The Monaco Yacht Show has once again come and gone, leaving behind not just the sparkle of Port Hercule, but a clear sense of where our industry is heading. For those of us who live and breathe yachting, the Show is more than an exhibition, it’s a barometer of innovation, taste, and ambition.
This year, beneath the glamour, a quiet transformation was taking place. Conversations shifted from sheer size to smarter ownership, from design spectacle to sustainability, and from purchase to long-term stewardship.
Monaco Yacht Show 2025 confirmed the future of yachting is about purposeful ownership, refined design, and strategic vision.
• The 2025 Market Report from MYS confirms that the superyacht sector is stabilizing. The fleet of yachts over 30 m now numbers ~6,174, with 17% of them listed for sale, essentially flat year-on-year, a sign that the supply contraction of recent years may have bottomed.
• New builds remain robust: 588 new superyachts over 30 m are currently in build, with a strong concentration in the 30–40 m segment.
• The used yacht market is also showing signs of normalization. The number of vessels for sale has settled, and although pricing pressure continues (especially in mid-size segments), buyers are more selective.
• Refit demand is booming. With many owners choosing to upgrade rather than replace, yard capacity (especially in Italy, Spain, and the U.S.) is under strain.
These structural trends set the stage: we’re entering a more mature, discerning era of yachting, where value, flexibility, and innovation will matter more than spectacle.
Every edition of MYS has its stars. This year, certain vessels stood out not just for size, but for ambition, design, and signal:
• Mar (Benetti, 107 m) — the largest yacht present, dominating Port Hercule and reminding us that scale still carries symbolic weight.
• Valor (Feadship, ~79 m hybrid) — the new hybrid explorer model, blending diesel-electric power, range, and style.
• Virtuosity (Sanlorenzo 57Steel “Special Edition”) — with panoramic glass, wellness deck, and a lifestyle-led configuration pushing the on-deck living ethos.
• Diamond Binta (Tankoa, ~72 m) — a flagship explorer that balances rugged range with refined finishes and elegance.
• Admiral Armani (72 m) — the promising intersection of yacht design and haute couture, a collaboration that drew attention for marrying style with naval intent.
• New concepts teased by design houses pointing toward responsive architecture, bio-material interfaces, and hybrid propulsion paths.
• Show features such as Blue Wake™, the MYS sustainability program, which spotlighted exhibitors offering hydrogen, recyclable materials, and circular construction practices.
These vessels and showcases are not just aesthetic statements, they are markers of the industry’s direction.
Beyond the yachts themselves, the real signal came in the dialogues inside boardrooms, at breakfasts, and on terraces. Some of the most salient themes:
Sustainability is now embedded in the narrative. Blue Wake, the program launched this year by MYS, certified 59 exhibitors for eco-solutions (hydrogen, recyclable materials, low-carbon fuels).
Builders and designers are under pressure to deliver propulsion systems that reduce carbon footprint, hybridize hotel loads, and use responsible materials.
The U.S. tariff debate (10% → 15%) looms large. Dealers holding inventory, especially in the 30–45 m range, are facing pressure as clients hesitate, and margins tighten.
EPA emissions rules, import duties, and cross-border compliance burdens add friction especially for owners planning global cruising.
Non-refundable deposits are becoming more common post-COVID, but structuring them fairly (in LOIs and contracts) is critical to protect clients.
The role of brokers and advisors in deal shepherding has grown. Clients expect guidance not only on the yacht but on the full ownership journey.
Many clients are opting to refit rather than buy new, but the best refits require precision, foresight, and yard relationships.
Predictive maintenance, upgrade paths, and long-term tech roadmapping are now part of the value proposition.
Yachts are becoming hybrid hubs: offices, wellness sanctuaries, retreats. Owners expect robust connectivity, integrated wellness, and flexible layouts that adapt to charter or private use.
Tenders are no longer peripheral, eco-tenders, electric, hydrogen ones are becoming status accessories in their own right.
Interiors and architectural expression have become a key battleground. Owners want identity, not cookie-cutter showrooms.
We’re seeing more experimentation: responsive interiors, immersive lighting, natural elements, fluid indoor-outdoor thresholds.
What Must Brokers, Owners & Advisers Focus On Next
To ride this wave, and not be left behind, here’s where we see the real work lying ahead:
• Be a full-service partner: clients expect more than yacht selection. Structuring, compliance, lifecycle planning, and risk mitigation are now part of the baseline.
• Move early: post-show momentum is brittle. The difference between closing and losing a lead often happens in the next 30 days.
• Know your jurisdictions: especially between the EU, the U.S., and new YET or temporary admission regimes. The tax and duty traps are real.
• Stay technically fluent: you need to speak hybrid propulsion, energy management, and design systems … not just LOAs and volumes.
• Own your narrative: differentiation will come from the value you bring along the way, not just the yacht.
• Plan for agility: ownership structures and compliance regimes are evolving, your deals must leave room for adaptation.
The Monaco Yacht Show 2025 was not just a showcase of dreams, it was a mirror of where yachting is headed: a future defined by responsibility, flexibility, and strategic depth.
As the docks clear and the buzz fades, our work begins: turning dialogue into deals, leads into ownership, ideas into strategies, and passion into enduring value. Because the yacht is just the beginning, what follows matters as much.
If you’d like help navigating the next leg, we are here to engage.
At Calista Luxury, we provide integrated support, either directly or in collaboration with our selected partners, to brokers, family offices, and private clients across:
• Advisory & structuring — choosing the right flag, ownership model, and fiscal setup.
• Acquisition & sale guidance — securing and negotiating discreet opportunities, on or off-market.
• Asset alignment — ensuring yachts, jets, and real estate all serve a coherent lifestyle plan.
Fair winds ahead. ⚓
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