The World’s Largest Yachts—2012 

21. Lady Moura • 344’5″ 

Year Launched: 1990
Builder: Blohm & Voss, Germany
Naval Architect: Luigi Sturchio/Diana Yacht Design
Hull Material: steel
Engines: 2/6,868-hp Deutz-MWMs

Nasser Al-Rashid, the founder and chairman of the Saudi-based engineering firm Rashid Engineering, has owned Lady Moura since delivery. Speaking of her delivery, Lady Moura was among the world’s 10 largest private yachts in 1990. While she’s lost some spots in the rankings in recent years, she’s no less impressive of a sight, especially at her berth in Monaco’s Port Hercule. Even among all of the famous yachts that also call the harbor home, Lady Moura stands head and shoulders above the crowd, literally.

22. Loaloat Al Behar • 340’7″

Year Launched: 1982
Builder: Picchiotti, Italy
Naval Architect: builder
Hull Material: steel
Engines: 2/4,800-hp Detroit Diesels

The sultan of Oman commissioned this yacht, then known as Al Said, and used her until 2010, when he bequeathed her to the country’s ministry of tourism. Rechristened Loaloat Al Behar, which means “pearl of the seas,” she’s now a charter yacht, available along the Omani coastline for personal or corporate trips. To say she’s ornate inside is an understatement. Crystal chandeliers glisten in many rooms, and the seven guest suites are outfitted with sumptuous fabrics. There’s also a piano saloon aboard, plus enough additional staterooms to accommodate several personal assistants, bodyguards, babysitters, and the like. 

23. Attessa IV • 332’0″

Year Launched: 1999/2007/2011
Builder: Evergreen, Japan
Naval Architect: Diana Yacht Design
Hull Material: steel
Engines: 2/6,600-hp Wartsillas

The yacht initially known as Evergreen emerged from a three-and-a-half-year refit last year as a bigger and, many agree, better-looking megayacht. While the 302-foot Evergreen was angular, Attessa IV is curvier and sleeker, further graced with a dark-blue hull. She’s strictly a private yacht, with accommodations for 16 in the owner’s party and 25 crewmembers, a cinema, four antique fireplaces spread among her five decks, and a spa that includes a beauty salon, massage room, steam room, sauna, and gym. In addition, the skylounge has a blown-glass chandelier created by the glass artist Dale Chihuly. Her owner is Dennis Washington, a Montana businessman with varied interests rivaled only by his love of yacht projects.

24. Christina O • 325’3″

Year Launched: 1943/2001
Builder: Canadian Vickers, Canada/Howaldtswerke (original conversion)/Viktor Lenac, Croatia (refit)
Naval Architect: Prof. Pinnau (original conversion)/Costas Carabelas (refit)
Hull Material: steel
Engines: 2/2,750-hp MANs

If you use Twitter, you can follow this yacht at @TheChristinaO. What can you learn by doing so? For one, you can see photos from a visit this past spring made by the London-based cast of “Master Class,” the play about the late Maria Callas. In case you didn’t know, the famous opera diva was wooed by Christina O’s former owner, Aristotle Onassis, on her very decks. You might also see photos of various Londoners and visitors to the city enjoying dinner aboard, as Christina O arrived at Canary Wharf in late winter, serving a £500-per-person (about $800-per-person) dinner. They—or you, of course—can hire the full yacht for a 150-person cocktail party. But act fast, as Christina O returns to her traditional charter cruising schedule in the Med shortly after the summer Olympics.

25. Carinthia VII • 318’9″ 

Year Launched: 2002
Builder: Lürssen, Germany
Naval Architect: builder/Tim Heywood Design
Hull Material: steel
Engines: 4/10,061-hp MTUs

Given the beauty of the lines of Carinthia VII, it’s a shame that her interior is barred from publicity. It would be interesting to see what her owner, Heidi Horten, selected, as she played a significant role in outfitting the yacht, with the assistance of a few personally chosen designers. Horten, a German retail heiress, uses the yacht for personal voyages. Carinthia VII spent last summer in Greek waters and was back at her builder’s facility for routine work this past spring.

26. Limitless • 315’8″

Year Launched: 1997
Builder: Lürssen, Germany
Naval Architect: builder
Hull Material: steel
Engines: 2/7,364-hp Caterpillars

Limitless and Carinthia VII (see previous yacht) have something in common: Limitless’ design was inspired by that of Carinthia VII’s predecessor, Carinthia VI. (That yacht is now known as The One.) Fifteen years ago, when Limitless was delivered, she was far and away the largest new build most people had seen. She was also the first yacht to incorporate diesel-electric propulsion, a more fuel-efficient option that is still making inroads into the private marine sector.

27. Vava II • 314’10”

Year Launched: 2011
Builder: Devonport Yachts/Pendennis, England
Naval Architect: builder/Redman Whiteley Dixon
Hull Material: steel
Engines: unknown

Vava II has the distinction of being the largest yacht built in the UK. She was started under the code name of Project 55 by the now-defunct Devonport Yachts. Pendennis purchased the facility and finished the yacht, launching her last September. The European press went bonkers when her name was revealed, as a smaller, older yacht named Vava belonged to Ernesto and Kirsty Bertarelli, a high-profile power couple. Kirsty is a former Miss UK and currently sings and acts, while Ernesto earned millions selling a pharmaceutical company to Merck. He’s also a passionate sailor, owning the 2003 31st America’s Cup winner Alinghi and even crewing aboard her.

28. Palladium • 312’0″ 

Year Launched: 2010
Builder: Blohm & Voss, Germany
Naval Architect: Michael Leach Design
Hull Material: steel
Engines: 2/4,680-hp MTUs

Some yachts incorporate curves, but the way Palladium does it is different. Huge horizontal panes of glass hug her superstructure, curving up over the coachroof. The effect is dramatic inside and out, creating immense skylights and a striking accent to her profile. And that’s exactly what her owner, who’s protective of his identity and many details about the yacht, wanted.

29. Indian Empress • 311’7″

Year Launched: 2000
Builder: Oceanco, Holland
Naval Architect: Richard Hein/The A Group
Hull Material: steel
Engines: 3/10,000-hp MTUs

Hold onto your wallet when you look at the power package that Indian Empress has. The triple, high-horsepower combo propels her to a reported 24-knot top end. Her name is inspired by the heritage of her owner, Vijay Mallya. He’s an India-born liquor and airline businessman, chairman of the United Breweries Group and Kingfisher Airlines. He’s hosted lavish parties for years aboard Indian Empress for business associates. Hey, if your yacht had Elton John’s baby-grand piano aboard, wouldn’t you do the same?

30. Mayan Queen IV • 305’1″

Year Launched: 2008
Builder: Blohm & Voss, Germany
Naval Architect: Tim Heywood Design
Hull Material: steel
Engines: unknown

Mayan Queen IV has been causing a stir around the world over the past several months. Most recently, she did so in Porto Montenegro’s new marina in April. Local newspapers in Dunedin, on New Zealand’s South Island, wrote about her visit there in January. And Mayan Queen IV apparently attracted quite a crowd of onlookers in Auckland during the Rugby World Cup last October, despite there being other megayachts docked alongside her. Her owner is 80-years-young Alberto Baillères, the chairman of a Mexican mining company.