yacht octopus bremerhaven

Once owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, the Octopus megayacht has undergone an extensive and secretive nine-month-long refit. The 414-foot Lürssen vessel will now be the world’s most expensive yacht to charter.

“Octopus will again be cruising in some of the most exciting destinations with availability for clients to sample all that she has to offer,” said Big Blue Expedition’s newly-appointed Charter Manager, Jacqui Lockhart, inviting you to embark on an unforgettable voyage.

Note – With a weekly rate of over $4 million, the Flying Fox was the most expensive charter vessel, but it is no longer available for charter.

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Megayacht „Octopus“ beendet Werftzeit bei der Lloyd Werft

Sieben Monate lag die 126,2 Meter lange Megayacht „Octopus“ für umfangreiche Überholungsarbeiten bei der Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven. Nun konnten die umfangreichen Arbeiten dort abgeschlossen werden. Nachdem die Yacht schon am Wochenende zuvor eine kurze Probefahrt absolvierte, verlies die „Octopus“ am Donnerstagabend (11.07.) die Seestadt mit Kurs auf die norwegische Hafenstadt Kristiansand.

Bei der Lloyd Werft war die Yacht, um die sich eine bis zu 60-köpfige Crew kümmert, vor allem wegen schiffsbautechnischer Arbeiten. Auch eine neue Lackierung wurde im Schwimmdock III aufgetragen, das hierfür extra mit einem Gerüst eingehaust wurde. Zudem standen auch Innenraumarbeiten an, über den genauen Umfang gibt es aber keine Angaben. Wie in diesem Geschäftsfeld üblich, gibt es hierzu eine Verschwiegenheitserklärung, die von der Werft unterzeichnet werden musste.

Gebaut wurde die Yacht 2003, nach einem Espen-Oeino-Entwurf, von der Kieler HDW-Werft im Auftrag für die Bremer Lürssen Werft für Paul Allen. Allen gehörte mit zu den Gründern von Microsoft. Nach dem Tod von Allen verkauften die Erben die Yacht an einen schwedischen Industriellen.

Über das Charterunternehmen Big Blue Expeditions steht die Yacht nun schon im zweiten Jahr für maximal 12 Passagiere zur Vermietung, dabei liegt der Preis für eine Woche bei rund 2,2 Millionen Euro, plus Spesen. Von Bremerhaven aus geht die Reise dann zunächst in Richtung Norden. Im August kann die „Octopus“ noch für eine Woche in Norwegen gebucht werden, zwei Wochen im September steht die Megayacht in Grönland auch noch zur Verfügung.  Im nächsten Jahr wäre die Yacht noch im Januar und Februar 2025 in der Antarktis und im Sommer 2025 in Französisch-Polynesien für eine Charterung verfügbar, wie das Charterunternehmen kürzlich mitteilte.

Die „Octopus“ verfügt unter anderem über zwei Tenderboote, die über eine riesige Heckpforte in eine Garage an Bord fahren können. Zu den Annehmlichkeiten der „Octopus“ gehört auch eine Lounge ganz unten im Schiff, deren Boden verglast ist und den Blick in die Tiefe freigibt. Paul Allen lies seinerzeit auch ein paar Besonderheiten in sein Schiff einbauten. So wurde die Yacht für luxuriöse Aufenthalte und auch für die Tiefseeforschung genutzt: Das Schiff kann monatelang auf See bleiben. Die eisverstärkte führte seinerzeit auch ein U-Boot mit, selbst zwei Hubschrauber haben Platz. Heute steht den Passagieren unter anderem ein Kino zur Verfügung, mehrere Bars, Friseursalon und Fitnessstudio, Bibliothek und Tauchcenter. Das Schwimmbad kann zur Disco umgebaut werden, in dem der verglaste Boden des Beckens hochfährt.

