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Step on board the 162.5m Eclipse - the second largest superyacht in the world

Designer Terry Disdale talks us through the four and a half years, nine decks and 162.5 metres of the world’s second largest superyacht.

Terry Disdale didn’t set out to design the biggest superyacht in the world. “No one ever said to me, ‘I want a 160 metre boat’,” he says over breakfast near his office in Richmond, London. “When the yacht was still on the drawing board, there was a rumour going round that someone was building an even bigger boat, and the owner was asked if he knew about it. He said he didn’t, and that he didn’t care. Breaking records was the farthest thing from his mind.”

What he did care about was helicopters – he wanted to carry more than one; and the pool – it had to be big. There were also some early discussions about low bulwarks and big windows, and that was the totality of the brief for what would become Eclipse . “To be given free rein is actually a dreadful thing,” says Disdale.  “I asked myself what I wanted: something timeless. How do you design something timeless that’s still going to look good and not be anaemic? It’s so easy to get carried away, but you’ve got to be able to look at it in 20 years and decide it still looks OK.” But that’s the trick, isn’t it? And the measure of a designer.

• The 25 largest yachts in the world

At least Disdale had some hooks on which to hang the design. “Part of what creates the yacht looking like that is you’ve got to land this huge helicopter on the front, so the superstructure is pushed back. The formation of the boat is built around helicopter usage. And we didn’t want the boat to look unbalanced when the helicopter is on the foredeck. Some boats have a foredeck that looks wrong whenever a helicopter sits there.”

The lines of the boat were dictated by another prerequisite: the two significant lifeboats demanded by Solas. The sheerline runs straight aft from the bow and steps up amidships, the high freeboard created giving visual support to the lifeboats. “If you’d had a different sheerline, the lifeboats wouldn’t have looked comfortable,” the designer says. This, plus the addition of a 15 metre pool aft on the main deck, meant that the overall length of Eclipse – 162.5 metres – was defined not by ego but by practicality.

“Everyone thinks that a boat starts with a sketch, some glamorous visual of the outside of the boat. But that’s not how things work in my office – we start with a plan, a general arrangement.” The project, from this first design stage to the boat’s launch at Blohm+Voss ’s Hamburg yard in 2009, took four and a half years – a remarkable achievement given the scale of the yacht, which was only overtaken as the world’s biggest in 2013 with the launch of 180 metre Azzam . 

Up to 20 engineers from Blue Ocean Yacht Management were present on site throughout the build, whipping it along to meet the aggressive delivery schedule. Disdale doesn’t recall any sleepless nights – “at least, no more than usual!” he laughs. The pressure of designing what was then the world’s top yacht – both inside and out – did obviously register, though. “It’s a huge responsibility building something of that magnitude, which is going to be under everyone’s magnifying glass. It’s not just ‘doing a job’, this thing is going to be scrutinised and analysed by everyone. There’s a responsibility to yourself as a designer.”

A decade from delivery, and more than 15 years from the moment Disdale first put pen to paper, he says he wouldn’t change a thing – and nor has the owner, who has kept Disdale’s designs largely unchanged. “For me, it’s more a clean piece of architecture than it is a piece of styling. The fact that you have a helipad on the front creates the superstructure to bow dimension, which is beautiful. If it wasn’t there, you wouldn’t have that length. And then when you get to the back of the boat, the swimming pool is dictating another piece of the story. I don’t know what I would change now. I don’t sit around saying, ‘I wish I did this or that’. Maybe I’d make the rear end look a bit more inviting, the way the staircases lead into the boat, but anti-piracy was a concern, plus there are a load of services and facilities back there. There’s a full-size pantry to serve the beach club, which very few boats have, and gull-wing doors with a pullout barbecue and pizza oven. There’s a lot you don’t see.”

Disdale’s long experience in the business means he is able to resist the temptation to force designs, or slavishly follow trends that flare and fade, leaving boats looking old before their time. “ Eclipse is a handsome boat, and it looks like a boat. It doesn’t make any pretence,” he says. “The key word is elegance. Very few boats can make that claim any more. Modern boats are purposeful, aggressive, macho, which has led to them all having snub noses. They look angry. You could paint them grey and stick a cannon on the front and it wouldn’t upset their stance at all. Eclipse is not like that.” It’s a familiar sermon from Disdale, who famously posts his 10 “design commandments” up round his office. “One of  the most important tools in your box is restraint. I can have complete freedom when designing a superstructure, but restraint is actually the most important thing – knowing when to stop gilding the lily. Don’t gild it! Use silver leaf.”

• Inside the Surrey home of legendary superyacht designer Terence Disdale  

The obvious benefit of a single designer being responsible for the interior and exterior of a yacht is a seamless flow between the two, and that is absolutely true of Eclipse , whose interior conforms to another one of Disdale’s mantras: “ beach house not penthouse ”. “If you’ve got a dining room with satin on the chairs and gold braid around them, but you live in a T-shirt and shorts, then you’re not comfortable,” he says. 

The pool is a vast entertaining space, with 3.2 metre overheads and a retracting glass sunroof. “The ambience of the pool is as important as how it looks. You’ve got to want to sit by it.” Or dance on it: the blue granite bottom of the pool rises up to sit flush with the deck. It can also be lowered a touch to create a paddling pool.

