A $31 Million Upgrade on a $110+ Million Superyacht Gets You a Gold Freestanding Tub

Graceful is a controversial and iconic vessel, delivered in 2014 by the Lurssen-owned Blohm + Voss shipyard. With a total length of 270 feet (82 meters) and accommodation for 12 guests and 14 crew, it pales in comparison to the more recent acquisition, the 459-foot (140-meter) Lurssen-built Scheherazade.

But what Graceful has, and Scheherazade doesn't, is the freedom to move around. Both vessels are part of Russian President Putin's personal fleet, and both are under international sanctions – as is their alleged owner. Scheherazade was arrested in Italy last year and has remained there since, but Graceful was able to "flee” unfriendly waters just days before Russian troops marched into Ukraine.

Graceful is now sailing under the name Kosatka, which means "killer whale." It's been in Russian waters since evading sanctions, traveling with an armed Coast Guard vessel acting as chaperone. According to a recent report, Graceful has also received a full refit estimated at some $31 million. As per that same report, many of the firms working on the refit are from countries where sanctions apply and which should, by law, have refused to work on the vessel.

Prior to the refurb, Graceful was valued between $100 million and $120 million, but its estimate is now at least $30 million higher. Among the upgrades are new his and hers suites with much fancier furniture, carpeting, and lighting, a new custom pool that extends out on the water beyond the beach club and cost more than $3 million to build, extra fireplaces, and retouched helipads.

As one British publication has learned, a $31 million refurb on an already very expensive superyacht also gets you a lot of gold. A lot of it! Two new photos from inside Graceful have emerged, confirming Putin's penchant for gold fixtures and decadent styling.

One of them is of a gold bathroom with a flashy gold freestanding bathtub and contrasting marble floors both here and in the adjoining shower room. The other shows a guest bedroom that is equal parts opulent and elegant, with the same prevailing rich tones of mahogany red, gold, and white as in the bathroom. The new interior styling could be described as "I’m loaded and want you to know it!"

The outlet says that Graceful is now in Yantar, in the Russian enclave Kaliningrad, and that work on the exterior is still underway. This would indicate that Graceful is not ready to cruise again, as the refit is not complete.