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Inside Octopus: Origin story of the 126m superyacht finally revealed

The barest of details have been revealed about the mysterious  Octopus  over the past 19 years. But with a new owner and on the charter market for the first time, the 126-metre  Lürssen  superyacht is finally ready to reveal her secrets past and present…

One of the best things about flying into the South of France is the view. The brilliant blue coastline is peppered with hundreds of yachts. On this flight, however, just one of the boats below us demands our attention: the 126-metre explorer  Octopus .

The following day, in the port of Marseille where her new owner’s team is wrapping up a refit before  Octopus  departs for the Galápagos, I finally see her up close. Her navy-blue hull and skyscraper decks are incredibly impressive, while on the inside she is welcoming and warm. Although she has been refitted, her history is palpable. There’s much to learn about  Octopus , and everyone involved in her story is finally ready to talk, after decades of silence.

Why was  Octopus  such a secret? In 1998, strict non-disclosure agreements were issued all around to protect the privacy of her original owner, the late American entrepreneur and philanthropist Paul Allen, a co-founder of Microsoft. “It was the first time I was faced with an NDA,” says  Espen Øino , who has gone on to sign hundreds over the years. “NDAs are strict and long lasting and don’t necessarily pass when the client does,” notes  Jonathan Quinn Barnett , who created  Octopus ’s original interior. “I had deep respect and admiration for Mr Allen, so to be able to say even a few words about  Octopus  now is marvellous.”

For builder Lürssen, the story started with a bit of detective work. The German shipyard’s sales director, Michael Breman, heard about a mysterious box that was loaded onto Allen’s 60.6-metre Feadship  Méduse , which supposedly contained a scale model of a new vessel.

“I figured out that something was going on and we ought to be involved,” he says. “So I contacted Paul Allen’s broker, [ Fraser’s ] Stuart Larsen, to ask some questions.”

Some time after, during a trip to the South of France, Breman received the go-ahead to submit a bid and arranged for a fax containing the brief to be sent to Øino’s office in Monaco. “Put that into context, this is 1998!” Øino says with a laugh. “Michael was in our office as the fax came in and going through it, we just couldn’t believe the brief, we thought it was totally crazy.”

The brief called for an industrial-style yacht with the appearance and capability of the Finnish multipurpose icebreaker  Fennica , built in 1993. Luckily, Øino knew the vessel. “I had a photo of  Fennica  from a few years earlier when I visited her while cruising with another client in the fjords,” says the designer. What he went on to sketch in pencil and model for the presentation was a sturdy explorer with two interchangeable options for the bow and the wheelhouse. “What is remarkable is that the original sketches and ideas are so close to what it actually became,” Breman says.

Another key part of the brief was for all toys and tenders, including a helicopter, a submarine and a floatplane, to be carried in a concealed way. So Øino drew a methodical general arrangement that included a two-level 36-metre-long floodable garage opening at the stern. “Launching so many toys over the side of the boat wasn’t the optimum idea and would affect the stability; a lot of heeling would occur,” the designer says.

Instead, working with the rules that oversee subdivisions inside a ship’s hull – and deal with damage stability calculations – he created one very long and tall compartment on the yacht’s centreline with a floodable dock flanked by rows of smaller garages to store the entire toy inventory of what became known as Project Octopus.

“At Lürssen, we give everything a project name, and my daughter came up with  Octopus ,” says Breman. “Along with Paul’s love for diving, plus the fact that his previous yacht was  Méduse  [“jellyfish” in French], we thought  Octopus  was a perfect project name. Little did we know then that  Octopus  would be her name once completed and delivered.” Øino says. “She was our 15th project enquiry in 1998, and so in my office, she was known as 9815.”

The proposal Lürssen created with Øino was successful, but the German shipyard soon had to resolve its first quandary – it didn’t have a shed available. “We ended up having to build her with a partner in Kiel,” Breman says. It also had to solve the matter of the explorer’s floodable garage, which had to be approved by class. “After researching multiple alternatives, the first idea that Espen drew was the one that worked the best,” he adds. “Our in-house model department then built a scale model of the garage to demonstrate how it could work. We even tested it by driving a tender in and out.”

