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Amels / Damen SeaXplorer (Expedition Yacht 55 - 100m)

Damen (the mother company of amels ) presents a concept of a massive designed expedition ice class yacht called seaxplorer - a luxury suv for the seven seas..

Damen is normally the part of commercial ships, the Yacht Support Vessels and the mother company of AMELS. Now they unveiled this explorer yacht with an impressive vertical bow. The yacht concepts are available in the sizes of 55m , 65m, 77m (LA DATCHA) , 90m and 100m. All versions can carry helicopter(s), submarine(s) and various tenders.

Damen SeaXplorer features an ice breaker hull

The yacht range has ice-class up to class 6 to break 90 cm first-year ice. The yacht uses its stern to break the ice to keep comfort and performance at a maximum.

Rob Lujiendijk – CEO of AMELS says

“A number of experienced yachting clients approached us about adapting DAMEN’s professional vessels, so we knew from them that there were simply no globally capable luxury explorer yachts out there. And that’s also what we heard from EYOS Expeditions who have decades of experience in bespoke luxury expeditions to the wildest places on the planet. So that’s why DAMEN began developing the SeaXplorer. The result is well beyond a pretty rendering. It’s a fully developed range – something only DAMEN could do.”

Although SeaXplorer looks heavy, massive and bold, inside will be the pure luxury for journeys with maximum comfort.

55m SeaXplorer

Update September 27, 2017: Damen presents plans for a 55m version.

“With a SeaXplorer 75 and a SeaXplorer 65 from our range already sold and now under construction, this new design benefits from our dedicated SeaXplorer team’s experience and the input from our clients and partners. The SeaXplorer 55 will be at home just as much in the South of France as it is in South Georgia Island.”

Product Director Mark Vermeulen :

“The SeaXplorer 55 is a luxury yacht with real go-anywhere, do-anything expedition pedigree. It has the seakeeping performance and Ice Class capability, but we also offer lots of options for our clients – from full fairing and custom interiors to tailor-made configurations for their expedition equipment.”

77m Version (LA DATCHA)

Update August 15, 2017: Damen announced the sale of a 77m version with a hangar for two helicopters protected from the elements.

“Together with his guests, our client plans to visit some of the most beautiful and remote areas of the world,” c omments Commercial Director Rose Damen . “They will be skiing and snowboarding on pristine slopes like Kamchatka and submersible diving and sports fishing in Papua New Guinea and the Galápagos Islands. They will be in places with no supporting infrastructure, no roads and no heliports within range. So we designed the SeaXplorer 77 to carry out such complex operations with the highest level of safety, redundancy and autonomy.”

“Our designs in the SeaXplorer range are a great starting point to quickly create customized yachts for specific Owner requirements,” comments Mark Vermeulen, DAMEN Product Director . “The SeaXplorer 77 shares the range’s core attributes: compliance with the IMO Polar Code, the long periods of autonomy at sea, and the crossover of superyacht luxury with professional capability.” 

Damen SeaXplorer 77

Key Features 77m

• Swim Platform leading to Dive Centre (prep, changing, dry room, tank store and compressor room)
• Below-deck submersible hangar
• Below-deck toy store for jet skis, snowmobiles, etc
• Tender garage for 10.5-metre beach party landing craft
• Additional dive support tender and crew/rescue tender
• Wellness Center
• Sun Deck jacuzzi
• Retractable zero-speed stabilizers for use in ice conditions
• Huge Tank Deck provisions stores and garbage management

Renderings of the Damen SeaXplorer 77

Some rendering impressions

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Expedition Yachts for Sale

For anyone looking for expedition yachts for sale, these are a quickly-growing market in the yachting world, as increasing numbers of yacht owners choose to get off the beaten track and indulge in some remote cruising! Here is the full current selection of all expedition yachts for sale worldwide with photos and full specifications for each.

Expedition yachts, often called explorer yachts, are extremely versatile. As much at home in the wilds of Alaska as sitting pretty in the glamorous port of Monaco, expedition yachts are built to cross the world’s oceans while offering the extraordinary comfort of a luxury yacht.

The explorer vessel featured above, LEGEND Expedition Yacht For Sale, is a 254-foot or 77m Icon Expedition yacht available for sale. She is the only ice breaking mega yacht in the world. The proven world cruiser features a panorama Jacuzzi on the main deck, large sales throughout, welcoming cocktail bars, Movie theaters, Exclusive Balinese Spa (pictured below) and a gym.

AKULA Expedition Yacht For Sale – for full specifications and photos, click on the link.

Expedition yachts for sale are also becoming increasingly common options for new-build construction projects, but there are also many existing expedition yachts that have been converted from commercial vessels. As such, often expedition yachts for sale have wonderful histories as research ships, hospital ships, ice-breakers, trawlers and military vessels, and are now enjoying their latest incarnation as impressive luxury yachts.

