have a particular interest in remote and pristine places. "They're not the sort of people that are content to just hang out in the Mediterranean or the Caribbean," he says. "Antarctica, the Arctic, the remote Indian Ocean, the remote Pacific Ocean, the Subantarctic islands… that's where you're going to find us delivering our services."

Explorer yachts aren't the only way scientists can reach those destinations, but demand for dedicated research vessels does outstrip available supply. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), arguably the world's greatest collector of oceanographic data, has a fleet of 15 research and survey vessels for the use of its scientists.

Academic researchers can also apply to use the fleet, often at a subsidized rate. But scientists request roughly 15,000 to 20,000 days of boat time every year. In 2019, NOAA was able to fill just 2,300 of them, according to an internal study.

That gap is particularly problematic as the planet warms. Oceans provide services that scientists call "existentially important," producing more than half of the oxygen we breathe and serving as the world's largest carbon sink. They also absorb 30% of our carbon emissions and 90% of the excess heat generated by them.

G. Mark Miller, a retired NOAA Corps officer who was in charge of several of the agency's research vessels, has a different solution in mind when it comes to bolstering ocean research: smaller boats, fit for purpose. Superyachts can cost north of $500 million, he says, "why don't we build a hundred $5 million vessels and flood the ocean science community?"

After leaving NOAA, Miller in 2021 launched Virginia-based Greenwater Marine Sciences Offshore with a vision of building a global fleet of research vessels and offering their use at affordable prices. He says hiring a NOAA boat can cost scientists between $20,000 and $100,000 per day. GMSO plans to charge less than $10,000 a day for most missions. The company says it's close to acquiring its first three vessels.

Miller hopes his business model will help scientists conduct the work they need to—particularly in under-served regions like the Asia-Pacific—without worrying about getting a luxury yacht covered in "muddy worms, plankton goo, dead fish [and] whale snot." He describes yacht owners donating boat time to scientists as "better than nothing," and says it can help get regular people interested in science and exploration.

Christopher Walsh, captain of the Archimedes, says he and his crew love taking part in science initiatives, especially when there's an educational component. "I get a real thrill when we can stream to the classrooms—you can't imagine the enthusiasm the kids display," Walsh says. "That gives me a lot of hope for the future."

Journal information: Frontiers in Remote Sensing

2024 Bloomberg News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Record 334 boats lined up for 100th Bayview Mackinac race; 'All out war' on the water

Some things endure. In 1925, F. Scott Fitzgerald published "The Great Gatsby" and Mount Rushmore was dedicated. Here in Michigan, Bayview Yacht Club launched its first sailboat race from Port Huron to Mackinac Island.

Yep, 100 continuous years of racing with sailors from all over the world — despite war, economic crisis or pandemic.

A record-setting 334 boats have registered for the July 20 event, shattering the record of 316 in 1985 and a huge contrast compared with the 200 boats that raced last year, data confirmed by David Stoyka, Bayview Yacht Club spokesman.

The course will follow the original 1925 route and span 204 nautical miles. From its traditional start in southern Lake Huron, the boats will head north along the Michigan shoreline, passing south of Bois Blanc Island, sailing west to east at the finish line between Round Island and Mackinac Island, organizers said.

'Everybody will be fighting for every last inch'

Sailors describe excitement and slight trepidation, as part of the course involves shallow water filled with shoals and challenging wind patterns.

In recent years, sailors chose one of two courses, the longer Cove Island course or shorter Shore Course. Only the Shore Course is running this year, but the ending has an unusual twist, coming into the Straits of Mackinac from the opposite direction as usual, and sailing the narrow passage between the Michigan shoreline and Bois Blanc Island.

The finish line is expected to include some chaos, competitors predicted.

"Imagine it's 3 a.m., a cloudy and moonless night and the wind is blowing 25 knots per hour out of the northwest," said champion sailor Tim Prophit , 65, of St. Clair Shores, past commodore of Bayview Yacht Club and owner of Fast Tango, a North American 40 sailboat. "Everybody will be fighting for every last inch. It's dark, choppy."

He expects to finish in 32 to 36 hours this year, studying weather patterns and running wind simulations since January to prep for the competition. A lot of boats have spent thousands of dollars on new sails. All skippers want to carry as little as possible in gear, food and crew to be competitive. All skill levels have entered the race, and the highly skilled racers know they will cross the bow of competitors within inches. Still, there's always risk of a crash with the slightest miscalculation.

"Everybody recognizes this is super intense," Prophit said. "Do we hug the Michigan shoreline ... you don't want to get stuck where the air just goes away. It's death. The secret is to find that little ribbon of wind and stay in it but don't run aground. Everybody is going to be compressed together."

Two lessons a veteran sailor knows: Cockiness will kill you and never let up when you've got your foot on the throat of a competitor, especially seasoned sailors who have picked up secret intel along the way, Prophit said.

Charlie Trost, of Grosse Pointe Woods, this year's race chairman, said this event will have a little bit of everything and a lot of surprises.

More: Sailors overcome emergency at 2 a.m. in rough waters to win Bayview Mackinac race

"People are coming out of the woodwork, whether it's the weekend warrior or a professional racer," Trost told the Free Press. "A lot of people are interested, whether the accomplishment is getting from Point A to Point B or the goal is doing whatever it takes to win first place."

Trost, 35, will sail his 22nd race to Mackinac on the J-130 sailboat known as Pendragon. He follows in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, hoping one day his 1- and 3-year-old sons will race. The whole family will be on the island, which is mostly sold out for this event.

His mother, Barb Trost, of Grosse Pointe Woods, oversees race registration. And his sister, Ali Augsburger, 37, of Grosse Pointe Park, will be helping coordinate logistics.

Mike Hendrie, 47, of Chicago, follows in the sails of grandfather George Hendrie Sr., of Grosse Pointe Farms, who raced from Port Huron to Mackinac Island in 1926 for the second race ever held. The starting line has always been within view of the family waterfront cottage between Krafft and Keewahdin in Fort Gratiot — a Hendrie hangout since the early 1900s.

"George Hendrie Sr. was also famous for being ice boating world champion for 10 years," Mike Hendrie said. "That boat was named Ferdinand the Bull."

In fact, a Hendrie has raced the Mackinac for 98 of the 100 years running, Mike Hendrie said. And family members still, to this day, watch racers from the cottage. Mike Hendrie, who grew up in Grosse Pointe Farms, will skipper the J-109 Bull with eight crew members, including his father and cousins.

HIs uncle, George Hendrie Jr., sailed his first Mackinac race in 1947 and raced 68 times, Mike Hendrie said. "He sailed his last one at 90 years old six years ago. He passed away in January, and we'll be sailing in his honor. And that makes it really special."

Because the race is so significant to so many, the level of competition is elevated significantly.

"Everyone is going to be sailing harder and sailing smarter," Prophit said. "With a race that's expected to last less than two days for most boats, people will be getting less rest because they'll be more focused on pushing the boat as hard as possible ... every second is going to count. It's going to be an all-out war, fighting for every inch."

More: 'Peanuts' characters Snoopy, Woodstock on shirts for Bayview Mackinac sailboat race

More: Hoffmanns of Naples acquire Star Line Mackinac Island Ferry Co.

Editor's Note: Phoebe Wall Howard covers sailing for the Detroit Free Press, and she had been going to Mackinac Island to meet her father at the finish line since age 12. Robert Wall, of Algonac, won his last Port Huron to Mackinac race on Chippewa, a Tartan 34C, in 2014 at age 85.

Contact  Phoebe Wall Howard :  313-618-1034  or  [email protected] . Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter  @phoebesaid .