Octopus’ s interior, meanwhile, came from a young American designer who had recently relocated from London where he’d worked with  Jon Bannenberg , to Seattle. The owner’s team chose Barnett from a small pool of interior designers to embellish the complex GA of the largest and most advanced explorer yacht ever built at the time.

“Paul Allen’s team told me the safest route would be to follow the creative direction of the owner’s two previous  Feadship  designs,” the designer says. “I did the opposite!” And the result was what Barnett describes as a “floating laboratory”, a timeless design perfectly suited to a creative genius. Included in the layout were out-of-the-box features such as a fully equipped medical centre, a storm cabin made to keep those who needed it comfortable in bad weather and a professional recording studio. “Back then, no yacht was capable of non-stop circumnavigation, while cutting an album for U2,” he says. Mick Jagger, Usher and Joss Stone are also said to have spent time in the studio – a claim no other superyacht is ever likely to make.

Barnett took a simple approach to the interior decor. While some walls are painted a neutral colour, others are covered in bee’s wing-figured eucalyptus, and it’s this vast amount of wood panelling that gives the hardy explorer the warm, comfortable feeling of a home. For Allen and Barnett, the walls were just another fun puzzle to solve. “The geometry of the panels is elegant mathematics, something Mr Allen really appreciated,” Barnett says. “The handmade veneer arrived on custom-made grids, which fitted within the yacht’s own uniquely built steel frame spacing.” The walls do not just provide insulation and conceal cableways, but originally held the ever-changing art gallery on each deck. What’s on the walls today are snapshots of  Octopus ’s adventures over the years: panoramas of Patagonian icebergs, portraits of local tribe members in Tahiti and landscapes of Asia’s ancient golden temples.

An original feature that remains on the yacht to this day is an unusual timekeeping device. Braided stainless-steel shrouds from a sailing vessel are strung on either side of the grand staircase from lower to upper deck, and they function as a clock. “I combined the old tradition of having a central clock on board a ship with my client’s unique passions for modern sculpture, mathematics, art and music,” Barnett explains. “I subcontracted a 102-year-old German specialist clock company to make it, and – I’ll tell you a secret – I used digital audio software from Apple for the tunes. Sorry, Microsoft!” he says with a laugh. “I thought the clock might become a helpful visual cue to help guests find some critical orientation. Every 15 minutes, the strings could play anything from  The Bells of St Mary’s  to Jimi Hendrix!”

Octopus  was also fitted with an huge amount of onboard electronics. “Of course, the co-founder of Microsoft required more than 54 tonnes of AV and IT equipment on board,” Øino says with a smile. While the bulk of the wiring went to the studio, each cabin was assigned 60 cables for computers, entertainment systems and more, including touchscreens – which in 1998, was an exciting innovation. “They were amazing,” says Øino, “so far ahead of their time.” The touchscreens are still used today by the crew, who also use iPads as infotainment control panels for elements such as lighting and music in guest areas.

When  Octopus  launched in 2003, it was clear she had broken new ground. With diesel-electric propulsion consisting of two ABB electric motors and eight MTU 16V 4000 M50 diesel engines, she was perfectly equipped to travel anywhere in the world. “ Octopus  was always on the go,” Øino says. “Diesel-electric wasn’t commonplace in the early millennium,” he observes, and “ Octopus  was the first yacht with dynamic positioning.”

The project propelled Lürssen into the large-yacht segment and her designers had a huge career boost. “ Octopus  blew everyone away,” Breman says. “The idea and the design are something unprecedented.” What the first aerial photographs of the yacht could make out were her winged wheelhouse, long swimming pool, two helidecks and hangars and a basketball court. Whereas on the inside, areas such as the dive centre with hyperbaric chamber, 12 cabins and private owner’s deck with its own lift, terrace and spa pool were out of sight.