The interior of any boat should be about “pure relaxation”, says Disdale. “People are on vacation, people are chilled.” He relates one story of an Arab client in the 1980s, who he dissuaded from fitting gold taps to his superyacht. “I told him he already had a 65 metre on the quay – he had already made his statement. It was a process of trying to quieten his ostentation.” You get the feeling no such effort was needed with the owner of Eclipse . “He had already owned three yachts to our design, so consequently was very familiar with my way of working and the habitat I create.” It’s impossible to miss the very deliberate warmth of that habitat and a design miracle that, despite using broadly the same colour palette throughout, nowhere do you tire of the ochre-like shades. 

This uniformity wasn’t applied to the lobbies between decks: different artists were tasked with creating unique works to give each lobby a flavour, so there is no confusion about what deck you’re on – a problem when you have nine. One of these pieces is a wooden sculpture made up of seven pieces, the design for which was hand drawn by Disdale and sent to Japan for manufacture. It’s a stunning work and symptomatic of the detail shown throughout – even in more mundane pieces, like the sideboards in the cabins that were designed in Europe and crafted in Chile.

With no clear-cut brief on the yacht’s layout, Disdale was forced to second-guess, “but that’s my job”, he says. “You have to work out how people will move around the boat.” The benefit of an LOA like Eclipse ’s is the owner can swallow serious acreage without impacting the guest experience. It’s not about avoiding guests, but being able to operate independently of them.

It would be easy to mistake the guest suites for the owner’s own quarters, such is their footprint. There are 18 guest cabins in total, served by 100 crew. From the moment the guests arrive by chopper, mainly on the top helideck, they’re absorbed in the comfort of the boat and have access to the main stairwell and elevator. It’s a transition of which Disdale is particularly proud. “It came from understanding how a boat is used. When you get out of the helicopter, you’re blown to pieces, and then where do you go?” The answer is an intimate lounge, where you can freshen up before entering the interior proper. It also gives pilots somewhere to conduct safety briefings, he points out. Eclipse is able to travel with multiple helicopters on board because one can be housed in the forward hangar, one above it on the retractable platform and another on the sundeck.

At the other extremity of the boat, the convenience continues with a huge bathing platform and staircases that fold down into the water for easy boarding – even for those wearing full dive gear. The beach club wasn’t maxed out, with a comfortable lounge along the centreline preferred to a big open area that is harder to secure. Beyond, though, the lower deck opens up into a huge 77 square metre gym and spa area, complete with massage room, beauty salon, sauna, shower areas and the yacht’s second plunge pool. Visual interest is added by banks of portholes with views into the swimming pool, which dapple light across this whole space. Choosing somewhere to relax on deck is slightly harder – where do you start? The options are endless but special mention has to be made of the wood-burning fire pit on the upper deck – perfect for nights on deck under the stars.

Disdale and his team were present in June 2009 when the boat appeared from the giant drydock in Hamburg. No butterflies – he claims to have been pretty zen about seeing her free of scaffolding and plastic. “Although you design every part of it and you see it being built, nothing prepares you for the feeling you get when you actually see it in the flesh. The tug pulled it out and there was the thickness of a mattress between the wing stations and the shed walls. Literally – they tied mattresses to the stations. When it appeared I was gobsmacked.” As was the owner, pleasingly for the man who’d dedicated nearly five years to the project.

“It’s like cars,” explains the car fanatic. “I was talking about Lamborghinis the other day. They used to have the Miura, a beautiful car. But they replaced it with the Countach, which looks like it was carved from cheese. One is ageless and one looks stuck in time. Elegance is the most important thing. The Miura is elegant, the Jaguar E-Type is elegant.” He’s too modest to say but Eclipse belongs in that league – beautiful for ever.

First published in the April 2016 edition of BOAT International. Get this magazine sent straight to your door, or subscribe and never miss an issue.

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ECLIPSE yacht NOT for charter*

162.5m  /  533'2 | blohm + voss | 2010 / 2015.

Owner & Guests

Cabin Configuration

• Previous Yacht

Special Features:

• 15m swimming pool
• Three helipads
• Helicopter hangar
• Luxurious beach house-style interior for pure relaxation
• Wellness, spa and gym area
• Expansive master deck
• Accommodation for personal staff

The multi-award winning 162.5m/533'2" motor yacht 'Eclipse' was built by Blohm + Voss in Germany at their Hamburg shipyard. Her interior is styled by English designer design house Terence Disdale and she was delivered to her owner in October 2010. This luxury vessel's exterior design is the work of Terence Disdale and she was last refitted in 2015.

Guest Accommodation

Eclipse has been designed to comfortably accommodate up to 36 guests in 18 suites comprising seventeen VIP cabins. She is also capable of carrying up to 70 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht experience.

Onboard Comfort & Entertainment

Her features include fireplace, beauty salon, movie theatre, beauty salon, elevator, underwater lights, beach club, gym, deck jacuzzi, WiFi and air conditioning.

Range & Performance

Eclipse is built with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, with teak decks. Powered by twin diesel-electric Wartsila (VEM, synchron) 16-cylinder 8,717hp engines running at 180rpm, she comfortably cruises at 20 knots, reaches a maximum speed of 21 knots with a range of up to 6,000 nautical miles from her 1,300,000 litre fuel tanks at 21 knots. Eclipse features at-anchor stabilizers providing exceptional comfort levels. Her water tanks store around 150,000 Litres of fresh water. She was built to Lloyds Register ✠ 100A1 SSC Yacht (p) Mono G6, ✠ LMC UMS, PSMR -DP (AM), Ice Class 1D, EP classification society rules.

