Diksia.com - If you are looking for a way to experience the ultimate luxury and adventure on the high seas, you might want to consider boarding the Golden Odyssey yacht. This magnificent vessel, built by the renowned German shipyard Lurssen and designed by the legendary British architect Martin Francis, is one of the most impressive and expensive yachts in the world.
With a length of 124 meters, a capacity of 36 guests and 76 crew, and a price tag of $150 million, the Golden Odyssey is a floating palace that offers unparalleled comfort, elegance, and entertainment. But the Golden Odyssey is not just a yacht, it is also a story of intrigue, mystery, and drama.
In this article, we will explore the history, specifications, and interior of the Golden Odyssey yacht, and reveal who owned it before and after, how it was seized and sold, and what features it offers for its guests and crew.
The History of the Golden Odyssey Yacht
The Golden Odyssey yacht was originally built as Project Tatiana at the esteemed Lurssen Yachts, which is known for producing some of the largest and most luxurious yachts in the world, such as the Azzam, the Dilbar, and the Flying Fox.
The project started in 2012 and was completed in 2015, featuring an expert design by none other than Martin Francis, the mastermind also responsible for the design of Golden Shadow, another sea marvel owned by the same prince.
Martin Francis is a renowned British architect and designer, who has worked on iconic buildings such as the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Louvre Pyramid in Abu Dhabi, and the Burj Al Arab in Dubai.
He is also a pioneer in yacht design, having created the first yacht with a glass roof, the first yacht with a retractable mast, and the first yacht with a helipad. His design for the Golden Odyssey yacht reflects his innovative and visionary style, combining sleek lines, elegant curves, and modern features.
The original owner of the yacht was Saudi Prince Khaled bin Sultan al Saud, the son of the late Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz al Saud, and the former deputy minister of defense of Saudi Arabia.
Prince Khaled is a prominent figure in the Saudi royal family, as well as a businessman, philanthropist, and environmentalist. He is the founder and chairman of the Living Oceans Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and restoration of the world’s oceans.
He is also an avid yachtsman, who owns a fleet of vessels, including the Golden Fleet, which consists of the Golden Odyssey, the Golden Shadow, the Golden Osprey, and the Golden Eye. The Golden Fleet is used for scientific research, exploration, and leisure, and has traveled to more than 100 countries and territories around the world.
However, reports suggest that Prince Khaled never boarded the Golden Odyssey yacht after facing financial difficulties around the time of her delivery. According to some sources, Prince Khaled was involved in a corruption scandal in Saudi Arabia, which led to his arrest and the freezing of his assets in 2017. He was later released after paying a hefty settlement, but his troubles did not end there.
In 2019, he was sued by a Swiss bank for defaulting on a loan of $200 million, which he had used to finance the construction of the Golden Odyssey yacht. The bank claimed that Prince Khaled had failed to repay the loan, and that he had transferred the ownership of the yacht to an offshore company in the Cayman Islands to avoid seizure. The bank then filed a lawsuit in the US court, seeking to recover the loan and the yacht. The court ruled in favor of the bank, and ordered the seizure and sale of the Golden Odyssey yacht.
The new owner of the Golden Odyssey yacht is a Chinese billionaire with a penchant for luxurious sea vessels. The identity of the buyer is not publicly disclosed, but some speculate that he is Jack Ma, the founder and former chairman of Alibaba Group, one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world.
Jack Ma is known for his lavish lifestyle and his love for yachting, having previously owned a 65-meter yacht named Feadship. He is also one of the richest people in China, with a net worth of $50 billion, according to Forbes. The estimated value of the Golden Odyssey yacht is $150 million, with an annual running cost of around $15 million.
The Specifications and Design of the Golden Odyssey Yacht
The Golden Odyssey yacht is built with a steel hull and aluminum superstructure, with teak decks. Powered by twin diesel-electric Wartsila engines running at 250rpm, she comfortably cruises at 11 knots, reaches a maximum speed of 21 knots, and has a range of 6,500 nautical miles, promising seamless and thrilling adventures on the high seas.
