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Inside Paul Allen’s Former Yacht on Sale for $90 Million

By Katie Schultz

The estate of the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen is offering the sale of his 303-foot-long superyacht , Tatoosh , for a cool $90 million, according to Dirt . If you’re thinking those stats aren’t impressive enough for the billionaire and tech magnate , well, you’d be right. Tatoosh , which is currently the 60th largest yacht worldwide, was just Allen’s secondary vessel. His main yacht, Octopus , sold last year for $325 million and stretches 414 feet long, making it the 20th largest yacht in the world.

As for Tatoosh , the recently-listed vessel was custom-built by German shipyard Nobiskrug in 2000 for fellow American tech mogul Craig McCaw before being bought by Allen the following year for an estimated $100 million. The craft was put up for sale shortly after Allen’s death in 2018, but was taken off the market for an extensive refitting that was completed last year.

The dining room aboard the ship. 

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Inside the vessel, 11 staterooms can accommodate up to 19 guests with access to a lengthy list of lavish amenities that includes a heated swimming pool with a hydraulic-powered mosaic floor that can raise and lower, a parquet floor salon complete with a limestone fireplace and a bar, a movie theater adorned in red velvet, a beauty salon, a gym, two helicopter pads, a sunbathing and diving area decked out with a blue-tiled spa, bulletproof windows, a fleet of jet skis, multiple 43-foot tenders, and a crew of 31 to oversee it all. The owner’s quarters include a private deck, two dressing rooms, and an observation lounge with a private galley, all spanning across two of the ship’s five decks, which are all accessible via elevator.

The owner’s stateroom aboard the ship. 

To maintain and staff the superyacht, which will be one of the largest yachts on display during the Monaco Yacht Show later this month, potential new owners will have to be prepared to pay $9 to $10 million per year in addition to the hefty price tag. Tatoosh is being represented by the Monaco-based yachting company Fraser.

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After Years Of Secrecy, You Can Now See Inside Paul Allen’s Famous Yacht, ‘Octopus’

22 apr 2022 by tayla in boats , lifestyle , luxury , world.

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[imagesource: Camper & Nicholsons]

It’s not often that a layperson has the opportunity to see inside a billionaire’s private yacht.

It is well known that the interiors of private vessels are kept secret, with the crew and guests asked to keep the inside business away from the outside world.

Unless it goes up for charter, then all eyes are allowed on deck.

Take for example Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s superyacht, ‘Octopus’, the inside of which has mostly been a secret for much of its 19 years on the open seas.

When docked in Cape Town’s harbour once in 2018, we were afforded a mere glimpse of the beauty from the outside.

Image: Camper & Nicholsons

The 126,2-metre behemoth (FYI, that’s well over the length of a rugby field) is now available as an exclusive charter yacht for some epic Antarctica adventures.

Having been added to the Camper & Nicholsons charter fleet back in 2021, per Robb Report , it will spend the northern hemisphere summer cruising through Central America, Northern Europe, and the Pacific, before journeying to the Earth’s southernmost continent in late 2022 (us again, perhaps?).

Here’s more about the newly minted seven-day Antarctica tour:

Covering an array of notable destinations, from King George Island to the Gerlache Strait to Deception Island, the itinerary is packed with ski tours, polar plunges, scenic hikes and more. You’ll also have the chance to see Antarctic fur seals, humpback whales and penguins, while contributing to wildlife conservation with locally based scientists.

Must be so nice. Truly.

Before we reveal the inside of the yacht, just know that the new charter rates will begin at $2,2 million per week (around R34 million).

We’ll have to settle for that glimpse from the V&A Waterfront Marina.

Besides being able to see some magnificent natural wonders while taking Octopus out for charter, guest will also be spoiled with all the lovely things on board:

The ice-class megayacht, which was designed by Espen Oeino, comes fitted with an array of glitzy amenities, including a glass-bottomed aquarium, an observation lounge, a pool, gym, spa and cinema.

The vessel also sports two helipads to facilitate comings and goings, along with an array of toys and tenders for day trips and further exploration.

In terms of space, there’s a master suite, two VIP suites, seven double staterooms, three twin rooms, and plenty of space for the very fortunate crew members:

As it will be going off the beaten track, there is also a fully-equipped medical suite, a dive centre complete with a hyperbaric chamber for sea-level treatments, a submarine, and two helipads in case of an emergency.

Not a bad way to enjoy the polar sights and sounds.

[source: robbreport ]

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Microsoft Cofounder Paul Allen’s 303-Foot Superyacht Has Finally Sold

The late billionaire's epic art collection is also being auctioned off later this month., rachel cormack.

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After nearly two years on the market, Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen’s superyacht Tatoosh has sold.

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Built by German shipyard Nobiskrug , Tatoosh was first delivered to telecom exec Craig McCaw in 2000. Just one year later, Allen snapped up the steel-hulled vessel for $100 million. Named after a mountain range near the tech titan’s lifelong hometown of Seattle, Tatoosh has a generous interior volume of 3,229 GT and no less than five decks.

