We're diving deep into the Feadship ALLEGRA. But wait... which one? The story of these two yachts is one of the most fascinating tales of legacy, evolution, and pure, unadulterated luxury in the entire industry.
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| Feadship built this yacht |
Okay, let's talk yachts.
No, I mean, let's really talk yachts. Not just the shiny white boats you see bobbing in the harbor. Let's talk about the legends. The kind of vessels that make even billionaires stop and stare. The kind that have a soul.
Feadship isn't just a builder. It's the benchmark. It's the "Patek Philippe on the water." It's a Dutch powerhouse that has been in the game of "pure custom" superyacht building since 1949, and arguably, no one does it better.
So, when I decided to do a deep dive on the Feadship Allegra, I thought I knew what I was getting into. "Allegra," after all, is a beautiful name. It's Italian for "joyful" or "lively." A perfect name for a yacht, right?
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| Feadship built this yacht |
But a funny thing happened. As I fell down the rabbit hole (and trust me, it’s a deep rabbit hole), I kept hitting a wall. My screens were flooded with conflicting images.
Was I looking at a 42-meter (137-foot) classic, with those timeless, elegant lines that defined 80s and 90s super-yachting?
Or was I looking at a brand new, razor-sharp 67-meter (220-foot) behemoth, launched in 2023 with a bow that looks like it could slice a wave in half?
The answer, I discovered, wasn't an "or." The answer was... yes.
This isn't a mistake. This isn't a simple case of a renamed boat. This is a story of two completely different Feadships, built 34 years apart, that share the same iconic name.
And that, my friends, is where the real story is.
Why would this happen? Is it the same owner? A coincidence? A tribute?
I was hooked. This is so much more than a review. This is an investigation into the evolution of luxury itself. We're not just looking at a yacht; we're looking at a 34-year gap in design, technology, and desire, all told through the lens of one builder and one name.
So grab a coffee. Settle in. This is going to be a long one. We're going to compare the "Classic" Allegra with the "Modern" Allegra. And by the end, you'll have a better understanding of what makes Feadship... well, Feadship.
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| Feadship built this yacht |
Part 1: The Icon – The 1989 Allegra (The Classic)
Let's set the wayback machine. The year is 1989.
Top Gun is still a recent memory. The Berlin Wall is about to fall. And in Aalsmeer, Netherlands, the craftsmen at Feadship (specifically the De Vries yard) are putting the finishing touches on a 41.75-meter (137-foot) masterpiece.
She’s not launched as Allegra, though. Her original name is Faribana.
Now, 1989 is a fascinating time for yachts. This is the era just before the "megayacht" explosion of the late 90s and 2000s. Size wasn't everything. What mattered was pedigree, comfort, and timeless style. And this yacht... this yacht had it in spades.
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| Feadship built this yacht |
The Disdale Masterstroke
If you know yacht design, you know the name Terence Disdale. He's a living legend. And on this project, he was the maestro. He handled both the exterior and the interior.
This is a crucial point. When one person designs the whole thing, you get a harmony, a single, unified vision that is almost impossible to replicate. The outside flows into the inside.
From the dock, she is pure, classic Feadship. She has that beautiful, gently flared bow, the soft, sweeping lines, and a superstructure that is perfectly proportioned. She doesn't shout. She doesn't need to. She just is. She’s confident, elegant, and looks like she’s moving even when she's tied to the dock. This is the kind of design that simply never goes out of style.
She was built to last, with a steel hull and an aluminum superstructure, giving her the strength to cruise the world and the stability to do it in absolute comfort.
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| Feadship built this yacht |
That "At Home on the Water" Interior
But it's the inside where Disdale's genius really hits you.
I've poured over the photos of her (she was refit in 2008, which updated her systems but thankfully preserved her soul), and the only word that comes to mind is "home."
This isn't a sterile, white, minimalist box. This is a home. It's warm. It's inviting.
The main salon is filled with rich, high-gloss joinery—likely mahogany or a similar dark, warm wood. The furniture is plush, comfortable, and arranged for conversation, not just for "looking at." You see deep, soft sofas, plush armchairs, and beautiful, intricate carpets. The color palette is creams, beiges, and soft blues, accented by that warm wood. It feels like the most luxurious, comfortable English country house that just so happens to float.
It’s a design that says, "Put your feet up. Have a drink. Stay a while."
She’s designed for 10 guests in 5 staterooms. The full-beam master suite is a sanctuary, with a private study, a walk-in wardrobe, and a massive ensuite bathroom. Again, it’s all about comfort, not just shock value.
The formal dining room is its own separate space, a place for intimate, elegant dinners. The whole layout is a masterclass in classic, functional luxury.
