| The term luxury yacht refers to a very expensive | | | | or shower rooms aft; engine room amidships; crew |
| privately owned yacht which is professionally crewed. | | | | quarters forward. |
| Also known as a super-yacht, a luxury yacht may be | | | | Main deck: sheltered exterior deck aft leading into the |
| either a sailing or motor yacht. | | | | salon; dining room and galley; entrance amidships; |
| This term began to appear at the beginning of the | | | | owner's suite forward, usually includes either a study |
| 20th century when wealthy individuals constructed | | | | or a second twin stateroom. |
| large private yachts for personal pleasure. Examples | | | | Upper deck: exterior deck aft, often used for |
| of early luxury motor yachts include M/Y (motor | | | | outdoor dining; second salon (often called the sky |
| yacht) Christina O and M/Y Savarona. Early luxury | | | | lounge); staffed bar inside or outside or both; sixth |
| sailing yachts include Americas Cup classic J class | | | | stateroom will be amidships if it is not on the lower |
| racers like S/Y (sailing yacht) Endeavour and Sir | | | | deck or part of the owner's suite; gym (may also be |
| Thomas Lipton’s S/Y Shamrock. The New | | | | on the lower deck or part of the owner's suite); |
| York Yacht Club hosted many early luxury sailing | | | | captain's cabin; bridge. |
| yacht events at Newport, Rhode Island, during the | | | | Sun deck: on the roof of the upper deck, often |
| Gilded Age. | | | | features a jacuzzi. |
| More recently, over the last decade or two, there | | | | A 50 metre yacht will have one or more luxury yacht |
| has been an increase in the number and popularity of | | | | tenders for reaching shore and other "toys" which |
| large private luxury yachts. Luxury yachts are | | | | may include a speed boat or sailing boat, jet-skis, |
| particularly bountiful in the Mediterranean and | | | | windsurfing and diving equipment and a Banana boat. |
| Caribbean Seas, although increasingly luxury yachts | | | | Up to date yachts have multiple flat screen |
| are cruising in more remote areas of the world. With | | | | televisions and satellite communications. |
| the increase in demand for luxury yachts there has | | | | The number of really large yachts has increased |
| been an increase custom boat building companies and | | | | rapidly since the 1990s and increasingly only yachts |
| yacht charter brokers. Luxury boat building and yacht | | | | above around 65 metres (213 feet) stand out among |
| charter companies are predominantly based in the | | | | other luxury yachts. Yachts of this size are almost |
| United States and Western Europe but are also | | | | always built to individual commissions and cost tens |
| increasingly found in Australasia, Asia and Eastern | | | | of millions of dollars (most super-yachts cost far |
| Europe. European manufacturers such as | | | | more than their owners' homes on land, even though |
| Azimut-Benetti and Lürssen dominate the very | | | | those homes are likely to be among the largest and |
| top end of the yacht building market. Some yachts | | | | most desirable). A yacht of this size usually has four |
| are used exclusively by their private owners, others | | | | decks above the water line and one or two below. It |
| are operated all year round as charter businesses, | | | | is likely to have a helicopter landing platform. Apart |
| and a large number are privately owned but available | | | | from additional guest cabins, which are likely to |
| for charter part time. Weekly charter fees range | | | | include one of more "VIP suites" besides the owner's |
| from a few tens of thousands of dollars a week to | | | | suite, extra facilities compared to a 50 metre yacht |
| nearly a million dollars a week. This covers the wages | | | | will include some or all of indoor jacuzzis, sauna and |
| of the crew, but not fuel, food and drink, or other | | | | steam rooms, a beauty salon, massage and other |
| incidental expenses. | | | | treatment rooms, a medical centre, a discotheque, a |
| Yachts from 23 metres (75 feet) and up qualify for | | | | cinema with a film library, plunge pool (possibly with a |
| design awards from the Superyacht Society, but at | | | | wave-maker), a playroom, and additional living areas |
| the bottom end of that scale yachts will not | | | | such as a separate bar, secondary dining room, |
| necessarily be crewed and many set the minimum | | | | private sitting rooms or a library. There will be more |
| length for a superyacht considerably higher. From | | | | boats and "toys" than there are on a 50 metre |
| around 30 metres (98 feet) and up yachts are | | | | yacht. |
| almost always crewed. A 45 to 50 metres (148 to | | | | As of 2006 yachts above 100 metres (328 feet) are |
| 164 feet) yacht, the smallest with a generally | | | | still sufficiently rare that many yacht enthusiasts can |
| accepted claim to superyacht status, will usually be a | | | | name them all. They typically have five decks above |
| three decker with cabins for 12 guests (that is a | | | | the water line and two below. The very largest |
| preferred number, more common than either 10 or | | | | yachts have begun to incorporate such features as |
| 14, and is found on yachts across quite a wide size | | | | helicopter hangars, indoor swimming pools and |
| range), and for a crew of a similar size. The | | | | miniature submarines. The burgeoning number of |
| accommodation on this type of yacht is typically as | | | | "small" super yachts has led to the introduction of the |
| follows: | | | | hyperbolic terms mega-yacht and giga-yacht to |
| Lower deck: exterior swimming platform at the stern; | | | | demarcate the elite among luxury yachts. |
| four (sometimes five) guest cabins with en-suite bath | | | | |