The Unwritten Etiquette of Superyachting

For the owners of superyachts, privacy is often the most valuable thing money can buy. It’s one reason centimillionaires and billionaires pay eight or nine figures for a palace at sea, far from the prying eyes of land-dwellers.

Privacy is Paramount

Even the most gossipy crewmembers should stay tightlipped about the name of a former owner or charter guest, and many brokers shy away from answering benign questions. That means that, aside from basic safety guidelines, most of the rules of superyachting are unwritten. The very few who need to know them — there are only about 5,800 yachts longer than 30 meters at sea, according to SuperYacht Times — already know them.

Insider Etiquette

After four days of touring superyachts that sell for as much as $75 million and chatting with the people who buy, sell, and work on them at the Palm Beach International Boat Show, Business Insider gleaned a few key edicts. Given the discreet nature of the industry, almost all the people we spoke to requested anonymity to protect their working relationships, but here’s what they had to say.

Shoe-Free Environment

While it’s a basic rule for anyone in boating, it may come as a surprise to an outsider that no matter how rich you are or how expensive your heels are, in the vast majority of cases, you can’t wear shoes on board. It’s partly for safety — you don’t want anyone slipping on a wet deck — but partly to keep the yacht clean. So, expect to see barefoot billionaires, and if you forgot to get a pedicure, bring a set of special boat shoes.

Money Talks, but Appearance Doesn’t

In the superyacht world, it’s safe to assume almost everyone you meet is very, very rich, and many brokers and builders say you can’t judge a book by its cover when it comes to potential clients. There are, however, a few clues. Watches are one; new footwear is another. Rich people always have new shoes.

Wellness Booking

Wellness areas, including spa rooms with a massage bed or two and a professional-grade facial machine, are becoming must-haves on superyachts. Most have a customized spa menu and a crew member who doubles as a trained masseuse or beautician — and they’re usually in high demand.

Security Measures

While you might dress up as a fake pirate for an onboard theme party, there are still very real ones — and other dangers — on the high seas. Superyachts can come equipped with sonic weaponry, lockdown systems, and anti-drone protection. Builders are even designing safe rooms — which are apparently just as plush as the rest of the ship.

Length Equals Wealth

One rule of thumb: If someone has a brand new 50-meter vessel, chances are they have $1 billion to their name. If it’s over 100 meters, expect the owner to have at least $2 billion.

Limitations on Luxury

But no matter how many tens of millions of dollars clients are spending, there are still things to which builders will refuse to say yes. Yacht crews are trained to make the impossible possible. But they can’t time travel.

The Cost of Ownership and Chartering

Superyachts are expensive to build and expensive to maintain. According to the industry standard, owning a superyacht will cost 10% of its new-build price annually. For a $100 million yacht, that’s at least $10 million yearly going to crew, regular maintenance, insurance, fuel, and dockage.

Networking is Key

So, the most important unspoken rule of superyachting is actually that the only thing better than owning a superyacht is knowing someone else who does. And who invites you along, of course.