The Monaco Yacht Show (MYS) is a great week to be social, and step aboard some of the world’s largest and most impressive yachts. Tune in below for how I evaluate yachts from an Explorers standpoint.

What sets Explorers apart is our operator’s lens. We’ve run trips in the world’s most remote regions, so we judge yachts by what they actually do: real range and autonomy, launch and recovery of tenders, stability, and whether the platform has enough space for the local pilots and guides needed for the types of programs we build.

Our goal is gathering intelligence that translates into building benchmark yachting programs for our clients to cruise the world in the way that best fits their objectives. A program could be chartering across regions over multiple seasons, buying the right brokerage yacht, or commissioning a new build for comfortably seeing the world.

An Explorer Yacht Program for You

A yachting program is your multi‑season blueprint: where you go, why you go, when you go, and how you operate there.

Common programs we design:

• Charter‑First Circuit (12 – 24 months): Rotate the best platforms in each region, from Raja Ampat & Palau (for the reefs and pelagics), to the Maldives (effortless diving), the Galápagos (guided wildlife), and French Polynesia (pass diving between atolls). Join the yacht and depart as your calendar allows.
• Dual‑Theater Program (24 – 36 months): Polar and tropical. Explore Svalbard, Greenland or Antarctica with specialists, then move to the Coral Triangle or South Pacific to explore tropical seas.
• Ownership Pathway (timed to your usage): Charter to refine the brief → acquire the right pedigree brokerage yacht or start a new build → fit‑out for your missions → run owner trips with embedded specialists, while you come and go as the yacht cruises the world.

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

A durable program needs a clear, practical cost frame. Here is how we evaluate yachts with the dual goal of maximizing client enjoyment with TCO in mind.

TCO = CAPEX + (Crew + Fuel + Maintenance + Insurance + Upgrades) × Years + Refit Reserves − Residual Value

• What endures: A pedigree shipyard, survey discipline, redundancy, mission‑deck engineering, certified helideck, Polar competence, capacity to stow large tenders.
  
• What evaporates: decor, fabrics, show‑week furniture with no expedition value.
  
• Crew first: The biggest line – and the best investment. Expedition‑capable culture (expedition leader, medic, dive/heli competency) protects uptime and guest enjoyment.
• Maintenance as a discipline: CMMS. Review how similar platforms have held up (warranty work, known issues).
• Upgrades (36‑month map): batteries, communications, scheduled over-hauls or increases to capacities.
• Fuel is profile-driven: speed and hotel load matter; hybrids and battery banks reduce low-load burn and add silent hours.
  
• Insurance: comprehensive cover, expect variance for polar and helicopter operations.
• Charter offset: useful once the platform fits the mission. Done well, it can help cover meaningful opex.
• Charter vs. buy: Charter caps your costs and time. Ownership can be the most rewarding experience of a lifetime – if the brief and platform are right. Remember: it’s not what it costs to buy; it’s what it costs to own and what it costs to sell.

The Yacht: The Right Platform and Crew for You

Great crews make great programs. From day one, think about attracting and retaining the best people. Our job is to confirm the platform truly supports world cruising and that the crew will have spaces they want to live and work in, and the tools to do their jobs well.

What we look for in explorer yachts

1) Environmental envelope and notation

• For a go‑anywhere brief, you need ice/polar capability & winterization and strong warm‑water resilience (including HVAC, ventilation). If you’ll only do a few polar journeys, consider chartering those and focus your explorer yacht ownership on warm‑water excellence. If you want one yacht to do it all, that’s a broader spec.

2) Range, autonomy and energy reality

• Record range at 10 & 12 kn with hotel loads stated (underway, at anchor, and if relevant, on dynamic positioning).
• Record autonomy (days) at full guest load; cross‑check against cold/dry stores.
• Note battery kWh and verified silent hours; understand hybrid logic for low‑load efficiency.
• Check redundancy layers: engine overhaul intervals; genset sizing; ability to maintain propulsion or limp‑home capability if a main engine is down.

3) Seakeeping & quiet ship

• Stability system (fins/gyro) and zero‑speed performance; head‑sea behavior.
• Noise/vibration at anchor and underway – especially in the guest staterooms and crew areas. Quiet equals endurance and good rest for all on board.

4) Tenders, launch & recovery (mission‑critical)

• The largest stowable tender (L×B×H and weight) and total tender count – plus fuel commonality (diesel inboards simplify life).
• Mission bay/tender well: clear L×B×H; crane SWL/outreach; heave‑comp. In what sea state can you launch and recover?
• Reality check: a lifestyle garage doesn’t equal a mission deck. Purpose‑built areas for diving, fishing, and beach ops matter; “modular” designs help but can’t replace dedicated spaces on long trips.

5) Station‑keeping & helicopters

• Dynamic Positioning (DP) class and thruster configuration; DP2 reduces the risk of losing position on a single‑fault failure.
• Helicopter ops: deck compliance, hangar/fuel management, pilot rest, and the crew structure to support safe operations.

6) Class, surveys & compliance

• Current class (DNV/LR/ABS/BV), latest survey status, and any conditions of class.
• Polar Code if high/low‑latitude legs are in the plan; dedicate an ensuite pilot cabin.
• Ensure registration and flagging is suited to support charter regulations if applicable.

7) Communications & awareness

• Redundant LEO + GEO connectivity with smart antenna placement. Multiple tech stacks for uninterrupted operations.
• Theater‑specific awareness: forward‑looking sonar, ice radar, appropriate charts/GNSS for your regions.

8) Crew spaces for world cruising

• Heads of department in single cabins, bright cabins with storage, a real crew mess & lounge, a gym and wellness spaces, and a professional galley are all essential. Crew comfort drives performance, safety, retention – and your long-term enjoyment.
• Extra ensuite cabins for pilots, guides, medics, photographers, scientists – leave room for those beyond standard crew.
• Vertical service flow (such as stairs or dumbwaiters) and provisioning space for 30+ day legs at full guest, crew, and specialist capacity.

9) Medical capabilities and mechanical redundancies 

• A genuine medical bay with oxygen, emergency equipment, and a telemedicine setup.
• Reliability culture you can see in the engine room: CMMS evidence, trending data, tidy spares, workbench space, and pre‑positioned heavy spares.

Journey: Make the Most of Each Day, Anywhere in the World

The journey is the outcome of the first two pillars: the right platform and the right people. In Monaco we’re hunting for the ingredients – mission‑deck geometry, tender capacity, engineering access, and the crew spaces that attract top talent – so we can assemble best‑in‑class programs for your enjoyment on board.

Your role is simple: step aboard where it suits your calendar; we handle the rest. Our only goal is that world cruising feels effortless and every day on board is a delight – the natural result of a well‑matched yacht and a well‑supported crew.

Where Next?

If you’re inspired to explore the yachts on display in Monaco or would like to discuss anything mentioned above, we’re here to help. Contact Explorers to begin.