After a decade of extensive travelling,  Octopus ’s engines had to be overhauled. However, her interior had worn well. “There was nothing that required a major redesign or change,” Barnett says. “All the original architecture, spaces, surfaces and design details still performed exceptionally well. Seeing it made me immensely proud.”

Although she was well-maintained and in full working order, in 2019 she was sent for a refit at the Lürssen-owned  Blohm+Voss  shipyard to prepare her for the market several months after Allen passed in 2018. She had spent two decades playing host to many parties, concerts, discoveries and expeditions, and the legacy needed to continue.

In 2021, a new owner came along with plans to make her available for select charters. Transforming  Octopus  into the remarkable charter yacht that he envisioned required a few more changes. The owner’s team enlisted Adriana Monk of  Monk Design  to retouch several spaces. Top of the list was replacing the recording studio.

“Unless you’re really into music, a studio is a niche thing to have,” says Alan Pike, one of two rotational captains. Now in the studio’s prime position – aft on the bridge deck – is a modern bar/ lounge. On either side of the new bar, new guitars hang from the original wall mounts and the grand piano has stayed put. In keeping with the beach bar look Monk created, new bleached oak flooring matches the original weathered teak deck outside.

“The vocal booth is now a DJ booth,” says the captain. “We’ve kept the soundproofing, so this place is perfect for a party, or any kind of dining.” With a new sound system and outdoor lighting, “we can really go for it”. Outdoors, there’s a glass- bottom pool that, at the touch of a button, can be made into an on-water dance floor. There’s also a wood-fired pizza oven, a service bar with a beer tap and three barbecue cooking stations.

On the entertainment deck, the former formal dining room became a wine bar. On the ceiling are scenes from Allen’s 2015 shipwreck dive to the Second World War battleship  Musashi  in the Philippines. “I was granted exclusive access to the ROV footage of the  Musashi  expedition to select shipwreck stills for the backlit ceiling,” Monk says.

Nearby, the guest observation lounge was, and still is, a firm favourite. “To dine here while cruising is a joy that’s hard to describe,” says Barnett. “I like to think of this area’s design as a mid-century sunken living room.” The feeling is created by two large sofas that snake around the room looking out over the bow. The seats look low, but the view is perfect. The rest of the deck is fun and social, as there’s also a 12-seat 4D cinema, the owner’s chef ’s galley, a table-tennis table, gym, smoothie bar, hair and massage salons and a grand library, complete with an ethanol fireplace.

Soft beige and cream carpets with wave patterns have replaced patterned blue and green rugs, and in addition to the new custom-designed pieces, free-standing items of furniture selected by Monk have helped give the interior a feel that suits  Octopus ’s new charter lifestyle. But it’s nothing dramatic. “We have kept as much as possible true to the original,” the captain says. “I strove to respect the spirit of  Octopus  while capturing the new owner’s lifestyle and vision,” Monk adds. “It was an intense and challenging project.”

The yacht’s charter schedule was entrusted to  Camper & Nicholsons .  Octopus ’s range of 12,500 nautical miles and true explorer credentials offer a huge scope for charter, and as the ripples prove on the hull’s strong plating, she is more than capable of going the distance. “She can do anything!” says charter marketing manager Gayle Patterson, who has already booked the superyacht on two excursions to Antarctica. The demand has been equal to the yacht’s renown. “We’ve grown our yacht management team to give her the care she deserves,” she adds.

Since  Octopus  was delivered, many more superyachts have adopted technologically forward designs and groundbreaking engineering and have undertaken impressive expeditions. But none have achieved what  Octopus  has. As she continues to move around the world, more people will get the opportunity to step on board. And when they do, perhaps they will feel the undeniable magic that seems to linger. One thing is for sure: wherever  Octopus  carries her guests, it is a journey they will remember for the rest of their lives.

