BEST of LUXURY
Luxury is in the eye of the beholder, but when it comes to the luxury lifestyle, we like to think that we know a thing or two.
Best Luxury Yachts
Riva
Riva's reputation as a first-class shipbuilder began in 1842, when Pietro Riva became known for his excellent boat repairing skills. With decades of artisan experience, the iconic Italian brand is now 170 years old and is one of the worlds oldest and most renowned shipyards. Its beautiful wooden boat designs are reminiscent of the days when Brigitte Bardot, Sophia Loren, and Aristotle Onassis were clients. Starting at $1 million, Riva yachts boast posh accommodations and handcrafted mahogany. Having previously partnered with Gucci on a classic Aquariva, the new flagship 122 foot Mythos will be its largest ever built and the first in lightweight aluminum alloy.
Best Luxury Yachts
Friendship Yacht Company
The Friendship Yacht Company is based in Rhode Island's nautically-famous Narragansett Bay, and has a knack for classic east coast styling. They specialize in shallow draft, wide beam, wood-trim sailboats ranging from 40 to 75 feet. Their relatively small size makes them a perfect choice for sailors committed to their craft in the face of the booming popularity of motoryachts. The Friendship series incorporates breathtakingly beautiful design alongside cutting-edge sail handling technology. These boats are just as comfortable lining up for a friendly regatta as they are for an evening of entertaining.
Best Luxury Yachts
Heesen Yachts
Founded by Frans Heesen in 1978 in Oss1, Netherlands, Heesen Yachts was the first Dutch shipyard to employ aluminium alloy for the building of yacht hulls. Since that time the yard has become a world leader in the design, engineering and construction of high performance, all-aluminium motor yachts. Held to the highest standards, it is not just a matter of style but more importantly, the contemporary application of engineering: the architecture of performance. 2013 saw two new releases, including the 50-meter Crazy Me, but the Heesen 65M remains the world's largest fast displacement yacht with a 20-meter sundeck, an enormous "beach club" area, heli-pad and a glass-bottomed swimming pool with views of the bar underneath.
Best Luxury Yachts
Wally Yachts
Known for its cutting-edge designs, Wally Yachts definitely stands out among a sea of competition. Founded by Italian businessman Luca Bassani in 1994, the Monaco-based shipbuilder produces sleek motorboats, racer-cruisers, and sailing yachts in unmistakable packaging. With sophisticated, angular lines, many of the yachts look ready for a covert spy mission. Possibly the fastest motorboat in the world, the highly minimal and futuristic WallyPower 118 reaches a speed of 60 knots and showcases an exterior that changes in respect to the light and environment. As further evidence of their luxury status, Wally partnered with Hermes to create the Wally WHY, a highly exclusive "moving island" on the sea.
Best Luxury Yachts
Beneteau
Born as a fishing boat in 1884 in Croix-de-Vie France, BENETEAU has come a long way from its origins as a fishing boat company. With a unique nautical vision, Beneteau builds sailing yachts and motor boats to match dreams. Renowned for their classic lines and aesthetics, the boat company is beloved among serious sailors for their high performance craft. With several customization options BENETEAU yachts are developed with the highest precision and are environmentally sensitive as well.
Best Luxury Yachts
Sunreef Yachts
Operating within a niche section of the yacht world, Sunreef Yachts designs and constructs super-sized luxury catamarans, as well as super yachts from 60 to 200 feet long. Sunreef launched their first model in 2003, focusing on build quality over quantity, producing only two models per year. With their exquisitely built double hulls, the catamarans offer exceptional space, stability and fuel efficiency when compared to monohulls. You can't help but be impressed by a Sunreef catamaran's spacious interior, independent lounge areas and ample deck space.
Best Luxury Yachts
Palmer Johnson
Palmer Johnson Yachts are known for their sporty styling and lavish interior design, but they came from humble beginnings that assures an auspicious attention to detail. The namesake owner got his start in 1928 when he built his first wooden yacht, and from there the company grew to construction of championship sailing yachts and then on to the Luxury megayachts they offer today. An affinity for the finest marine instrumentation is apparent on every boat they put in the water, from the PJ 120 Sports Yacht to the PJ World Yacht, complete with helipad and pool.
