Backed by Mercedes-Maybach, the Maybach Ocean Club introduces a new model of yachting—blending shared ownership with the culture of private members’ clubs.
For decades, the world of luxury yachting has offered a familiar set of choices: the billionaire’s private yacht; the chartered vessel for a week or two; and more recently, residential ships promising a new way to live at sea. The Maybach Ocean Club proposes something different.
Part superyacht, part private members’ club, the 155-metre vessel is designed for a curated community of international members who share ownership and return throughout the year. Rather than purchasing a residence at sea or chartering a yacht for exclusive use, members become co-owners of the vessel itself, gaining access to a floating club that moves between the Mediterranean and Caribbean—without the obligations of sole ownership.
For co-founder Michael Hehn, the idea grew from a simple reality: most vessels spend a large amount of time idle. “Yachts typically are used around five weeks per year for the owner,” he says. “Some charter them out the rest of the time, but it’s quite inefficient. We thought the greatest thing would be to share a luxury yacht with people who appreciate the same things.”
The concept takes cues from the culture of private members’ clubs. A subscription provides several weeks each year at sea, along with access to a curated community of fellow members. “When you share something with others, you want to know who those people are,” Hehn says. “For us, it was obvious this needed to be a private members’ club.”
That distinction sets the project apart from the residential superyachts under development which revolve around privately owned apartments intended for extended stays. The Maybach Ocean Club is fashioned for a different lifestyle—one built around shorter visits and a dynamic life on land. “Our target group is very active people,” Hehn explains. “Entrepreneurs, artists, people who have achieved something but are still busy. They may have several homes or even their own yachts, but they don’t have the time to live onboard for months.”
The vessel balances the intimacy of a superyacht with the scale needed for hotellevel amenities. The yacht will host just 30 suites, each around 75 square metres, along with six guest suites—housing a maximum of 72 guests at one time. The aim, Hehn says, is balance. “We wanted something large enough to offer world-class facilities but still yacht-sized,” he says. Those amenities include two restaurants spanning casual and fine dining, a beach club, lounges, spa and gym. A 70-metre support vessel carries tenders, water toys and a helicopter.
The design is shaped by the project’s collaboration with Mercedes-Maybach, whose team has worked closely with the yacht’s naval architects on exterior and interior concepts. “At the core is their design,” Hehn says. “They bring a clear ambition for excellence and quality.”
The itineraries reflect the flow of the global yachting calendar. Summers will be spent largely in the Mediterranean—between the Côte d’Azur, Sardinia and Italy, and other superyacht hotspots—while winters shift to the Caribbean. Members typically join for week-long stays, with routing remaining flexible. “If the weather is better somewhere else, or there’s an event happening, the captain can adjust, just like a private superyacht,” Hehn says.
The club is largely referral-based. “We say it’s for interesting people who are interested,” Hehn says. “People who have achieved something in their lives but are also curious about what others have done.” Membership is structured around a shared ownership contribution, offering four weeks onboard each year, alongside annual fees covering operating costs.
The concept was formally unveiled in late 2025, with maiden sailings expected towards the end of the decade. In the meantime, the club is already taking shape through events designed to bring future members together. Because for the Maybach Ocean Club, the yacht is only part of the idea. The real ambition lies in the community that forms around it.