The Toy Chest

Built to explore,  Octopus  has an incredible fleet that revolves around the cavernous 36-metre internal wet dock where the two main tenders are stored and launched through a giant transom door. Today the main tender is an 18-metre Delta 54, built in carbon with an impressive range of 450nm at 30 knots; the original was  Man-of-War , an 18-metre custom Vikal, later replaced by a 13-metre Hinckley. Sharing that space was a yellow 10-person custom submarine, named  Pagoo . A new Triton 3300/6 will take that spot when it is delivered in early 2023. Most of the other tenders have dedicated garages on either side of the wet dock. They are a 9.3-metre custom Vikal limousine and two 8.7-metre custom Zodiacs, one for diving, the other for guests. Two 5.8-metre Zodiac Milpro MK-V are also available for watersports, as is an array of WaveRunners, jet skis, kayaks, surfboards, wakeboards, kitesurfers, windsurfers and electric foil Fliteboards, plus plenty of diving equipment, The icing on the cake is a remotely controlled submarine (ROV) able to dive to 2,700 metres. To conclude this impressive list,  Octopus  has two helipads and a helicopter hangar for two. Moving forward, helicopters will be chartered as needed.

The Voyages

Octopus  is one of the most active superyachts ever built. Multiple circumnavigations, the  Northwest Passage , the High Arctic,  Antarctica , Papua New Guinea and Challenger Deep were all on the menu. One of Paul Allen’s passions was naval history. A few missions that offered the opportunity for great discoveries were well publicised, like the discovery of the Japanese warship  Musashi  in the Sibuyan Sea in March 2015 after eight years of intense work. The largest battleship ever built (aside from her sistership) sank in October 1944, but the exact location was unknown.  OctoROV  took the first photos of this lost wreck in a depth of 1,000 metres. Later that year, in August, after two attempts, another expedition recovered the bell of HMS  Hood , sunk by the Germans off Greenland in 1941.

And it looks like the story will continue.  Octopus , according to BOAT Pro data, has already cruised 9,047 nautical miles since leaving Marseille after her refit in December. In less than three months, she had already crossed the Atlantic and visited Panama including Coiba, Costa Rica and Cocos Island and the Galápagos. This winter, Camper & Nicholsons has announced that she will be heading south to test her ice-class capabilities in the frozen landscapes of Antarctica once again.

For more information please visit: www.boatinternational.com

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Iconic yachts: On board Paul Allen's 126m Lürssen superyacht Octopus

When the late Paul Allen’s Octopus was launched in 2003, she stood alone in the yachting world. At 126m length, she was easily the largest explorer yacht ever built, and one of the biggest yachts outright. But in many ways, she heralded a new era of owning very large boats – one where science and research were every bit as important as luxury finish, spas and swimming pools.

Allen himself was said to have commented that his yacht was more of a Land Rover than a Bentley. It’s a view that pays homage to capabilities including an ice-class 1A steel hull, hangar space for two helicopters, a battery of tenders, submersibles and remotely operated vehicles plus a comprehensive dive centre including a hyperbaric chamber. But the boat also has a lavish interior.

Octopus was built by Lürssen in Bremen and Kiel with external styling and design work from Espen Øino . He remembers starting work on her back in 1998, when she was the largest project of his career. “It was a very ambitious brief, because none of the tenders, tools, RVs, subs, helicopters could be outside – they should all be concealed,” remembers Øino. “Particularly the very large tender and the sub. We came up with an interesting solution for launching those through the big transom door, and the travel lift.”

The solution was revolutionary for a private yacht. When the transom door folds up it reveals a world straight out of a Bond movie – a high walkway alongside a 36 metre internal wet dock area overhung with big cranes on gantries. Øino chuckles at the memory: “The stern dock is just an amazing space,” he says.

