Top 10 largest explorer yachts in the world

Another 2021 launch, the 139.7-metre explorer yacht Solaris hit the water in Bremerhaven, Germany and shot to the (near) top of this coveted list. The highly secretive project was built by Lloyd Werft, which also delivered the 115-metre Luna – another of the world's largest explorer yachts – in 2020. 

Spread across an impressive eight decks, Solaris was designed by Australian designer Marc Newson and is characterised by her futuristic profile, light grey hull and white superstructure. While nothing has been made public about the project, images of the superyacht show a large helipad, a swimming pool on the main deck aft and a spacious beach club. Solaris also has several side-opening balconies which can be used for sightseeing or launching tenders.

BOATPro puts Solaris at a staggering volume of 11,247GT, with a 21.4-metre beam and 60-strong crew to match. Accommodation is for up to 36 guests across 30 cabins.

Originally built yacht for the late Paul Allen, one of the founders of Microsoft, Octopus is one of the most famous explorer yachts in the world. Allen was an avid researcher and historian who made several seminal discoveries on board the explorer, including the shipwrecked Musashi, an imperial Japanese Navy battleship from World War II.

In keeping with her commissioning owner's adventurous spirit, Octopus has the capacity for two helicopters at the same time – with landing pads on the aft deck and foredeck – as well as an innovative internal wet dock. This cavernous, two-storey construction functions as its own marina, with a floodable dock for the submarine and tenders flanked by rows of smaller garages which store the entire toy inventory.

On the leisure front, Octopus has a private cinema, a wellness centre (complete with a spa, gym and treatment rooms), an aquarium and a swimming pool with a glass bottom that rises to create a dance floor.

After four years in construction, Multiverse (formerly Ulysses) first hit the water in summer 2018. The explorer yacht is almost 10 metres longer than her predecessor, the 107-metre Andromeda and nearly 14 metres longer that the current Ulysses, a 102.5-metre Feadship. All these superyachts were commissioned by the same owner: New Zealand's richest man, Graeme Hart.

The yacht's rugged exterior design was developed in collaboration with naval architecture firm Oscar Mike, with British-based studio RWD drafted in to create the interior decor. Her standout features including a top-deck hangar for a Bell 429 helicopter, a spacious swimming pool, a cinema and a spa, making her as luxurious as she is capable of global exploration. Inside, her huge 18 metre beam is able to accommodate up to 66 guests. 

Multiverse was one of 2024's most travelled superyachts, traversing the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Central America, including tours around Costa Rica and Baja California Sur.

Delivered in 2010, the 115-metre Luna was built for Roman Abramovich as an upgraded replacement for his former exploration yacht Le Grand Bleu. The yacht was later sold to Roman Abramovich's close friend, Farkhad Akhmedov in April 2014. The new owner sent her to the yard in Germany for an extensive 14-month refit costing approximately €50 million.

Sporting exterior design by Frank Neubelt, Luna is known for her low aft deck, with Abramovich sacrificing interior volume in favour of more space for sunbathing. The swimming pool takes centre stage and made headlines for being the largest ever seen on a superyacht at the time of delivery. Elsewhere, the yacht features two tender garages, a gym and an expansive beach club wrapping around a spa, with a steam bath, plunge pool and sauna. Two helipads sit on the upper deck, while the entire lower deck is dedicated to the crew. Luna is ice-classed and built to the highest possible standards, allowing her to travel to the far reaches of the world's oceans.

In 2025, Roman Abramovich was accused of evading his taxes on his superyacht fleet through an offshore scheme, with Luna listed as one of the yachts involved.

Le Grand Bleu was built for US telecommunications tycoon John McCaw who subsequently sold the yacht to Russian businessman Roman Abramovich. The explorer yacht was later refitted to his own specifications, the biggest change being the installation of a 4.8-metre swim platform.

The yacht has many features that make her ideal for exploration, including a large tender garage with storage for two sports boats as well as a landing craft capable of carrying a 4x4 Land Rover for excursions ashore. Le Grand Bleu even has a 22-metre sailing yacht and a 21-metre Sunseeker motor yacht stored on the aft deck. Unsurprisingly, the yacht is operated by a massive crew of 65.

