I see a lot of superyachts. I mean, a lot.
Usually, they blur into one shiny, white, fiberglass fever dream. You’ve got your high-gloss cherry wood, your marble that looks like it cost more than my first house, and that "do not touch" vibe that makes you afraid to sit down in your own swim trunks.
 |
| SABAI Charter Review |
But then, I saw SABAI.
If you follow the yachting world—or even if you just have a deeply curated "Dream Life" board on Pinterest—you might recognize the silhouette. This isn't just another floating wedding cake. This is a Cantiere delle Marche (CdM). specifically the Nauta Air 110. It’s an explorer yacht, meaning it’s built like a tank but dressed like a barefoot luxury villa in Ibiza.
For years, this vessel (formerly known as Mimi La Sardine) has been the whispered "it" girl of the charter market. It won the World Superyacht Award. It won the Design & Innovation Award. It basically won the internet.
But here’s the question that always stops the scrolling: What does it actually cost to live this life for a week? And more importantly, is a 111-foot explorer yacht actually better than the massive 160-foot white boats parked next to it in St. Tropez?
I dug into the numbers, the specs, and the hidden details of SABAI. The answer surprised me—and it says a lot about where the future of luxury travel is going.
 |
| SABAI Charter Review |
The Price Tag: Let’s Rip The Band-Aid Off
Before we talk about the hand-weathered oak and the glass-walled Jacuzzi, we have to talk about money.
If you want to charter SABAI, you aren't booking an Airbnb. You are essentially hiring a mid-sized corporation for a week.
Here is the raw data for 2025/2026:
Winter (Caribbean/Bahamas): $120,000 - $130,000 USD per week.
Summer (West Mediterranean): €125,000 - €150,000 EUR per week.
"Wait," I can hear you saying. "$130,000 a week? That’s the price of a supercar."
Yes. But that’s just the Base Charter Fee. If you’re new to this world, let me introduce you to the three scariest letters in yachting: A.P.A.
APA = Advance Provisioning Allowance.
On a yacht like SABAI, the base price gets you the boat and the crew. That’s it. You want fuel to move the boat? You pay for it. You want vintage Dom Pérignon? You pay for it. You want docking spots in Monaco? You pay for it.
 |
| SABAI Charter Review |
The APA is typically 30% of the charter fee, paid upfront. So, for a high-season summer charter (€150,000), you’re adding another €45,000 immediately.
Then, there’s the tip. In the industry, a 10-15% gratuity for the crew is standard.
The Real "Out the Door" Number:
If you book SABAI for a peak July week in the Amalfi Coast, you are looking at a total spend of roughly €220,000 ($235,000 USD).
For one week.
So, why on earth would anyone pay a quarter of a million dollars for seven days on a 111-foot boat when they could rent an entire private island for less?
Because SABAI does something 99% of other yachts can't do.
 |
| SABAI Charter Review |
The "Boho-Luxe" Secret: Why It Feels Different
Most superyachts try to impress you with bling. They scream, "I AM RICH."
SABAI whispers, "I am relaxed."
This is where the "Information Gain" comes in—the stuff the brochures don't really explain. The interior of SABAI (designed by Nauta Yachts) was famously inspired by the previous owner's Pinterest boards. They didn't want a floating palace; they wanted a beach house.
The Texture Revolution
Walk into the main saloon of a typical Benetti or Sunseeker, and you’ll see lacquered surfaces. Fingerprint magnets.
On SABAI, the dominant material is weathered oak. It’s organic. It’s tactile. It looks like driftwood that’s been kissed by the sun and salt for fifty years, but it’s finished to a standard that costs millions.
 |
| SABAI Charter Review |
Why does this matter? Because of psychology.
When you are on a high-gloss boat, your brain is subconsciously on alert. Don't scratch that. Don't spill the red wine. It creates a low-level tension.
On SABAI, the "Boho-Luxe" aesthetic—muted golds, linens, bamboos, and that textured wood—tells your brain to shut down. It lowers your cortisol. It is the difference between staying in a museum and staying in a home.
 |
| SABAI Charter Review |
The "Pinterest" Layout
The layout is arguably the smartest in its class (the 100-120ft range).
The Floating Staircase: In the middle of the yacht, there is a staircase that looks like a sculpture. It connects the decks with open treads and glass walls, letting light flood through the entire core of the ship.
The Galley is a Social Hub: On many yachts, the kitchen (galley) is hidden away like a shameful secret. On SABAI, it’s designed to be part of the flow (though crew can close it off). It acknowledges that modern luxury is watching your private chef sear the scallops, not just having them appear by magic.
SABAI Charter Review
The "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing"
Here is the part that geeky yacht spotters (like me) love.