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| Feadship built this yacht |
Living the Life: The 1989 Way
On a yacht of this era, the sundeck is king. And what a sundeck.
This is the social heart of the yacht. It has a big jacuzzi, surrounded by a sea of sunpads. There's a full-service bar, casual dining areas, and plenty of space to just soak in the Mediterranean or Caribbean sun. This is where the memories are made.
When she was refit in 2008 (and again later), she was given all the modern touches: new entertainment systems, updated navigation, and zero-speed stabilizers (a huge deal, meaning she doesn't rock and roll even when at anchor).
This is a yacht built for a family. Built for cruising. Built for living. She's not a speed demon—her twin Caterpillar engines push her at a comfortable 12 knots—but she has an incredible range of over 4,000 nautical miles. She was built to cross oceans, to explore, and to be a safe, luxurious haven for her owner.
This is the Allegra that defined the name. A timeless, comfortable, and utterly graceful icon of Dutch shipbuilding.
So... how do you follow that up?
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| Feadship built this yacht |
Part 2: The Evolution – The 2023 Allegra (The Modern)
Fast forward 34 years.
The world is... different. We have smartphones. The internet. Social media. And the world of yachting has changed with it.
Size is a bigger deal now. But so is technology, efficiency, "wellness," and the experience. An owner in 2023 doesn't just want a "home on the water." They want an experience on the water. A private resort. A wellness center. A beach club.
And in 2023, from the Feadship yard in Kaag, a new 67.4-meter (220-foot) giant slips into the water. Her project name was Project 823.
Her final name? Allegra.
A Design of "Strength"
The first time I saw this yacht, I just... stared.
This is not her older sister.
Where the 1989 Allegra is soft, curved, and classic, the 2023 Allegra is sharp, angular, and powerful.
This time, the design was handled by Feadship's in-house team, Studio De Voogt. And according to a Feadship senior designer, the main theme of the yacht is "strength."
You can see it everywhere.
First, that bow. It’s a straight, plumb bow. This is a design that has become hugely popular. It's not just for looks; it cuts through the water with incredible efficiency, reducing pitching and making for a smoother ride. But man, does it look mean (in the absolute best way).
Then you have the lines. They are "chiselled," as Feadship says. The superstructure has this "muscular reverse sheer," a powerful line that sweeps up towards the bow, giving it this incredible sense of forward momentum.
The exterior is architectural. It’s bold. The horizontal strip windows are dark and contrast sharply with the white superstructure, giving it a long, sleek, and modern profile.
This yacht doesn't just "suggest" power. It screams it.
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| Feadship built this yacht |
The Modern Interior: A Family-Focused Sanctuary
If the 1989 interior was a "country home," the 2023 interior is a "modern family sanctuary."
Designed and built for an experienced owner, the layout is fascinating and tailored specifically to his family's needs.
The interior design, also by Studio De Voogt, is described as "simple yet sophisticated." Think natural tones, light wood veneers, and organic forms. It's not the dark, heavy woods of the 80s. This is all about light, air, and space. It's sober, tasteful, but also informal and welcoming.
The layout itself is brilliant. It sleeps 10 guests, just like the original. But how it does it is completely different.
There are three guest cabins on the lower deck.
There's a full-beam master stateroom on the main deck forward.
And—get this—a VIP suite on the bridge deck.
This is a genius move. You're an owner. You have your parents, your business partner, or your most important friends on board. Where do you put them? You give them the VIP suite on the bridge deck, which has insane views and a level of privacy that is second only to the owner's. It's a massive power move of hospitality.
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| Feadship built this yacht |
The "Wow" Features (This is a Different World)
This is where the 34-year gap becomes a chasm. The 2023 Allegra is built around features that simply didn't exist in 1989.
The Beach Club & Wellness Center:
On the 1989 Allegra, the "beach" was a small swim platform you lowered at the stern (the back). On the 2023 Allegra, the entire lower deck aft is a massive "wellness center, gym, and beach club."
Imagine this: You're at anchor. The huge stern door folds down to create a massive, teak-covered platform right at water level. Side platforms might fold out too. Inside, instead of a dark garage, you have a bright, air-conditioned lounge, a fully-stocked gym, and maybe a spa with a sauna or massage room. You do a workout, grab a drink from the bar, and dive straight into the ocean.
This. Is. The. Modern. Yachting. Experience.
The Sundeck as a "Social Hub":
The sundeck is still king, but it's evolved. The tool results I found are incredible. Feadship describes it as the designated social hub.
It's partially protected by a hardtop, but that hardtop has nine skylights to let the sun pour in.
There's a "glass windbreak" to protect the central lounging zone from the breeze, so you can be up there even when underway.
