Standout Superyacht Aft Views

Icon Yachts’ inspired 62.5 metre Party Girl features classic exterior lines courtesy of British studio RWD. Party Girl has become a charter favourite since her launch in 2012.

Why we love it: The yacht’s emphasis on outdoor living and socialising is infectious. From her large superyacht beach club to her various alfresco dining, bar and lounge spaces, she has been designed to enjoy with company.

Design genius: Cristiano Gatto was responsible for her unique interior, which offers art deco vibes with Oriental touches. Highlights include a 17 metre main saloon, perfect for entertaining, and a large owner’s penthouse with spectacular 180 degree views.

Perfect for: As her name suggests, having a good time.

One of the most famous yachts in the world — 119 metre Motor Yacht A was designed by Philippe Starck with technical and naval design by Martin Francis, and launched by Blohm+Voss in 2008.

Why we love it: Look at her. There is simply nothing as original on the water — except perhaps the yacht that has followed her, Sailing Yacht A, which also comes from the fascinating mind of Starck.

Design genius: Her exterior may be the showpiece but her interiors don’t disappoint, from a loft-like owner’s suite that also includes an aft facing balcony to her multiple superyacht swimming pools, one of which has a glass floor.

Perfect for: Those who don’t mind camera flashes — this slice of superyacht history will be recognised in every port. 

Tansu Yachts’ seductive 39.3 metre motor yacht Sexy Fish was developed over four years under the code name Project Cutlass, with in-house styling and naval architecture by Diana Yacht Design.

Why we love it: The yard’s design ethos, to create boats around a modern outdoor lifestyle, leads to spectacular alfresco spaces such as this sprawling aft deck and a lighting scheme that makes the most of it.

Design genius: Tansu’s previous launch So’mar boasted an owner's deck with a million dollar view up top. This one shares the wealth by placing a glamorous bar in the same spot, so you can stroll out to the upper aft deck to sip your cocktail, or linger in a sheltered nook with the barman.

Perfect for: Cool young things who like a beach house vibe.

Lürssen’s 63.4 metre explorer yacht Polar Star, launched in 2005, was recently lengthened and refitted in sumptuous style by her original designer Espen Øino plus FM Architettura d’Interni, at MB92.

Why we love it: This refit has taken her closer to her purpose as a boat for exploring nature. The classic interior has been replaced with contemporary design inspired by the seascape: silver grey tones accented with bronze, as well as mosaics in aquamarine.

Design genius: They weren’t afraid to take the interior back to basics to get what the owners wanted. The rearranged layout creates cohesive flowing spaces, rather than a series of separate ones, and routing made more logical for both guests and crew.

Perfect for: Diving into nature, both outside and inside your yacht.

The shiny new 70 metre Joy is the first exterior project by Bannenberg & Rowell, with interiors by yachting newcomers Studio Indigo. It was delivered by Dutch powerhouse Feadship in 2016. 

Why we love it: She may be big, but she has the interior volume of a smaller yacht because vast swathes of space have been given over to exterior decks, putting the focus firmly on outdoor living.

Design genius: If maximising exterior space sounds like you’ll miss out on design treats, think again — there’s a basketball court on the huge foredeck, some gorgeously angular styling and, when you eventually head inside, a spectacular movie lounge, bar area and much more.

Perfect for: Fans of fresh air.

Does she really need an introduction? 25 this year, it is, of course, Zeus, one of the greatest modern superyachts. Built in 1991 by Blohm+Voss to a design by Martin Francis, she has been known as Eco, Katana and Enigma.

Why we love it: If the 74.5 metre was launched today, she’d still demand attention. You can’t say that about too many yachts of her vintage.

Design genius: Can you imagine how radical those convex superstructure windows were at the time? They lavish the interior with light. The destroyer-like form packs a punch, too, hitting 34 knots at the top end, thanks to twin diesels and a gas turbine collectively outputting a massive 28,500 horsepower.

The aggressively cool 86 metre yacht Seven Seas, was designed by Nuvolari Lenard and launched by Oceanco in 2010 for Steven Spielberg.

Why we love it: There are few yachts that pile on this many decks and still look sleek on the water. The keys are her monochrome paint job, curving sundeck superstructure and a mast with flared satellite dome supports. From the rear she has a sexy, faintly Asian aesthetic; from the side her lines are smooth, forceful and, well, shark-like.

Design genius: A professional projection system, five metre by two metre screen and two rows of raked seating transform the main saloon into a movie theatre. Another projector throws an image on to the glass wall of the aft infinity pool, so guests can watch while they swim.

Perfect for: Black-tie Hollywood galas on the enormous aft deck – however many film stars you need to invite, it is unlikely that you’re going to need a bigger boat.

The superyacht everyone is talking about — Dilbar was built by Lürssen, and delivered to the Mediterranean in June 2016 for her debut season.

Why we love it: She is huge at 156 metres LOA, but it’s her gross tonnage that’s really making headlines. At a reported 12,917GT, she is officially the biggest superyacht in the world in volume terms. Squint and you might just be able to spot the crew member on the bathing platform.

Design genius: Exteriors by Espen Øino and an interior by Winch Design make her a yacht with some serious design pedigree. She also features the largest diesel electric set-up ever installed on a yacht.

Perfect for: When you’ve got this much space — everything!

Built by Lürssen in Germany, Kismet is 95.2 metres and five decks of fantastical and highly personal design.

Why we love it: The aft decks become one big party loop: start in the main aft deck bar, move up to the bridge deck lounge and helipad, and then up again to the sundeck for a dip in the pool. And that still leaves two decks as a chill-out zone. She can host parties for 270 guests.

Design genius: The owner’s ideas are woven through this highly collaborative and unusual project, from Espen Øino’s height-disguising black mast and stainless steel flourishes, to Reymond Langton’s interior box of delights, with a video wall, a piano, four fireplaces, spectacular atrium stairs — plus a quiet exterior nook with a hanging seat.

Perfect for: Design aficionados who like to socialise al fresco.

The 69.3m debut yacht from Italian yard Tankoa Yachts, Suerte was designed by Francesco Paszkowski and Margherita Casprini, and launched in 2015.

Why we love it: Weary travellers arriving by tender can step directly into Suerte’s spectacular spa-like beach club. This sprawling space is extended with fold-out terraces and contains a hammam, massage tables and a sauna with its own window out on to the seascape.

Design genius: On many yachts a beach club feels like an afterthought, awkwardly connected to the rest of the yacht and incoherent in décor. On Suerte, this popular feature is where it should be, at the centre of the design, the showpiece at the end of a grand central staircase from the main deck lobby – with décor to match its status.

Perfect for: Spa junkies and beach bums who take relaxation seriously.