SABAI looks like a pretty, aesthetic vacation boat. But underneath the linen throw pillows, she is a Cantiere delle Marche.
If you aren't familiar with CdM, they are an Italian shipyard based in Ancona that changed the game. They don't build "yachts"; they build Little Ships.
Most yachts this size are built from GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic). They are light, fast, and bounce around in bad weather.
SABAI is built with a Steel Hull and an Aluminum Superstructure.
Why you should care:
Silence: Steel is heavy. It absorbs vibration. When you are sleeping in the Master Suite on the main deck, you don't hear the water slapping the hull like you do on a plastic boat. It is dead quiet.
Stability: The displacement hull cuts through the waves, it doesn't bounce over them. Combine that with her electrical stabilizers (which work even when the boat is anchored), and you don't spill your martini. Ever.
Range: This is the "Explorer" part. SABAI has a range of 5,500 nautical miles.
A normal yacht goes from St. Tropez to Monaco.
SABAI can go from St. Tropez to Barbados on a single tank of fuel.
You might just be chartering her for a week in Sardinia, but there is a profound sense of safety knowing you are on a vessel capable of crossing the Atlantic Ocean autonomously. It feels solid beneath your feet in a way lightweight yachts just don't.
 |
| SABAI Charter Review |
The High-Information Tour: Hidden Features
Let's mentally walk through the boat, highlighting the things that actually justify that $235,000 weekly burn rate.
1. The "Invisible" 299 GT
In yachting, size is measured in Volume (Gross Tonnage), not just length.
SABAI comes in at 299 GT.
This number is strategic. Once you hit 300 GT, the regulations for crew and safety become drastically more expensive and complex.
SABAI maximizes every single cubic inch of space allowed before hitting that regulatory wall. It feels like a 40-meter boat inside, even though it's only 34 meters. You get the space of a larger yacht without the regulatory headaches (and costs) passed down to you.
 |
| SABAI Charter Review |
2. The Glass-Walled Jacuzzi
Go up to the Sun Deck. This is the "hero shot" spot.
The Experience: You sit in the warm water, holding your drink, and you look through the water, through the glass, straight out to the horizon. It removes the visual barrier between you and the ocean. It’s a small detail, but it’s the kind of engineering that costs a fortune.
 |
| SABAI Charter Review |
3. The Beach Club Transformer
Go down to the stern (the back).
The swim platform isn't static. It’s a "Transformer" platform. It can lift up to act as a diving board, extend out, or sink below the water to make launching the toys easy.
Speaking of toys, because SABAI is an explorer, she carries more than usual:
The Tender: An Extender EXT 645. This isn't a dinghy; it's a proper boat that folds to fit on the deck.
The E-Foil: A Fliteboard (electric surfboard that flies above the water).
The Seabobs: Underwater scooters that make you feel like a dolphin (or James Bond).
SABAI Charter Review
Is It Worth It? The "Satisfaction" Score
I look at hundreds of charter listings. Most of them leave me feeling... meh.
You pay $100k and you get a boat that looks like a 1990s Las Vegas hotel lobby.
SABAI offers a different value proposition. It offers Relevance.
We are living in an era of "Quiet Luxury." We don't want gold taps anymore. We want experiences. We want to feel connected to the ocean, not insulated from it.
The Math of Satisfaction:
Accommodations: 10 Guests (5 Cabins).
Crew: 6.
Ratio: That’s better than a 1:2 crew-to-guest ratio.
Cost Per Person: If you split the $235,000 total cost among 5 couples, it’s $47,000 per couple for the week.
Is $47,000 a lot for a vacation? Absolutely.
But compare it to a high-end hotel suite in Amalfi (approx. $5,000/night = $35,000/week) + dining out every night + chartering day boats + tips + stress.
On SABAI, you unpack once. The scenery changes every morning. The chef knows exactly how you like your eggs (and that you’re allergic to cilantro). The Captain has already secured the best anchorage before you even woke up.
 |
| SABAI Charter Review |
The Verdict
The "SABAI" Yacht isn't just expensive because it's big. It's expensive because it solves the biggest problem in modern luxury travel: Artificiality.
It is a steel-hulled beast that feels like a beach house. It manages to be incredibly safe and robust while looking effortlessly chic.
If you have the budget, don't rent the shiny white plastic boat with the disco lights. Rent the one that can cross an ocean, but feels like home.
That is the real luxury. And honestly? For what you get, the price almost makes sense.
Almost.
Disclaimer: Prices and availability are subject to change based on the season and broker. SABAI is currently available for charter through major brokerage houses like Y.CO and Northrop & Johnson.