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- Mercedes-Maybach has helped design Beyond Horizons, a proposed 508-foot (155-metre) megayacht that will serve as the centrepiece of the exclusive Maybach Ocean Club.
- Membership is limited to 300 people, with a reported USD $4 million (roughly AUD $5.85 million) buy-in granting four weeks aboard the yacht each year.
- The vessel will feature 30 private suites, infinity pools, a beach club, Michelin-starred dining and a separate support ship carrying a helicopter and water toys.
Ever wondered what USD $4 million gets you in the world of luxury yachting? Four weeks a year aboard a 508-foot Mercedes-Maybach-designed megayacht. It’s essentially a timeshare for the ultra-rich, only instead of a holiday penthouse suite, you’re sharing a floating palace with 299 other ultra-rich acquaintances.
Meet Beyond Horizons, the centrepiece of the Maybach Ocean Club, an invitation-only private members’ club developed in collaboration with Mercedes-Benz Design. The proposed 155-metre vessel will feature everything from private ocean-view suites to infinity pools, Michelin-starred dining and a dedicated support ship to carry the toys that won’t fit aboard the main yacht. Can’t skimp on the legroom.
For a membership that costs millions just to get in the door, plus ongoing annual contributions, you’d think some of these people might prefer having a superyacht to themselves. But looking at the concept images, with 28 days at sea each year and itineraries chasing the Mediterranean sun and Caribbean winter, there’s clearly more to the appeal than simply getting on a boat. Let’s have a look at life aboard Beyond Horizons with the uber-rich.
1/4What Does USD $4 Million Get You Aboard Beyond Horizons?
We’ll get to the rest of the ship in a moment, but first, let’s show you to your rooms. Beyond Horizons will have 30 private suites, each about 800 square feet (74 square metres), with floor-to-ceiling windows, a private balcony and uninterrupted ocean views. Developed with Heller Studios Design, the rooms look more like luxury waterfront apartments than traditional yacht cabins.
Step outside, and things get considerably more extravagant. Mercedes-Benz says the yacht’s cascading decks will offer around 50,000 square feet of outdoor space, including layered teak terraces, panoramic lounging areas and infinity pools overlooking the water.
At the stern sits a beach club with direct sea access, where members can move between the pool, sun loungers and the ocean itself. But wait, there’s more. The resort, so to speak, will feature observation lounges, entertainment spaces, a cigar lounge and even a golf simulator. Apparently, the real thing isn’t enough when you can play a round at sea. Better than sending golf balls into the water, though.
1/3Michelin-Starred Dining, Luxury Spas and a Second Yacht
Even dinner aboard Beyond Horizons sounds like an event. The club has partnered with chef Alain Roux and The Waterside Inn, the celebrated three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Berkshire, to develop its culinary programme. Not a bad arrangement when your dining room changes countries every few days.
Then there’s the wellness offering, managed by Swiss specialist Chenot. Beyond the expected spa treatments and gym, the plans include Pilates, mobility and strength training, nutritional programmes and personalised performance assessments. There’s even a medical suite.
But the only thing more impressive than this gargantuan megayacht is the other big boat that follows it around.
Beyond Horizons has a dedicated support ship that carries the helicopter, tenders, jet skis, water-sports equipment and diving gear. It’s an excessive addition, but it keeps the main yacht’s decks free for the considerably more important business of relaxing.
Off the boat, the planned itineraries sound suitably extravagant. Summers will take members through Mediterranean destinations such as Portofino, Porto Cervo and Saint-Tropez, while winters shift to the Caribbean, including St. Barth and St. Lucia. The club also plans experiences around events such as the Monaco Grand Prix and Cannes Film Festival.
Hard to imagine anyone needing an excuse to visit Monaco during Grand Prix week, but having your own floating five-star resort nearby probably helps.
How Does the Maybach Ocean Club Membership Work?
If you’re one of the 300 who think paying the reported USD $4 million buy-in for a spot on Beyond Horizons is a good use of your wealth, you’re entitled to four weeks aboard each year. Members can reserve their preferred dates, exchange weeks with one another and access a wider programme of club events. As I said, it’s basically a timeshare for the uber-rich.
Unlike an ordinary holiday booking, membership also includes a legally protected interest in the club’s ownership structure, together with defined transfer and resale rights. It isn’t the same as individually owning a share of the yacht itself.
And the reported USD $4 million is only the beginning. According to the club’s official FAQ, annual contributions amount to approximately 4–5 per cent of the initial membership payment, covering crew, operations, maintenance and concierge services. At a USD $4 million entry price, that would work out to roughly USD $160,000–$200,000 each year.
Breakfast, coffee and non-alcoholic drinks are included, but other food and beverages, helicopter trips, spa treatments and special dining experiences cost extra. Your four weeks also expire at the end of each year if you don’t use them. Even these guys have to deal with fine print.
When Will Beyond Horizons Set Sail?
But that’s only if Beyond Horizons actually makes it to the ocean. They haven’t built it yet. The megayacht is still just a design project, although German shipyard Lloyd Werft has been selected as the construction partner, with delivery currently targeted for 2030.
When it eventually sets sail, four weeks on a megayacht with its own helicopter-carrying entourage is certainly one way to spend a few million dollars without worrying about where to park it. Wonder if that support boat has parking for your other Benz.
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