coolest superyacht pools in the world, including H3's

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Credit: Tom Van Oossanen

Dive in: The coolest superyacht pools in the world

16 December 2024 • Written by Dea Jusufi and Emily Dawkins

Superyacht swimming pools are a luxury in more ways than one, proving a technological challenge that, when pulled off, elevates a superyacht to even higher standards of splendour. BOAT takes a closer look at the yachts that have risen to the occasion, with designs that feature split-temperature bathing, cinema screens, chandeliers and basketball courts...

Kismet

Credit: Blueiprod for Cecil Wright and Lürssen

Builder: Lürssen
Length: 122m

Described by her interior designer, Reymond Langton, as “Louis XIV meets Interstellar”, Lürssen’s 122-metre superyacht Kismet is the epitome of “wow factor” both inside and out. Delivered in 2024, she impressed the industry with her complex design and array of features, including three distinct swimming pools. The main pool on board is mosaic-lined with a 40-tonne capacity, home to a swim-up bar and waterfall feature. Located on the aptly named pool deck, the main pool is boarded by an interactive dance floor that can transform the relaxing lounge area into the perfect place for a disco. A large spa pool resides on the sundeck, in close company with a panoramic sun lounge and bar. The lower deck Balinese-inspired spa is home to another pool, yet at a slightly cooler temperature: an iced plunge pool to add to the ultimate spa experience.

King Benji

Credit: Jeff Brown

Builder: Dunya Yachts
Length: 46.7m

The pool on board Dunya Yachts' King Benj is one for the fitness fanatics. Arguably the coolest superyacht pool in the world, King Benji’s custom tub by Headhunter features a middle drop slide panel that separates the pool to create any variation of water temperatures (hot/hot, cold/cold and hot/cold). Perfect for taking a dip whatever the weather, this unusual feature was an important request of her owner Josh Golder, who took delivery of the vessel in 2024. “What we ended up having to do is a removable divider that seals off [each side]. One side of the pool can be brought to 6°C while the other side of the pool is 30°C,” says Matt Dilay, a member of the technical team at Gregory C Marshall Naval Architect's office in Victoria.

Sparta

In the lower-deck wellness area, the spa pool is slightly recessed into the floor.

Credit: David Churchill

Builder: Heesen
Length: 67m

Winner of the Judge’s Commendation category at the 2024 World Superyacht Awards was the wonderland of design that is Heesen’s 67-metre Sparta. Described by a judge as the “best Heesen I’ve ever seen”, the 2024-delivered vessel is home to an array of “extraordinary features”, including three remarkable pools. The star of the show on board is the 6.5-metre infinity pool on the main aft deck: decorated in mosaic with an aptly placed Spartan helmet design in the centre. On the lower deck, at the heart of a Japanese-themed wellness area, lies the second of Sparta’s impressive pools. Cladded by wood panels and lightly recessed to allow for easy conversations between those in the pool and those lounging in the spa, this circular spa pool makes the perfect addition for intimate relaxation. The extensive, yet well-protected, sundeck is also home to another spa pool: perfect for soaking in the views.

This Is It

Courtesy of IYC

Builder: Tecnomar - The Italian Sea Group
Length: 43.5m

Despite being smaller in size, this pool certainly still delivers in terms of brilliance. As an addition to the mind-bending nature of This Is It’s radical design, the asymmetric aft deck features a central glass pool complete with a cascading waterfall. In a similar fashion to the rest of the Tecnomar catamaran's design, the pool is set at an angle, floating between the dual hulls. There's no doubt that This Is It in her entirety is cool, but the pool feature undoubtedly adds some pizzazz.

Carinthia VII

Credit: Guy Fleury

Builder: Lürssen
Length: 97m

Winner of the Refitted Yachts category at the 2024 World Superyacht Award for her ambitious refit, Lürssen’s previously private 97-metre Carinthia VII was transformed into a commercial charter haven in a mere 10 months. Fitted with a plethora of appropriate charter amenities and features, one particular highlight of her refit is her remarkable main deck swimming pool. At 11 metres, this slender pool is partially shaded by the upper deck overhang and features a glass front to create an open connection between the water and the main deck dining space.

