Field Notes from Monaco: Yachts, and What 2027 Looks Like

Alfa Nero — the Oceanco classic

Alfa Nero, built by Oceanco, has one of the most recognisable sterns afloat: a pool at the aft deck that turns the back of the yacht into a private lagoon.

Seeing her up close is a reminder that great design lasts. The layout still feels generous, and the flow from the inside to the outside is exactly what large groups want on a summer charter.

What stayed with us most was her captain, Captain Roberto. He was genuine and openly enthusiastic about the yacht and about charter guests, and that kind of warmth sets the tone for the whole crew.

Inside, the main salon is designed by Alberto Pinto. At its heart stands a black-lacquered Pleyel grand piano, commissioned for the yacht and etched with the white wave pattern you see throughout her interiors. Guests who play are welcome to use it, and a pianist can be invited for a special evening.

Alfa Nero charters in the Mediterranean in summer and the Caribbean in winter, including this winter, from €875,000 / week + VAT + APA. She is also for sale, with an asking price of €88,500,000.

Lürssen Coral Ocean — a refit done brilliantly

Coral Ocean is one of the signature works of the late Jon Bannenberg, the designer who shaped so much of modern yachting. Launched in 1994, she has been admired and copied ever since, yet her lines and interiors still look as fresh today as they did on her first day at sea. Built by Lürssen, she has also had an amazing refit. Her layout is unconventional in the best way, and her interior is beautiful, fun and full of light — nothing like the heavy, dark style people often expect from a classic yacht.

She's a good example of why age alone tells you very little. How a yacht has been looked after, and how boldly she's been refreshed, matters far more.

At 72.5 metres, Coral Ocean was built by Lürssen in 1994 and refitted in 2026. She takes 12 guests in 6 cabins with a crew of 28, and has a hot tub and a gym on board. She charters in the Mediterranean in summer and the Caribbean in winter, including this winter, from €650,000 / week + VAT + APA.

Ask about the refit history and how long the crew have stayed. Those two answers tell you more than the build year.

Silver Yachts catamarans — built for range

SILVERCAT was the surprise of the show for us. She is a motor catamaran built for range and efficiency, with a wide, stable platform that makes life at anchor very easy. Catamarans like her are perfect for guests who want generous indoor space and still feel a deep connection to the sea. Like every Silver Yacht, she was designed by the world-renowned naval architect Espen Øino.

Catamarans keep growing in popularity with families and first-time guests, and it's easy to see why: more deck space for the length, less rolling, and lower running costs.

Two are for sale: SILVERCAT, brand new, with an asking price of €23.7 million, and her sister REDUCE at €21.7 million. Both are 36 m and 483 GT, with a top speed of 24 knots, a range of 3,300 nautical miles at 12 knots, and room for 12 guests in 5 cabins.

Both yachts will spend the winter in the South of France, and sea trials can be arranged for a serious buyer. If you're thinking about owning one, we're happy to talk it through.

Benetti Enjoy — 37 metres that feel like 50

Enjoy was the clever layout of the show. At 37 metres she felt more like a 50-metre yacht inside, with volume and ceiling height you don't expect at this size.

What sets her apart for charter is that she has two master cabins instead of one. When two families or two couples charter together, nobody has to take the 'lesser' suite, and that makes the whole week easier.

Her captain, Željko, is great fun and very experienced in charter, and guests feel at ease from the first day.

We loved that one of the master cabins has its own large private deck balcony. It's ideal for privacy, a quiet coffee, or a morning of yoga or Pilates with the sea right beside you.

Enjoy is available for charter in the Mediterranean next summer, from €230,000 / week + VAT + APA.

Chartering with another family? Ask for yachts with two equal master cabins. It avoids the awkward conversation about who sleeps where.

B-Craft — a Sunday afternoon to remember

We first met yacht designer Joris Van Aelst a few years ago in the Netherlands, when he was working on a project for one of our clients. When we heard he had started his own brand, B-Craft, we were keen to see what he had created.

It has it all: bespoke craftsmanship, Dutch quality, sportiness and luxury, with the thoughtful details and surprises you'd expect in the superyacht world. Like the Akoya pearl it's named after, each one can be tailored to its owner.

A relaxing Sunday afternoon onboard was the perfect way to end the show. It reminded us what yachting is really about: smiles on people's faces, and the passionate people who make it happen. Thank you, Joris and the B-Craft team. They're well worth discovering.

Discover B-Craft →

2027 trend: off the beaten track

Lately, the request we hear most often is simple: somewhere quieter. Guests who have already done the classic Riviera or Amalfi summer are asking for places with fewer yachts in the anchorage.

That means Norway, Iceland, Svalbard, Greenland, Antarctica, Raja Ampat, French Polynesia and the wider Pacific, and other high-latitude and remote cruising grounds. The yachts that can go further, and the crews who know those waters, will be in demand.

One yacht made for exactly this is SHEERGOLD, a classic 1987 Amels explorer heading to French Polynesia in 2027, from €135,000 / week + VAT + APA.

See SHEERGOLD →

2027 trend: later, faster bookings

More and more charters are booked at short notice, sometimes just weeks before departure. Guests want flexibility, and good yachts do open up when plans change.

Last-minute can work well if you're flexible on the yacht or the destination. If your dates are fixed around school holidays or a celebration, still book early: the best yachts for July and August go first.

If you're open on dates, tell us. Flexibility is how late bookings end up with the best value.

2027 trend: Scandinavia is growing

Norway, the Swedish archipelago and the Baltic came up again and again. Long summer light, calm fjords, empty anchorages and outstanding food are drawing guests who once went only to the Mediterranean.

Katarina, our founder, lived in Norway for five years, so she knows the best anchorages, restaurants and experiences first-hand. We see this as one of the most exciting growth areas for charter. Space on the right yachts is limited, so it's worth planning a Scandinavian summer early.

The best time to go is June to August. June brings the midnight light and full waterfalls, July is the warmest and liveliest month, and late August is quieter and greener.

One yacht made for exactly this is BOLD, an 85.3 m SilverYachts explorer from 2019 with a certified helipad, from €875,000 / week + VAT + APA. She had a very successful season in Norway this summer, and after the Caribbean this winter she returns to Norway for summer 2027, with exciting plans to go on to Iceland, Svalbard, Greenland and the Northwest Passage.

Explore our Norway destination guide →See BOLD →

2027 trend: wellness on board

Wellness is one of the fastest-growing requests we hear. More guests plan a charter around how they want to feel, not only where they want to go: morning yoga on the foredeck, Pilates before breakfast, a swim before coffee, and proper sleep.

Yachts are responding. Gyms and workout spaces are now a priority in new builds and refits rather than an afterthought, and more yacht chefs are culinary-trained with a real focus on nutrition — menus built around what makes you feel good, not only what looks impressive on the plate.

In Monaco we met Anahí of Alma by Anahí, who teaches dance, Pilates, yoga and mindful movement. People like her are part of why wellness weeks feel personal rather than packaged.

If this appeals to you, we can invite Anahí, or other professionals like her, to join your charter — leading morning sessions on deck and shaping the week around how you want to feel. Tell us, and we'll match the right yacht with the right person.

Discover Alma by Anahí →

Staying on after the show?

We always stay a few days longer. Here are the restaurants, bars and hotels we go back to every year.

Read next: Monaco Beyond the Show →