Often sporting a more functional exterior, the interior of explorer vessels are as palatial and luxurious as their traditional superyacht counterparts. Expedition-style yachts tend to have a wider beam, thereby offering more volume for larger cabins and interior spaces. The yacht’s generous interior spaces are designed for live-aboard comfort for extended periods, and many of these yachts will have living quarters or suites for the owners, rather than smaller cabins.

STAMPEDE Expedition Yacht For Sale – for full specifications and photos, click on the link.

Outside you’ll find generous open decks with elegant dining and entertaining spaces, with all the luxuries you’d expect on a superyacht.  Jacuzzis, helipads and observation decks are common features found on expedition yachts for sale.

Expedition yachts are sometimes nicknamed ‘toy carriers’, as they have plenty of space to carry the tenders and water sports equipment you’ll want as you cruise exotic places. Explorer yachts for sale often carry crew who are trained as instructors, so you might learn diving, jetski, kitesurfing or even photography while cruising the South Pacific or the Galapagos.

Because they’re built as sturdy ocean-going vessels, expedition yachts are built with a strong focus on safety, self-sufficiency and comfort underway. Some expedition yachts have reinforced ice-breaker hulls for exciting Arctic expeditions, and all have modern stabilization technology and state-of-the-art safety systems. Expedition yachts are built with large fuel tanks giving them exceptional range, while onboard water-makers and excellent cold and dry storage allows them to make long sea voyages without needing to stop for supplies. Because they are built to be away from port for long periods, expedition yachts normally carry the best in communication, entertainment and Wi-Fi capabilities.

THE BIG BLUE Expedition Yacht For Sale – for full specifications and photos, click on the link.

Expedition yachts allow the yacht owner to get to all corners of the world, opening up beautiful destinations otherwise difficult to reach. From the snowy landscapes and penguins of Antarctica to the coral reefs and jungles of Micronesia, an expedition yacht opens up the world for exploration.

There are a multitude of options available for expedition vessels. Above are examples of existing brokerage vessels. Other options to consider include Full Custom Builds and Semi Custom Builds. A Fully Custom Expedition yacht build is a ground up design and specification package, which will include tank testing of hull forms, 3D modeling, etc. A Semi Custom Expedition Build includes an existing hull form and common engineering package, already being used and then customizing the house styling, layout and décor.

The 80m Explorer Yacht, unnamed, is an example of a Fully Custom Explorer Build. The vessel includes float in float out wet dock that will be able to hold a 65-70 foot sport fisherman in the stern, when the sport fish is removed the tender well becomes a deep swimming pool.  She is diesel electric with Azipod drives.   The vessel has the capability of landing two helicopters and can house both helicopters in a single hangar.  The vessel also has a large tender garage that could hold multiple smaller vessels including a RIB, flats boat, jets skis and two submarines.  The vessel has accommodations for 18 guests and crew of 36.  The vessel would be commercial fit and finish on the exterior and the interior are envisioned to be built to high end cruise ship standards.

The 75m Explorer, by Admiral Shipyards is an example of a Semi Custom Build. The yacht’s exterior design, which remains unnamed, is a display of an elegant yet robust platform with generous exterior deck spaces. The expansive aft deck is designed to accommodate an Agusta Grande helicopter, complete with a storage and refueling hangar below deck.

The interior is spread across four decks and will be finished in a timeless nautical style that is finished with contemporary elements, which will be built and installed by German interio specialists, Fitz Interior. The owner, who is expected to spend prolonged period onboard, will be treated to an exclusive main deck area covering over 300 square metres with five additional guest suites on the lower deck.

Explorer yachts look a little bit different and offer extraordinary cruising potential, marking an exciting difference in the luxury yacht market for those who love an adventure on the open ocean. If you are be interested in viewing our full portfolio of exhibition yachts for sale, reach out to the sales team by email , by this sales inquiry form or by calling one of our yacht brokerage offices worldwide.

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I Voyaged to the North Pole Aboard the World’s Only Luxury Ice-Breaking Cruise Ship. Here’s What It Was Like.

Travel to one of the harshest, remotest spots on earth in grand style., by michael verdon.

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Our 300-plus party’s landing, on Bastille Day, features the captain of the French ship driving around in an all-terrain vehicle with massive wheels and an enormous tricolor flag on the back, guests dressed in stylish orange parkas celebrating on the ice, and “La Marseillaise,” France’s national anthem, blaring from loudspeakers. After an hour of taking selfies and building snow igloos in the icescape, with temperatures in the relatively balmy low 30s, we head back into our heated sanctuary for mulled wine and freshly baked croissants. Mission accomplished. Flags planted. Now, lunch. 