Allen’s motivation for all this was his love of diving for shipwrecks , which has driven Octopus to many remote corners of the oceans. Her 10-person Pagoo submersible was custom built for the boat – there was no alternative at the time. Subsequently, an autonomous unmanned vehicle was added to the arsenal of equipment, capable of scanning the seabed for features of interest for hours before returning to the mothership. She has six tenders and numerous toys besides.

Among the notable missions undertaken by Octopus was the recovery of the ship’s bell of HMS Hood , sunk by the Bismarck in 2,700m off Greenland, and the discovery of the Japanese warship Musashi 1,000m down in the Sibuyan Sea.

For all that, Octopus is a true superyacht, fitted out in luxurious style by Jonathan Barnett . The interior finish includes an antique bronze door from the 1930s, and is said to set a “harmoniously rugged” tone. There’s solid furniture, lots of wood panelling and serious-looking stainless steel handrails.

She boasts an owner’s deck with a private jacuzzi and dining area plus a dedicated owner’s lift. Other features include an observation lounge, beach club, pool (which converts into a dancefloor), gym and spa. Most notably, Octopus is fitted with a large cinema and a fully-equipped recording studio – something that has hosted artists from Mick Jagger and Bono to Usher and Joss Stone. “Mr Allen’s interest in music was enormous and the acoustic quality was nothing less than a shore-based one,” says Øino. “There were 54 tonnes of AV/IT equipment aboard. A very complex boat in many ways. I think he loved it.”

The boat sleeps 26 guests in 13 cabins, as well as 57 crew. She had an extensive refit at Blohm+Voss in 2019 and was one of the biggest sales of 2021.

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• Impressions

One of the largest and most spectacular examples of a full-fledged yachting and exploration vessel, 126-meter Octopus is equipped with highly sophisticated technology. Espen Øino International designed the striking exterior with a blue and white hull and superstructure, featuring two helipads and a hangar aft. The superyacht is capable of exploration and scientific research voyages requiring months at sea. One of her key features is an integrated dock for both the principal 20-meter guest tender and two submarines for exploring marine life, one of which is remotely controlled for reaching greater depths. Octopus also houses a professional music studio and a grandiose cinema, created by interior designer Jonathan Quinn Barnett.

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Explorer yacht OCTOPUS offers once-in-a-lifetime adventures in Antarctica

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By Nina Done   26 April 2022

Considered the first ‘true’ expedition yacht, the iconic 126m (414ft) Lurssen yacht OCTOPUS is now offering her remaining availability for once-in-a-lifetime yacht charters in the breathtaking region of Antarctica commencing in December 2022.

Originally commissioned for the late Paul Allen – co-founder of Microsoft – the striking Espen Øino-designed explorer yacht has been supporting scientists and ocean research since her delivery in 2003.

Sold last year, she joined the charter fleet in January 2022 where she commenced her epic two-year global navigation in Costa Rica before transiting through the Panama Canal towards Cocos islands and the Galapagos .

Awarded the highest category of ice classification, OCTOPUS’s ice-class 1A steel hull is tailor-made for polar exploration, and cruising Antarctica will herald a raft of truly extraordinary experiences for charter guests with a passion for adventure. Lucky guests will be given the opportunity to take part in research projects and marine conservation alongside adrenaline-fuelled activities such as polar plunges, venturing into live volcano craters, heliskiing and deep sea exploration on the yacht’s 10-seater submarine à la Jules Verne. 

As well as an impressive autonomous range of 12,500nm, she also comes furnished with a huge array of toys, gadgets and state-of-the-art technology, including a DJ booth and on-water dance floor, helicopters, medical suite, remotely-controlled submarine (ROV) capable of depths of up to 2,700 meters and dive center complete with its own hyperbaric chamber. 

She's the perfect yacht to undertake such a voyage Jacqui Lockhart, Head of Charter Marketing Europe for Camper & Nicholsons

And there’s no need to compromise on luxury as guests can enjoy morning laps in her vast aft deck swimming pool, indulge in heavenly treatments in her wellness spa, take in a movie in her lavish 12-seater 4D cinema suite or simply grab a book from her well-stocked library and find a secluded alcove somewhere in the yacht's sprawling deck spaces.

