Top 8 Most Expensive Luxury Yachts in the World

Eclipse

Eclipse is a luxury yacht constructed by Blohm + Voss in Hamburg, Germany. Its exterior and interior are designed by Terence Disdale Design and its naval architect is Francis design. The yacht is owned by Roman Abramovich, and is 163.5 m (536 ft) long,and it was delivered to Abramovich on 9 December 2010. This made Eclipse the world's largest private yacht, 0.5 metres (1 ft 8 in) longer than the Dubai, which belongs to Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai. The yacht's initial cost was estimated at € 340 million (circa $485 million US), but a September 2009 report indicated that final costs could approach € 800 million ($1.2 billion US). Eclipse has two helicopter pads, 24 guest cabins, two swimming pools, several hot tubs and a disco hall. It also comes equipped with three launch boats, and a mini-submarine that is capable of submerging to 50 metres. Approximately 70 crew members are needed to operate the yacht.

Streets of Monaco – $1.1 billion

The amazing Streets of Monaco yacht will not only rival Roman Abramovich’s Eclipse (below) in price, but also in sheer audacity. Rather than being the largest or most secure yacht in the world, Monaco will feature scaled-down reproductions of landmarks from its namesake city-state. This 500-foot yacht will feature a go-kart track on deck inspired by the Monaco Grand Prix, as well as reproductions of the Hotel de Paris, La Rascasse and the Loews Hotel. It’s being designed by Yacht Island Design of Derbyshire County in England and will accomodate 16 guests and 70 crewmembers. For the owner, a 4,800-square-foot suite with three floors is planned.

Pelorus

Pelorus (from the Greek word “pelorios”, meaning “vast”) is the world's nineteenth largest luxury yacht at 377 feet 3 inches (115 metres) in length. It was built at the Lürssen yard in Bremen, Germany to the design of Tim Heywood and was launched in 2003.

It was briefly owned by a Saudi businessman who sold it to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich the following year. Abramovich had it refitted to his own requirements by Blohm & Voss. This included the addition of a second helicopter pad forward, four new zero-speed stabilizers and modifications to the exhaust, mast and stern. Abramovich also owned Ecstasea, and gave away Le Grand Bleu to friend Eugene Shvidler.

Pelorus is powered by two 5,500-hp Wärtsilä 12v 26 engines, which will do a maximum 19 knots but often cruises between 12 to 14 knots. Details about the interiors are scant, as Abramovich is protective of his family's privacy and highly security conscious.

The yacht has a number of tenders on board and a garage full of 'toys', including jet skis and wave runners. A full time crew of up to 46 people lives aboard all year long, and a large security contingent comes and leaves with the family.

Pelorus will often be found cruising around the Western Mediterranean during the summers and commonly ventures down through the Suez for the winters.

Dubai

Dubai is the name of a yacht currently owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of the Emirate of Dubai and the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates. This vessel is 524 feet, 10 inches (162 m) long, is the second largest yacht in the world after Eclipse.Dubai has a huge open glass staircase which connects a large number of guest and VIP suites, as well as an owner's deck. If you're dining on the mega yacht there is a choice of a large formal dining area, or a variety of formal and informal saloons both inside and out. On Dubai's deck you also find a variety of pools, hot tubs, sunbathing areas, and a big swimming platform for water sports activities. Most of this space on the yacht's deck is actually enclosed, so the guests can make use of the air-conditioning to combat the hot Dubai weather. As you would expect from a modern mega yacht, in addition to the two large tenders, the Dubai also holds a wide variety of water sports equipment and toys, including a small submarine. In fact, the mega yacht Dubai has so many water toys, there are two rooms on the boat just for stowage, like giant toyboxes! But wait, there's more! The yacht also has a squash room, spa, and is fitted out with the obligatory mega yacht helicopter pad.  

Lady Moura

Lady Moura is a rarity—launched in 1990, this $300 million mega-yacht has retained the same owner since day one (a Saudi billionaire).

Lady Moura is a 104.85m (344ft) motor yacht, custom built in 1990 by Blohm + Voss Shipyards in Hamburg (Germany). Luigi Sturchio is responsible for her beautiful exterior and interior design. She was last refitted in 2007.