Best Luxury Yachts
Mangusta
Mangusta gives the world some of the largest luxury yachts, including the Mangusta 165. According to the brand, the 165 is the biggest open yacht in the world at 163 feet long. The massive size and performance abilities (like a top speed of 45 mph made possible by the three MTU 16V 4000 M93 engines, each giving 4556 HP) help this large vessel blow expectations out of the water. Construction is still under way for their new Mangusta 205, which will overtake the 165 as the world's largest open-style yacht. With massive exterior space and a secondary helm station, three 4,600-hp MTU engines will propel this 550-ton yacht to a top speed of 30 knots.
Best Luxury Yachts
Princess Yachts
With more than 40 years of experience, Princess Yachts is an internationally prominent builder of superyachts, sports yachts, and motor yachts. Combining deluxe design with expertly engineered deep V, resin-infused hulls, Princess offers more than 80 models, all showcasing superior style and build. As part of the LVMH family, Princess is a brand of distinction and is committed to providing as much on-board space to its clients as possible, as well as the finest elements of luxury seafaring.
Best Luxury Yachts
Ferretti Yachts
Ferretti's mission is to make their customer's dreams come true, and their line of eleven elegant yachts is sure to do just that. Their boats feature luxurious details such as a stern helm position and internal passages from the salon to the flying bridge. Their megayachts feature an array of positioning and stabilization technology as well, making them worthy of traveling the open oceans. Winning Motor Boat of the Year for its exclusively refined interior and impressive performance and layout, the Custom Line 100' superyacht boasts sliding doors, premium wood appointments, a fold-down balcony, and Franco Poli dining chairs.
Best Luxury Yachts
Perini Navi Group
Perini Navi is an Italian shipmaker specializing in both sailing and motor yachts. Many of their sailboats are of the ketch or clipper variety, including their 289-foot-long Maltese Falcon. Perini's lush list of accessories has attracted clients that include Robert Murdoch and Silvio Berlusconi. Perini Navi offers professional marketing and charter management services for Perini Navi owners. The charter team has extensive knowledge of the global charter fleet, catering to a client's every need and ensuring that all charters are customised and professionally managed for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Best Luxury Yachts
Oyster
Oyster is the bellwether of boats in Great Britain, easily recognizable on the high seas with their patented Deck Saloon design. Quality craftsmanship is visible throughout each yacht, from 36 years of knowledge comes a commitment to testing their products, and rigorous requirements of their equipment and material suppliers. They offer racing yachts, as well as a blue water sailing line with push button sailing controls to make your trip of a lifetime manageable, safe, and fun. Boat lengths range from 46 to 125 feet, with the innovative Oyster 125 flybridge sailing yacht being the largest and featuring twin helms, lounge, wet bar and sunbathing area on its topmost level.
Best Luxury Yachts
Sunseeker
A fusion of Scandanavian and American roots, Sunseeker has been designing and building their distinctive craft since the 1970's. Evolving from a brand into an icon, Sunseeker's yachts range from 47-foot sport cruisers to up to 46-meter triple deck superyachts. The firm's flair for dynamic styling and usage of bleeding-edge technology has culled quite a loyal following over the years. The company's track record for repeat sales to satisfied yachtsmen is extraordinary. (Sponsored)
Best Luxury Yachts
Azimut Yachts
Founded in 1969 by enterprising college student Paolo Vitelli, Azimut began as a mere charter company, but it wasn't long before the company began designing its own boats. Their vessels were entirely handmade, and today they still employ many of their time-tested techniques. Sleek Italian design and refined details dominate the entire line, which ranges from 39- to 116-foot yachts. The company has several shipyards capable of producing hundreds of boats each year, and their newest offerings have movable furniture on the flybridge so you can customize your cruise. With a Rolls-Royce designed propulsion system and two jacuzzis, the triple-decked Azimuth Grande 140 is the firm's largest and offers unique interior options thanks to three proposed styles and 15 layouts.
