Set Sail on a Superyacht

To charter a superyacht is to indulge in the ultimate getaway: you can slip away from the everyday and into a space where impeccable service, privacy, and luxury are not only attainable but are combined with a feeling of adventure that you won’t experience in a hotel. Charter a superyacht and you could find yourself sailing between the most glamorous marinas that grace the Mediterranean or exploring a pristine beach on one of the most remote islands on the planet. 

When it comes to choosing a superyacht, you have lots of options, some of the best of which are described below. Most of them are multiple award winners, and all are bound to deliver a vacation experience you won’t soon forget.

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Firebird

Sails: Arctic Norway, eastern Mediterranean, Caribbean, Chile, Antarctica

Length: 27 meters

Sleeps: seven guests in four cabins

Crew: four (in Norway, three plus a mountain guide)

Built: 2016

Cost: from $45,000 per week

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A landscape white with snow might not be the first setting that comes to mind when you picture the ultimate superyacht holiday—unless, perhaps, you’re a winter-sports enthusiast with a penchant for adventure.

The spacious Firebird has been customized for round-the-world passages. While it cruises the eastern Mediterranean and secluded coastlines of Norway during summer, it is its winter appeal that makes it truly special: Firebirdis suited to sailing deep into the Arctic Circle. This yacht’s crew specialize in taking guests to pristine off-piste ski slopes, and other adventures offered include dogsledding, snowshoeing, glacier hiking, and whale watching.

Ski gear is available and there is an eight-pair boot heater, a ski rack, and a storage cabinet for crampons and ice equipment. The windows that wrap around the saloon offer 360-degree views of the Arctic landscape, while the heated cockpit allows guests to watch the Northern Lights during dinner. 

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EnCore

Sails: New Zealand and South Pacific

Length: 30 meters

Sleeps: eight guests in four cabins

Crew: four

Built: 2011 (2017 refit)

Cost: from $60,000 per week

This motor yacht, which sails New Zealand and the South Pacific, is primed for enjoying life outdoors. You’ll discover a variety of al fresco dining locations, a top deck that boasts a Jacuzzi, a bar, and a barbecue area, and an entertainment system for outdoor movie nights. 

The styling of EnCore is what you’d expect of a modern white yacht: shiny surfaces and clean, contemporary lines. The high railings around the decks make the vessel suitable for families, and the range of watersports gear promises a fun, active holiday: you’ll find a large swim platform; jet ski, snorkeling, diving, and fishing equipment; underwater sea scooters; and paddle boards.

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Dunia Baru

Sails: Indonesia

Length: 51 meters

Sleeps: 14 guests

Crew: 18

Built: 2014

Cost: from $94,500 per week

One glance at Dunia Baru and your imagination will transport you to the Spice Trade era, the days of naval exploration, and a time when naturalists were discovering new species almost daily. Even the yacht’s name, which is Indonesian for “new world,” evokes a sense of discovery. This is a superyacht with adventure ingrained in its DNA.      

The traditional two-masted wooden sailing ships of Indonesia inspired the style of the majestic vessel, which was handcrafted there from teak and ironwood by seventh-generation shipwrights. Throughout, the craftsmanship is outstanding, and there are all the comforts and high-tech systems that you’d expect of a modern superyacht.    

The decks have ample space for beanbags, sunset cocktail sessions, and al fresco dinners. The ship sails some of the most pristine and secluded archipelagos on earth (including West Papua’s Raja Ampat islands, where Dunia Baru is pioneering an eco-learning center in a remote village); and it carries all the diving gear and water toys needed to ensure unparalleled adventures.

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Malahne

Sails: Mediterranean and Caribbean

Length: 50 meters

Sleeps: 10 guests in six cabins

Crew: 11

Built: 1937 (2015 restoration and refit)

Cost: from $145,000 per week

In addition to classic beauty and Art Deco styling, Malahne offers a rich history. Delivered in 1937 to businessman William Lawrence Stephenson (aka the British Mr. Woolworth), the motor yacht initially sailed the Mediterranean and was involved in the Dunkirk evacuations during World War II. When director Sam Spiegel owned Malahne, it was the production headquarters for Lawrence of Arabiaand also hosted Hollywood stars including Grace Kelly, Kirk Douglas, Elizabeth Taylor, and Frank Sinatra. 

