The New Luxury Yacht

Short description: Sunseeker’s award-winning Manhattan 94 and Ferretti Yachts’ INFYNITO 90 reveal two approaches to modern yacht design: striking exterior architecture and flexible living spaces designed around comfort, privacy and year-round use.

Key Points
◉ Design earns recognition. Sunseeker’s Manhattan 94 received the Best Exterior Design award in its category at the 2026 World Yacht Trophies.
◉ Outdoor living evolves. Ferretti’s INFYNITO 90 features a sheltered All-Season Terrace designed to make the forward deck more usable in different conditions.
◉ Personalisation shapes luxury. Both yachts place emphasis on configurable layouts and the relationship between indoor comfort and life on the water.

Two Visions of Modern Yachting

Luxury yacht design is increasingly focused on how owners experience time at sea, rather than on dimensions and top speed alone. Exterior styling, privacy, flexible accommodation and the connection between indoor and outdoor areas are becoming central elements of the onboard experience.

Two recent models illustrate this direction. The British-built Sunseeker Manhattan 94 has attracted attention for its exterior design and main-deck owner’s suite. Italy’s Ferretti Yachts takes a different approach with the INFYNITO 90, built around a sheltered forward terrace intended to extend the use of outdoor space beyond ideal summer conditions.

Both yachts sit within the approximately 27-to-29-metre segment, where owners can expect substantial accommodation and entertaining areas without moving into the scale of much larger superyachts.

Sunseeker Manhattan 94: Design With Presence

The Manhattan 94 received the Best Exterior Design award in the 80–98-foot category at the 2026 World Yacht Trophies, following its international debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival. The recognition places the model among the notable new launches of the season.

At approximately 28.6 metres long, the yacht combines Sunseeker’s recognisable styling with expansive glazing, multiple social areas and a layout intended to balance shared entertainment with private accommodation.

One of its defining features is a full-beam owner’s suite on the main deck. Four additional guest cabins are located on the lower deck, allowing accommodation for up to ten guests, depending on the configuration. The arrangement brings a feature often associated with larger yachts into a more compact platform.

The design also connects the saloon with outdoor entertaining areas, including the flybridge and aft cockpit. This creates several settings for dining, relaxing or socialising while allowing guests to move between spaces.

The award recognises the yacht’s exterior design, but its longer-term appeal will also depend on practical considerations such as circulation, onboard comfort, performance under real conditions and ownership costs.

Ferretti INFYNITO 90: A Terrace for Every Season

The Ferretti Yachts INFYNITO 90 measures approximately 26.95 metres in length and has a maximum beam of 7.31 metres. Its central design feature is the All-Season Terrace at the bow, a sheltered outdoor area integrated into the yacht’s overall architecture.

Unlike a conventional exposed foredeck, the terrace is protected by an extension of the superstructure. It is designed to preserve views of the sea while providing greater shelter and privacy. Depending on the selected configuration, the space can accommodate a lounge, a bar or a Jacuzzi arrangement.

This approach changes the role of the forward deck. Rather than serving primarily as a sunbathing area in favourable weather, it becomes another living space that can be used in a broader range of conditions.

Ferretti also offers alternative interior arrangements, including different main-deck and lower-deck layouts. The yacht accommodates four guest cabins and two crew cabins, with specifications depending on the chosen configuration.

Energy and Comfort at Anchor

The INFYNITO concept also incorporates solar panels and battery-based energy storage. Ferretti’s Sustainable Enhanced Architecture integrates these systems with selected onboard functions, aiming to reduce reliance on conventional generator operation when conditions and energy demand allow.

The practical benefit depends on the yacht’s configuration, battery capacity, weather, hotel loads and the use of energy-intensive equipment. Solar power does not eliminate the need for conventional energy sources, particularly when air conditioning and other high-demand systems are operating.

Nevertheless, the concept reflects a wider design priority: improving the experience of remaining at anchor, where reduced noise and greater comfort can matter as much as speed under way.

For owners who spend extended periods aboard, these systems can form part of a broader evaluation of operating patterns, energy consumption and onboard amenities.

What the Two Yachts Reveal

The Manhattan 94 and INFYNITO 90 approach luxury from different directions. Sunseeker places strong emphasis on exterior character, a distinctive main-deck owner’s suite and connected social spaces. Ferretti makes the sheltered terrace the centrepiece of a design focused on flexible living and more consistent use of outdoor areas.

Their common theme is the growing importance of usability. A yacht’s appeal is no longer defined solely by its profile in a marina or its published performance figures. The layout, degree of privacy, protection from the elements and ease of moving between spaces all contribute to the experience of ownership.

Customisation is also important. Individual owners have different priorities, from hosting guests and family cruising to spending quiet periods at anchor. Configurable interiors and exterior spaces give builders a way to address these differences within a defined platform.

For prospective buyers, the comparison highlights why the details matter. A design award can provide industry recognition, while an innovative terrace can offer a clear lifestyle proposition. Neither alone determines whether a yacht is the right fit; the final assessment depends on how its spaces, systems and capabilities match the owner’s intended use.

The Future of Luxury at Sea

These two models illustrate a broader direction in yacht design: creating more meaningful living space within a limited footprint. Larger windows, more adaptable layouts, protected outdoor areas and integrated energy systems are helping shape a more residential approach to life on board.

Sunseeker’s Manhattan 94 brings together an award-winning exterior and an accommodation layout associated with larger vessels. Ferretti’s INFYNITO 90 demonstrates how a sheltered terrace can become a defining architectural feature rather than an optional extra.

As luxury buyers place greater emphasis on comfort, privacy and time spent aboard, the most significant design decisions may increasingly be those that make a yacht more enjoyable to use throughout the year—not simply more impressive to look at.