I’ve long been a fan of Princess’s Sportbridge range as I think it offers a maximal amount of on-board enjoyment mixed with an aesthetic that would make me proud to own one—no small feat of design. I was lucky enough to tour the builder’s new S65, a boat that debuted in Cannes in 2024, at this year’s Miami boat show. What I found was a vessel in line with what I was expecting, which is to say, it left me wanting for little else.
For a $5.4-million boat, this model packs a lot into a 66-foot, 10-inch footprint. That begins in the cockpit where U-shaped transom seating wraps ever so gently around a versatile folding teak table. A small settee forward and to starboard provides a sheltered place to get out of the wind while underway and enjoy the views of the wake rippling along the water’s surface. A counter space across from that seating area abuts the aft galley in the salon, making for an effective service area for alfresco cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.
The aft galley has become all the rage over the past decade for good reason, as it can equally serve interior and exterior spaces with ease. This one has a split stainless-steel sink, an induction cooktop and a surprisingly large refrigerator and freezer that goes about 6 feet tall. Across from the portside galley is a dining settee with a folding table. The table has impressively flush stainless-steel hinges and recessed stainless-steel cupholders that are accessible when the table is folded up.
Have a closer look at the Princess S65 in the gallery below:
There is a small step up into the salon proper where a large and comfortable sofa sits just below the portside windows. It’s worth noting that when you sit on the sofa, it’s actually at the proper height for you to see out of the windows. You’d think this would be a given on a boat like this, but I can assure you that it is not—instead, it’s a hallmark of thoughtful design. A pop-up television to starboard sits above stowage for extra glasses, a small refrigerator for drinks and an icemaker. Forward of the television area is the yacht’s helm with twin captain’s seats. The captain has access to dual Raymarine screens and a sturdy door to starboard that opens to the side deck, making docking less of a hassle. At the wheel, the captain commands twin 1,400-horsepower MAN V12s housed in a workable engine room that offers a respectable top hop of 36 knots, while cruising happily at around 29 knots, where range is 300 nautical miles. That’s enough to get from Palm Beach to Jacksonville, Florida without refueling. Notably, the forward portion of the salon, including the helm, is lit by three overhead skylights, a rarity for a boat with a flybridge. The design trait is possible because of the smaller nature of the model’s namesake sportbridge.
Down below, the S65 has a four-stateroom layout. Guest staterooms on either side of the companionway have bunks and convertible twin berths, respectively. The forepeak, en suite VIP offers excellent headroom and a pleasingly spacious head. The master is at amidships and benefits from big hullside windows that offer expansive vistas while also helping to break up the boat’s profile, adding an extra dose of sportiness. Full-size hanging lockers in the master are tall enough to hang a dress and offer enough stowage that you won’t run out of fresh clothes on longer voyages. (Though there’s a washer/dryer on the accommodations level just in case.)
The yacht’s flybridge is admittedly small but also has everything you could want, with comfortable seating nearly everywhere, an exterior helm, and a Bimini for shade. One of my favorite aspects of this design is that you can barely see it from the side, so the S65 retains the sleek and sporty look of an express without compromising much in terms of overall entertainment—and piloting—space. This yacht is effectively a cleverly designed two-for-one deal for its owners, and Princess can rightly chalk that up as a crowning achievement.
Princess S65 Specifications:
LOA: 67’7”
Beam: 16’9”
Draft: 5’5”Â
Displ:Â 82,100 lb.
Fuel:Â 902 gal.
Water:Â 176 gal.Â
Power:Â 2/1,400-hp MAN V12
