The year’s most compelling expressions of ocean luxury are lifestyle-enhancers, not nautical show ponies.
For decades, the world’s most prestigious yachts competed on a familiar set of measures: length, speed and the number of amenities onboard. While those attributes remain important, they no longer define the industry’s most significant launches. Today, yacht design is increasingly influenced by a different question: how do owners actually want to spend their time on the water?
The answer can be seen across this year’s Best of the Best victors. Rather than simply adding more space, designers are creating environments that feel more connected to their surroundings. Interior and exterior living areas are becoming increasingly fluid, while wellness and privacy are assuming greater importance. At the same time, advances in technology are allowing yachts to become more efficient, more capable and more versatile without compromising comfort.
Perhaps most tellingly, the emphasis is shifting from the yacht itself to the experience it enables. Whether designed for exploration, entertaining, extended cruising or quiet retreat, today’s most successful vessels are those that enhance life onboard rather than merely impress at first glance.
The winners on the following pages represent the projects leading the next wave in luxury yachting, demonstrating how the future is being shaped not by scale alone, but by the quality of life at sea.
Best Superyacht: Maiora 36 Exuma by Next Yacht Group
The relationship between yacht and sea has become one of the defining themes of contemporary yacht design. With the Maiora 36 Exuma, Next Yacht Group has created a vessel built around that idea. Developed by Quartostile and Acube Design in collaboration with Maiora’s in-house Centro Stile, the 36.9 m yacht places openness and fluidity at the heart of the design. A flush-deck layout and fully retractable infinity door create uninterrupted sightlines from bow to stern, while expansive glazing floods the interiors with natural light. Throughout, warm materials, soft curves and a restrained palette create an atmosphere that feels both contemporary and inviting.
Particular attention has been paid to the owner’s experience. The owner’s suite, positioned forward on the main deck, enjoys 270-degree views of the surrounding seascape. Elsewhere, integrated outdoor areas blur the traditional boundaries between yacht and environment, encouraging guests to connect to the water.
Performance remains key. Thanks to a lightweight construction, triple waterjet propulsion and a shallow draught, the yacht offers speeds of up to 33 knots as well as the ability to access secluded bays and anchorages often beyond the reach of vessels of a similar size.
The Maiora 36 Exuma succeeds because it never asks owners to choose between performance and comfort. Instead, it combines both while placing the experience of being on the water at the centre of the design.
Best Gigayacht: Leviathan By Oceanco
At 111 m, Leviathan ranks among the largest yachts ever built by Oceanco. Yet what makes the vessel remarkable is not its scale, but its purpose. Commissioned by entrepreneur Gabe Newell, Leviathan was created for extended time at sea, with input from both crew and shipyard shaping everything from the layout to the day-to-day experience of living aboard.
Expansive glazing maximises natural light and sightlines throughout the vessel, while Mark Berryman’s interiors favour leather, stone and wool over the highly polished finishes traditionally associated with superyachts. Combined with a diesel-electric propulsion system and extensive noise-reduction measures, the emphasis is firmly on comfort.
Leviathan also challenges conventional assumptions about what a leisure yacht should contain. Alongside accommodation for 26 guests and 37 crew, the yacht incorporates a medical centre, a 3D-printing facility and a dedicated laboratory for scientific research. A 15-station gaming lounge reflects the owner’s personal interests, while the broader vessel serves as a platform for testing emerging technologies in real-world conditions.
In doing so, Leviathan challenges established notions of what a gigayacht can be. Less a floating showcase than a vessel built around how people actually live and work on the water, Leviathan offers a glimpse into the future of yachting.
Best Owner’s Deck: Silver Fox By Sanlorenzo
As yacht proprietors spend increasing amounts of time onboard, the owner’s suite has evolved far beyond a place to sleep. In the case of Sanlorenzo’s 74Steel Silver Fox, that evolution reaches its fullest expression in a private owner’s deck that feels more akin to a waterfront residence than a traditional yacht suite.
Envisioned by Francesco Paszkowski Design in collaboration with Margherita Casprini, the approximately 300 m² deck combines private, social and wellness areas within a single self-contained domain. A forward-facing bedroom framed by expansive glazing opens directly onto a private terrace and hot tub, offering uninterrupted views over the bow. Behind it, a private office combines a marbletopped desk with generous lounge areas, creating a space equally suited to work, relaxation or entertaining.
The residential feel continues throughout. Soft woods, neutral fabrics and artworks create a calm, understated atmosphere, while a walk-in wardrobe connects the living spaces to a pair of spa-style bathrooms, one centred around a freestanding bathtub with a view of the sea from an adjacent window.
