World’s Largest and Most Expensive Yachts

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Yachts are so beautiful and charming. They seem to fly over the waves inspiring a magnificent feeling of freedom. But having even a small yacht is not a cheap pleasure, not to mention the world’s biggest and most expensive yachts. I wish I could spend at least a day on one of these amazing mega-yachts, as I’m sure that would be unbelievable!

Dubai

Dubai is the current name of the second biggest yacht in the world. It is owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (the ruler of the Emirate of Dubai). It has a length of 162 m. It goes right after the Eclipse yacht (which is the largest one  is 170 meters long). The construction process lasted over 10 years. The yacht was built by German construction company Blohm & Voss, and was completed by Lürssen Company. The Dubai is distinguished by its exclusive and graceful interior design created by French product designer Philippe Starck. Its huge lounge (which is able to host 80 people) is styled with mosaic floors and palm-like columns resembling an oasis in the desert. There is a gorgeous pool on the main deck with a waterfall running out to the down-level decks. The Dubai has 5 VIP apartments and 6 guest cabins; there is a helicopter pad, submarine, SPA-salon, and modern gym. The yacht is valued at $300 million USD.
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Al Said

Al Said is a luxury yacht owned by Sultan Qaboos of Oman. This is currently the third largest yacht in the world with a length of 155 m. The yacht was built by one of the largest and most successful German shipbuilding companies, Lürssen Werft. The Al Said was ordered by the Oman royal family in 2006. It was launched in 2007 under code name Sunflower and then was renamed to “Al Said” after being purchased by Sultan Qaboos bin Said. The perfect interior design was created by Redman Whiteley Dixon Company. There is a luxurious concert hall which seats 70 visitors.
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Prince Abdulaziz

Prince Abdulaziz is considered the fourth largest motor yacht in the world with its length of 147 meters. It is owned by the Saudi Royal family for the past 26 years. The yacht was designed in 1984 by Maierform and built by Helsingør Værft in Denmark. For more than 20 years it was known as the world’s largest motor yacht. The Prince Abdulaziz is a classic example of eighties vessels. The helicopter pad is one of its important virtues; nowadays it is essential to modern motor yachts. The yacht was renovated in 2007 and became famous because of its speed of 22+ knots.
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Rising Sun

Rising Sun is the world’s sixth largest motor yacht after Al Salamah and Prince Abdulaziz. Its length is 138 meters. It is co-owned by Larry Ellison (CEO of Oracle Corporation) and David Geffen (American film producer). The Rising Sun yacht was built in 2004 by Lürssen Werft. The development expenses are estimated at $377 million USD. The yacht is equipped with jacuzzi bathrooms, gym & spa salons, a huge wine cellar, private cinema with a giant plasma screen, and a basketball court on the main deck which serves as a helicopter pad. Among its multiple advantages there is a major limitation – an inability to tie up at small ports and exotic islands.
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Savarona

Savarona takes the seventh place in the world’s largest yachts rate. The luxury motor yacht is 136 meters in length. It was the largest motor yacht when it launched in 1931. Also, it was the first custom-made vessel built by German’s Blohm & Voss with an original cost of $4 million USD (much more by today’s standards). The Savarona was originally ordered by Emily Roebling Cadwalader, who owned it for a couple of years and then sold it to Kemal Ataturk, the Turkish President. Since 1980 the Savarona has been leased by Turkish businessman Kharaman Sadikoglu and treated as a charter luxury business yacht. The Savarona was completely rebuilt in 1999 and modern diesel engines were installed.
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Al Mirqab

Al Mirqab is the eighth largest yacht in the world, owned by Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, Qatar’s Prime Minister. The yacht of 133 meters in length was built by Germany’s Kusch Yachts in 2004 and launched in 2008. In 2008, according to Forbes Magazine the Al Mirqab was called as the second most beautiful yacht in the world. The Al Mirqab is one of the most interesting luxury yachts; it has everything one can imagine on board – a helicopter pad, two jacuzzis, a cinema, water jets, bars, and a small fast boat.
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Octopus

Octopus is the ninth largest (126 meters long) super-yacht in the world. It was custom built in 2003 for Paul Allen (co-owner of Microsoft Corporation) by Germany’s Lürssen Werft. The Octopus has been priced at around $170 million USD. The vessel’s hull is made of ice-resistant steel material. The excellent interior design was created by Jonathan Quinn Bennett and is famous for the cinema, audio recording studio, submarine, and pleasure boats. The Octopus has another special appeal – its transparent floor from which the mysterious underwater world can be observed.
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HMY Britannia

Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia is the former Royal Yacht of the British Royal Family. With a length of 126 meters it is one of the largest yachts in the world. Due to its age (57 years by now) the royal vessel was decommissioned in 1997 and is currently moored as an exhibition ship at Leith, Edinburg, Scotland. During its history the Britannia transported a number of famous people such as U.S. Presidents Dwight Eisenhower, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan; Charles and Diana, Prince and Princess of Wales who spent their honeymoon cruise aboard it in 1981, and many others.

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Alexander

Alexander is known as the world’s 11th largest yacht after 8th Wonder yacht. Its length is 122 meters, with a capacity to hold 82 passengers. It was built in 1965 by Lubecker Flender for the Latsis Family. Currently the vessel is treated as a charter luxury yacht for the world’s famous celebrities and costs around $100,000 daily. The Alexander is distinguished by its old-style design and luxury modern equipment. There is everything one can dream of being on a board: two jacuzzis, meeting and conference halls, a private cinema, restaurant, pools and sunbathing places, a fast boat to enjoy the sea and, of course, a helicopter pad.
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“A” (Project Sigma)

“A” (Project Sigma) takes the 12th place in the worlds’ largest super-yachts with a length of 119 meters. The yacht was especially built for Belorussian business man Andrey Melnichenko in the summer of 2008 by the Blohm & Voss Shipbuilding Company. The Project Sigma yacht has an exclusive modern design proposed by reknowned French designer Philippe Starck. It is notable for its futuristic look with an axe bow and a small, tall superstructure at the aft end of the yacht. Among one of the largest luxury yachts, the “A” Project Sigma is found to be one of the ugliest ones as well.
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