Explorer yachts (sometimes "expedition yachts") are built for range and ruggedness rather than top speed. Steel hulls, ice-class certification, six-week-plus autonomy, twin tenders, helicopter operations, and increasingly the personal submarine. Antarctica, Norway, Iceland, the Galapagos, Raja Ampat, Greenland — the only category of yacht that goes where commercial cruise ships can't.

What they cost, all-in

Explorer charter rates start around €60,000–€90,000 per week for a 40–50m hull, climb to €200,000–€400,000 per week for a 70m+ flagship like Octopus or Bold, and exceed €1,000,000 per week for the very top of the market. APA is higher than standard charters (35–45%) due to long passages and remote provisioning.

Who they suit

Owner's guests with two-week-plus availability and a serious itinerary in mind. Repeat charterers ready to leave the Mediterranean. Conservation-minded groups (most explorers carry science decks). Anyone planning a polar transit, a Pacific island chain, or a Northwest Passage attempt.