The Golden Odyssey yacht features at-anchor stabilizers providing exceptional comfort levels, as well as a dynamic positioning system that allows her to maintain her position without using anchors, which is beneficial for the environment and the marine life.
The exterior design of the Golden Odyssey yacht is sleek and elegant, with a white hull and a silver superstructure. The yacht has a distinctive profile, with a long and slender bow, a curved and sloping stern, and a large and rounded superstructure. The yacht also has a unique feature, which is a glass-bottomed swimming pool on the main deck, which allows the guests to enjoy the underwater views while swimming.
The pool is surrounded by sun loungers, parasols, and a bar, creating a relaxing and inviting atmosphere. The yacht also has a helipad on the foredeck, which can accommodate a helicopter or a seaplane, and a large garage on the lower deck, which can store a variety of tenders, jet skis, and other water toys.
The interior design of the Golden Odyssey yacht is opulent and extravagant, with a mix of classic and contemporary styles. The yacht offers an exclusive owner’s deck, equipped with a forward-facing owner’s suite and an aft-facing ‘madam’s suite, both accompanied by large dressing rooms. This deck is further embellished with a spa featuring a hammam, a steam room, and a treatment room.
The yacht also has a VIP deck, which has four VIP suites, each with a private balcony, and a lounge area. The main deck has six guest cabins, a dining room, a salon, and a cinema. The lower deck has a gym, a hairdressing and beauty salon, a hospital complete with dedicated dental facilities, and a doctor’s consultation room, exemplifying the extraordinary level of luxury on board. The yacht also has a crew deck, which has 30 crew cabins, a crew mess, a crew lounge, and a laundry room.
The interior decor of the Golden Odyssey yacht is lavish and sophisticated, with a palette of gold, cream, and beige, and a use of fine materials such as marble, wood, leather, and silk. The yacht also has a collection of artworks, sculptures, and antiques, which add to the elegance and charm of the yacht.
The yacht also has a state-of-the-art entertainment system, which includes a large screen, a surround sound system, and a karaoke machine, as well as a high-speed internet connection, a satellite TV, and a phone system, which ensure the guests stay connected and entertained throughout their stay.
The Features and Amenities of the Golden Odyssey Yacht
The Golden Odyssey yacht offers a range of features and amenities that cater to the needs and preferences of the guests and crew. Some of the most notable features and amenities are:
- A glass-bottomed swimming pool, which allows the guests to enjoy the underwater views while swimming, and also serves as a skylight for the lower deck.
- A helipad, which can accommodate a helicopter or a seaplane, and allows the guests to arrive and depart in style and convenience.
- A garage, which can store a variety of tenders, jet skis, and other water toys, and also has a dive center, which provides the guests with the equipment and guidance to explore the underwater world.
- A spa, which features a hammam, a steam room, and a treatment room, and offers the guests a range of massages, facials, and therapies, to rejuvenate their body and mind.
- A hairdressing and beauty salon, which provides the guests with professional hair and beauty services, such as haircuts, styling, coloring, manicures, pedicures, and makeup.
- A hospital, which has dedicated dental facilities, and a doctor’s consultation room, and ensures the guests have access to the best medical care and attention in case of any emergency or illness.
- A cinema, which has a large screen, a surround sound system, and comfortable seating, and allows the guests to watch their favorite movies and shows in a cozy and intimate setting.
- A karaoke machine, which has a wide selection of songs, and allows the guests to unleash their inner singers and have fun with their friends and family.
Suffix: The Golden Odyssey yacht is a masterpiece of yacht craftsmanship and design, and a symbol of luxury and adventure. The yacht has a rich and fascinating history, involving a Saudi prince, a Swiss bank, and a Chinese billionaire. The yacht has a stunning and impressive design, featuring a sleek and elegant exterior, and an opulent and extravagant interior.
The yacht offers a range of features and amenities that cater to the needs and preferences of the guests and crew, such as a glass-bottomed swimming pool, a helipad, a garage, a spa, a hairdressing and beauty salon, a hospital, a cinema, and a karaoke machine. The Golden Odyssey yacht is a dream come true for anyone who wants to experience the ultimate luxury and adventure on the high seas.