*Charter Eclipse Motor Yacht

Motor yacht Eclipse is currently not believed to be available for private Charter. To view similar yachts for charter , or contact your Yacht Charter Broker for information about renting a luxury charter yacht.

Eclipse Yacht Owner, Captain or marketing company

'Yacht Charter Fleet' is a free information service, if your yacht is available for charter please contact us with details and photos and we will update our records.

Eclipse Photos

Eclipse Awards & Nominations

• The World Superyacht Awards 2011 Best Displacement Motor Yacht of 3,000GT and above (approximately 85m+) Winner
• The World Superyacht Awards 2011 Motor Yacht of the Year Joint Winner

NOTE to U.S. Customs & Border Protection

Specification

M/Y Eclipse

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Eclipse – The World’s Most Expensive Private Yacht

In the world of soccer, Roman Abramovich is a popular figure as he owns the leading English club, Chelsea. The Russian businessman helped the Blues become a big spender in the transfer market, bringing brilliant players like Arjen Robben, Didier Drogba, Fernando Torres, etc. to offer the beautiful game to club supporters across the world.

In addition to the Chelsea football team, which is a beauty on soccer fields, Abramovich owns another marvel: a private yacht named Eclipse.

The 162.5m-long beauty Eclipse is the world’s second-largest and one of the most expensive superyachts. Its estimated cost is 590 million (€340 million), and its current owner has owned it since December 2010.

A synonym for luxury, this superyacht is best suited for all adventure and water sports activities and provides splendid trips to cultural and historical destinations.

Built by renowned German shipbuilder Blohm + Voss, the Eclipse was launched in June 2009 after five years of design, development, and testing. Before its final delivery, several sea trials were conducted starting in May 2009 at Kristiansand, Norway.

When delivered, Eclipse won the spot for the largest superyacht in the world, beating the 162m-long M/Y Dubai of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates. Eclipse retained the title until the arrival of the 180m-long Azzam, UAE President Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s private yacht in 2013. Currently managed by Blue Ocean Yacht Management, Eclipse was selected as the Motor Yacht of the Year in 2011 at the World Superyacht Awards.

Specifications of Eclipse Yacht

As mentioned earlier, this tremendous superyacht measures 162.5m (533’1″ft) in length, 22.00m (72’2″ft) in width and 5.90m (19’4″ft) in the draft, offering a vast area for luxurious leisure activities. The Bermuda-flagged Lloyds Register class yacht has a Gross Tonnage of 13000 tonnes.

Eclipse is powered by a diesel-electric, dual propulsion system with four MTU 20V 1163 TB93 marine diesel engines, offering the latest propulsion technology for maximum speed performance. These engines power the rotating Azipod drives, giving the yacht a maximum speed of 25 knots and a cruise speed of 22. Featuring 1,000,000 litres of fuel tanks, Eclipse can travel up to 6,000 nautical miles at 21 knots before refuelling. The boat also can store about 150,000 litres of freshwater abroad.

Interior and Exterior Design

While Blohm + Voss provided the naval architecture, Terence Disdale Design carried out the superstructure design of the Eclipse. The UK-based award-winning firm was also responsible for interior design, deck layouts, and construction supervision.

Incidentally, the vessel’s construction was performed with great secrecy, and due to this reason, the project was named Project Luxury Yacht M 147 throughout the construction period. However, the details of the technical design and construction of the yacht have not been revealed to the public; the design and layout are available for people to marvel at.

Divided into nine decks, the top deck of Eclipse is taken up by the helicopters and garage. The swimming pool and sundeck go on level eight, while level seven features a pool, atrium and an open deck. The salon, main dining hall and a 40ft X 60ft full-beam loggia are located on the sixth level, and the fourth floor features the main entrance of the yacht. While the next level of the yacht divides the cabins and suites of the owner, guests and crew, the second deck of the vessel acts as a docking port for the submarine. Level one accommodates the engine room, machinery, and a small disco club.

The superyacht with a displacement steel hull has an aluminium superstructure, while its decks become magnificent, featuring teak woods. To offer a smooth cruising experience, the yacht features an ultra-modern stabilization system that minimises the roll motion effect and is equipped with ‘at anchor stabilisers’ to increase comfort when the boat is stationary. Featuring the Art Deco interior design, with an innovative, technology-rich environment and the use of soft metallic fabrics, Eclipse offers a splendid living experience for its owner. With diverse facilities across the decks, the yacht meets the optimum standard of offering a leisure time platform.

The entire yacht has been bejewelled with features to make it more luxurious. Spread across many decks, Eclipse facilities abroad include a gym, dance floor, underwater lights, beach club, wifi connection, beauty salon, tender, garage, deck jacuzzi, etc. Further, the Eclipse holds two helipads and a 16 m swimming pool that can be converted into a dance floor. This motor yacht can accommodate three helicopters, two on both helipads and the third one in a storage hangar below the foredeck. Moreover, Eclipse also flaunts internal lifts, six tenders and an exterior fireplace on-board. The boat also features a place for a three-person private submarine that can go up to a depth of 160ft.

Eclipse is also one of the most technologically advanced yachts around the world.  The boat boasts the latest technology safety features, including motion sensors, bulletproof glass and antiballistic missile defence.  In fact, each cabin in the yacht comes with a private 6ft home cinema screen, a Jacuzzi, a spa and specialized security systems. According to reports, Eclipse has an anti-paparazzi system that detects the use of digital cameras to click photographs of the boat. Using lasers, the system detects digital cameras and disrupts a potential picture of the yacht, as those infrared lights can make it unstable.

