[bobco68]

Owning a huge yacht can be very expensive, even by the standards of their billionaire and centa-millionaire owners—and are perhaps the best case for "Rent, Don't Buy"—but, like the relatively plebeian Florida condo, they can be rented out to defray the cost of maintenance. With price tags north of $100M, the five largest yachts available for charter aren't going to come cheap, even when rented by the week. The Nero, a 296-foot yacht that spends summers cruising the Mediterranean and winters in the Caribbean, is available for $531K per week in high seasons. It might only be the world's fifth largest charter yacht, but Nero has space for 12 guests in opulent staterooms, a crew of 21, a swimming pool, a gym, a jacuzzi, and four jet skis for in-port fun.

[TrafficTiger]

? Perhaps the most storied motor yacht of all time, the Christina O once belonged to shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis, who entertained movie stars and dignitaries on the 325-foot converted Canadian naval ship. Today, the yacht, which fell into disrepair while under the ownership of the Greek government, has been totally renovated by a family friend of the Onassis family. It is available for charter by the day and the week, charging $575K per week for up to 30 guests. more

[eugene2k]

? The fourth-largest charter yacht in the world, the 311-foot Indian Empress, is currently owned by billionaire Indian industrialist Vijay Mallya, but was originally built in 2000 for the prolific spenders in the Qatari royal family. Available for weekly charter in the Mediterranean for an astounding $759K per week, the Indian Empress boasts 16 staterooms (though only 12 guests are permitted at a time), 30 crew members, six Jet Skis, scuba gear for 12, and a full gym. More interior photos are available at the charter website.

[jelon94]

The yacht contains seven pools, and another conspicuous feature, a jacuzzi surrounded by a sunbathing lounge, is highly noticeable on the top deck. In front of this jacuzzi is a wet bar (no doubt always fully stocked with the finest beverages) and above is an observational deck with another area for sunbathing. here

[susisusan]

But the story gets a little more complicated – and a little shadier – than that. Following the sale to Mohammad bin Salman, Scheffler ultimately sued Fincantieri. The reason was another superyacht; the massive Ocean Victory, built by Fincantieri on the same shipyard for another Russian oligarch, namely the billionaire Viktor Rashnikov. Following its construction, Scheffler claimed that the second yacht infringed upon his intellectual property on the grounds that it was built on the same platform as his Serene. Scheffler won and claimed €20.9 million in damages.

[DjeZAeL]

The story of the largest yacht ever sold is a complicated one, involving a Russian billionaire, a Saudi Royal, and many hundreds of millions changing hands between the two. The 134-metre Serene was the first superyacht ever built by the renowned Italian shipyard Fincantieri. Prior to the yacht’s construction, it was a shipyard known more for large commercial ships. Perhaps this is what accounts for the enormous size of the yacht, which has amenities ranging from a salt-water swimming pool to a supersized hot tub and, of course, a fully operational helipad.

[HariposterAA]

Serene has six decks, stretched over a beam 18.5 metres long. Such dimensions are all but necessary to accommodate the wealth of amenities and other features found on board. The yacht is composed of a steel hull and an aluminium superstructure; the decking is teak. The 18.5 metre beam is crossed with a draft of 5.5.m Serene provides full luxury accommodation for 24 guests across 12 cabins and requires a crew of 52 to man the vessel at all times. Naturally, it is a motor yacht, no sails could power along a vessel this size, and it is propelled by a twin screw mechanism. With a diesel engine, the yacht has a maximum speed of 17 knots and typically cruises at 15 knots.
Much has been made of Serene’s exterior design, which is the work of world-renowned designer Espen Oeino who is based in Monaco and frequently designs striking yachts for the world’s super-wealthy. The interior design is the work of British design studio Reymond Langton and incorporates and sophisticated combination of light and dark – typically cream and brown – with tastefully positioned wooden fixtures. more

[Vaschel33]

But the story doesn’t end there. It is unclear how much Scheffler actually spent funding the construction of Serene at Fincantieri, but it is widely believed that it was sold to bin Salman at a profit. Information gleaned from the leaked “Paradise Papers” revealed that the yacht was sold to the deputy crown prince for €420 million. Around the time of the sale, it was reported in the media that the deal had been closed very quickly, even to the point of bin Salman asking Scheffler to vacate the yacht within hours of the purchase. The paradise papers, however, tell a different story.
According to information released via the leak, the sale took ten days to close, and, suspiciously, Serene had to sail out into international waters before she could change hands. In this wild tale of massive profits, complicated deals, lawsuits, and superyachts, much remains unclear about what exactly went down as this yacht was built and sold between such powerful men.

[jonathan01]

Where once there were only luxurious yachts or mass-market cruise ships to choose from, today there’s a third category for those yearning to spend more time at sea. Private residence boats and single-cabin charter vessels are becoming big business, but can these hybrids compare to the real deal?

[TheOddShot]

For those who’ve bought into this new wave of yachting, sharing your boat with other like-minded enthusiasts seems the perfect compromise. The proof is in the pudding. Asked eight years later whether he could see any downsides to purchasing an apartment on The World, Rowe’s answer was simple: “None.”

[iamronaldlpierson]

It is now 17 years since the first owners boarded The World and there doesn’t seem to be any slowdown in demand for this kind of lifestyle. So much so there is soon to be another major player in the market: 282-metre Njord.

[ArtemZ]

Jim Dixon, director of yachts and aviation at Winch Design called the project a “revolutionary landmark for the industry”.

[fresno]

“Somnio, meaning ‘to dream’ in Latin, will be the largest yacht in the world by length and volume, and offer apartment owners the finest quality available at sea,” Captain Erik Bredhe, co-founder of Somnio, said in a statement. “We are really looking forward to seeing this beautiful yacht liner sail in 2024.” more

[eedcxsww]

Amenities will include a 10,000-bottle wine cellar and tasting room, several restaurants and bars, an on-board beach club with water-sports facilities, several pools and a lounge in the ship’s bow to give people a “spectacular” vantage point when entering and leaving ports around the world, according to Winch Design. [links]

[suckless]

Construction of the largest yacht in the world is under way – but to live on it you will have to fork out well over $15 million.

[carolinetimms2]

At 221m long and 33,500 tonnes, the “yacht liner” Somnio will contain a collection of 39 luxury apartments.

[qbgtrfv]

“We are really looking forward to seeing this beautiful yacht liner sail in 2024,” Captain Bredhe said.