Traditionally, British and European yacht builders let a year or two pass between introducing a new model at home and doing the same in the United States. There are a variety of reasons, including changing layouts and machinery to suit American tastes. The Princess 30M, which launched in the UK in 2016, makes her American premiere at next week’s Miami Yacht Show. She may be the smallest of the M Class lineup, but she’s plenty big for owners seeking their first megayacht.
In fact, Princess designed the 30M from the hull bottom on up for this very purpose. Measuring 99’9” (34.5 meters), she carries a crew of a captain plus four. This lets you concentrate on your family and friends, as well as your own relaxation time. The same is true of the engineering package. Princess has a set technical platform, so all you need to decide is just how swiftly you want to cruise. If low 20s are sufficient, select the MTU 12V 2000 M96L package. For a bit of a boost, higher-horsepower MTUs pledge around 23 to 25 knots.
Typical for her size, the Princess 30M has a combined saloon and dining area, with a separate galley forward. The trend toward using big panes of glass means mealtime views are welcoming. Making the Princess 30M even more welcoming, though, is the fold-down balcony to starboard (above). Step out for cocktails at sunset, or to spy the best place for a morning swim.
If you compare the saloon and dining area below to the dining-area closeup at top, you’ll see different woods and wall treatments. They’re not aboard the same yacht, clearly, but they do reveal just how much tailoring the Princess Yachts design department will do for you. The owner of hull number one, at top, wanted rich walnut woods throughout, along with a striking, backlit stone panel in the dining area, for a more luxe look. (He also requested a motorcycle showroom for the flying bridge!) The owner of a subsequent Princess 30M, meanwhile, wanted a lighter, brighter look aboard, so he chose the oak paneling seen below.
Your choices aboard extend to the layout, too. Princess has two configurations for guest staterooms. You can have either three or four cabins below decks. In the four-cabin layout, you receive two doubles and two twins. Furthermore, one twin can feature a Pullman berth. The smaller total of cabins, meanwhile, replaces the two aft rooms with a full-beam VIP stateroom. Considering the Princess 30M beam is 23 feet (7.05 meters), it’s an enviable choice.
Further enviable: your stateroom. Not only does it go on the main deck, it benefits from three significant skylights. Star gazing never got so good.
Lest we forget alfresco spaces, you can entertain a crowd outside aboard this megayacht. A handful of places suit enjoying an anchorage or the ride. The bow seating/cocktail area suits both. So, too, does the sundeck, with loose lounges and fixed seating aplenty. Slide open the sunroof, should you so wish. Then start thinking about your next boat—perhaps the Princess 40M—because you know there’ll always be another boat.
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