Accommodation

The yacht has 11 staterooms and suites, totalling 6000 square feet. With this facility, Eclipse can house 30 guests and a 92-member staff crew abroad. The master suite, located on level five of the yacht, is 5000 square feet alone. In addition, the boat also has a pilothouse on level seven.

With all these facilities incorporated, maintaining the Eclipse is not a less expensive matter. An annual expense of over $60 million is reportedly required to maintain this luxury boat. According to media reports, Abramovich charges its customers around £ 175,000 to rent the vessel for a day.

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About Author

Raunek Kantharia is a marine engineer turned maritime writer and entrepreneur. After a brief stint at the sea, he founded Marine Insight in 2010. Apart from managing Marine Insight, he also writes for a number of maritime magazines and websites.

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Eclipse Specifications

• Name Eclipse
• Model Custom
• Flag Bermuda
• Class Lloyds Register
• Hull NB 978
• Hull Colour -
• Naval Architect Blohm + Voss
• Exterior Designer Terence Disdale
• Interior Designer Terence Disdale
• Length Overall 162.5m
• Length at Waterline -
• Draft (min) -
• Draft (max) 5.9m
• Gross Tonnage 13000
• Cabins Total 18
• Cabins 1 Master / 17 VIP
• Hull Configuration Displacement
• Hull Material Steel
• Superstructure -
• Deck Material -
• Fuel Type Diesel
• Manufacturer -
• Model 20V 1163 TB93
• Total Power -
• Propulsion Triple Screw
• Max Speed 25 Kn
• Cruising Speed 22 Kn
• Fuel Capacity -
• Water Capacity -
• Generator -
• Stabilizers -
• Thrusters -
• Amenities -
• Yacht Builder Blohm + Voss No profile available
• Naval Architect Blohm + Voss No profile available
• Exterior Designer Terence Disdale View profile
• Interior Designer Terence Disdale View profile

Yacht Specs

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ECLIPSE yacht charter

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The 533.14ft /162.5m Custom motor yacht 'Eclipse' was built in 2010 by Blohm + Voss. Terence Disdale is responsible for her beautiful exterior and interior design.

Eclipse's interior layout sleeps up to 36 guests in 18 staterooms, 17 VIP staterooms. She is also capable of carrying up to 92 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht experience. Timeless styling, beautiful furnishings and sumptuous seating feature throughout her living areas to create an elegant and comfortable atmosphere.

She is built with steel hull and aluminium superstructure This custom displacement yacht is equipped with an ultra-modern stabilization system which reduces roll motion effect and results in a smoother more enjoyable cruising experience. She features ‘at anchor stabilisers’ which work at zero speed to increase onboard comfort at anchor and on rough waters. With a cruising speed of 20 knots, a maximum speed of 21.5 knots and a range of 6000nm from her 1000000litre fuel tanks, she is the perfect combination of performance and luxury.

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The Engines that Power Superyachts

The sight of a majestic superyacht is absolutely fascinating, but only few people actually know the different engine types that power these massive vessels.

The size of a yacht and its weight, which is given in gross tons, have considerable influence on the type of engine it will come with.

For that reason, the majority of superyachts usually do not only have one engine but actually several in most cases.

This post lists the most popular engines used in both smaller boats as well as some of the largest privately owned yachts in the world.

MTU engines

The manufacturer MTU is probably the most popular engine brand in the yachting industry, and their products can be found in vessels from all over the world.

Founded in 1909, MTU first produced engines for airships, most famously blimps, before specializing in the marine industry.

Today the engine manufacturer is also well known for its power train and locomotive, armored vehicle, haul truck engines as well as, of course, yachts. 

Not only does MTU offer the best equipment for series and performance yachts, but also customized and specially manufactured engines for superyachts.

The world-renowned company advertises exceptional and powerful engines that are particularly quiet and low-vibration for maximum comfort and the best possible operating conditions. 

For yachts, the MTU engine series 2000, 4000, 1163, and 8000 are the most common models and can reach a performance between 400 and 10000 KW or even 500 to 13400 HP.

The 162.5 meters (533 ft) ECLIPSE , currently the third largest yacht in the world, is equipped with not just one but four MTU 20V 1163 TB93 diesel engines allowing the giant vessel to reach top speeds of 25 knots.

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Caterpillar engines

The international brand Caterpillar is widely known for its mining vehicles, including excavators and trucks and is one of the leading manufacturers of high-quality and powerful industrial engines.

However, Caterpillar also manufactures different engines for the yacht industry and has become a top choice for mid-sized and large superyachts. 

The yacht manufacturers Pride Mega Yachts, and Tourquise Yachts are known to put great trust in the engines of Caterpillar, choosing them time and time again for their most high-profile projects.

These include, for example, the ESTATEMENT with its 115 meters (377 feet) and the 77-meter (253 feet) GO, both of which are powered by Caterpillar engines. 

Caterpillar offers a wide variety of yacht engines such as the series C12, C18, C32, 3512C as well as VM32C with a performance range between 500 to 8000 KW and 660 to 11000 HP.

At the moment Caterpillar manufactures 18 different models of the series mentioned above that are suitable for exclusive yachts, speedboats, and fishing vessels.