She also offers guests unparalleled views in both her glass-bottomed underwater lounge and forward-facing observation platform, which also houses a dining set up. A further private observation lounge is located on the Owner's deck, which also features an intimate terrace and spa pool, along with its own lift.

In fact, everything about this impressive explorer yacht has been designed for guests' entertainment and ultimate comfort and safety whilst at sea.

Yacht charters in Antarctica

Antarctica is a remote wilderness where the concentration of wildlife is off the scale. Visitors will get the chance to spot king penguins, humpback whales and huge elephant seals in a cacophonous symphony like nowhere else on earth, with free-wheeling seabirds overhead adding to the orchestral melee. 

Steeped in human history, this tundra region is characterised by majestic blue-tinged glacial peaks, fjords and waterfalls, as well as mesmerising underwater kelp forests, promising a truly magical yacht charter experience, tailored around individual desires, that guests will treasure for a lifetime.

To find out more about chartering in the region, check out our Antarctica yacht charter guide . 

If you’d like to learn more about chartering motor yacht OCTOPUS this December, please contact a recommended yacht charter broker .

Other standout explorer yachts in the charter fleet

77m Damen Yachting 2020

85m SilverYachts 2019

85m Ak Yachts 2021

51m Fr. Schweers Shipyard 1987 / 2010

75m Abeking & Rasmussen 2016

73m Admiral Yachts 2018

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Featured Luxury Yachts for Charter

This is a small selection of the global luxury yacht charter fleet, with 3704 motor yachts, sail yachts, explorer yachts and catamarans to choose from including superyachts and megayachts, the world is your oyster. Why search for your ideal yacht charter vacation anywhere else?

136m | Lurssen

from $3,328,000 p/week ♦︎

115m | Lurssen

from $2,874,000 p/week ♦︎

85m | Golden Yachts

from $1,001,000 p/week ♦︎

88m | Golden Yachts

from $1,222,000 p/week ♦︎

84m | Feadship

from $1,111,000 p/week ♦︎

93m | Feadship

from $1,556,000 p/week ♦︎

Maltese Falcon

88m | Perini Navi

from $490,000 p/week

122m | Lurssen

from $3,000,000 p/week

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• Yachts for Charter

OCTOPUS Yacht for Charter

Performance

With a steel hull and superstructure, OCTOPUS is designed to travel around the globe. She can comfortably cruise at 17 knots with maximum speeds of 19 knots. When fully fueled, she can cruise for 12,500 nautical miles, allowing you to visit far-off, exotic locales.

Accommodation

Octopus provides accommodation for up to 12 guests in 13 suites, which include a master suite and twelve double cabins. If you’re looking for the most ROI on your master suite, you’ve chosen the perfect vessel. This spacious, luxurious bedroom features a his-and-her bathroom.

With 42 crew members on board, no need or want will go unaddressed. 

Comfort & Entertainment

OCTOPUS embodies luxury, glamor, excitement, and entertainment. With a dance floor, movie theater, sauna, spa, swimming pool, beach club, and more, you’ll always find something to do. 

Book Your Charter Aboard OCTOPUS Today

Ready to set sail to the hidden oases and crowning jewels scattered across the globe? Then don’t wait; book your charter aboard OCTOPUS with Northrop & Johnson today.

• Luxurious amenities like a dance floor, movie theater and spa
• Ability to travel to far flung locations
• Vast owner's deck, including a bar, Jacuzzi and private elevator
• Glass-bottomed observation lounge
• Beautiful interiors with 13 guest suites

Charter Details

• Personal Watercraft
• Stabilizers
• Swimming Pool

For a full list of all available amenities & entertainment facilities, or price to hire additional equipment please inquire.

Accommodations

Specifications

Similar Yachts for Charter

Travel tips & resources.