What distinguishes Silver Fox is not simply the scale of the owner’s deck, but the completeness of the experience it offers. Rather than treating the owner’s suite as a private cabin, Sanlorenzo has created an entire floor devoted to life onboard.
Best Catamaran: Sunreef Ultima 88
For years, luxury catamarans have been prized for their stability and generous living space, while performance yachts have remained the preferred choice for owners seeking speed and agility. With the ULTIMA 88, Sunreef Yachts is attempting to bridge that divide. The latest addition to the Polish shipyard’s portfolio combines the handling characteristics of a monohull with the space, comfort and shallow draught traditionally associated with a multihull.
That versatility is reflected throughout the design. On the aft, side terraces open to create an expansive Ocean Lounge that brings guests closer to the water, while contemporary styling and open-plan living spaces ensure the yacht feels equally suited to entertaining, extended cruising or time spent at anchor.
Performance remains central to the concept. Capable of delivering speed and efficiency without sacrificing comfort, the ULTIMA 88 fuses many of the qualities owners typically associate with very different types of yacht.
What distinguishes the ULTIMA 88 is its refusal to fit neatly into a single category. Blending elements of a performance yacht and a luxury catamaran, it offers an alternative to more conventional yacht formats.
Best Charter Yacht: Kismet
In the highly competitive world of luxury yacht charter, exceptional service and beautiful surroundings are no longer enough. The most sought-after craft offer something far rarer: a sense of occasion. Few vessels embody that philosophy more convincingly than KISMET, the 122 m Lürssen available exclusively for charter through Cecil Wright.
Delivered in 2024, KISMET combines exterior design by Nuvolari Lenard with interiors by Reymond Langton Design, creating a yacht that is grand and theatrical and yet intimate. Guests arrive via a dramatic double-height entrance hall that immediately establishes the yacht’s sense of scale. Expansive deck spaces include multiple pools and a striking winter garden, while vast windows throughout the yacht draw the eye to the sea.
A Balinese-inspired wellness centre incorporates a hammam, sauna and cryotherapy chamber, while a cinema and extensive collection of water toys ensure guests are equally well catered for on and off the water. Below the waterline, an underwater lounge that converts into a cinema offers a rare perspective on the world beneath the surface.
Yet for all its scale and spectacle, KISMET succeeds because every space serves a clear purpose. From the wellness facilities to the outdoor entertaining areas, the yacht feels designed around how guests actually spend their time onboard. Accessible only through Cecil Wright’s Monaco and London offices, KISMET stands among the most remarkable charter yachts currently available.
Best Custom Yacht: Amor À Vida By CRN
The finest custom yachts succeed when every element contributes to a unified whole. Amor à Vida is a particularly accomplished example. Built by CRN and designed by Nuvolari Lenard, the fully custom 67.5 m vessel combines contemporary lines, expansive glazing and hybrid propulsion with an interior that rewards close attention.
What distinguishes the project is the extraordinary level of detail. In the main saloon, intricate stonework extends across both walls and ceilings, while custom furnishings reinforce the yacht’s calm, understated aesthetic.
Elsewhere, concentric-circle patterns in the sycamore flooring align perfectly with the circular elevator floor when its glass doors open, demonstrating the precision with which every element has been considered. Even the rope-inspired detailing found across the yacht reveals an inventive approach to materials, with textures recreated in cork and plaster rather than simply imitated.
Yet Amor à Vida is more than a showcase of craftsmanship. A dedicated wellness area at the stern creates a private retreat by the water; generous entertaining spaces encourage guests to gather throughout the vessel. What makes Amor à Vida exceptional is not any single feature, but the coherence of the whole. From the architecture and interiors to the materials and layout, every element feels considered and consistent with the overall design.
Best Sports Yacht: Mangusta Gransport 50
For decades, Mangusta has built its reputation on combining performance with unmistakable Italian style. With the GranSport 50, Overmarine Group has delivered the latest evolution of that formula, bringing together generous volumes, transoceanic range and a striking new architectural approach.
A defining feature of the 49.9 m yacht is the innovative three-and-a-half-deck layout featuring a raised pilothouse—an unusual solution for a yacht of this type. By relocating the helm, Mangusta has freed up valuable living space and created entirely new ways to experience life onboard. Every deck offers a different relationship with the sea, from the panoramic sun deck to the upper-level lounge centred around the brand’s signature infinity pool.
Designed by Alberto Mancini, the GranSport 50 also introduces a lighter, more contemporary aesthetic. Extensive glazing floods the interiors with natural light, while strong connections between indoor and outdoor spaces reinforce a sense of openness throughout the yacht.
The GranSport 50 demonstrates how far the sport-yacht concept has evolved. Capable of crossing oceans while sleeping 12 guests, it marries the excitement of a performance yacht with the practicality of a much larger cruising vessel.
