Lurssen of Bremen, Germany, has built some of the largest and most celebrated private yachts in the world over more than 140 years of operation. Charter vessels from the Lurssen yard tend to be flagship-scale , typically 60 to 100 metres or more , with crews of 20 to 35 and interior programmes by the most prominent designers in the industry. The experience aboard is closer to a private residence than a conventional charter yacht: multiple decks of outdoor entertaining space, beach clubs, pools, helipads and a support vessel programme that handles logistics on behalf of the charter party. Eleuthera is an unusual destination for a yacht of this scale, which is precisely its appeal. The island has almost no superyacht infrastructure, meaning a Lurssen anchored off Harbour Island or Cape Eleuthera commands the entire anchorage. Its tenders handle the shallow approaches to beaches and flats that the mothership cannot reach directly. Charter rates for Lurssen yachts reflect their scale, typically running from 400,000 to more than 1,000,000 euros per week depending on the vessel. An advance provisioning allowance of approximately 30 per cent applies on top, with separate provisions for helicopter transfers, water sports equipment and bespoke programming. The Bahamas winter season, December through April, provides ideal conditions. Specialist brokers with Lurssen relationships can identify available vessels and negotiate positioning from the Caribbean or Mediterranean.
