Superyacht staircases that step up the interior

This superyacht staircase received a Judge's Commendation at the 2024 BOAT International Design & Innovation Awards. Described as nothing short of "breathtaking" and a "masterpiece" by the panel, the curvaceous centrepiece belongs to Lissoni & Partners' equally contemporary, architectural interiors. "It is not simply a staircase, but a kind of twilight zone, an intermediate space between many different places," explained Piero Lissoni. "I hope that the owners will ascend and descend this staircase as if in a dream." The 56.7-metre Virtuosity was delivered in 2023.

The 53-metre Pink Shadow is a SeaXplorer Yacht Support vessel with an adventurous DNA courtesy of Damen Yachting, decked out with Design Unlimited interiors channelling the cinematic drama and beauty of Fitzcarraldo's Amazon rainforest. A standout element of her interior design is the main staircase: a metal-painted feature that is a central artistic piece. The custom mural that wraps the stairs begins in the underwater world and transitions through mangroves before rising to the rainforest canopy near the top deck. Hand-painted murals, full of imagination and wild landscapes, continue throughout the guest cabins.

Abeking & Rasmussen's 60-metre Scott Free has a bold artistic personality. Capturing this is her dramatic central staircase: a sweeping, silver-toned spiral, its reflective metal finish and fluid curves make it a natural focal point on board. The interiors were refreshed courtesy of Bannenberg & Rowell during the 2022 six-month refit, resulting in an Art Deco-inspired owner’s suite and further contemporary design touches throughout.

A celebration of Parisian designer Pierre-Yves Rochon's bold signature style, the 60-metre Vision has its staircase as one of the interior's most atmospheric and striking features. After a no-expense-spared refit in 2021, the Benetti yacht has a blend of rich textures and accents throughout, including dark marble floors, Macassar ebony, Tanganyika frise accents, and plush, tactile materials. Her dramatic staircase rises through the space with sculptured columns inset with LED-lit Plexiglass and motifs inspired by Greek mythology, resulting in a theatrical experience as guests move between decks.

Oceanco's 111-metre Leviathan took a human-centric design approach, reflecting owner Gabe Newell's philosophy, which was to build with purpose, by people, for people. Mark Berryman's interiors echo this with thoughtful materials and understated elegance. Expressed intricately in the yacht's central staircase, a glass panel is engraved with the names of more than 2,000 individuals who contributed to the build, reflecting that people and purpose remain at the centre of this superyacht's story.

Debuting at the 2025 Monaco Yacht Show, the 67-metre Benetti B. Now motor yacht Lady Estey is home to Sinot Yacht Architecture & Designs' "Gatsby style" interiors decorated with a monochrome ambience of dark woods, metallic accents, geometric motifs and Deco-inspired glamour. Her guest staircase is a standout, crafted from Calacatta marble with metallic inserts and framed by a glass balustrade. It serves as a transition from the yacht's darker-toned spaces into a lighter, more central area.

The 67-metre Benetti Kasper 7 was a standout winner at the 2025 BOAT Design & Innovation Awards, designed by Giorgio M.Cassetta in tandem with the interior architect-owner Nisrine Karagulla. The founder of AskDeco, Karagulla led the creative vision on board, resulting in a serene, light-filled interior decorated in a palette of pastel tones. The yacht's staircase is one of her defining features and supports the rationale for the yacht's best interior design award. Winding around a glass lift, the stairs cascade down with travertine treads and pale oak, while a sculptural glass balustrade adds a contemporary, light-filled touch. Karagulla wanted the space to be not only visually striking but also sensorially inviting, with the custom-made handrail providing a smooth, curved touch.

The 88-metre sailing yacht Maltese Falcon completed a full-scale refit at Lusben last year (with BOAT International invited for a behind-the-scenes look in March 2023). While works were comprehensive, the yard left the staircase, which is described as an "iconic, architectural wonder" by charter broker Burgess, untouched. All key spaces onboard are linked by this central staircase, which features glass walkways that wrap around the yacht's main mast.

Delivered in 2016, Feadship's 66.3-metre Hampshire boasts a New England charm. Her atrial staircase is one of the most impressive spaces, rising through a full-height glass wall that fills the interior with natural light. Curved, backlit Crema Marfil marble treads appear to float, emphasised by the towering glazing that frames them across three decks. Surrounded by walnut, light-tinted oak, polished stainless inlays and soft Tai Ping silk carpets, the staircase anchors the luxurious interiors.

Crowned 2025 Motor Yacht of the Year, the 122-metre Kismet is a showcase in scale, drama, and couture-level details. Nuvolari Lenard's exterior combines with Reymond Langton's theatrical interiors, and at the centre is one of the most elaborate super yacht staircases. The grand staircase integrates video walls, bronze-finished Ziricote slats, and bespoke Fromental fabric that shifts from deep green to light tones as it rises, with around 1,500 lighting components included within the structure. Meanwhile, a low-lit staircase leading to the lower deck foyer is wrapped in stitched, hammered leather by Sinn Living, and a private owner's staircase offers discreet access to the top level.