The exterior was penned in partnership with Claus Kusch, while the interior was brought to life by Terence Disdale. The yacht is full to the brim with amenities befitting a billionaire, including two helipads, a cinema with surround sound, a pool that doubles as a dance floor, a dive center with a pressure chamber, a beach club, a sauna, a beauty salon and even a basketball court.

Tatoosh can accommodate up to 19 guests across 11 staterooms, along with 31 crew. The full-beam owner’s suite features dual dressing rooms, an ensuite, a private study and an observation lounge with a bar offering uninterrupted views. Tatoosh is no slouch on the seas, either, with a top speed of 19 knots and a range of nearly 6,855 nautical miles.

Rachel Cormack is a digital editor at Robb Report. She cut her teeth writing for HuffPost, Concrete Playground, and several other online publications in Australia, before moving to New York at the…

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The Octopus, a 414-foot superyacht formerly owned by Microsoft's cofounder, can be chartered for $2.2 million — take a look at the vessel

• A 414-foot luxury yacht, one of the world's most expensive, can be chartered starting at $2.2 million a week.
• The yacht is already seeing bookings and interest for this winter and next summer, Bloomberg reported.
• See inside the luxury ship, which can accommodate 12 guests and 42 crew members.

One of the world's largest and most expensive megayachts with a famed past can now be yours to charter for a week to Antarctica …

Source:  Bloomberg

… as long as you have millions of dollars to spend and a lust for ultra luxury travel.

The Octopus, a 414-foot luxury megayacht, can be chartered for trips around Europe, the Americas, and Antarctica starting at $2.2 million a week with yacht firm Camper and Nicholsons.

This multimillion-dollar price tag is definitely heft. But the ship is one of the largest and most expensive explorer yachts ever built, and was previously owned by Paul Allen, the cofounder of Microsoft, Holly Overton reported for Boat International.

Source: Boat International,    Bloomberg

The Octopus' most recent owner acquired the megaboat in 2021, Francesca Webster reported for Superyacht Times. Shortly after, it joined Camper and Nicholsons' fleet for chartering opportunities.

Source: Superyacht Times

And since then, it's seen plenty of interest: The Octopus has already been reserved for three weeks this winter, and its yacht firm is now seeing requests for month-long excursions next summer in the Mediterranean, K Oanh Ha reported for Bloomberg.

The Octopus isn't the only luxury yacht seeing plenty of public interest.

Across the industry, agencies specializing in chartering these expensive yachts have seen plenty of interest. This includes luxury travel agency Fischer Travel Enterprises, which has seen a 20% increase in superyacht bookings this year compared to last year, according to Bloomberg.

But the Octopus isn't like other yachts. Instead, it has helipads, multiple bars, and water toys like seven tenders.

The megayacht can accommodate 12 guests — whether it be friends, family, or researchers — within its 13 cabins across three decks.

These cabins include a primary suite with a private elevator and an observation deck ...

… two "VIP" suites, and seven double and three twin staterooms.

To make sure everything is running smoothly, the eight-deck yacht has room for 42 crew members, a crew to passenger ratio of about one to three-and-a-half.

The Octopus has amenities that can be found on a luxury cruise ship, like a large swimming pool, spa and gym, library, and an observation lounge.

But with a multimillion-dollar price tag, you'd probably expect more than just the typical cruise ship amenities.

Well, you're in luck. The Octopus also has two helipads, an aquarium with a glass bottom, a movie theater …

… a hyperbaric chamber, and a water toy collection that includes seven tenders, electric foils, and its own marina.

The typical cruiseliner and ultra-luxury yacht might have a pool, but they likely don't compare to the exclusivity of the Octopus'.

The ship can accommodate 12 people, but the pool and jacuzzi are surrounded by enough outdoor seating for a large party, a bar, and an extensive dining table ...

... which will be perfect for outdoor lounging during multi-day charters around South and Central America, the Pacific Ocean, and northern Europe, which will run during the summer and winter.

Its ice-class hull also makes the Octopus durable enough to sail in colder climates like Antarctica, which has become a popular choice for travelers this winter.

To take advantage of this, Camper and Nicholsons has seven-day, $2.2 million Antarctica itineraries sailing during the winter to give visitors an in-depth look at the continent.

This includes polar plunges followed by champagne in a hot tub, a look at seals and humpback whales in the wild, and hikes on a nearby island …

Source: Camper and Nicholsons 

… all with the expensive comforts of one of the most luxurious yachts on the high seas.

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Inside the Octopus, the Luxury 414-Foot Superyacht With a Submarine

You might have thought the coronavirus pandemic—or perhaps the billionaires' space race —would have distracted the super-wealthy from shopping for shiny baubles. Not when it comes to luxury yachts , according to Boat International .

The industry magazine reported last December that 1,024 were being built or had been ordered—an increase of almost 25 percent on the previous year's numbers. If you were to line up the vessels set to be delivered by 2026, there would be more than 24 miles of them.

