For superyacht owners—both seasoned and new—there are compelling reasons to skip the shipyard. The pre-owned market, while lacking the personal touch that some owners value, can offer the same craftsmanship as a new build without the years-long wait or the exorbitant price tag.
The Whisper, a 95.2-meter Lürssen best known for having been commissioned by Pakistani-American billionaire Shahid Khan, has returned to the market with an asking price of 149 million euros. This makes it one of the ten most expensive superyachts currently for sale, trailing only names such as I Dynasty, Pelorus, and the two Lunas (the one built by Lloyd Werft and the one built by Oceanco).
According to Will Christie, CEO of Christie Yachts and the broker in charge of the Whisper’s sale, building a comparable yacht today could cost around 400 million euros and take between four and five years. That’s how drastically the economics of superyacht construction have changed since the Whisper first set sail in 2014.
“I recently conducted a full bidding process to build a yacht of similar size,” Christie says over the phone. “It involved all the leading Dutch and German shipyards, and the quoted price range was 100,000 to 120,000 euros per gross registered ton.” That figure, he adds, does not include items supplied by the owner, design fees, project management, or the cost of capital tied up during construction.
With a gross tonnage of 2,928 metric tons, this puts the base construction cost of the Whisper at approximately 293 to 351 million euros, before adding those additional costs. For a yacht with such detailed design and interiors as those of the Whisper—including a 350-kilogram “Crystal Caviar” chandelier—Christie estimates that the total could be around 400 million euros.
And, unlike a new build, the Whisper is ready to set sail. So what do you actually get for 149 million euros (aside from a stunning exterior designed by Espen Øino)?
Five of the Whisper’s Most Unique Features
The pool takes up almost the entire sun deck. At 12 meters long, the Whisper’s pool occupies a considerable portion of an already generous sun deck. Oval in shape and lined with mosaic tiles, it features a raised hot tub at one end that also serves as an observation deck. Sun loungers surround the pool, while an outdoor dining table and a barbecue take up the remaining space. Even the guest bathroom has been given a decorative touch, featuring a delicate ceramic koi fish design.
The spa features everything from a hammam to an ice machine. The Whisper’s Persian-inspired spa—opulent and lavishly tiled— spans the lower deck, where guests will find a hammam, a sauna, a plunge pool, and a hydrotherapy tub, as well as a massage room and a beauty salon. The gym opens onto an outdoor area for yoga and Pilates, while a separate entrance for guest therapists allows them to access the spa without passing through the owner’s private areas.
The helipad serves a second purpose. When there is no helicopter on board, the Whisper’s helipad becomes an additional social space. Basketball, dancing, and sunbathing are all possible on the spacious aft deck, which offers enough room to move from one activity to another without much rearranging. For a more tranquil retreat, a spiral staircase leads up several decks to an observation deck and an outdoor “bed under the stars,” suspended over the water. The deck can be closed off from the rest of the yacht for greater privacy.
The main salon has 42 screens. Forty-two individual LED monitors line the walls on either side of the Whisper’s double-height staircase, a prime example of superyacht technology turned into a spectacle. The screens are connected to cameras distributed throughout the yacht that, with the push of a button, transform the walls into enormous virtual windows. A gleaming bronze and crystal chandelier hangs above the staircase—a more conventional way to fill empty space on a superyacht, if “conventional” is even the right word for a chandelier that weighs as much as a giant Galápagos tortoise. Or a military cargo drone.
The main deck is inspired by a classic Italian brand. The Whisper’s sports bar used to be the place for games, parties, and—when the mood called for it—a full-fledged nightclub. But last year’s renovation, led by Michael Smith Design, has reimagined the space in a more Euro-chic style. The iconic nautical brand Riva was the inspiration for the redesign, according to Christie, evident in the use of dark woods, light leather, and marble, which give the lounge a distinctly Italian feel.
The multi-million-dollar question
It’s important to note that the cost of building a yacht and its resale value are not the same thing. A replacement cost of 400 million euros does not automatically make a 149-million-euro yacht a bargain, and buyers at this level must also consider the ongoing costs of crew, maintenance, insurance, fuel, and future renovations.
But that replacement cost does illustrate what the Whisper offers and a new build cannot: instant gratification. For anyone who wants a 95.2-meter Lürssen now, rather than in the early 2030s, it’s something worth considering.
For those who are curious, the Whisper will be on display at this year’s Monaco Yacht Show, or available for private viewings in the south of France in early September.