Visiting the North Pole seemed about as likely for me as walking on the moon. It wasn’t even on my bucket list. Then came Le Commandant Charcot, which was named after France’s most beloved polar explorer and reportedly cost about $430 million to build. The irony of visiting one of the planet’s most remote and inhospitable points while traveling in the lap of luxury doesn’t escape me or anyone else I speak with on the voyage. Danie Ferreira, from Cape Town, South Africa, describes it as “an ensemble of contradictions bordering on the absurd.” Ferreira, who is on board with his wife, Suzette, is a veteran of early-explorer-style high-Arctic journeys, months long treks involving dogsleds and real toil and suffering. He booked this trip to obtain an official North Pole stamp for an upcoming two-volume collection of his photographs, Out in the Cold, documenting his polar adventures. “Reserving the cabin felt like a betrayal of my expeditionary philosophy,” he says with a laugh. 

Then, like the rest of us, he embraces the contradictions. “This is like the first time I saw the raw artistry of Cirque du Soleil,” he explains. “Everything is beyond my wildest expectations, unrelatable to anything I’ve experienced.” 

Ponant designed Charcot to out-luxe every other vessel in its fleet, then delivered the ultimate cherry on top: the ability to reach places inaccessible to any other cruise ship. It’s a poster child of future tech, with dual fuel sources—liquefied natural gas and low-sulfur diesel—for eco-consciousness, massive banks of batteries for full electric power, and two giant Azipods at the vessel’s rear for steering and propulsion. The boat weighs more than 70 million pounds, or 35,000 tons, enabling it to break ice floes like “a chocolate bar into little pieces, rather than slice through them,” according to Captain Patrick Marchesseau. Twenty-foot-wide stainless-steel propellers, he adds, were designed to “chew ice like a blender.” 

Marchesseau, a tall, lanky, 40-ish mariner from Brittany, impeccable in his navy uniform but rocking royal-blue boat shoes, proves to be a charming host. Never short of a good quip, he’s one of three experienced ice captains who alternate at the helm of Charcot throughout the year. He began piloting Ponant ships through drifting ice floes in Antarctica in 2009, when he took the helm of Le Diamant, Ponant’s first expedition vessel. “An epic introduction,” Marchesseau calls those early voyages, but the isolated, icebound North Pole aboard a larger, more complicated vessel is potentially an even thornier challenge. “We’ll first sail east where the ice is less concentrated and then enter the pack at 81 degrees,” he tells a lecture hall filled with passengers on day one. “We don’t plan to stop until we get to the North Pole.” 

Around us, the majority of the other 101 guests are older French couples; there are also a few extended families, some other Europeans, mostly German and Dutch, as well as 10 Americans. Among the supporting cast are 6 research scientists and 221 staff, including 18 naturalist guides from a variety of countries. 

Veterans of Arctic journeys immediately feel at home. Ferreira, often found on the observation deck 45 feet above the ice with his long-lensed cameras, is in his element snapping different patterns and colors of the frozen scape. “It feels like combining low-level flying with an out-of-body experience,” he says. “Whenever the hull shudders against the ice, I have a reality check.” 

“I came back because I love this ice,” adds Coloradan Gin Millsap, who with her husband, Jim, visited the North Pole in 2015 aboard the Russian nuclear icebreaker Fifty Years of Victory, which for obvious reasons is no longer a viable option for Americans and many Europeans. “I love the peace, beauty, and calmness.” 

It is easy to bliss out on the endless barren landscape, constantly morphing into new shapes, contours, and shades of white as the weather moves from bright sunshine to howling snowstorms—sometimes within the course of a few hours. I spend a lot of time on the cold, windswept bow, looking at the snow patterns, ridges, and rivers flowing within the pale landscape as the boat crunches through the ice. It feels like being in a black-and-white movie, with no colors except the turquoise bottoms of ice blocks overturned by the boat. Beautiful, lonely, mesmerizing. 

It’s not a matter of just pointing the boat due north and firing up the engine. Leinebø zigzags through the floes. A morning satellite feed and special software aid in determining the best route; the ship’s helicopter sometimes scouts 40 or so miles ahead, and there’s a sonar called the Sea Ice Monitoring System (SIMS). But mostly Leinebø uses his eyes. “You look for the weakest parts of the ice—you avoid the ridges because that means thickness and instead look for water,” he says. “If the ‘water sky’ in the distance is dark, it’s reflecting water like a mirror, so you head in that direction.”

Everyone on the bridge is surprised by the lack of multi-year ice, but with more than a hint of disquietude. Though we don’t have to ram our way through frozen ridges, the advance of climate change couldn’t be more apparent. Environmentalists call the Arctic ice sheet the canary in the coal mine of the planet’s climate change for good reason: It is happening here first. “It’s not right,” mutters Leinebø. “There’s just too much open water for July. Really scary.” 