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MAN engines

MAN SE is a well-known machine manufacturer from Germany, established in 1758 and recently merged to form Traton SE. T

he company has made a name for itself in truck and bus manufacturing and produces different types of engines and machines.

MAN’s most famous project in the boating industry was in 1987 when they supplied a total of nine four-stroke diesel engines for the cruise ship Queen Elizabeth II, which at that time was considered the largest engine for a vessel carrying passengers. 

On the water, MAN offers 12 different engines for yachts as well as fishing boats. Their popular i6 series has three different engines which have an output from 537 to 625 KW, which corresponds to 730 to 850 HP.

The V8 series also has three engines which range between 735 and 956 KW (1000 to 1300 HP).

The most powerful yacht engine series by MAN is the V12 model. With an output range of 1029 up to 1471 KW, these powerful engines provide 1400 to 2000 HP per engine.

SEMT Pielstick

The 147-meter (482 ft.) PRINCE ABDULAZIZ is one of the largest yachts in the world, relying on Pielstick engines.

She is powered by two 5,816 kW Pielstick diesel generator sets that produce an astonishing cruising speed of 18 knots, which is considerable for her size. 

Since 2006, SEMT Pielstick, which originally mainly produced engines for locomotives, power plants, and naval and merchant’s vessels, has actually been part of MAN, although the brand SEMT remains.

Pielstick was originally based in France, and in addition to producing engines for superyachts, the company built power plants and locomotive engines.

Yachts That Use Pielstick Engines

ATLANTIS II Yacht – Serenity $100M Superyacht

PRINCE ABDULAZIZ Yacht – Stunning $100M Superyacht

A+ Yacht – Exclusive Haven $450 Million Superyacht

Wärtsilä engines

While companies like MAN or Caterpillar have become household names, Wärtsilä is a somewhat lesser-known engine manufacturer in the yachting industry.

The Finnish brand was founded in 1834 and has worked on very large projects like the 82-meter ALFA NERO, the 106-meter BLACK PEARL, and the 84-meter SAVANNAH.

Wärtsilä is therefore not to be underestimated, and their experience in the energy sector makes their engines extremely efficient and highly innovative. 

In addition to traditional diesel and gas engines, Wärtsilä also manufactures propellers, marine control systems, and water management solutions.

The majority of their projects are, however, industrial, although it is expected that Wärtsilä will most likely work on more superyachts in the future, given their innovative approaches.

Yachts That Use Wärtsilä Engines

PELORUS Yacht – Sumptuous $250 M Superyacht

DILBAR Yacht – Glamorous $800M Superyacht

SAMAR Yacht – Luminous $100M Superyacht

DREAM Yacht – Dazzling $150 Million Superyacht

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Eclipse Blohm & Voss

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If you have any questions about the Eclipse information page below please contact us .

The breath-taking 162m luxury motor yacht ECLIPSE represents one of the world´s largest vessels, built by the world-renowned German shipyard Blohm & Voss and launched in 2009. She comfortably sleeps an impressive number of 36 guests in 18 stunning cabins and can cater for a staggering 70 crew members.

NOTABLE FEATURES: ~ Spacious open loggia ~ Guest-suite balconies ~ 2 swimming pools ~ of which an adjustable depth swimming pool/dance-floor ~ Several hot tubs ~ Disco hall ~ 200m² swim platform ~ 56m owner's deck ~ Exterior fireplace ~ 3 Helicopters ~ 2 heli-pads ~ Three man submarine ~ Roter-based stabilization system

Video of Yacht ECLIPSE

ECLIPSE has been superbly designed by the French architect Hermidas Atabeyki, creating design characterized by various novel ideas such as the arrangement of a spacious open loggia, balconies for the guest suites, a futuristic inside submarine hangar and a helicopter hangar. Her beautiful interiors are by the well-known Terence Disdale Design studio and Greenline Yacht Interiors.

Amongst a wide variety of amenities on board, this striking vessel boasts a three-man leisure submarine that is capable of submerging to 50 metres (160ft), a 16-metre swimming pool with an adjustable depth feature that permits it to be converted into a dance floor, an exterior fireplace, six yacht tenders, accommodation for three helicopters, and many others that will guarantee a truly out-of-this-world charter experience.

For security, ECLIPSE is fitted with a missile detection system. This robust 533´ steel displacement luxury yacht is powered by 4 MTU 20V 1163 TB93 diesels, reaching a top speed of 25 knots. She can comfortably cruise at 22 knots.

"The way things work is as important to us as the way they look. To this end, our superyachts are not merely all engineered or beautiful...they are beautifully engineered." Blohm & Voss Yachts

A List of the Specifications of the ECLIPSE:

Eclipse Specifications

Superyacht Name: Motor Yacht ECLIPSE Built By: Blohm + Voss Shipyards & Services GmbH Built in: Hamburg, German Launched in: 2009 Length Overall: 170 metres / 614 feet. Naval Architecture: Blohm + Voss and Terence Disdale Design, Blohm + Voss Inhouse yacht Design Designers Involved in Yacht Design: Terence Disdale Design Interior Designers: Terence Disdale Design / Greenline Yacht Interiors Gross Tonnes: 13000 Hull / Superstructure Construction Material: - / - Owner of ECLIPSE: Unknown ECLIPSE available for luxury yacht charters: - Is the yacht for sale: - Helicopter Landing Pad: Yes The Country the Yacht is Flagged in: Bermuda Official registry port is: Hamilton Max yacht charter guests: 62 Number of Crew Members: 50 Further Information On The Yacht

She is fully equiped with a helicopter landing pad which can be utilised for fast crossing between the yacht and a distant location.

