The principality of Monaco has a calendar that’s filled with major events. While the financial benefits of this little tax haven ensure its population remains fairly well stocked with super-rich and socialites year-round, it’s these events that truly bring the masses. April calls for the tennis at The Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters; in May it’s time for the Formula One Grand Prix; June brings the world-famous car show Top Marques; and summer draws to a close with perhaps the most glam of the bunch, the Monaco Yacht Show, which this year falls on September 25 – 28.
For those interested in gazing upon some of the finest yachts that can be found anywhere in the world, Monaco’s Port Hercules is a pretty good spot year-round, but for the weekend of the Monaco Yacht Show, things enter a different league.
The Monaco Yacht Show is essentially a gathering of the global superyacht community. From owners to innovators, manufacturers and brokers, all head to the principality. Each year, builders and brokers present around 120 superyachts and 60 luxury tenders, with many of these reflecting current industry trends and revealing the potential future direction of the industry. These vessels boast an average length of around 160 ft, with a sprinkling of superyachts that top the 320 ft mark – with this year’s headliner clocking in at 400 ft.
Aside from the yachts themselves, visitors can expect countless designers improving yacht interiors and engineers working to ensure the industry becomes more sustainable. There’s sure to be a lot going on.
So ahead of this year’s event, Elite Traveler has looked into which yachts will be on display at Port Hercules and curated a list of some of the show’s unmissable vessels. So blow the dust off your Panama hat and add a few zeros to your credit card limit, because these are some of the biggest, boldest and most expensive boats attending the 2024 Monaco Yacht Show.
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Kismet
The undisputed biggest headline of this year’s show – in every sense of the word – Lürssen’s Kismet will be the largest yacht to go on display in Port Hercules. While the previous title holder was another from Lürssen, the 377.6-ft Ahpo, the Kismet takes its victory by a considerable mile, clocking in at 400 ft. Previously known as Project Jag, the Kisamet was handed over to owner Shahid Khan in May 2024, making it one of the show’s newest deliveries, too.
With exterior design by Nuvolari Lenard and naval architecture by Lürssen Yachts along with Reymond Langton Design working on the yacht’s interiors, Kismet is decked out with a helipad, beauty salon, indoor and outdoor cinema, dance floor and gym. Perhaps unsurprising, but all this makes Kisamet one of the most expensive yachts to charter, too, asking for €3m (approx. $3.4m) per week with Cecil Wright & Partners.
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Bold
Delivered in 2019 by SilverYachts and refitted in 2024, the almost 280-ft, self-described ‘sports activity vessel’ Bold takes center stage at Monaco Yacht Show 2024. Designers Espen Øino created the superyacht’s striking, military-inspired exterior, creating a unique glass-enclosed loft on the upper deck that covers over 3,200 sq-ft of interior space. Meanwhile, Vain Interiors has created an opulent, New York-style loft, which is built to accommodate up to 12 overnight guests in eight luxurious staterooms and can carry up to 96 passengers while cruising.
With a a huge selection of water toys, a vast outdoor entertaining area with a bar and Teppanyaki grill, a cinema, an eight-person hot tub and a lounge surrounding a firepit, it’s no surprise that the Bold is a popular charter yacht, with Holl Robinson asking €875,000 ($972, 800) per week.
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DAR
With its distinctive, shark-like exterior design, the 295-ft superyacht DAR will be hard not to miss at Monaco Yacht Show 2024. Built by Oceanco with exteriors designed by Luiz de Basto Design, the glossy black silhouette was inspired by the look of the hammerhead shark, with sinuous lines, wide set wing stations and a mast modeled after a dorsal fin.
Meanwhile, renowned Italy-based studio Nuvolari & Lenard has crafted swooping, contemporary interiors. DAR’s impressive features include a complete owner’s deck, complete with a private salon and jacuzzi, a wellness area, an impressive beach club, and two helipads for private use. Offering grandeur and complete privacy in equal doses, DAR can accommodate up to 14 guests in overnight accommodation, with separate living quarters to host as many as 31 crew members.
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Galma
Despite only hitting the waters in June this year, the first wallywind110, Galma, is set to make its global debut at Monaco Yacht Show 2024. Measuring almost 110 ft, Galma’s naval architecture comes from German studio judel/vrolijk & co while interior and exterior lines are designed by Wally in collaboration with Santa Maria Magnolfi. With a design that offers the comfort of a cruising yacht while maintaining the performance of a racing boat, Galma is characterized by the 22.6-ft telescopic keel and an all-carbon hull that has been painted in light metallic blue.
Other highlights of Galma include an 860-sq-ft full-beam cockpit with seating and dining for up to 15 people, as well as an open-plan raised saloon. Galma can accommodate up to eight guests overnight, with five crew members.
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