Superyacht staircases and their adjoining lobbies are an ideal canvas for interior designers to weave their magic. We round up some of the best examples on the oceans, starting with Elandess...

The circular staircase on board the 74.5 metre Abeking & Rasmussen superyacht connects the cabins to the rest of the yacht. Soft daylight ripples from a skylight at the bottom of the sundeck swimming pool and mother-of-pear flecks glint in plaster by DKT Artworks which surrounds the staircase.

The main staircase on board the 51.1 metre Heesen is something to behold – curving Macassar with white steps glowing from within, and a sinuously carved handrail, built directly into the wall. “We had made a full mock-up [of the stairwell] to make it work,” says van der Zanden, Heesen’s general manager of design and development. The lacquered white handrail fits the hand perfectly, guiding you down or up the stairs.

The head-spinning wooden staircase on board the 40 metre Conrad flagship features a grand hanging crystal light fixture created by Masiero. It is a partner to three others found on board in the saloon, the dining room and the master bedroom.

The Ubud Monkey Forest of Bali provided the inspiration for the spectacular centrepiece of this 88.5 metre Oceanco-built superyacht. Australian designer Sam Sorgiovanni used a combination of teak and stainless steel, which were welded together to create a sprawling root system that seems to grow out of the lower deck before girdling the central lift shaft.

Art pieces, chief among them a marquetry backdrop handmade in Wales, complete the ornate staircase and lobby on board the well-travelled 68 metre superyacht Lady Christine. Launched by Feadship in 2010, Lady Christine’s Rodney Black-designed interior can accommodate up to ten guests in five spacious cabins, while her exterior styling comes courtesy of De Voogt Naval Architects.

A large mirror creates the illusion of a double staircase on the 55 metre Benetti superyacht Ocean Paradise, while her bonsai garden adds an unusual and calming backdrop as one of the world’s few superyacht gardens. Launched in 2013, she features interiors by Adrian Lee and Mauro Izzo.

Two Lalique bas-reliefs decorate the white onyx and silver leaf-clad staircase on the 64.5 metre Benetti superyacht Silver Angel, which is dripping with art deco glamour. Argent Design was responsible for the décor on this 1,400GT yacht, which hit the water for the first time in 2009.

A fantastical tree decorated with handmade coloured pieces of glass is the backbone of the main staircase rising at the heart of the 85 metre Lürssen superyacht Solandge. Her contemporary interior was designed by Eileen Rodriguez with a mix of rare materials including 33 different exotic timbers.

Seemingly suspended in mid-air, the stairs on this 70 metre Perini Navi sailing superyacht don’t interrupt the open-plan feeling of the flowing main saloon. Launched in 2016 with PH Design interiors, Sybaris was commissioned by serial yacht owner Bill Duker after a conversation with his seven year old son about what their dream yacht would look like.

Floating staircases are an increasingly popular trend for yacht designers, and the stainless steel and glass centrepiece on board the 43.65m Baglietto yacht Pachamama is a fine example. Leading from the guest lobby up to the main saloon, this finely crafted staircase is flanked by warming woodwork and the transparent sides allow plenty of light to permeate the lower deck.

If any superyacht staircase could be considered a work of art, then the elegant spiral masterpiece on the award-winning Feadship superyacht Savannah is it. Cristina Gherardi Benardeau and Marcello Bozzarelli, of CG Design in Paris created Savannah's interiors as part of only their second superyacht project. This 83.5 metre superyacht's ample 12.5 metre beam means that the refined wooden staircase can unwind lazily from the top deck right down to the main deck.

Launched in May 2016, the 33.4 metre Cantiere Delle Marche flagship Narvalo features a superyacht staircase with a difference. Mounted in the centre of this tri-deck staircase is a sculptural replica of a narwhal's horn, reflecting the explorer yacht's distinctive name. Indirect lighting in this area adds to the charm of the Nauta Design interiors.

Superyacht staircases are often a focal point for interior designers, giving them a chance to show off their command of flowing lines or use of precious materials. The staircase on Heesen Yachts flagship Galactica Super Nova is a perfect case in point, with curved steps banded in steel strips that appear to spin out of the central support post, hug the treads and then continue out to wrap the walls of the curved stair surround.

One of the most complex yachts in history, I Dynasty has a suitably spectacular superyacht staircase. Light marble creates the backbone of the staircase, while the wrought iron balustrade with gold-plated details features an intricate floral motif.

This spectacular spiral staircase on Platinum-built Dubai is undoubtedly the centrepiece of this 162 metre Andrew Winch-designed superyacht. Accommodating up to 115 guests and owned by Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, the glass steps even change colour to create different moods. Dubai’s showpiece may be oft copied but even years afters its launch, it remains in a league of its own.