Yacht Accommodation

Luxury yacht ECLIPSE easily accommodates an impressive number of 34 guests in 18 stunning cabins, including one owner's suite, and 17 VIP suites.

Amenities and Extras

Amongst a wide variety of amenities on board ECLIPSE belongs the three-man leisure submarine, a 16-metre swimming pool with an adjustable depth feature that permits it to be converted into a dance floor, an exterior fireplace, six yacht tenders, accommodation for three helicopters, and many others.

Eclipse Disclaimer:

The luxury yacht Eclipse displayed on this page is merely informational and she is not necessarily available for yacht charter or for sale, nor is she represented or marketed in anyway by CharterWorld. This web page and the superyacht information contained herein is not contractual. All yacht specifications and informations are displayed in good faith but CharterWorld does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the current accuracy, completeness, validity, or usefulness of any superyacht information and/or images displayed. All boat information is subject to change without prior notice and may not be current.

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Inside the ‘Scenic Eclipse,’ the World’s Most Luxurious Expedition Megayacht

Referred to as a “discovery yacht,” the cutting-edge boat features its own helicopters, a fleet of zodiac boats, a submarine and a near-endless list of high-end amenities.

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There’s no reason why scientific discovery and luxury have to be mutually exclusive. That’s the thinking of Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours , whose just-launched expedition cruise ship, Scenic Eclipse , attempts to wed the two in one massive, 551-foot megayacht .

After years of delays, the 228-passenger ship finally launched last month and was christened by Dame Helen Mirren in New York on Tuesday. Referred to by Scenic as a “discovery yacht,” the cutting-edge boat features its own helicopters, a fleet of Zodiac boats, a submarine and a near-endless list of high-end amenities, all of which help it set a new high-end standard for expedition-style travel. It will travel to 68 ports around the world, spending half the year in Antarctica and the Arctic , the two main expedition cruise destinations.

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“In terms of innovation, technology and design, [ Scenic Eclipse ] is second to none,” the company’s chairman and founder Glen Moroney said last month. “The onboard helicopters and submarine and our handcrafted itineraries that take our guests to 38 countries in some of the world’s most stunning and remote locations.”

And it would appear that no expense was spared to take ocean exploration to the next level. For instance, the boat boasts 114 cabins, each of which is a sizable suite—including a living room, veranda and a butler service. The $10,000-per-night, two-bedroom Owner’s Penthouse Suite reportedly measures a staggering 2,659 square feet. Spa suites, meanwhile, include a double-sized Philippe Starck-designed jacuzzi, steam shower and light therapy.

The luxury doesn’t stop inside the rooms, either. The Scenic Eclipse features 10 different restaurants—with cuisines ranging from French to Japanese—overseen by executive chef Tom Goetter. There are also eight bars, one of which serves over 100 top-shelf varieties of whiskey. If you’re an aspiring chef yourself, the yacht boasts a cooking classroom, where guests can learn how to make the delicious dishes they’ve eaten. A built-in theater offers films and lectures. There’s also plenty of beauty and health amenities, like the 5,920-square-foot Senses Spa, which includes Scandanavian-style pools, a gym and a Pilates studio, as well as a hair salon.

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours’ Scenic Luxury expedition cruise ship  Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours

In addition to the onboard amenities, the yacht will also actively help you explore the areas away from it. The Scenic Eclipse   includes two six-passenger helicopters, a first for an expedition cruise ship, and a fleet of Zodiac boats for adventuring. There’s also a six-passenger submarine, the Scenic Neptune , that can reach depths of 1,000 feet. And because this is an expedition cruise ship, it was built to withstand the elements. It holds the preeminent ice-class rating for a passenger vessel, Polar Class 6, which means passengers have nothing to worry about during voyages in Antarctica and the Arctic.

With all these luxury and technology features, it’s easy to see why a trip on the Scenic Eclipse doesn’t come cheap. Fares start at at $6,395 per person based on a double occupancy, though polar expeditions can cost much more. But that fare does come with a lot, including air travel, pre-departure hotel, all meals and drinks. Helicopter and submarine rides, of course, are extra.

Check out more photos of the Scenic Eclipse  below:

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours

Bryan Hood is a digital staff writer at Robb Report. Before joining the magazine, he worked for the New York Post, Artinfo and New York magazine, where he covered everything from celebrity gossip to…

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Scenic Eclipse Ultra Luxury Yacht

Scenic Eclipse is a six-star, ultra-luxury mega yacht that is being developed by Australian river cruise operator Scenic.

Vessel Type

Ultra-luxury yacht

Port of Registry

Malta, Europe

Uljanik Group

January 2016

Maiden Voyage

August 2019

September 2019

Scenic Eclipse is a six-star, ultra-luxury mega yacht owned by Australian river cruise operator Scenic. It is the first ocean cruise ship for the company, which specialises in luxury river cruises.

The yacht is designed for an Ice Class 1A Super rating that enables it to navigate through Arctic and Antarctic waters in the summer. It also has the Polar Class 6 rating, the highest passenger ship ice-class rating, to navigate in challenging seas safely.