H3

Credit: Tom Van Oossanen

Builder: Oceanco
Length: 105m

The epic rebuild of Oceanco's 95-metre Indian Empress into the 105-metre H3 is yet another head-turner for the global yachting fleet. Transformed into a modern and highly efficient vessel, packed with the latest technologies and new designs, the work completed by the Dutch yard was so comprehensive that the now 105-metre H3 has been treated as a new build. With an increase in length by 10 metres at her aft came the integration of a stunning new seven-metre infinity pool on her main deck. Wrapped by twin stairs that lead down to a spacious new beach club, a waterfall feature falling from the pool makes for an enticing and grand entrance for guests who step on board.

Alfa Nero

Builder: Oceanco
Length: 81.3m

The swimming pool on the 81.3-metre Alfa Nero is one of icons. Recognised as one of the industry’s first “statement” aft pools, the sizeable pool of Alfa Nero can easily convert into a helideck and dancefloor, and when full, features a built-in current for resistance swimming. Famously, the pool’s “infinity” nature at the aft sees the water overflow across a large sloped sheet of glass to create a waterfall effect. The pool is set within a wide expanse of open deck, surrounded by loungers to create a spacious lido by day, or a party deck by night. Her pool alone makes her an exceptional new addition to the charter market.

Grey

Builder: Tankoa Yachts
Length: 49.9m

Grey retains the same classic Paszkowski profile as sisterships Kinda and Olokun, but with several all-important differences – including the addition of the swimming pool. Commissioned in 2021, this Italian build has been customised by her owner to feature a larger-than-usual, glass-sided swimming pool on the foredeck, complete with a high-definition, high-luminosity cinema screen. Flanked by sofa seating, the screen also includes integrated speakers and a surround-sound system courtesy of British-French brand Focal and Naim.

Tatiana

Builder: Bilgin Yachts
Length: 80m

The 80-metre Tatiana is the sister of Bilgin's bright-red Leona and both yachts have the same striking, bullet-style exterior. At her epicentre is a 110-square-metre, two-level beach club, connected to the main saloon by a dramatic, sweeping staircase. While there’s a pool on both decks, the largest is found on the lower deck. Clocking in at an impressive 8.5 metres long and three metres wide, the pool is surrounded by delicate glass columns, Carrara marble and a backlit, blue agate floor. When the yacht is anchored, the aft door and two side terraces unfold, creating a seamless connection to the ocean. The water from both pools is also recyclable, able to be stored in a heating holding tank.

Lady Jorgia

Credit: Guillaume Plisson

Builder: Lürssen
Length: 115m

Lady Jorgia (formerly known as Ahpo) is a 115-metre, Caribbean-inspired family superyacht. While a lot of her defining features are plainly visible, some sights are reserved only for guests, such as the mosaic-lined, eight-metre-long, glass-fronted pool. This pool features integrated LED lighting and privacy walls – not including the aft wall, which was left transparent for ocean views. Below deck and even more exclusive is Lady Jorgia's complementary spa plunge pool, prettified with a teak-and-teal wave mosaic design, bamboo panes and a leaf-shaped skylight. Both are warmed by the engines and generators’ normal operation, in an efficient heat-recovery system.

Seasense

Credit: Benetti

Builder: Benetti
Length: 67m

Seasense's exceptionally large pool is actually what got the yacht sold – Cor D. Rover's pool-centric drawing stood out to future owner (and previous owner of three Rivas) Charles Cohen. At ten metres long, 3.6 metres wide and able to support a staggering 27,000 litres of water, Cohen wanted sunlight to reach every millimetre of his magnum opus. That's why Seasense's aft deck is so elongated, with the swimming pool actually being part of the hull rather than inserted afterwards (a more typical construction). To give you a better idea of its size, the crew can transform the emptied pool into a basketball court using 22 panels stored in lower deck lockers. A basketball hoop affixes to the deck overhang at the forward end of the pool.

Kaos

Builder: Oceanco
Length: 110.1m

Once standing as the largest superyacht ever built in the Netherlands, the weird and wonderful nature of Kaos and her optical illusion decks, metallic blue finish and Middle Eastern-inspired features make it unsurprising that she would have a swimming pool just as iconic. Situated aft on the largest of her four decks is a sizeable 8.5-metre pool. Boarded by lounge chairs and flush with the deck, the magnificence of this pool in fact lies underneath, where an aquarium in the lower deck beach club looks directly into the pool above.