Lady Moura has a steel hull and steel/aluminium superstructure with a beam of 19m (62.34ft) and a 5.40m (17.72ft) draft. This custom  displacement yacht is equipped with an ultra-modern stabilization system which reduces roll motion effect and results in a smoother more enjoyable cruising experience. She also features bow thrusters making her more manoeuvrable at low speeds. Lady Moura is capable of 22.00 knots flat out, with a cruising speed of 20.00 knots. Lady Moura offers accommodation for up to 30 guests. She is also capable of carrying up to 60 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht experience.

Maltese Falcon

The Maltese Falcon isn't a classic yacht, she's a new class of yacht. Her revolutionary sailing system - the Falcon Rig - sets a new milestone in yachting history: 3 self-standing and rotating masts hosting 15 sails for a total sail area of 2,400 square meters (25,791 ft square), handled by the ultimate in Perini Navi Sail Control for unrivalled performance with unmatched safety and manoeuvrability characteristics.

This incredible super cruiser has a maximum speed of eighteen knots and a range of 3,000 nautical miles at a cruising speed of fourteen knots making the Maltese Falcon the ultimate charter vessel. Whether you desire a super yacht for large scale entertaining between smart anchorages or as a way to experience a once in a lifetime blue water ocean passage, Maltese Falcon is the only way forward offering some of the most luxurious quarters available from any charter vessel on the market today.

Maltese Falcon is able to accommodate twelve guests in five lower deck stateroom and one upper deck passage cabin with a private cockpit. A VIP cabin sits on the upper deck and holds a queen-sized berth while the full beam master suite holds a king-sized berth, a separate full beam dressing room and private gymnasium located on the lower deck. Four of the guest staterooms can convert into two enormous VIP suites, each with his and hers bathrooms. All of the cabins on Maltese Falcon hold either king- or queen-sized berths.

Meteor

If you missed the chance to spend $159,000,000 on the Maltese Falcon in 2009, fear not. Meteor, Royal Huisman’s 52 metre sailing superyacht, can be purchased for a mere $46,000,000. She features the best of both technology and style—think high-performance sails, carbon fiber spars, rich mahogany throughout the interior, a wood-burning fireplace and a huge beveled glass skylight. In her young life, she’s been named Sailing Yacht of the Year and Best Sailing Yacht Exterior Styling.

This renowned sailing yacht, handled by YPI, was built in 2007 to a design by Gerald Dijkstra & Partners and is one of the finest examples of the sheer talent and skill Royal Huisman is so renowned for today.

METEOR was the recipient of an unprecedented three awards at the World Superyacht Awards in 2008 and carried off the winning trophy at 2009’s St Barth’s Bucket Yacht Race beating off a fleet of 35 superyachts.

METEOR has earned herself a reputation for being one of the best appointed sailing yachts on the market today. She has quite a traditional, relaxing feel about her, but make no mistake… she is packed with modern technology, design and sailing prowess.

METEOR’s schooner rig and sail plan is traditional in appearance; however, with Rondal Carbon spars and with carbon standing rigging by Southern composites and high performance sails from North, this hides the reality. Her functionally ergonomic deck layout complements her contemporary racing technology.

Ecstasea

Ecstasea is a luxury yacht. The biggest Feadship built, she was sold by her original owner, the Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, in June 2009 to an unknown Shiekh of the UAE by yacht brokers Merle Wood for $200 million. Many believe it was purchased by Sonja Zuckerman. Her mansion in Gables Estate was retrofitted with a large yacht dockage and pictures of the Ecstasea was seen docking with her and grandson Richard Rodriguez Mendez on board. Ordered by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, Ecstasea was built in 2004 as the largest Feadship built ever. The yacht was built in the shipyard of Royal Van Lent and has length of 85.95 metres (282.0 ft), and a beam of 11.50 metres (37.7 ft), resulting in a deadweight of 585 metric tons. The yacht is made of all steel, and is much closer to a luxury ship, than to a yacht.

Her exterior design was created by the teamwork of Terence Disdale and De Voogt Naval Architects, with Disdale also responsible for the yacht’s Asian style interior design. She has capacity for 12 passengers, who are divided into 6 separate rooms.