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Scenic announced the launch of the vessel in January 2016 and awarded the construction contract to the Uljanik Group based in Croatia. The vessel’s delivery was, however, delayed due to financial challenges faced by the Uljanik Group. In February 2019, DIV Group and Fincantieri came to the rescue of Uljanik Group by purchasing an interest in the company and, subsequently, led the construction of Scenic Eclipse.

The yacht was finally delivered in  August 2019, followed by a christening ceremony in September 2019. The shipbuilding contract also includes an option for a second ship to be delivered in 2020.

Scenic Eclipse ship embarked on her maiden voyage from Reykjavík to Quebec in August 2019, followed by discovery voyages to the Americas, Antarctica, Europe and the Mediterranean, as well as the Arctic and Norwegian Fjords.

Scenic Eclipse yacht design

“The vessel’s design incorporates state-of-the-art engineering and external design inspired by the sleek contours of a mega yacht.”

Designed by Finnish ship designing and engineering company Foreship, Scenic Eclipse is the world’s safest and most technologically advanced discovery yacht.

The vessel’s design incorporates state-of-the-art engineering and external design inspired by the sleek contours of a mega yacht. It has a total length of168m, moulded breadth of 21.5m and draught of 5.3m. Its gross tonnage is 17,085t and cruising speed is 17kts.

Scenic Eclipse ship deck plan

The luxury yacht features eight decks, deck three to deck ten. The first deck houses mud rooms for easy zodiac entry, tender entrance and a self-service guest laundry.

Deck four comprises of a welcome lobby and reception, main lounge, lobby bar, Pan Asian restaurant, Italian and steak restaurant, boutique, theatre, excursion centre and a library.

The fifth deck features a contemporary fine dining restaurant, ocean café and lounge, observation lounge and bar, and an open viewing deck at bow and guest suites.

Deck six houses a spa sanctuary, shallow plunge pools and guest suites. The seventh deck features indoor / outdoor Al fresco restaurant, indoor / outdoor pool, a beauty salon, gym, yoga and pilates studio, outdoor terrace and guest suites.

Deck eight is equipped with a helipad and hangars, as well as guest suites. The ninth deck has a helicopter hangar, spa and penthouse suites, while deck ten features a sun terrace.

Scenic Eclipse suites and accommodation

The yacht carries 228 guests (restricted to 200 in Polar regions) in 114 all-veranda suites. It carries a crew of 172 for normal regions and 182 for Polar regions.

None of the veranda suites are smaller than 32m² with the biggest suite having an area of 233m², which is bigger than a tennis court.

Available suites include 66 verandah suites, 28 deluxe verandah suites, 14 spa suites, grand panorama and owner’s penthouse suites.

Veranda suites are 32m² in size and offer a private veranda, separate bedroom and living area with floor-to-ceiling windows. It features a pillow menu, mini-bar, deluxe furnishing, HDTV and climate control.

At 38m², deluxe veranda suites are larger than veranda suites and feature larger bedroom and living areas.

Spa suites, located on decks eight and nine, are 48m² in size and have living and bedroom areas with luxury amenities. They feature spa baths and offer space to relax and views from the veranda.

Grand panorama suites are located on decks six and eight at the front of the yacht. At 56m², the suites offer curved verandas on deck six, and a veranda with 43m² terrace on deck eight.

Owner’s penthouse suites are located in a prime position on the ninth deck at the bow of the yacht. Featuring a 125m² area, the suites offer luxury facilities available in both suites and master suites, and also feature a 60m² terrace.

Combining the owner’s penthouse suite with a spa suite will create a two-bedroom penthouse suite with an area of 233m², which offers the best of all facilities.

The  interior  design for the suites, inspired by leading luxury hotels, was provided by Karen Moroney.

Dining options on the six-star yacht

The yacht offers six onboard dining options, from casual to fine dining, at Elements, Yacht Club, Koko’s, Lumière, Azure Bar & Café, Epicure

Options include a contemporary French fine dining restaurant with a capacity for 44 people, Pan Asian restaurant with 100 seats, an Italian and steak restaurant with the same capacity, an al fresco indoor/outdoor restaurant for 125 people, and an Ocean café and lounge with a capacity of 40.Food is prepared using locally sourced produce and includes regional cuisines drawn from the regions the yacht cruises through.

The yacht features a Whisky Bar at the main lounge displaying the ship’s 110 varieties of whisky.

Entertainment and relaxation on Scenic Eclipse cruise ship

The luxury yacht features a 5,000ft² spa that offers an extensive menu of luxury treatments, indoor and outdoor jacuzzis and plunge pools. Other relaxation areas include an indoor heated pool, which features a retractable roof, plunge pool, gym and a separate yoga and pilates studio.

Sun deck jacuzzis offer guests another area to relax, as well as spacious bars and lounges.

Guests can be entertained in the 240-seat theatre that offers programmes and lectures by an onboard discovery team. The team, which includes dedicated Antarctic and Arctic experts in their fields, keep guests updated with a range of subjects and interests.

Excursions offered by Scenic Eclipse

The yacht offers in-air, underwater, and shore excursions to guests. It features two six-seater, twin-engine helicopters, one seven-seater submarine and 12 zodiacs and kayaks onboard.

Excursions will take guests to inaccessible places by flying low over the dramatic crags of the Scottish Isles, the volcanic wonders of Italy or the coral cays of the Caribbean.

The submarine is custom-built for optimal sightseeing to rarely visited places such as the underwater ruins in Greece and Turkey, as well as kaleidoscopic coral reefs in the Caribbean.

