Is The 262-Foot-Long Xplorer 80 The Ultimate Crossover Superyacht?

Full disclosure. I love all of Damen Yachting’s newly rebranded Xplorer line of crossover superyachts that combine all the capabilities of an expedition yacht with all the over-the-top luxury of a more conventional yacht. I love the way they dare to be just a bit different too.

And now that the new, 262-foot-long (80 meter) Xplorer 80 has been introduced to the Xplorer range which already includes the 196-foot-long Xplorer 60 (meter), and the massive 344-foot-long Xplorer 105 (meter), it’s great to see the Damen Yachting team continue to innovate.

“By introducing the Xplorer 80, we have further established our ability to create a perfect crossover superyacht. She combines luxury, expedition, capability, high-spec shipbuilding and everything in- between.” Rose Damen, Managing Director Damen Yachting.

According to advance reports the concept was conceived with customization in mind while offering a number of configuration options to suit any lifestyle. Xplorer Design Manager Enrique Tintore explains, “The way the Xplorer has been designed allows for a high level of flexibility to suit any extreme environment or refined landscape. If a helicopter isn’t essential for you, we’ve got many other options for that space. Need a conference room or a seventh guest cabin? Or a separate gym and a high-spec laboratory? We can make that happen.”

The configuration options include everything from a below deck helicopter hangar, and large gym and wellness center, to a massive twin tender garage setup with a fully-equipped dive center. And for many who don’t require such serious heli-ops storage capability, the large aft area can be configured into wall-to-wall lounge and beach club too.

The flexibility in the design does not stop at configuration options. For the exterior design, Damen Yachting has once again partnered with Azure Yacht Design & Naval Architecture to further develop the Xplorer 80’s exterior lines. But the Dutch builder has also partnered up with a number of additional exterior and interior designers to provide a unique set of alternatives centered around the same base platform. For the exterior, alternative designs have been created by Espen Øino, Harrison Eidsgaard and Azure Yacht Design.

For the interior design concepts, Damen Yachting has partnered with London-based design studio Harrison Eidsgaard. The result is a custom designed for long-term and luxurious living. Known for their quality and personal attention to detail, the Harrison Eidsgaard team has developed a Manhattan loft-inspired space that encompasses how you like to explore and experience your passions. With refined details, smart storage and a warm ambience throughout, every step you take around this yacht has been considered. “This interior can cover every journey and any lifestyle – all you need to do is immerse yourself.” Ben Harrison, co-founder of Harrison Eidsgaard. Alternative interior design concepts have also been provided by Winch Design and Reymond Langton Design.

Coinciding with the introduction of the Xplorer 80, Damen Yachting have also introduced their updated and modernized branding for their range of luxury explorers. Damen Yachting’s Marketing Manager Sarah Flavell explains. “We wanted to make the original SeaXplorer branding more relevant for today’s and tomorrow’s luxurious yet adventurous yachting needs. While the DNA within the Xplorer 80 proudly carries all of the original SeaXplorer key attributes, we wanted to update the way the brand was presented to better reflect the forward-thinking nature of this new 80-metre Xplorer. The result is that the Xplorer 80 absolutely embodies the brand values associated with the Xplorer range bringing extensive capability, unrivalled autonomy and above all luxury space and lifestyle to the most extreme corners of the globe.”

It’s cool to see Damen Yachting focus on a world of infinite adventures where superyachts and expedition yachts combine. In fact, the new Xplorer 80 may just be the ultimate crossover superyacht that combines luxury and expedition capability in a whole new way.

Watch this space.