Lady Fleur

Builder: X-Treme Yachts
Length: 32.6m

The radical pool designed for 32.6-metre Lady Fleur doubles as storage for an 11-metre RIB tender, with the hydraulic submersible platform transforming into a five-metre-by-two-metre saltwater pool in seconds. Four bespoke rotor arms move the pool in a gentle swaying motion to avoid spilling water when underway, which builder X-Treme Yachts explained is part of a "totally custom-made system" that is "unique in the world". Designed for the owner's grandchildren, the pool contains nearly 19 tonnes of seawater when full and has an adjustable depth, from 0.3 to 1.5 metres.

Savannah

Builder: Feadship
Length: 83.5m

A superyacht of firsts, Savannah is renowned for her boundary-pushing design and array of technically impressive amenities; her Nemo Lounge quickly became famous as one of the most technically impressive feats of engineering in yachting. Similarly, her swimming pool is also no standard matter and, at nine metres in length, this pool demands attention. Situated on the same deck as the main saloon - with curved glass doors separating the bold interiors from the relaxed aft deck - Savannah’s pool was created in collaboration with British artist Cecily Brown, covered in blue and green glass tiles to create the look of an abstract mosaic painting from above. Dual steps cascade on either side of the pool from the aft deck to a bathing platform: perfectly finishing the stern of this exceptional yacht.

Atomic

Builder: Viareggio Superyachts (VSY)
Length: 64m

Inspired by her owner's favourite shade "Monaco Red", Atomic stands out from sisterships Sealion and Roma. This yacht's beating (red) heart is her brilliantly iridescent spa pool, found on the sundeck aft. With a tiered structure and glass bottom, sunlight refracts on the water's surface and sends colourful, coral waves to the dining area directly below. Adjacent to the pool is a split-level lounge space with a gas firepit and a U-shaped bar, surrounded by high-backed custom seating.

Somnium

Credit: Feadship

Builder: Feadship
Length: 55.2m

A 2022 World Superyacht Award winner in the Displacement Motor Yachts category, one of Somnium's stand-outs is her chic, built-in, 9,000-litre pool. Overlooking the yacht's transom, ample ocean views encourage relaxation, while a counter-current jet provides a light workout for the more active members on board. The pool floor can be raised flush with the deck and modular furniture placed on top to provide supplementary lounge space. During construction, Feadship had to find space below the pool and its machinery for a beach club and gym, as per the owner's request. The pool tank and its mosaic walls are thus visible from the beach club through a large picture window.

Christina O

Builder: Canadian Vickers
Length: 99.1m

Christina O's role in Netflix drama, The Crown isn't her first brush with the celebrity lifestyle. Delivered in 1943, she was rebuilt by the famous Aristotle Onassis, a Greek shipping magnate and one of the world's richest men at the time. Under his ownership, Christina O entertained cultural icons Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Winston Churchill and JFK – and has an equally iconic pool to match her history. Found on the aft main deck, this saltwater fantail number is emblazoned with a Greek mythological minotaur mosaic. It is also capable of rising to form a dance floor at the push of a button.

Octopus

Builder: Lürssen
Length: 126.2m

Built for the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, the Lürssen superyacht Octopus is indulgently decked out with every conceivable amenity. Alongside her two helicopters and submarine, the heated, seven-metre freshwater swimming pool is considered Octopus' greatest asset. The pool has a glass bottom that rises to create an on-water dance floor. In the immediate area, you'll find a bar, pizza oven and former music studio, whose isolation booth makes the perfect place for a DJ.

Luminosity

Credit: Burgess/Nico Fulciniti

Builder: Benetti
Length: 108m

This Benetti build boasts an expansive wellness area, the jewel of which is a 30-square-metre, counter-flow swimming pool, kitted out with underwater speakers and an adjustable bottom. Luminosity's pool is clad in mirror-polished stainless steel, reflecting its surroundings and blurring the boundary between pool and seascape. The space above is punctuated with a custom chandelier inspired by a diamond. "When you look at the water and the sun is shining, it looks like millions of diamonds," said designer Zaniz. An accompanying four-degree plunge pool is decorated with on-theme visual cues, such as mirror-backed acrylic "ice-cubes" and an acrylic ice cube accessory, seen above.