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These are the Top 10 Most Expensive Yachts, Owned by the World’s Billionaires and Royalty

If you’ve been paying attention, you would have noticed our healthy obsession with yachts. From small fleets to mega and explorer yachts, we’ve covered them all. These luxury fleets are the epitome of sophistication and extravagance, proving to be the ultimate symbol of what luxury lifestyle stands fro. Fitted with cinemas, concert halls and even onboard beaches these yachts show us how to live the life of luxury, we bring to you the top 10 most expensive luxury yachts in the world.

1 | Eclipse ($1.5 billion/$485 million)

Owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abromavich, Eclipse is the most expensive yacht on our list. Eclipse is a monstrous 528 foot stunner and is the second largest private yacht in the world. Built by Blohm + Voss Hamburg Shipyard, this yacht does not hold back on its features. On top of two helicopter pads as well as a mini-submarine, Eclipse is equipped with a missile detection system and bulletproof windows as part of its defence mechanism. Rumour has it that it even has lasers to deter the paparazzi!

2 | Azzam ($600 million)

With the title of the largest private yacht in the world, Azzam is a ship to marvel at. With a length of 590 feet, it edges out Eclipse to grab the crown. This monster was manufactured by Lürssen Yachts, and owned by Sheikh Khgalifa bin Zayed al-Nayan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Emir of Abu Dhabi. Boasting a timeless and innovative design that doesn’t curb the ferocity of this yacht, Azzam is able to reach an impressive top speed of nearly 30 knots.

3 | Superyacht ‘A’ ($400 million)

Named after the initials of its Russian billionaire owner Andrey Melnichenko, ‘A’ is an A class yacht. This 394-foot superyacht is designed by Philippe Starck and has an original contemporary design. Housing a 2500 square foot master bedroom as well as six guest suites, the interiors are made versatile with moving walls. Crystal, yacht glass and mirrors drip all over the interior, with a prevalence in both the interior and furniture. All things exotic seem to be in style, with white stingray hides adorning the walls while crocodile skin furniture litter the yacht.

4 | Dubai ($400 million)

At 524 feet, Dubai is the yachting equivalent of its namesake. The third largest private yacht in the world is owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Emirate of Dubai and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates. The yacht comes with seven gorgeous decks, perfect for relaxing, along with a small submarine to view the marine life that live below.

5 | Al Said ($300 million)

Fashioned from an aluminium base, Al Said is another superyacht stunner. Its interiors are designed by Redman Whitely Dixon, with more than enough facilities to accommodate up to 70 people — on top of a crew of 154. Perhaps the most opulent part of this yacht is its concert hall, large enough to host a 50-piece orchestra.

6 | Serene ($330 million)

Billionaire Yuri Scheffler sure knows his vodka — and his yachts. Entrusting Fincantieri to create his private yacht, the firm presented to him, “Serene”. The yacht has a combined 48,000 square feet of covered space across seven decks, featuring a fully equipped spa, cinema and even a wood fire pizza oven. Its amazing leisure and entertainment facilities will ensure that you never want to step foot off the yacht.

7 | Pelorus Yacht ($300 million)

This yacht is so extensive it is home to a collection of smaller boats on the tender deck. The Pelorus is owned by Roman Abramovich and has a length of 377 feet. Cabins in the Pelorus see distressed planking as floorboards, to create an earthy atmosphere. One of the guest suites features a movable wall, which when lowered can transform into a private veranda. It looks to be like Pelorus aims for a more informal form of luxury — a testament to true relaxation in style.

8 | The Rising Sun ($300 million)

Members of the glitterati that have been seen lounging on this ship include Leonardo DiCaprio. The Rising Sun boasts 8000 square metres of living space, with 82 rooms spread out across five levels. It even has on-board basketball courts that double as helipads should the need arise.