The Arctic ice sheet has shrunk to about half its 1985 size, and as both mariners and scientists on board note, the quality of the ice is deteriorating. “It’s happening faster than our models predicted,” says Marisol Maddox, senior arctic analyst at the Polar Institute of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

“We’re seeing major events like Greenland’s ice sheet melting and sliding into the ocean—that wasn’t forecasted until 2070.” – Marisol Maddox

The general consensus had been that the Arctic would be ice-free by 2050, but many scientists now expect that day to come in the 2030s.

That deterioration, it turns out, is why the three teams of scientists are on the voyage—two studying the ice and the other assessing climate change’s impact on plankton. As part of its commitment to sustainability, Ponant has designed two research labs—one wet and one dry—on a lower deck. “We took the advice of many scientists for equipping these labs,” says Hugues Decamus, Charcot ’s chief engineer, clearly proud of the nearly $12 million facilities. 

The combined size of the labs, along with a sonar room, a dedicated server for the scientists, and a meteorological station on the vessel’s top deck, totals 1,400 square feet—space that could have been used for revenue generation. Ponant also has two staterooms reserved for scientists on each voyage and provides grants for travel expenses. The line doesn’t cherry-pick researchers but instead asks the independent Arctic Research Icebreaker Consortium (ARICE) to choose participants based on submissions. 

Research scientists and tourists vessels don’t typically mix. The former, wary of becoming mascots for the cruise lines’ sustainability marketing efforts, and cognizant of the less-than-pristine footprint of many vessels, tend to be wary. The cruise lines, for their part, see scientists as potentially high maintenance when paying customers should be the priority. But there seemed to be a meeting of the minds, or at least a détente, on Le Commandant Charcot. 

“We discuss this a lot and are aware of the downsides, but also the positives,” says Franz von Bock und Polach, head of the institute for ship structural design and analysis at Hamburg University of Technology, specializing in the physics of sea ice. Not only does Charcot grant free access to these remote areas, but the ship will also collect data on the same route multiple times a year with equipment his team leaves on board, offering what scientists prize most: repeatability. “One transit doesn’t have much value,” he says. “But when you measure different seasons, regions, and years, you build up a more complex picture.” So, more than just a research paper: forecasts of ice conditions for long-term planning by governments as the Arctic transforms. 

Nils Haëntjens, from the University of Maine, is analyzing five-milliliter drops of water on a high-tech McLane IFCB microscope. “The instrument captures more than 250,000 images of phytoplankton along the latitudinal transect,” he says. Charcot has doors in the wet lab that allow the scientists to take water samples, and in the bow, inlets take in water without contaminating it. Two freezers can preserve samples for further research back in university labs. 

The only other humans we encounter on the journey north are aboard Fifty Years of Victory, the Russian icebreaker. The 524-foot orange-and-black leviathan reached the North Pole a day earlier—its 59th visit—and is on its way back to Murmansk. It’s a classic East meets West moment: the icebreaker, launched just after the collapse of the Soviet Union, meeting the new standard of polar luxury. 

The evening before Bastille Day, Le Commandant Charcot arrives at the North Pole. Because of the pinpoint precision of the GPS, Marchesseau has to navigate back and forth for about 20 minutes—with a bridge full of passengers hushing each other so as not to distract him—until he finds 90 degrees north. That final chaotic approach to the top of the world in the gray, windswept landscape looks like a kid’s Etch a Sketch on the chartplotter, but it is met with rousing cheers. The next morning, with good visibility and light winds, we spill out onto the ice for the celebration, followed by a polar plunge. 

As guests pose in front of flags and mile markers for major cities, the naturalist guides, armed with rifles, establish a wide perimeter to guard against polar bears. The fearless creatures are highly intelligent, with razor-sharp teeth, hooked claws, and the ability to sprint at 25 mph. Males average about 10 feet tall and weigh around 1,500 pounds. They are loners that will kill anything—including other bears and even their own cubs. Cathy and I walk around the far edges of the perimeter to enjoy some solitude.

Looking out over the white landscape, I know this is a milestone. But it feels odd that getting here didn’t involve any sweat or even a modicum of discomfort.  – Michael Verdon

The last five days we make six stops on different islands, traveling by Zodiac from Charcot to various beaches. On Lomfjorden, as we look on a hundred yards from shore, a mother polar bear protects her two cubs while a young male hovers in the background. On a Zodiac ride off Alkefjellet, the air is alive with birds, including tens of thousands of Brünnich’s guillemots as well as glaucous gulls and kittiwakes, which nest in that island’s cliffs, while a young male polar bear munches on a ring seal, chin glistening red. 

On this part of the trip, the expedition team, mostly 30-something, free-spirited scientists whose areas of expertise range from botany to alpine trekking to whales, lead hikes across different landscapes. The jam-packed schedule sometimes involves three activities per day and includes following the reindeer on Palanderbukta, seeing a colony of 200 walruses on Kapp Lee, hiking the black tundra of Burgerbukta (boasting one-half-inch-tall willows—said to be the smallest trees in the world and the largest on Svalbard—plus mosquitoes!), watching multiple species of whales breaching offshore, and kayaking the ice floes of Ekmanfjorden. Svalbard is a protected wilderness area, and the cruise lines tailor their schedules so vessels don’t overlap, giving visitors the impression they are setting foot on virgin land. 

