The Golden Odyssey, built in Hamburg, Germany at the Blohm & Voss yard, was delivered in 1990 to Saudi Arabia’s Prince Khaled bin Sultan. At that time, the Prince was his country’s assistant deputy defense minister. He was then and still is president of the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, which funds coral reef research. The Prince has frequently lent the Golden Odyssey to oceanographers for the research of ways to save our oceans and coral reefs.

The Golden Odyssey, however, isn’t your standard research yacht! Stretching out to 265 feet, she is sleek and deceptively simple looking. Inside, the yacht has a fairly traditional interior designed by Albert Pinto, using dark wood and marble in its sumptuous public and private rooms.

Golden Odyssey is nearly always accompanied by her support yacht, Golden Shadow, her fishing vessel the Golden Osprey and Golden Eye, a roomy sea plane. Golden Shadow carries extra equipment, water sports toys and extra medical facilities among other necessities the Odyssey and her guests may need.

Golden Odyssey contains an astonishing coral reef aquarium, its glass top serving as the bottom of the ship’s swimming pool, giving swimmers the illusion that they are actually in the aquarium!

The Panorama Deck contains the owner’s private lounge, a large Jacuzzi and a hydraulic sun shade. A huge, elegant main staircase connects three of the decks but there is also an elevator that goes to all four. The yacht has an updated fitness room, a traditional main salon furnished with comfortable sofas and a piano, a small sitting room for playing cards or relaxing and a mosaic swimming pool atop the coral reef aquarium. The stylish dining room seats 18.

The Golden Odyssey comes equipped with a medical center capable of major surgery and a price tag of $70 million. It is also available for charter.

Leander was built by Peene Werft in 1994 and with a length of more than 245 feet it is the 55th largest superyacht in the world. Named after the first Royal Navy ship that the final stage builder, Sir Donald Gosling, served on, it is a yacht of incomparable luxury.

The Leander’s Captain Giles Cope commands a crew of 23-28, which includes a staff that takes pride in their “white-glove service”. The yacht’s cruising speed is 10-14 knots, its maximum speed is 18 knots. As lovely and graceful as the ship itself appears, it is the interior that often strikes guests speechless.

Inside Leander are luxury accommodations well beyond those of a world class hotel. One double VIP suite, 3 double guest cabins, 5 twin guest cabins and comfortable crew cabins all have private bathrooms. The double master suite has a private study, sitting room and massage room.

All these accommodations are on three floors and designed by English designers Katalin Landon & Pauling Nunns Associates and interior decorator Heinz Vollers of Hamburg. The décor is in the warm and charming English-castle style. The salon has comfortable armchairs and sofas, soft rugs, dramatic oil paintings and yellow and cream colors for tranquil atmosphere. There are several hundred DVDs for the viewing pleasure of guests.

The opulent Greek-style dining room seats 20 and has marble effect pillars around the room that dramatize the mural covering the forward wall. The ceiling is layered to give the impression of skylights and a faintly clouded sky. Guests dine on the finest cuisine and can access cozy and intimate bar on the Boat Deck any time they wish.

Leander also has a fully equipped gym, a swimming pool and an Observation Lounge located on the Boat Deck with tall wall to wall windows for 180 degree vistas.

The second most expensive charter in the world, one can enjoy Leander’s many comforts for a mere $490,000 per week plus expenses.

On Feb 14, 2009, Baglietto launched its 41-meter superyacht Natori. The Natori yacht will be available for charter through Camper & Nicholsons International.

The luxury vessel has accommodation space for 10 guests in five cabins. Of course, it is fully equiped with the latest high-tech entertainment systems, watersports toys and else.