The ventilation casings, which are usually ugly, are designed to look like "powerful legs," and the radar mast is engineered to span across the skylights.
It's not just a deck; it's a "sky lounge." It’s an engineering masterpiece designed for maximum comfort and "en plein air appeal."
The Tech:
Everything about this yacht is state-of-the-art. She’s built to be quiet—Feadship is obsessed with silent-running—and incredibly stable. She also has dedicated crew quarters and service areas that are miles beyond the 1989 standards, including extra fridge/freezer storage, a huge laundry, and more. Why? Because to provide 7-star service, the crew needs 7-star facilities.
This is a "joyful" machine, yes, but it's a powerful, intelligent, and hyper-advanced one.
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| Feadship built this yacht |
Part 3: The "Why?" – A Tale of Two Allegra's
So. Here we are. Two yachts. One name. 34 years apart.
It's the ultimate "Then vs. Now."
The 1989 Allegra (ex-Faribana)
Designer: Terence Disdale (Exterior & Interior)
Vibe: Classic. Timeless. "Warm Country Home."
Key Feature: Unified design, rich woods, ultimate comfort.
Focus: Intimate cruising, classic luxury.
The 2023 Allegra (ex-Project 823)
Designer: Studio De Voogt (Exterior & Interior)
Vibe: Modern. Powerful. "Family Sanctuary."
Key Feature: Straight bow, wellness/beach club, high-tech sundeck.
Focus: Experiential living, modern family-centric luxury.
Which brings us back to the big question: Why? Why reuse the name?
Theory 1: The Same Owner.
This is the romantic theory. An owner bought the 1989 Allegra, loved her, and spent decades enjoying that Feadship quality. But as time went on, their family grew, their needs changed, and they saw the incredible new features on modern yachts. So, they went back to Feadship and said, "I want to build a new yacht. It has to be a Feadship. And it has to be my Allegra... just more." Given the 34-year gap, this is less likely, but it's a beautiful thought.
Theory 2: A Total Coincidence.
This is the most likely scenario. "Allegra" is just a fantastic, positive, and elegant name. The 1989 Allegra had been cruising for decades, and an experienced new owner, building their dream 67-meter yacht, simply fell in love with the same name. It's elegant, simple, and not overused. It just fit their vision for a "joyful" family yacht.
Theory 3: A Subtle Tribute.
This is a mix of the two. Maybe the new owner knew of the classic 1989 Allegra. Maybe they had seen it in a magazine or admired it in a port. And as an "experienced owner," they wanted a name that had a legacy in the Feadship family. They wanted a name that meant something. So, they "adopted" the name, giving it a new hull and a new life for a new generation.
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| Feadship built this yacht |
What This Really Tells Us About Feadship
For me, the "why" of the name is less important than what the two yachts represent.
This, for me, is the real story. This is the ultimate proof of Feadship's "relentless pursuit of perfection."
It shows that Feadship isn't a "one-trick pony." They aren't stuck in the past, only building classic, white, flared-bow yachts. And they aren't only building wild, futuristic concept yachts.
They are, at their core, pure custom builders.
The 1989 Allegra is the perfect reflection of what a high-end, discerning owner wanted in 1989.
The 2023 Allegra is the perfect reflection of what a high-end, discerning owner wants in 2023.
Both yachts are, in their own time, the absolute pinnacle of craftsmanship and engineering. Both are built to last for generations. And both, despite their wildly different appearances, are instantly recognizable as Feadships. You see it in the quality of the paint, the solidity of the build, the perfection of the details.
That's the Feadship magic. The brief changes. The technology changes. The styles change. But the commitment to "perfect" never, ever does.
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| Feadship built this yacht |
Conclusion: Which "Joy" Would You Choose?
So, after... wow, nearly 3,000 words... what's the takeaway?
For me, it’s that a name can be a legacy. It's fascinating to see "Allegra" evolve from a 42-meter Disdale classic to a 67-meter De Voogt powerhouse.
But it all comes down to a question of taste, doesn't it?
It's the ultimate fantasy choice. If you had the money, which Allegra would you really want?
Would you choose the 1989 Classic? The warmth of that Disdale interior, the old-world charm, the feeling of a timeless, comfortable home that can cross any ocean?
Or would you take the 2023 Modern? The power of that straight bow, the incredible beach club and wellness center, the high-tech sky lounge, and the feeling of having the most advanced family resort on the water?
Honestly... I just don't know. I'm a sucker for the romance of the classic, but my God, that beach club on the new one is calling my name.
Let me know what you think.
In the end, it doesn't really matter which one you'd pick. They are two perfect, "joyful" expressions of their time.
One name. Two icons. One legendary builder. That, right there, is the story of Allegra. And it's one of the best in the business.