Chances to experience that sense of discovery and wonder, even slightly stage-managed ones, are dwindling along with the ice sheet and endangered wildlife. If a stunning trip to a frozen North Pole is on your bucket list, the time to go is now. 

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Icebreaking Explorer Yacht Legend Delivered After Refit

77 m explorer yacht Legend has been delivered by Icon Yachts after an extensive refit and conversion.

Formerly known as Giant, the icebreaker vessel was known for her bright red hull.

After the refit and conversion by Icon Yachts, the explorer yacht bears the name Legend and a more discreet dark grey exterior. The whole project was finished in less than 12 months. The ship was converted into a luxurious superyacht. The design and engineering were done by Diana Yacht Design to full Lloyds certification. The ship is a Class 1 icebreaking vessel designed to become a charter yacht that can carry 30 guests.

The interior can rival with any superyacht: large dining area on the main deck, fitness room, movie theatre and a medical suite.

On the owner’s deck we can find a helicopter pad on the aft, plus a large suite with king size bed, bar, and separate en suites .

The refit included a lengthened stern. She gained 3.6 m by adding a swimming platform and a swimming pool. Also, now there is a foredeck garage for storing a submarine. Legend is available for charter at prices that start at €455,000 per week.

HANSE EXPLORER Fassmer Werft | From US$ 235,000/wk

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HANSE EXPLORER has 43 Photos

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47m extreme expedition yacht HANSE ...

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52M AMELS 171 SUPERYACHT | From EUR€ 245,000/wk

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• HANSE EXPLORER

HANSE EXPLORER Fassmer Werft | From US$ 235,000 /wk

M/Y HANSE EXPLORER is a large 47.76m (156' 8") serious adventure expedition motor yacht built by the German company Fassmer Werft, launched in 2006 and refited in 2020. Her interior design is by Mieske Design and offers light functional and relaxed styling featuring beautiful woodwork and an intelligent layout for maximizing space. The yacht can accommodate up to 12 charter guests in 7 cabins, while there is a crew of 14 ensuring everyone has a fantastic time during the entire charter experience.

NOTABLE FEATURES: ~ an exceptional explorer vessel ~ ice-breaker certified ~ safe ~ comfortable ~ great onboard equipment ~ flexible accommodation ~ Finnish sauna ~ dive equipment ~ tenders ~ kayaks ~ air-conditioning ~ Hoppe tank anti-rolling system ~ offering amazing charter itineraries and adventures to remote destinations ~ WiFi (where available*)

HANSE EXPLORER is a certified ice breaker yacht (with an extra thick steel hull) with ice class GL-E3. HANSE EXPLORER is able to explore all around the world, including the polar regions and the Northwest Passage. Safety and comfort rank first on the incredible luxury explorer yacht.

HANSE EXPLORER has a powerful main motor (MAK 8 M 20 1 x 1,360 kW, Single Screw, Controllable Pitch Propeller) with an electric standby motor (400 KW) in case of the main failure. She can cruise at 10 knots with a max of 12. Her generators produce a total electric power capacity of approx. 1.000 kilowatts.

She has two independently working air conditioning compressors which provide a pleasant room temperature in tropic areas as well as in Arctic and Antarctic waters. There are two independent heating systems generating the necessary heat for comfort. Two autarkic freshwater systems (osmosis device/evaporator) provide sufficient fresh water on board.

She also has independent toilet facilities (vacuum/gravity toilet). To protect the environment there is a highly efficient water conditioning system that allows the yacht to cruise even the most sensitive areas of the world.

HANSE EXPLORER Specifications

Highly efficient stabilisers reduce the vessel’s role and ensure that it is also comfortable to stay on board during heavy sea. The bridge equipment complies with those of the modern chemical tank ships the shipping company runs as well. There are two independently working rudder devices (electro-hydraulic/manual) and three radar units: one S-band radar system (harbour-zone, near-shore zone and ice cruise) and two X-band systems, one for deep sea and coastal shipping and the other one for cadets and guests.

HANSE EXPLORER also has latest up to date electronic navigational charts including a secondary device in the lounge so that our guests can observe the position of the vessel any time.

Yacht Charter Accommodation

Hanse Explorer offers guest accommodation for 12. All 7 cabins may be configured for either Queen or Twin sleeping arrangements. The Owner's Suite is situated on the Upper Deck, consisting of a Stateroom, en suite and a large adjoining private lounge. The remaining 6 Guest Cabins on the Main Deck are practically identical apart from subtle differences in colour scheme. All cabins have private en suite facilities.