Best Low-Emission Yacht: Grande 44m By Azimut
With the Grande 44M, Azimut has demonstrated that environmental performance need not come at the expense of luxury. The 44 m flagship is not only the largest yacht ever built by the Italian shipyard, but also the latest expression of its Low Emission Yacht programme, combining advanced hull design, foil technology and hybrid systems to reduce emissions by up to 30 percent compared with more conventional yachts of a similar size.
Yet the real achievement lies in the way these innovations support the onboard experience. The helm station has been relocated to a fourth deck, freeing up the upper tier to be configured as a private owner’s domain. This creates a master suite and terrace with uninterrupted vistas both forward and aft—an arrangement rarely seen on a yacht of these dimensions.
Elsewhere, Azimut builds on ideas first introduced aboard the Grande Trideck, including the mezzanine seaview terrace and a see-through pool that strengthens the connection to the water. Interiors by m²atelier embrace a softer, more residential aesthetic, while flexible living spaces can be adapted for entertaining, family life or a private retreat. Onboard the Grande 44, technology never dominates the narrative; it works quietly in the background, allowing design, comfort and ocean life to take the spotlight.
Best Series Yacht: ARUBY By Abeking & Rasmussen
For more than a century, Abeking & Rasmussen has built its reputation on highly bespoke yachts. With ARUBY, however, the German shipyard is taking a different approach. Developed in partnership with Reymond Langton Design, the 70 m platform translates decades of engineering expertise and owner feedback into a semi-custom concept designed to streamline the path to ownership without compromising individuality.
Rather than requiring owners to start from a blank sheet of paper, ARUBY combines the efficiencies of a proven platform with carte blanche to personalise key aspects of the yacht. The layout has been designed to allow guests to move easily between entertaining, wellness and work, while service remains discreetly in the background. Throughout the various living and dining spaces, owners can shape the yacht around their own priorities, from the choice of materials and finishes to the configuration of key interior areas.
The concept also reflects changing attitudes among yacht owners. Increasingly, buyers are looking for greater certainty around cost and speed of delivery, while still expecting a yacht that reflects their individual tastes. By combining the reassurance of a proven platform with the freedom traditionally associated with a fully custom project, ARUBY offers an alternative to the conventional commissioning process. In doing so, Abeking & Rasmussen has created a yacht that feels particularly relevant to a new generation of owners.
Best Entertainment Yacht: Angelique By Turquoise Yachts
As the largest yacht ever built in Turkey, Angelique represents a significant milestone for the country’s yacht-building industry. It is also one of the most thoughtfully designed yachts currently on the water. Built by Turquoise Yachts for an owner with a passion for bringing people together, the vessel places social connection at the nexus of the on-board experience, with spaces dedicated to entertaining and relaxation.
Designed inside and out by H2 Yacht Design, Angelique is arranged across five decks, each with its own distinct atmosphere. The main deck centres around a striking, glass-sided counterflow pool, while the owner’s deck features a bar and dining area that can be enclosed as a winter garden. Meanwhile, guests can gather for open-air cinema screenings on the sun deck, unwind in the beach club or enjoy panoramic views from the yacht’s many lounge spaces.
The emphasis on shared experiences extends throughout the yacht. A dedicated wellness deck incorporates a gym, spa, hammam and treatment room, while a touch-and-go helipad doubles as a basketball court, reflecting the owner’s desire for spaces that are both versatile and engaging.
Throughout, craftsmanship remains central, from the Art Decoinspired interiors and bespoke detailing to the extensive use of locally produced finishes. Rather than being defined by any single space, Angelique shines because of the variety of ways it allows owners and guests to spend time together at sea.
Best Weekender: VanDutch 75
VanDutch has long been one of the defining names in luxury day boating. Its low-slung profile, clean geometry and unmistakable silhouette helped define the luxury open-yacht category. Now, under the stewardship of Cantiere del Pardo, the new VanDutch 75 builds on that legacy while broadening its appeal.
Retaining the styling that made the original so distinctive, the 22.2 m yacht introduces a range of enhancements designed to allow more time onboard. A redesigned 45 m² cockpit creates an expansive setting for entertaining, while a fully integrated outdoor galley, carbon-fibre hardtop and innovative access solutions accentuate both comfort and practicality. The biggest transformation, however, lies below deck. A three-cabin layout, generous open-plan saloon and carefully considered interiors by BurdissoCapponi Yachts&Design bring a level of comfort more commonly associated with larger cruising yachts. Features such as the tender garage and swim platform further reinforce its versatility.
The VanDutch 75 impresses because it expands the possibilities of the original without losing the qualities that made it so desirable in the first place. It remains every inch the design icon, but one now equally suited to a weekend away as an afternoon on the water.
