A radically innovative superyacht platform that is a game-changer in superyacht design, luxury offshore experiences, charter business models and financial and environmental sustainability. Its name is Xpagoda and brings the signature of yacht designer Stefano Pastrovich who unveiled this new extraordinary creation developed in partnership with GMDesign&Service, Chartwell Marine and Wolf at the last Monaco Yacht Show.
What most impressed is the joined-up creative thinking that underlies the whole Xpagoda project. Because its three radical departures from superyacht charter conventions are set to completely shake up how exclusivity is lived at sea. This new and revolutionary new charter superyacht platform ,modular and highly flexible, offers in fact many customisation options, from the number and organisation of the guest suites and cabins to complete personalisation of the public areas.
Xpagoda’s catamaran hulls and pillar structure represent a radical reinvention of the whole superyacht charter concept, creating an airy profile with overhanging decks that is a masterpiece of form and function. Its fully-aluminium structure has been developed by Naval designer Chartwell Marine in consultancy with the Rina Classification Society as an evolution of the code for 12-36 passengers. The revolutionary choice of aluminium not only reduces the weight and draft substantially for shallow water accessibility, but has also enabled Pastrovich to rationalise the propulsion plant, making it more efficient.
The attention to detail is truly impressive. The pillar structure of Xpagoda opens the spacious interiors to panoramic views. While the overhanging decks – reminiscent of a pagoda – cast shade over the windows to improve visibility and reduce air conditioning power requirements, along with the frequency with which crew cleaning is needed. The interior décor materials have all been selected for a premium experience of natural elegance, including fine woods and cotton-linen upholstery.
Perfect to being based in small, glamorous marinas and to anchoring in the shallow waters of the most desirable beauty spots, every aspect of Xpagoda has been uncompromisingly focused on creating an exceptional lived experience, immersed in the most beautiful seascapes on earth.
Xpagoda has been conceived to transform the accessibility of unique superyacht experiences, opening them up to a much wider public: the high-net worth individuals known as the millionaires next door. This untapped segment, with an individual purchasing power of 1-5 million dollars, includes 19.5 million people according to data from the multinational consulting firm Capgemini. People that do not have the resources to buy a USD 59M superyacht or charter one for around USD 300k per week. But they are willing to pay USD 2,000 per person per night for a luxury suite on a boutique charter that brings them the full superyacht experience.
At 59 metres long and accommodating 20-24 guests in 10-12 luxury suites, or up to 30 guests in 15 economy cabins, Xpagoda has been expressly designed for these Gen X-Travellers who prefer to diversify their vacations rather than acquire costly properties. Avoiding the masses, they seek shorter cruise experiences without the tedium of days navigating the open sea. Xpagoda allow them to taste the exclusivity of a place while others navigate away.
Unlike traditional superyachts, with their large master suites and smaller guest cabins, Xpagoda’s suites all offer high levels of space and luxury. Similarly, its airy public areas are designed not for one set of friends, as is typical of Superyachts, but for multiple couples and groups who want intimate leisure opportunities. And Xpagoda naturally combines this with high-class amenities, from sauna, wellness and massage facilities to a gym and multiple pools and bars. Pastrovich purposefully designed Xpagoda for modular flexibility and serial production, deploying cruise ship techniques to significantly reduce the unit price without compromising on superyacht style or quality of finish.
Xpagoda’s distinctive design extends seamlessly into its surroundings, even including a sea-level bathing platform that blends into the sea. Because its aim is to deliver the richest possible experience of exploring the earth from the sea, living a true sense of place in the world’s most sought-after destinations.
Xpagoda has been expressly conceived to create innovative boutique charter opportunities. Pastrovich even presented a tested business model based on a conventional cruise company model and simple assumptions of a 300-operating-day year of 5+5 months with 80% occupancy and a cost of USD 2,000 per person per night. The results showed EBITDA of 25% rising to 35% with a fourth yacht. This clearly demonstrates Xpagoda’s substantial earning potential for a fleet of from 1 to 4 vessels operated by a wide range of potential buyers. From private owners and charter operators to boutique resorts, cruise companies wanting to offer a high-end complement to their voyages, co-owners, fractional management companies, private clubs and real estate funds.
This is why Xpagoda is an extraordinarily attractive proposition, both as an experience and as an investment.