Charter Amenities and Extras

~ 2 x MK IV Zodiac tenders with Yamaha 4-stroke engines ~ 3 x 2-person Aire Sea Tiger inflatable sea kayaks (18 feet) ~ 1 x 1-person sea kayak ~ 2 x Standup Paddleboards (SUP) ~ State-of-the-art SCUBA diving centre with full equipment for 12 guests & 2 divemasters ~ Dive compressor (water-cooled with NITROX membrane) ~ Fishing equipment (where permitted)

Charter Yacht Disclaimer

This document is not contractual. The yacht charters and their particulars displayed in the results above are displayed in good faith and whilst believed to be correct are not guaranteed. CharterWorld Limited does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information and/or images displayed. All information is subject to change without notice and is without warrantee. A professional CharterWorld yacht charter consultant will discuss each charter during your charter selection process. Starting prices are shown in a range of currencies for a one-week charter, unless otherwise marked. Exact pricing and other details will be confirmed on the particular charter contract. Just follow the "reserve this yacht charter" link for your chosen yacht charter or contact us and someone from the CharterWorld team will be in touch shortly.

HANSE EXPLORER Enquiry

Dear Amanda, We're currently making the crossing from South Georgia to Ushuaia and will be closing out our charter at the end of the week. It's been exceptionally successful all around. The weather has been remarkably steady and friendly and we haven't had any really bumby rides. A day or so each way to/frum South Georgia but with 2-3 meter seas at worst. Best of all this has been the perfect boat and crew. Well found and well equipped, and each and every member of the crew and expedition leaders have gone out of their way to make it the most enjoyable and adventuresome experience. High praise indeed to Captain Martin! Thanks for your own great help all around. I'v had many charters with agents over the years - none better than this one reflecting your advice and support! Charter on Hanse Explorer in Antartica

62m CUSTOM SUPERYACHT | From EUR€ 245,000/wk

BIG FISH | From US$ 245,000/wk

HOME | From US$ 245,000/wk

The only ice breaking mega yacht

Onboard, 13 staterooms provide rather glamorous accommodation for up to 22 guests, while other luxurious amenities include a Balinese spa, sauna, panoramic jacuzzi, gym, cinema, whisky bar and cigar room.

Kit and equipment include a 3-person U-Boat Worx submarine capable of taking you 300m below the surface, a range of tenders, kayaks, scuba equipment and more for a range of adventure activities. A helicopter can also be arranged as Legend has a fully certified commercial helipad.

With a fully certified commercial helipad, Legend can be a base for scenic flights and shore excursions unreachable by tender alone.

Submersible

Legend’s U-Boat Worx submersible opens up a whole new perspective to a yacht expedition, allowing you to experience the wonders of the deep whether its a wreck-diving operation in the Mediterranean or an exploration dive in the Arctic Sea.

Class 1 Icebreaker

Originally built as a Soviet icebreaker, Legend is a step above other Ice Class vessels, making her a true ‘go anywhere’ vessel.

Onboard opulence

It’s not all about adventure with Legend. After a day of exploration, come back to her spa, cinema, panoramic jacuzzi or whisky bar.

Technical specs

Toys and tenders

Closer to civilisation in Norway

Preparing the helicopter on a Cookson Adventures expedition

Exploring Antarctica with Cookson Adventures

Legend’s welcoming interior

Under a cascading waterfall in Norway’s fjords

Legend’s tenders in the Antarctic

Lowering Legend’s submersible

One of 13 luxurious cabins on Legend

Where even a 77m superyacht can feel small

Legend’s stern pool

Our favourite destinations for Legend

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One of a kind is a term often used when talking about superyachts but this one is different. Legend cruises a new course in yacht charter offering pure unadulterated adventure, thrills and fun with all the luxuries you would come to expect of a superyacht from world-class cuisine to a dedicated spa center. There are luxury yachts out there, and there are luxury yachts that sleep more than 12 guests. There are yachts that have commercial helipads and there are yachts that have submarines. There are yachts that go to the Arctic, there are yachts that go to Antarctica, but all of the above? There is not one other luxury ice-breaking yacht with all these capabilities and then some. Built as a fully classified Class 1 ice-breaking ship, Legend has been converted at the Icon Yachts shipyard into a superb charter yacht with the project management of Verkerk Yachting Projects. Legend is capable of carrying 26 guests in total luxury, without losing her safety and strength as an icebreaker. Alongside the completion of the technical and system upgrades of this magnificent yacht, extensive modifications to her exterior were made. The stern has been extended by 3.6 meters and is equipped with a swim platform and a swimming pool. The helicopter landing pad is commercially certified and a submarine is stored in a garage on the forward deck. The helicopter and submarine are offered for charters at an extra cost. She also features a gym, a Balinese spa with sauna, jacuzzi and beauty salon, a movie theatre and entertainment system, medical suite, swimming pool and any toy you can imagine from paddle boards to jet-skis to snow scooters. Legend's interior configuration has been designed to comfortably sleep up to 26 guests in 13 cabins, including a Master suite, two VIP suites, four double staterooms and six twin staterooms (all of them convertible to double staterooms). She is also capable of carrying up to 19 crew on board, plus an extra 10 expedition crew (doctor, ice-pilot, expedition leaders, naturalists, etc), which will ensure the most relaxed luxury yacht experience combined with the thrills of an unparalleled discovery adventure. Legend is available for charters in the more remote areas of the world, such as South America, Antarctica, Greenland, the Norwegian Fjords and the Arctic circle.

