Octopus yacht: 126 m Lürssen explorer charter review, price and areas

The verdict

Octopus is a 126.2-metre Lürssen explorer from 2003, built with an ice-class hull, two helipads, a dive centre and a submarine. After a sale in 2021 she came to the charter market for the first time, at $2,200,000 a week plus expenses, a rate unchanged since 2022. She suits groups of up to 12 who want remote cruising: her listed seasons are Antarctica in winter and the South Pacific in summer, with a crew of 45.

Sixth on YachtCharterFleet’s list of the world’s most expensive yachts for charter in 2026 — YachtCharterFleet, most expensive yachts for charter in 2026

Video tours

Two tours from YouTube, most viewed first.

**126m Lürssen OCTOPUS**SuperYacht Times · 16 Jun 2025 · 46,588 viewsWatch on YouTube

On board

The exterior photos were taken between 2003 and 2023, before or during the 2024 refit. The interior photos are undated and may not show the yacht as she is today: according to Boat International, the recording studio was replaced by a bar in a Blohm+Voss refit before her 2021 sale.

An ice-class hull, two helipads and a submarine.

Expedition kit: Boat International, YachtCharterFleet

Dark lounge with a sofa around an illuminated glass floor — Lounge with a lit glass floor

Cinema with red reclining armchairs facing a large screen — Cinema

Library with bookshelves, a fireplace and two cream armchairs — Library

Recording studio with a mixing desk and guitars on the walls — Recording studio, before the Blohm+Voss refit replaced it with a bar

Octopus on sea trials in a fjord, accompanied by a tug and sailing boats — Sea trials in the Kiel Fjord, October 2003

What it costs

$2,200,000 per week + expensesSummer

Base charter fee per week: $2,200,000, the same in summer and winter and unchanged since Boat International reported it in May 2022. Expenses are charged on top: usually an advance provisioning allowance (APA, a deposit for fuel, food and berthing), VAT and crew tips. The typical amount for Octopus isn’t published. Y.CO lists her with rates on enquiry.

All quoted rates (4 quotes)

Season	Weekly rate	Quoted by	Checked
Summer	$2,200,000 plus expenses	YachtCharterFleet, Burgess	Oct 2026
Winter	$2,200,000 plus expenses	YachtCharterFleet, Burgess	Oct 2026
Autumn	$2,200,000 plus expenses	IYC	Oct 2026
Not specified	$2,200,000 plus expenses	YachtCharterFleet, most expensive yachts for charter in 2026, Boat International, Boat International, best explorer yachts for charter	Oct 2026

Where she sails

Winter

Antarctica and South America

Weekly rate: $2,200,000 / week.

Summer

South Pacific and Asia-Pacific

French Polynesia, Tahiti, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand.

Weekly rate: $2,200,000 / week.

October 2026

South Pacific

Fiji, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, French Polynesia.

Summer 2024 (past season)

Northern Europe and the Arctic

Scotland, Norway, Svalbard, Greenland.

Particulars

Length overall: 126.2 m 126.18 m in the Boat International directory
Beam: 21 m
Draft: 5.76 m 5.8 m in some listings
Gross tonnage: 9,932
Shipyard: Lürssen, Germany
Year built: 2003
Refits: Blohm+Voss before the 2021 sale; Lloyd Werft, Bremerhaven, 2024 (nine months) Blohm+Voss refit dated 2019 or 2021 in different reports
Exterior design and naval architecture: Espen Øino
Interior design: Jonathan Quinn Barnett (Boat International also lists Monk Design)
Hull: Steel, ice class 1A; aluminium superstructure steel superstructure in one listing
Propulsion: Diesel-electric: 8 × MTU diesel generators with ABB electric motors
Speed: 12.5 kn cruising, 19 kn max 17 kn cruising in one directory
Range: 12,500 nm at 12–12.5 kn 8,000 nm in one listing
Charter guests: 12 26 in some listings
Cabins: 13: 1 master and 12 doubles other listings: a master, 2 VIP, 7 double and 3 twin
Crew: 45 44 in one listing; berths for up to 63
Aviation: Two helipads and a helicopter hangar
Submarine and diving: Triton 3300 submarine for 5 guests plus a pilot; ROV; dive centre with hyperbaric chamber earlier sources name a previous submarine, Pagoo
Tenders: Seven, including an 18 m Delta 54 five in some descriptions

Questions

How much does it cost to charter the Octopus yacht?

The base rate is $2,200,000 per week plus expenses, the same in summer and winter (YachtCharterFleet). Burgess and IYC list the same $2,200,000, and Boat International reported it in May 2022, so it has held since at least then. Expenses such as fuel, food, berthing, VAT and crew tips are charged on top; the typical amount isn’t published.

Can you charter Octopus?

Yes. She was sold in August 2021 (Boat International) and made her debut on the charter market after that sale (YachtCharterFleet). After a nine-month refit she was reported back on the charter market in July 2024 (YachtCharterFleet). She is listed by several brokers, including Y.CO, Burgess and IYC; charter.ly is a review site and does not take bookings.

Does the Octopus yacht have a submarine?

Yes. YachtCharterFleet lists a Triton 3300 personal submarine for five guests plus a pilot, and Boat International (May 2022) reported a Triton 3300/6 about to join the yacht. Earlier sources describe a different, larger submarine named Pagoo (Boat International, 2021; Burgess). She also carries an ROV, a dive centre with a hyperbaric chamber (EYOS Expeditions) and two helipads (Y.CO).

How long is the Octopus yacht?

126.2 metres (414 ft), with a 21-metre beam and 9,932 gross tons (YachtCharterFleet); the Boat International directory gives 126.18 m. She was built by Lürssen in Germany and delivered in 2003. Several yachts share the name, so check the length when comparing listings.

Where is the Octopus yacht now?

We don’t publish positions. Use a public AIS tracker such as VesselFinder and match the length (126 m) and build year (2003); several vessels share the name. Her listed charter areas are Antarctica in winter and the South Pacific in summer (YachtCharterFleet), and IYC shows South Pacific availability for October 2026.

Is Octopus for sale, and how much is she worth?

She is not publicly listed for sale; she is marketed for charter. Her last public price dates from her 2021 sale, when the asking price was €235,000,000 (Boat International, 3 August 2021). The sale price was not disclosed, and no current valuation has been published by the shipyard, a classification society or a major yachting publication.

If not Octopus

Other 100 m+ yachts with published charter rates.

Sources (15)

YachtCharterFleet
YachtCharterFleet, most expensive yachts for charter in 2026 17 Mar 2026
YachtCharterFleet 3 Aug 2021
YachtCharterFleet 9 Jul 2024
Boat International 9 Jul 2024
Boat International 17 Jan 2023
Boat International 25 May 2022
Boat International 3 Aug 2021
Boat International, superyacht directory
Boat International, best explorer yachts for charter 10 Nov 2025
Burgess
Y.CO
IYC
EYOS Expeditions
itBoat

Octopus