Donald Trump's Princess II: The World's Biggest, Most Beautiful Superyacht That Never Was

Even a man as adverse to sailing or the idea of spending months in a row at sea like Donald Trump can catch the "bug" of superyacht ownership, which can only be treated by a more expensive upgrade. His failed Princess II project is proof of that: a planned superyacht that was designed to be "not only the largest yacht in the world, but at the same time, the most beautiful."

Trump, aka the Donald, as he liked to be called in his celebrity era, was never a stranger to bombastic phrasing, especially when it came to personal accomplishments. But as audacious as the description above might seem, it was also accurate. Better said, it could have been accurate, had not a world financial crisis and amounting personal and company debt pressured Trump to dump the idea just one year after he made the first step towards its materialization.

How it all started

Before Donald Trump became the 45th President of the United States, he was internationally known as one of the most successful and entertaining businessmen. In the '80s, Trump boasted a net worth in the tens of billions, and he was constantly looking for new ways to increase it.

A rare opportunity presented itself in 1987 when Nabila, an 85.9-meter (282-foot) Benetti had delivered to Saudi billionaire arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi in 1978, listed for sale at a mere $50 million. Nabila cost a reported $85 million to build, with a brief that asked for a superyacht that would give an instant inferiority complex to any other billionaire yacht owner out there.

For a while, it was just that, the most incredible superyacht in the world. It was huge, obscenely luxurious, and with the kind of amenities never before offered in the industry, including a hospital with an operating theater, a nightclub, and secret passages that linked vital areas, should the owner ever be in need of a quick escape.

Khashoggi was selling Nabila after defaulting on a loan for which he'd used it as collateral, and Trump saw a bargain. He offered $28 million for it and got it for $27 million after some back and forth over its name. He then sent it in for a refit, estimated at $8.5 million, at the end of which Princess Trump emerged.

Again, Donald Trump was never the kind of guy to love sailing, unless sailing was synonymous with fresh advertising opportunities. This is what Trump Princess was: a chance to take the Trump brand to new heights while also doubling as a space where those new advertising ties could be strengthened.

With its five decks, 100+ rooms in total, and those incredible amenities (and now slightly less gaudy finishes), Trump Princess was advertising perfection. But it wouldn't last: as the new decade rolled in, the Trump empire began experiencing financial issues, so expenses had to be cut.

Trump listed Princess in late 1989 and eventually sold it in 1991 for a meager $19 million. The iconic superyacht is still around, in case you're wondering. It now goes by 5KR, and it's owned by Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, but it hardly ever gets any proper sea time, spending most of the year moored in Italy or France.

How it all ended

Despite Trump's stated aversion to superyacht ownership or waterborne experiences in general, Princess did strike a chord with him. Plans for Trump Princess II confirm that – a superyacht that would be everything its predecessor was, but better, bigger, prettier, and more noteworthy.

Reports claim that Trump got the idea for Princess II sometime in 1991, so shortly after, he sold Princess. However, he didn't act on it until 1993, when he attended the Florida Boat Show and met Jaime Oliver, the founder of Oliver Design and the guy he'd eventually commission with designing "not only the largest yacht in the world, but at the same time, the most beautiful."

Oliver and Trump would meet repeatedly over the next year to discuss the features of this new boat as the designer completed the design sketches. They're included in the photo gallery above, and they show a vessel that is most aptly compared to a floating resort.

The 128-meter (420-foot) Trump Princess II was swathed in glass, which was an unprecedented feat at the time, and featured everything from interior gardens to precious stone, double-height spaces, and fancy styling. It had pools and gorgeous lounge areas, a sprawling master suite that was a self-contained space for maximum privacy, a helipad with a garage, a spa area, and various cocktail bars tailor-made for entertaining.

Trump paid some $170,000 for the design of Princess II alone, which would be roughly $360,000 in today's money. According to Oliver, he had every intention of building the superyacht, no matter how long the wait or massive the expense. Early talks with Spanish shipyard Astilleros Españoles had also been had to discuss construction.

Just one short year later, though, pressed for money more than ever before, Trump called the Spanish designer to let him know that the Princess II project was canceled, with no door left open for a chance of revival. And the dream for the biggest and most beautiful superyacht in the world died.