Features & Facilities

Technical Specs

Premier Cabins

The Sydney, Rio Janeiro, Panama, Dubai ( twin single beds or double beds ( except Panama ) suites all feature private bathrooms with walk-in shower, Desk, Minibar and Safe. Suites are available on a twin and double basis, please confirm bedding configuration. Please consider that every suite on the Legend follows a theme, so no two are alike. The image shown is a representation of the cabin category only if you would like exact photos of the cabin you are enquiring about please ask.

Description

Cabin features.

The Surabaya, Istanbul, Tokyo, Beijing, Amsterdam (Double beds) (Amsterdam suite is with Twin beds) suites feature a private bathroom with walk-in shower, Desk, Minibar and Safe. Suites are available on a twin and double basis, please confirm bedding configuration. Please consider that every suite on the Legend follows a theme, so no two are alike. The image shown is a representation of the cabin category only if you would like exact photos of the cabin you are enquiring about please ask.

The Legend's Category 3 suites all feature a private bathroom with walk-in shower, Walk-in wardrobe, Desk, Minibar, Safe and Fireplace. Suites are available on a twin and double basis, please confirm bedding configuration. Please consider that every suite on the Legend follows a theme, so no two are alike. The image shown is a representation of the cabin category only if you would like exact photos of the cabin you are enquiring about please ask.

The Legend's Category 3 suites all feature a private bathroom with walk-in shower, Walk-in wardrobe, Desk, Minibar, Safe and Fireplace. Suites are available on a twin and double basis, please confirm bedding configuration. Please consider that every suite on the Legend follows a theme, so no two are alike. The image shown is a representation of the cabin category only, if you would like exact photos of the cabin you are enquirying about please ask.

The Legend's Category 4 or the Moscow and New York Suites are the vessels VIP Suites. Please consider that every suite on the Legend follows a theme, so no two are alike. The image shown is a representation of the cabin category only if you would like exact photos of the cabin you are enquiring about please ask.

The Legends Owner's Suite or the Paris Suite is one of the most opulent suites available in Antarctica. At a massive 63m2 this suite is decadent in every way.

This Ship's voyages

• Bahasa Indonesia
• Slovenščina
• Science & Tech
• Russian Kitchen

Check out the first ever private ICEBREAKER yacht (PHOTOS)

The owner of Tinkoff Bank revealed his plans to build an icebreaker-yacht to Forbes magazine in a July 2018 interview. 

“I want to build an icebreaker to travel to the North Pole, the Antarctic, the Arctic and traverse the Northern Sea Route to Kamchatka, Chukotka and the Kuril Islands,” Tinkov said back then. 

In March 2020, the businessman reported contracting leukemia, and later in June - covid-19, which he successfully beat. Despite his health issues, construction was finished as planned after two years and more than $2.5 billion in costs, according to the Yacht Harbour website, citing Forbes. ‘Damen Yachting’ handled the construction.

On July 3, 2020, Tinkov’s yacht, dubbed the ‘La Datcha’, was reportedly launched into the water in Vlissingen, Netherlands.  

The icebreaker-yacht is capable of braving ice 30-40 cm in thickness while out at sea for 40 days at a time. The vessel boasts two jacuzzis, a sauna, a steam bath, a massage room and a gym. For lovers of active vacations, there’s a helipad with two helicopters thrown in, as well as snowmobiles and - wait for it - a mini submarine!

The yacht can comfortably accommodate 25 crew and 12 guests. There are six staterooms, including two VIP offerings, equipped with private facilities and walk-in closets. 

The ‘La Datcha’ has its own website and offers the yacht up for rent at €740,000 per week, with a 30 percent upfront deposit (APA). Tinkov himself plans to spend up to 20 weeks a year aboard the vessel, so plan wisely! 

“The world is so vast, and our life so short, we must explore as much as much of it as we can,” the businessman said.

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Expedition Yacht 77

Whole world.

Nothing can prepare you for life-changing encounters with absolutely pristine nature.

La Datcha 77 is a six-deck expedition yacht offering luxury accommodation for up to 12 guests.

Destinations

Micronesia, southeast asia.

Dive Earth’s greatest concentration of ocean biomass with beautiful waters, stunning reefs and atolls. By heading off the beaten track, you may well discover the next top dive spots before anyone else. Explore the undersea paradise from a three-seat submersible.