9 | Dilbar ($263 million)

A vision dressed in bronze and ivory accents, Dilbar is elegance on water. Don’t be fooled by this yacht’s graceful exterior though. Powered by a 30,000kw Diesel electric power plant, she is able to sail at speeds of 22.5 knots. Despite being surrounded by ocean, Dilbar doesn’t skimp on its indoor pool. Her 180 cubic metre pool is stated to be the largest on any yacht. In addition to her magnificent pool, Dilbar is able to carry 20 guests and 47 crew members.

10 | Lady Moura ($210 million)

Get ready; this yacht has some seriously luxurious facilities. Besides having its name and escutcheon made from 24-karat gold, Lady Moura also comes with a pool with a retractable roof. But the highlight of the entire yacht is undoubtedly its extendable beach. The sand bar slides out from beneath the boat’s hull and can be adjusted to sit just at the waterline. If that doesn’t awe you enough, the onboard beach comes with palm trees to create the perfect oasis.

Words by Teri Chong. From: Luxuo.

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Interview: Boat Designer Vittorio Garroni of the Beneteau Group

Designers Vittorio Garroni and his son Camillo

After visiting Southampton University, Garroni decided that Genoa, with its rich maritime history, should also be a centre of excellence for the boating industry. He went on to become one of the founding fathers for the first Italian School for Pleasure Craft Design, set up in conjunction with the Faculties of Engineering and Architecture at Genoa University. In 2000, the School of La Spezia offered its first degree-course in Naval Architecture for Pleasure Craft, and this was expanded to become a Masters programme in 2005.

Vittorio believes that you need good knowledge of the past in order to be able to forecast future trends. “In the field of architectural design you need to look carefully back to the past, and analyse the evolution of trends over a sufficiently long period. Only then will you confidently be able to draw your line to the future. This is what I try to make clear to my naval architecture students when I feel their anxiety to perform a good design without previously having spent a sufficient time studying the history of design.”

Besides teaching, it was Vittorio’s love affair with boating and France that led him to work with the Jeanneau shipyard. The collaboration between Vittorio Garroni and Jeanneau started with the Prestige 41 in the 1980s, and continues to this day. Since 1988, he has been the principal designer for Jeanneau, part of the Bénéteau Group, for sail and motor boats from 5m to 20m.

Besides the Prestige line of motor yachts, Vittorio was also responsible for some of the best sellers in the history of Jeanneau, such the Cap Camarat 755 (of which some 1,000 boats were sold), the Merry Fisher, the Runabout, and all the current models in the NC and Leader lines. Garroni believes it is this partnership of Italian design with French ship building that has resulted in a line of yachts that are stylish as well as seaworthy.

Garroni has produced no less than 70 different models for Prestige since he started designing for them 30 years ago, and he says that, “customer satisfaction is the primary goal. We are always seeking to find ways of delivering more to boat owners, and this puts us ahead of our competitors.” Some of the most popular boats over the years have included the Prestige 500, 620, 750 and more recently, the Prestige 680. Garroni’s more recent designs have featured large expanses of glazing, which draws natural light into the main deck and afford guests 360-degree views.

The Jeanneau 57

Garroni Design was founded in 1971, and today Vittorio and his son Camillo continue to run the family business. “We handle numerous design projects for businesses in various industries including the marine, automobile, real estate, and even the industrial sector,” says Vittorio. “Essentially we are an Italian design team, which is composed of designers, architects, engineers, and consultants. It is a multinational team with associates from Europe to the Middle and Far East, but our cultural basis always remains typically Italian. The key to this is a shared appreciation of the Renaissance heritage; our five themes are Style, Refinement, Culture, Environment and Technology.”

“Working for a production craft yard demands a very high standard of skill and versatility,” explains Vittorio. “It is not just about the creative input. The team also needs to take into consideration the production process, with each new model that is designed.” The work doesn’t stop at the waterline. It also involves 3D modelling, engineering, and optimising the assembly of every single component of the boat. The studio’s designs, however, all begin life in the traditional way: as pencil strokes on a blank sheet of paper.