In 2025, Roman Abramovich was accused of evading his taxes on his superyacht fleet through an offshore scheme, with Le Grand Bleu listed as one of the yachts involved.

Andromeda has had two very famous owners, commissioned by New Zealand businessman Graeme Hart as Ulysses and later reportedly owned by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. The explorer yacht was built at Kleven – a Norwegian company known for building offshore commercial vessels – and is suitably tough and capacious. In fact, Andromeda is capable of carrying 36 guests to the furthest corners of the world’s oceans and is equipped with an extensive inventory of toys and tenders, including six motorbikes, two ATVs, a helicopter, a twin-hulled 50-knot support boat, a Sealegs amphibious RIB and full-on landing craft.

Guests each get very generous quarters, spread across three decks, with the choicest digs being the two VIPs on the boat deck, each with its own private balcony. Other leisure highlights include cool, contemporary interiors by British studio H2 Yacht Design, a cinema, a spa, gym and a grand wine cellar complete with tasting room.

The 91.5m explorer yacht Tranquility was the first yacht built to PYC standard when it was first delivered in 2014 by Dutch yard Oceanco originally called Equanimity. Since then, the yacht has enjoyed a colourful reputation, after being seized by Indonesian authorities at the request of the US Department of Justice in 2018. The yacht hit the headlines again in 2019 as the renamed Tranquility when it played host to Kylie Jenner, who celebrated her 22nd birthday on board. However, one thing has remained constant. Tranquility has remained among the top 10 largest explorer yachts in the world since being it was first delivered in 2014. Spanning five decks, Tranquility is packed with premium superyacht features, including a foredeck helipad, spa and wellness area and 20 metre swimming pool. The tender garage houses two 10.5 metre Hodgson tenders – one sport and one limousine that can carry up to 12 guests and two crew each. Tranquility is well equipped for adventure with a range of water toys including Jet Skis, Wave Runners, SeaBobs and an electric surfboard.

The 91.4 metre explorer yacht Voyager is not only one of the largest explorer yachts in the world, but one of the most adventurous. The yacht travelled more than 27,000 nautical miles in 2020, exploring a selection of far-flung locations such as South Africa, Madagascar and Antarctica. The explorer entered this list in 2019, when it completed a three-year conversion from a supply ship into an explorer yacht. The yacht was first built by Swiftships in 1997 as Candy Trader with an initial length of 63 metres. It was later renamed HOS Trader in 2003 and used as an offshore supply ship. Now, the yacht features five decks and a crew of 70. Other features include multiple galleys, pantries and media rooms and a standout deep dive centre – one of the primary purposes of the yacht.

One of the most iconic yachts in the world, Ice was sold to Suleiman Kerimov following delivery and is more than just imposing and stylish. Ice is also environmentally friendly, extremely quiet and free from vibration thanks to two Azipod units powered by up to eight Deutz generating sets. This provides household power and doesn't sacrifice performance, with the yacht still capable of reaching 18.6 knots.

One of the world's largest explorer yachts, Ice has an arsenal of toys and sailing dinghies as well as a helipad for the Eurocopter EC135 helicopter. A range of 6,000 nautical miles means she can travel anywhere in the world.

Like many explorers on this list, the 88m Olivia O was built by a yard better known for its commercial vessels. The yacht was delivered by Ulstein Verft in 2020 and designed by legendary superyacht designer Espen Øino. Characterised by a striking reverse bow and explorer profile, Olivia O is believed to be the first time Ulstein’s trademarked X-Bow has appeared on a yacht. The feature pierces smaller waves and reduces pitching and roll in high seas. With a reported gross tonnage of just under 5000GT, Olivia O has plenty of room down below, including accommodation spread over five decks for a total of 20 guests in eight cabins, including Pullman beds. Olivia O also carries a full-time crew of 30. The interior, which was designed by Droulers, is “orientally themed”, specifically around Japan. Other features include a gym, cinema room, large swimming pool and helipad.