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EXPEDITION SUPERYACHT M/Y OCTOPUS

SIMPLY ICONIC

The M/Y Octopus superyacht is a trailblazer, redefining what an expedition yacht could be.

Now available for the first time for exclusive charter, she is the perfect luxury launchpad for extraordinary adventures.

FULL SPECIFICATION

Description

The Northwest Passage, the High Arctic, Antarctica, Papua New Guinea and Challenger Deep -EYOS and the yacht Octopus have a rich history. The EYOS team is proud to have contributed expertise, logistical support, or guidance in these challenging regions during her tenure as a groundbreaking expedition yacht. Now we’re here to help intrepid explorers take Octopus in interesting new directions. Where do you dream of going? What experiences do you imagine? EYOS has the expedition credentials to bring your ‘mission’ to life.

Commissioned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, M/Y Octopus was the largest private yacht ever when it launched in 2003. Today, she remains one of the largest private yachts in the world. Her size, however, is surpassed by the scale of her ambitions. Allen himself famously described her as “less a Bentley than a Range Rover,” because of the state-of-the-art equipment on board.

Now, her 2021 refit preserves her expedition bona fides. She boasts an ice class for polar exploring; two helipads and two helicopter garages. In her garage are 7 tenders including her powerful 54’ Delta ‘tender.’ Discover a fleet of boards, from wake and surfboards, to wind and kite surfers, even electric foil flight boards, for personal forays. And with a glass-bottom observation lounge, and a fully equipped dive center, including an ROV, make the undersea part of every expedition. Her beautiful interiors and superb amenities, with accommodations for up to 12 guests, dial up the quality of life aboard. A stylish new Beach Club opens to the sea. The bridge deck features a heated freshwater swimming pool with a retractable glass floor that raises to deck level for entertaining. Adjacent is a bar, spa pool and an open-air pizza oven.

The Octopus yacht has ranged widely. And now under private charter, she will explore the four corners of the world again.

Key Features of the Octopus Yacht

• Arguably the most iconic & versatile megayacht in the world
• Flexible accommodation for 12 guests in 13 cabins
• Two helipads for remote exploration
• Entertainment deck with gym, spa, cinema, library and observation lounge
• Spectacular pool area with multiple bars and dining options
• Eight decks with dedicated owner’s deck with private elevator
• Dive centre and hyperbaric chamber
• Unbeatable toy list including seven tenders, two helipads, a large SUV, electric foils and much more

Gross Tonnage

EXPEDITION EQUIPPED

• 4 x 2 seat Yamaha FX140 Waverunners
• 1 x Stand-up Yamaha Superjet Jet-Ski
• 2 x 2 Person Hobie Pursuit Kayaks
• 1 x 1 Person Hobie Pursuit Kayak
• 1 x 1 Person Epic V5 Kayak
• 3 x Surf Boards
• 3 x Beginner to intermediate Windsurfers
• Fishing Equipment
• Kite Surfers
• Towable Toys
• Inflatable water toys
• Scuba Diving Equipment
• Snorkelling Equipment

THE VAST WILDERNESS IS WAITING, WHERE

COULD SHE TAKE YOU?

A land of vast ice landscapes, towering glaciers, and abundant wildlife, Antarctica stands as a testament to the raw power and breathtaking serenity of nature.

South Georgia and The Falklands

Nestled in the southern Atlantic, these remote islands boast an extraordinary variety of wildlife, creating a haven for diverse marine and terrestrial species. Penguin colonies, soaring albatrosses, and an abundance of unique animals define the rich biodiversity of this pristine environment.

Chilean Patagonia

A haven for nature lovers, offering immersive experiences amidst ancient forests, pristine rivers, and secluded national parks.

SIMILAR YACHTS

Hanse Explorer

CONTACT EYOS TO BEGIN PLANNING YOUR YACHT CHARTER

+1 801 390 7025 | [email protected]

Where can we guide you?