Super Ridiculous Yachts: The Pinnacle of Extravagance
Across the globe, super yachts dazzle in myriad shapes, sizes, and mind-boggling designs. From sleek sea creatures to futuristic spaceships and opulent floating mansions, the extravagance knows no bounds. Often, it’s the interiors of these marvels that steal the show, featuring lavish details like gold leaf faucets, exotic paintings, mosaic walls, and an array of luxury sea toys, submarines, recording studios, ice-rooms, cinemas, and state-of-the-art fitness facilities. Imagine gyms, squash courts, and even basketball courts onboard – whatever you dream, it’s likely reality on these yachts.
Some of these floating palaces are private sanctuaries, while others are available for charter, having hosted presidents, rock stars, and the world’s elite. Here are a few of the most over-the-top super yachts gracing our oceans.
Eclipse: A Floating Utopia
Holding the title of the second-largest yacht globally, Eclipse stretches an impressive 163 meters. She accommodates up to 36 guests with a crew-to-guest ratio of 2:1, ensuring every whim is catered to. Boasting not one, but two helipads, a gym, sauna, jacuzzi, beauty salon, indoor garden, and private cinema, Eclipse is designed for ultimate luxury. Her pièce de résistance is a 16-meter swimming pool that transforms into a dance floor at the push of a button, reminiscent of the iconic yacht Christina O once owned by Aristotle Onassis.
Unique Circle: A Visionary Masterpiece
Designed by Zaha Hadid in collaboration with Blohm + Voss, the 128-meter Unique Circle redefines yacht design with its fluid, interwoven exoskeleton. Resembling natural sea formations and marine mammals, this avant-garde vessel merges traditional and contemporary aesthetics. As Zaha Hadid aptly describes, “Each yacht is an engineered platform that integrates specific hydrodynamic and structural demands together with the highest levels of comfort, spatial quality, and safety.”
Xhibitionist: Where Cars Meet Yachts
Famed designer Edward Gray melds the worlds of automotive and nautical design with the sleek Xhibitionist. One highlight is a fold-out helipad on the yacht’s fore, doubling as a dance floor with an impressive sound system. OceanLED lights illuminate the yacht at night, creating a glowing spectacle. Designed for versatility, Xhibitionist can transform into a floating mall, event venue, car showroom, or concert stage, making it one of the most ostentatious yachts afloat.
Sea Force One: The Ultimate Party Yacht
At 54 meters, Admiral yacht Sea Force One may be smaller, but she’s the epitome of a floating nightclub. The top deck boasts a fully operational DJ booth, LED lighting, and plush fur-covered sofas. A well-stocked bar, immersive audio-video system, circular dining room with sensational views, gym, and an extraordinary circular pool with cascading water effects make her the ultimate venue for unforgettable parties.
Diamonds Are Forever: A Regal Retreat
As the name suggests, this Benetti yacht launched in 2012 is adorned with crystal chandeliers and 24-carat gold accents, evoking a royal ambiance. The owner’s stateroom features marble columns and silk hand-painted murals, while dining is a Michelin-star experience with a fully equipped galley. Standard luxuries include a jacuzzi, massage room, helicopter pad, and a full gym, but nothing compares to the panoramic views from the fly deck.
Picchio: The Underwater Explorer
At 71 feet, Picchio’s innovation lies in her glass-bottom hull, providing stunning underwater views through multi-layered glass panels. This “glass carpet” reveals the sea beneath, enhanced by special spotlights at night. Picchio maximizes space, creating large living areas and unique visual experiences.
Octopus: The Explorer’s Dream
Owned by Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, Octopus is both a party yacht and an explorer’s haven. Accommodating 26 passengers, she features a ten-person submarine, glass-bottom observation lounge, dive center, hyperbaric chamber, two helipads, and storage for two helicopters, submersibles, and a large SUV. Onboard amenities include a spa, library, cinema, gym, basketball court, and recording studio.
Dubai: A Royal Floating Palace
Owned by the Emir of Dubai, this colossal yacht accommodates up to 48 guests and 88 crew members. With seven decks, three elevators, hot tubs, a cinema, gym, squash room, disco, large pool, submersible, and full spa, Dubai is akin to a floating hotel. The staircase, adorned with changing-color mosaics, epitomizes its royal splendor.
Maltese Falcon: The Revolutionary Sailboat
At 295 feet, the charter megayacht Maltese Falcon features a revolutionary computer-controlled rigging system. Her three carbon-fiber masts and square sails deploy at the touch of a button, eliminating the need for manual labor. The main deck hosts communal spaces that flow onto the aft deck’s dining and bar area. Forward, formal dining and living rooms provide elegant gathering spaces, while the bow transforms into a cinema. Sea toys, including a large water slide, add to her allure. She is nothing short of breathtaking, seen sailing the Med.
Azzam: The Largest Private Yacht
At 590 feet, Azzam is the world’s largest private yacht, equal in length to two New York City blocks. With a contemporary design and an engine designed for cargo ships, she cruises at 30 knots, employing innovative technology like waste heat-powered desalination. Details remain secretive, but known features include a submarine, heliport, and missile defense system, showcasing her remarkable technology and luxury.
Streets of Monaco: A Floating City
Still under construction, the Streets of Monaco is a scaled replica of the famous city, complete with landmarks like Café de Paris and Monte Carlo Casino. Featuring pools, a beach-like swimming pool, spa, gyms, salons, a casino, and more, it’s a floating city. Seven massive suites share amenities like a library and cinema, redefining the concept of a yacht.
The design and amenities of these yachts are beyond outrageous, featuring priceless art, gold leaf fixtures, crystal chandeliers, transparent floors, and luxurious fabrics. Infinity pools, waterfalls, saunas, mega gyms, sports courts, cinemas, helicopters, submarines, and sun beds add to their allure. Each year, the extravagance of these floating palaces grows, leaving us to wonder: what’s next on the horizon?