But Vittorio’s skills are not restricted to pleasure craft. 25 years ago he was invited by Mitsubishi Shipyards and NYK Line to participate in the Crystal Harmony project. “She was to be the first large Japanese built and owned cruise liner, conceived for international operations. She established new parameters for luxury and comfort, and is still now considered a reference model in the industry. I designed more than half of the passenger accommodations, and all the staterooms were conceived in my office.” Right now the company is working on two cruise ships, one at 100m and the other 300m, for a new Chinese company looking to test the domestic cruise market, and both will feature eco-technologies. The studio also designs bespoke superyachts and one of their recent projects, Margot, a 45m sailing motor yacht won the Interior Design category of the 2016 International Yacht & Aviation Awards.

Garroni says that design trends are influenced by the market that is being targeted, the social position of the customers, and their cultural roots. Generally speaking, European, American and Japanese cultures move from simplicity (minimalism) towards a more “structured peaceful refinement.” The Arabs and Chinese, who never met with minimalism, remain with locally inspired decorative trends. His approach is to respect and appreciate cultural diversity.

“I have spent 40 years sharing my life between university teaching in Europe, and working in the world, mainly in the Far East. It keeps me young! Now my son and his studio partners are experiencing the same, and it is a wonderful life!”

Last year, Garroni was named “Designer of the Year” at the 2016 World Yacht Trophy Awards at the Cannes Yachting Festival. The Award specifically recognised Garroni’s Prestige Yachts line, of which there were 13 models on display ranging from 42 ft to 75 ft.

Sailing, however, remains Garroni’s first love! Vittorio Garroni has a particular soft spot for the Sun Odyssey 54 DS, which led a revolution in the early 2000s. It was an enormous success, and over 365 units have been produced. “I had one, and she was called Bambouk. She was my great love. It was with regret that I had to separate from her, and I passed her on to a friend, who has since crossed the Atlantic with her, twice, and who continues to pamper her like a baby.”

Retiring is not on Garroni’s agenda, but he now leaves the day-to- day office duties to his son. “I will continue on with my exciting work while I go sailing with my wife in the wonderful Mediterranean Sea. The ‘new office environment’ will give me a new lease of energy, but these days I do need to factor in a bit more relaxation time. The best place for that is on the water, accompanied by my wife and our dogs… and some pasta, pizza and vino rosso!”

Words by Suzy Rayment.

From: Yacht Style #37.

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Ferretti Group’s CRN Yachts Delivers the M/Y Cloud 9 to the Mediterranean

M/Y Cloud 9

Now cruising in the Mediterranean, the 74-metre M/Y Cloud 9 was recently successfully delivered by CRN yachts — part of the Ferretti group — to the Ancona-based shipyard’s marina. A bespoke custom steel and aluminium vessel, the M/Y Cloud 9 is a collaboration between CRN Shipyard, Zuccon International Project and Winch Designs. The yacht is the shipyard’s second largest to date, after the 80-metre Chopi-Chopi, and has a maximum speed of 16.5 knots.

Launched on January 21, the CRN’s 74-metre length is impressive to the eye. More that 10,000 square feet of living space awaits passengers, spread out over five decks. A spacious alfresco area sits just in front of the master suite as a perfect intimate lounge area. This megayacht will surely make guests feel like they are on cloud nine: a beach club with an extendable platform, gym and barbecue are just a handful of the amenities onboard.

On charter, the yacht sleeps up to 12 guests in eight rooms, including the master suite, one VIP stateroom, four double cabins and two twin cabins. It can hold up to 16 guests on a private cruise. The Cloud 9 can carry up to 22 crew members on board to ensure a comfortable luxury yacht experience for all guests.

Boasting clean, sleek lines, this expansive yacht proves the strong design prowess of all firms involved. Providing only the top quality results, Italian shipbuilder CRN is continuously dedicated to the construction of fully custom, steel and aluminium yachts.

Burgess Yachts will represent the 74-metre Cloud 9 for charter in the Mediterranean this summer as worldwide central agents.

Words by Teri Chong. For more information, do visit CRN and Ferretti.

From: Luxuo.

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