Charter the 413-foot Octopus Anywhere

The sheer size of Octopus means there’s plenty of space for guests to spread out when boarding tenders. Courtesy Octopus

It’s uncommon for a yacht to be setting a world-class standard after more than two decades on the water. That’s how long it’s been for Octopus, which Lürssen delivered to Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in 2003. The sheer size of Octopus remains notable, and its capabilities for long-term remote cruising are still the stuff of serious CEO envy. The ability to truly get lost in the middle of nowhere, even today, is a rare and precious attribute.

Those remote-cruising capabilities are now creating exciting charter opportunities at a weekly base rate of $2.2 million for 12 guests—with a staggering 45 crew. The current owner of Octopus is only aboard for a couple months each year. The rest of the time outside of maintenance is being made available for charters, including this winter and well into 2026 throughout the South Pacific.

“The boat was set up to be self-sufficient for up to a month, so they really can do that—and maybe more depending on where they are,” says Jacqui Lockhart, charter manager for Octopus with Big Blue Expeditions. “There are newer boats, but I question how much they match what she can do.”

Octopus is a sizable yacht, but it also has spaces inside and out that can feel downright cozy. Courtesy Octopus

Options for charter bookings throughout the next year can include Vanuatu, the Lau Islands, greater Fiji, Papua New Guinea, the Solomons and French Polynesia. These are the kinds of destinations where most charter boats don’t go, and especially not yachts this size.

The owner is keen to welcome guests who treat the yacht and crew well, Lockhart says, and of course people who are interested in more than the usual Caribbean and Mediterranean jaunts.

“People are getting more adventurous, and there are starting to be different sizes of boats that can do that. This is the top of the range,” she says. “This is about learning new places, experiencing that, opening people’s eyes to the world. It’s exciting.”

Yes, There Are 45 Crew

Running a yacht the size of Octopus is like running a small business, with all kinds of departments and rotating staff. There’s the owner’s galley, which has two executive chefs, plus the crew’s galley, which has its own chefs, and then there are all the sous chefs, and, well, you can see how crew add up fast. The captain has been aboard for 17 years, including with the previous owner, so the service standards continue to be set from the top.

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