$200M Megayacht Renaissance Is Now the Most Expensive Charter in the World

Another megayacht has been delivered to its very lucky (and very rich) owner. In the process, a bunch of new world records were set, and a bunch of other rich people will have the chance to enjoy the perks of their status. While this would have been the right occasion to celebrate by showing off, builder Freire Shipyard is choosing to keep the project under wraps.

The megayacht in question is Renaissance, known internally before as NB724. Renaissance is worthy of the megayacht classification, both in size and capabilities. At 112 meters (267 feet) in length, it's among the world’s biggest, but despite the size, it has ice-class capabilities and can carry as many as 36 passengers.

Renaissance has been shrouded in secrecy since construction began a few years ago. This is standard procedure in an industry where privacy is the most coveted quality in a contractor, but even in this context, this project is a standout because not even now is the veil of secrecy lifted.

During the construction period, every once in a while, superyacht watchers would snap a short video of the hull being taken out of the shed for work or testing, and the video at the bottom of the page is a good example in this sense. But other than that, the yard never went into specifics.

Last week, Freire Shipyard delivered Renaissance to the owner, while luxury charter company Burgess announced that it would become available for charter this summer. Renaissance is now the biggest vessel ever built in Freire's home country Spain, as well as the biggest project from the yard.

Renaissance is also the most expensive vessel now available on the charter market, asking no less than €3 million per week in low season. That's roughly $3.3 million at the current exchange rate, and it doesn't include fuel and provisions for the duration of the cruise. This is an entirely different ballgame, indeed!

With this kind of figures being thrown around and given the vessel's availability as a charter platform, you'd expect details on Renaissance to abound. They don't. Not only are we in a segment of the market where secrecy is a must, but the vessel is selling itself to whoever can afford to chart it.

So here's what we know.

First of all, Renaissance is huge, offering an interior volume of 7,200 GT and six decks. Bannenberg & Rowell, which did the interiors, packed a myriad of amenities to turn it into a true leisure craft. Bannenberg & Rowell also penned the exterior design on top of naval architecture by Marin Teknikk AS.

The hull and superstructure are steel and lightweight aluminum, which means Renaissance is tough enough as an ice-rated cruiser, and light enough to sail at a maximum speed of 16 knots (18.4 mph/29.6 kph) and cruise comfortably at 12 knots (13.8 mph/22.2 kph). That's not neck-breaking speed by any definition, but it's impressive for a vessel of this size and category.

Renaissance aims to "blur the lines between larger vessels [and the] first-class service expected of a bespoke yacht charter," and it’s successful at its mission. Renaissance is a multi-generational bespoke experience onboard a large and competent vessel that can go anywhere.

Amenities include a helipad, packed garages that an explorer would be jealous of, a pool, and an oversize beach club that offers waterside dining at night, once all the frolicking and exploring is done. The highlight is the deck dedicated entirely to wellness and offering five-star resort spa features with hot and cold plunges, various treatment rooms, beauty and makeup salons, and a gymnasium seemingly designed for the needs of a professional athlete.

With amenities like these, who would want to set foot on land ever again? To boot, Renaissance carries a crew of 44 to cater to all the whims and needs of those 36 guests. The only details about the interior spaces describe them as a "sophisticated collage of neutral colors, tactile furnishings and highly usable spaces ideal for a multi-generational charter."

As for the owner of this spectacular and still mysterious megayacht, he's believed to be Anglo-American entrepreneur and billionaire Gary Klesch, a man known for his shrewdness in heavy industries. Though no photos of his new "toy” have been made available to the media as of this writing, it's clear that Renaissance was designed and built on a very clear and strict brief, the kind he'd ask for: a floating resort with impressive capabilities.

Renaissance will start cruising the Mediterranean as a charter this summer, so even if we might not get a better look inside, we're still in for more pics of the exterior.