Through scuba diving, guests can experience a variety of underwater wildlife and colourful coral reefs.

Guests can also enjoy shore excursions on zodiacs and kayaks in the Arctic and Mediterranean seas. A unique mudroom enables guests to embark and disembark for their excursions quickly and easily.

Technology used

Scenic Eclipse is built with the latest technological advancements  to ensure the highest safety. It features custom-built stabilisers that are 50% larger than other ships and an ice-strengthened hull.

State-of-the-art fins that can adjust themselves enable the ship to handle the strongest water movements and to remain stable, even at zero speeds.

Unlike other vessels that use traditional anchors, Scenic Eclipse is fitted with a dynamic positioning system that uses GPS to accurately maintain the vessel’s position, which is also an eco-friendly way to control the ship.

The vessel also features other environmentally sustainable systems, including advanced water treatment systems and efficient low-impact engines.

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I'm a butler on a luxury cruise where tickets cost up to $150K. I've traveled to Antarctica and enjoyed perks like submarine rides — here's what my job is like.

• Nenad Popovic is a butler on a six-star, 200-passenger luxury cruise called the Scenic Eclipse.
•  The ship travels to far-flung places like the Arctic and Antarctica and has its own submarine. 
• Popovic works for four months at a time on board the ship and then takes a two-month holiday. 

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Nenad Popovic, the cruise butler for the Scenic Eclipse. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I was working as a waiter in a café in my hometown in Serbia when I bumped into one of my school friends who was a stewardess on an ocean liner. 

After listening to her adventures, I was hooked. I began to consider life on the water. Since then, I've traveled to the Arctic and Antarctica, among other destinations, as a cruise butler. 

I started as a steward on fairy-tale river cruises across Europe 

In September 2014, I applied to Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours to be a restaurant steward on its river cruises. I was accepted in October. 

Before I could join the boat the following March, I had to pass the maritime industry's SCTW training course — a five-day intensive in first aid, firefighting, and safety training. The company covered my course fees, and once I'd passed, I was ready to join the ship. 

In March 2015, I started stewarding the river cruises for Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours. Each morning at work, I could wake up in a different city or country. 

On the river boats, we could travel all the way from Amsterdam to Budapest for over two weeks. The river-cruise routes passed villages and castles in rural Europe that looked straight out of a fairy tale.

Moving from steward to butler gave me more opportunities 

After two years as a steward, I was promoted to cruise butler. As a steward, I was trained in silver service. But working as a butler, I had to stay one step ahead of the guests' needs and go above and beyond to create a wonderful experience. 

To become a cruise butler, you need experience working for a luxury hotel or boat. I was trained by other butlers on the river cruises and soaked up everything they taught me.

Related stories

In May 2021, I swapped the rivers of Europe for the open ocean and became a cruise butler on the Scenic Eclipse. 

Now I work on a six-star luxury Discovery yacht 

The Scenic Eclipse is a six-star Discovery yacht that sails to the Arctic and Antarctica, among other destinations. A single ticket can cost as much as $150,000 for a 30-day Arctic voyage but prices start at around $30,000 per person.

The river boats I'd worked on were luxurious, but I was blown away stepping on board the Scenic Eclipse. 

There are five restaurants on board including a French fine-dining restaurant with a Champagne bar. There are also two helicopter pads, a private submarine, and a helicopter for guests.

Every guest has a butler. There are eight butlers and a head butler on board. I oversee up to 10 suites and look after 20 people per cruise.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Scenic Eclipse (@scenic.eclipse)

I spend four months on board, then I have a two-month holiday. 

Every guest has a butler assigned to them with 24/7 service

On the Scenic Eclipse, the butler service is 24/7. We work in shifts, so when I finish at 9 p.m., another butler will start the night shift. I work between eight to 10 hours with a break at midday.  

My alarm rings around 5:30 a.m. After a coffee in the crew mess, I deliver room-service breakfast to the suites who've ordered it. 

While my guests leave the ship for excursions, I refill their mini bar and collect their laundry. I organize restaurant bookings for them on board or arrange helicopter or submarine trips. I also ensure their suite is flawless and make sure fresh fruit or a specific cocktail is waiting for them.

In the evening, I offer a turndown service. I turn the lights down, make sure their itinerary for the following day is on the TV screen and leave treats. 

For anniversaries or birthdays, I'll leave flowers. I love overhearing guests' reactions when they discover their gifts.

During my afternoon break, I'll leave the ship with crew friends to enjoy the local food or visit a heritage area. If we're docked overnight, I will go out for dinner or a walk in the evening. At sea, I hang out with colleagues in the crew mess.  

Over the past 2 years, I've traveled from the Mediterranean island of Madeira to the wilds of Antarctica 

My best day on the ship was my first trip to Antarctica. While cruising between the icebergs, two whales breached the side of the boat. It was magical.

I've flown in the Scenic Eclipse's helicopter over Antarctica, which was unforgettable. Looking over the raw landscape was amazing. 

I was also invited to join one of the dives in the Arctic in the ship's submarine. As we submerged beneath the waves, the lights on the submarine's side shone across a shoal of tiny transparent fish, creating a rainbow-like effect. It was surreal. 

The cruise is all-inclusive, so I don't expect any tips, but we do get them. However, my real reward is feedback from guests who say I've helped create a memory of a lifetime — that's my favorite part of the job.

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