Among them is the REV Ocean , a research and expedition vessel commissioned by Norwegian billionaire Kjell Inge Røkke. It will be 182.9 meters (600 feet) in length—longer than the current biggest superyacht in the world, Azzam, which is owned by the ruler of Abu Dhabi.

Ocean is expected to be launched in 2024 and will be available for charter part time, when it's not conducting scientific research. If you're interested in chartering a yacht now, though, what's the biggest one you can get?

The Three Largest Yachts You Can Charter

Some of the billionaires who commission superyachts prefer not to make their favorite toys available to the public. But there are plenty of large and lavish vessels you can charter for a princely sum. The top three, according to Jacqui Lockhart, Europe head of charter marketing for luxury yacht firm Camper & Nicholsons, are:

• Flying Fox from Imperial Yachts, 136 meters (446 feet)
• Octopus from Camper & Nicholsons, 126.2 meters (414 feet)
• Lana from Imperial Yachts, 107 meters (351 feet)

Lockhart told Newsweek that Octopus has only recently become available for charter. It was built for Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who died in 2018 . The vessel was sold by Allen's estate last year and its new owner is reportedly Swedish billionaire Roger Samuelsson.

"She came on the market at the end of last year," Lockhart said. "I was just recently on board the Octopus in Panama. I have to admit, I've never seen anything like it in all my years in yachting."

Inside the Octopus

For years after its launch in 2003, the Octopus was off limits to everyone but Allen and his guests. Now anyone who wants to charter the megayacht, built by the German company Lürssen, can do so—as long as they can pay upwards of $2.2 million per week. For that sum, you and 11 other guests can enjoy eight decks of extravagant amenities including:

• Seven tenders
• Two helipads
• A submarine for underwater exploration
• An oceanographic hub for "explorers searching for lost shipwrecks and maritime artefacts"
• On-deck swimming pool
• Gym and wellness area
• Observation lounge
• A glass-bottomed aquarium

The accommodation includes a master suite (with private elevator and observation deck), two VIP apartments, seven double bedrooms and three twin staterooms.

"She has a ratio of 12 guests for just over 42 crew, which is quite exceptional," said Lockhart. "It's just the perfect yacht for exploration. She was built for cruising and exploration. She's been set up to be self-sufficient to go to remote areas, which is quite special."

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The Camper & Nicholsons website states that the Octopus has a maximum speed of roughly 19 knots and an ice-class hull. This means it can be chartered for winter cruises to Antarctica —an option that is increasingly popular, according to Lockhart.

"Certainly the larger yachts are more open to doing more extensive cruising and more remote destinations. Clients seem to want to be able to take their families to go to these destinations," she said.

More Megayachts

The largest yacht available for charter is the Flying Fox , according to Lockhart. The 136-meter vessel can accommodate up to 25 guests in 11 cabins, all of which have private sea-view terraces.

Flying Fox , which was built by Lürssen and launched in 2019, has amenities including a 12-meter swimming pool, a two-story spa and a professional diving center. Chartering it will cost upwards of $3.2 million a week from Imperial Yachts.

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No 3 on the list is Imperial's Lana . Built by Italian company Benetti and launched in 2020, Lana can house up to 12 guests and costs upwards of $1.9 million per week.

Newsweek has reached out to Imperial Yachts for comment.

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The superyacht of the late Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates, has hit the market for a cool $90 million.

Allen, who passed away in 2018 at the age of 65 after losing his battle with cancer, purchased the vessel in 2001 for an estimated $100 million.

Named Tatoosh, it’s considered the 60th largest superyacht in the world spanning 303 feet wide.

It was last listed in 2021, before it was taken off the market for an 11-month retrofit. Tatoosh will be available for viewing at this month’s Monaco Yacht Show, from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1. It can also be available upon request.

Pegged as “one of the world’s best super yachts,” it’s equipped with two helicopter pads, large tenders, a heated swimming pool, a beach club and a dive center, a cinema and an elevator servicing all decks, the listing states.

There are 11 state rooms in total that can accommodate 19 guests.

Stuart Larsen with Fraser holds the listing .

The listing comes as Christie’s announced that Allen’s billion-dollar art collection would be auctioned off, which includes 150 artworks spanning 500 years.

Meanwhile, Allen also owned another mega yacht, called Octopus, which spans 414 feet wide and was considered the 20th largest ship in the world. Back in May, the boat was listed for rent .

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Allen co-founded Microsoft Corporation with his childhood friend, Gates, in 1975. According to Forbes, just before his death, he was ranked the 44th wealthiest person in the world, with an estimated net worth of $20.3 billion.

Considered a recluse, Allen expressed interest in one day having a romantic life and a family, but ultimately never married or had children.

In 1982, he was diagnosed with Stage 1-A Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and was successfully treated after several months of radiation. He was diagnosed with the same cancer again in 2009, and was again successfully treated.

The cancer returned in 2018, which led to his death by septic shock on October 15, 2018.

“Paul loved life and those around him, and we all cherished him in return,” Gates said in a statement following his death. “He deserved much more time, but his contributions to the world of technology and philanthropy will live on for generations to come. We will miss him tremendously.”

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