Antarctica, Ross Sea

Deploy tenders within minutes so you don’t miss a chance encounter with a Humpback whale. Take a stimulating trek among the penguins, followed by the warm comfort of a hammam or a sauna.

Chilean Fjords, Patagonia

Chile is home to a huge range of landforms with formidable mountains, extreme desserts and ice-capped volcanos. This may be the most spectacular ski trip on earth.

Northwest & Northeast Passage, Arctic Svalbard, Greenland

Experience polar kayaking. Film your encounter with Arctic narwhals, beluga whales, walruses, and muskoxen.

Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu

With few roads, use powerful tenders to navigate up river. Explore the dances, attire and customs developed over 30,000 years.

On-board experience

Guest suites.

La Datcha Yacht 77’s expeditions to the world’s best spots and places come along with exploring various food styles.

The La Datcha Collection chefs will treat you to a mix of international and local cuisines rich in exotic local flavours for adventurous eaters.

Complete autonomy

With its enhanced fuel tanks and improved garbage management system, La Datcha Expedition Yacht 77 can maintain autonomy at sea for up to 40 days!

The Mediterranean and the Caribbean Seas and all their islands are undoubtedly beautiful, but altogether they amount to only 5% of all the world’s coastlines. Yet most luxury superyachts never venture any farther, leaving 95% of all routes unexplored. If you’re willing to go off the beaten track, Expedition Yacht 77 is there for you.

Virtual tour

Principal characteristics, la datcha expedition yacht 77.

Length overall

77 metres (252 ft)

Beam moulded

14 metres (46 ft)

Depth at side

6.50 metres (21 ft)

Draught (Max Full Load)

3.80 metres (13 ft)

Gross Tonnage

Helicopter take-off weight

Helicopter D value

Crew/expedition staff

Time to book your stay

La datcha collection, information.

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Icebreaker Krasin

Designed by the famous Russian seaman, Admiral Stepan O. Makarov and built in 1916 in Britain, the ship was originally named after the Russian mythological warrior - "Svyatogor". Renamed "Krasin" during the Soviet era, the powerful icebreaker took part in the rescue operation to save the Italian polar expedition led by Umberto Nobile. During WWII the "Krasin" led Allied convoys, which brought strategic supplies, arms and ammunition to the Soviet Union. The convoys fought their way to the northern Soviet seaports, despite heavy Nazi bombardment and the constant threat of submarine attacks. Many Allied ships and cargo vessels failed to reach their destination, but the "Krasin" was lucky enough to survive. After the war the historic icebreaker took an active part in research expeditions in the Polar Ocean and led Soviet cargo convoys through the polar region. Rather than being destroyed (like the famous icebreaker "Yermak") to make way for more modern ships, the "Krasin" was preserved and restored, thanks to the tremendous dedication of its captain and crew and of volunteers and naval history enthusiasts.

The museum displays some of the ship's equipment and details its participation in various rescue operations, convoys and research expeditions.

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Solo sokos hotel vasilievskiy, superior business hotel with stylish interiors and attractive location, castle hotel, small hotel offering simple modern accommodation and reasonable service, trezzini palace hotel, deluxe all-suites boutique hotel next to the neva river on vasilevskiy island, dining near the icebreaker krasin, russian kitsch, outrageous interiors and traditional russian cuisine with some modern touches, dve palochki, extremely popular local sushi chain with a lengthy menu of food and drink, much-loved local georgian restaurant serving great food at great prices.

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Project Icecap: Secretive 107m Lürssen project begins sea trials

The highly confidential 107 metre superyacht Project Icecap has embarked on its first round of sea trials. 

The yacht was spotted leaving the dock at Peene-Werft, a shipyard in north-eastern Germany that forms part of Lürssen’s naval division.

Project Icecap has remained largely out of the spotlight until July this year when she was spotted in the open for the first time. The project was originally sold in March 2018 by Moran Yacht & Ship and the brokerage firm is project managing the construction.

The yacht's exterior design comes from Norwegian studio Salt Ship Design and first images revealed a sharply inverted bow and large open aft deck fitted with tender cradles that can also function as a helipad.

The steel and aluminium yacht features a total interior volume of more than 6,500GT and is expected to offer accommodation for up to 20 guests split across ten cabins.

In the past, Moran also revealed that Project Icecap will be powered by a diesel-electric propulsion system and will feature state-of-the-art energy saving, power storage, heating and cooling systems. 

Moran also indicated the yacht would have a helipad, beach club and three fixed terraces built into the stacked forward superstructure. 

Project Icecap joins seven other superyachts measuring over 100 metres under construction at Lürssen, including the 146 metre Opera and the recently spotted Project Alibaba .

Once delivered, Project Icecap will become of the world's largest superyachts , sitting somewhere around number 48 on the leaderboard.

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