Though a 1980s refit stripped the yacht of its historical charm, an extensive restoration, completed in 2015, restored its Art Deco glam. Guy Oliver—whose projects have included London’s Connaught hotel and 10 Downing Street—designed the sumptuous interiors and the ample deck space, which is perfect for entertaining. While this yacht is reminiscent of a bygone era, it offers all the modern conveniences and water toys you’d expect of a vessel in this class.

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Aria Amazon

Sails: Peruvian Amazon River

Length: 45 meters

Sleeps: 32 guests in 16 cabins

Crew: 27 (including a paramedic and four English-speaking naturalist guides)

Built: 2010 (refurbished 2015)

Cost: from $278,000 per week

A trip to the Amazon is sure to be amazing—and when that trip is on a vessel designed by Peruvian architect Jordi Puig specifically for cruising that river, you can be certain that there will be no compromises when it comes to amenities.

The 16 suites on Aria Amazon, which have their own lounge areas, feature floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing you to enjoy spectacular river and jungle views from the comfort of your own private space. There’s a spa, a small gym (with uninterrupted views), and a Jacuzzi on the observation deck.   

To help you experience the destination, the boat has an Amazon wildlife reference library, a multimedia room, and kayaks. In some locations, bicycles are available for shore excursions. While individual suites are sold, this floating five-star boutique hotel, which has an upper-deck bar and multiple dining and lounge areas, can be chartered privately.

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Nero

Sails: Mediterranean

Length: 90.1 meters

Sleeps: 12 guests in eight cabins

Crew: 20

Built: 2007 (2016 refit)

Cost: from $490,000 per week

Nerois one of the most classic and graceful superyachts to ever have sailed the Mediterranean. The sleek lines of its black steel hull, white superstructure, and bright yellow smokestack are a nod to the yacht that inspired its design: Corsair IV, the steamer built in 1930—with no expenses spared—for American financier J.P. Morgan.

Launched in 2007 and extensively refurbished in 2016, the Nerois one of the world’s largest luxury motor yachts. It transports you back to the elegant 1920s and 1930s, but it incorporates all the latest conveniences.

The vast master suite boasts a cinema lounge, office space, and private dining area. Modern art in antique frames and a grand staircase create a sense of occasion, while the plush furnishings, chosen to echo the colors of the ocean, foster a subtle sense of relaxation. There are abundant lounge and dining venues, extensive deck spaces, a gym, a 5.7-meter swimming pool, a Jacuzzi, a library, state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment, an outdoor cinema and, of course, a wide selection of watersports gear.

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Savannah

Sails: Mediterranean in summer, exotic destinations in winter

Length: 83.5 meters

Sleeps: 12 guests in six cabins

Crew: 24

Built: 2015

Cost: from $€1 million per week

Superyacht Savannah is a statement of uncompromising opulence blended seamlessly with conscientious cruising. Christina Gherardi, previously head of architecture for Christian Dior, designed the yacht and its interiors, which are characterized by elegant horizontal lines. The hybrid vessel produces very low emissions and operates in almost absolute silence: this vessel is heralded as the largest hybrid superyacht on the planet. 

Savannah boasts features never seen on a yacht before. In the Nemo room, plush couches and cushions face a glass wall that is half submerged, offering sublime views that are simultaneously above and below the ocean. Other features include curved interior walls and extensive windows that allow a view from every room on the yacht’s four decks. Spaces flow effortlessly, integrating a sense of place into the elegant and comfortable interiors.

The superyacht also incorporates a modern art collection, a basketball court, an elevator, a 9.1-meter swimming pool, a Jacuzzi, a gym, a hammam, a spa, and a private sundeck with DJ station.