Yacht shows continue to follow their annual timelines as originally planned, and the International Boat Show held at Fort Lauderdale every year just culminated its 2018 edition with some of the most impressive yachts we have seen to date, most prominently the Elandess, built by German company Abeking & Rasmussen and measuring 244 feet.
The Elandess was the largest vessel to be displayed on the show, however there were many other which dazzled all those in attendance. That is why this yacht show is considered the largest boat show event in the world which is organized in-water.
About the Event
A total of 1200 boats graced the event with their unique and eye-catching presence, and over the 5 days starting October 31st visitors roamed around an area of almost 3 million sq. ft. throughout the city. The venue was split into seven locations cleverly dispersed around the city, all interconnected by the show organizers through either land shuttle services or by way of water taxis.
Although this may seem very fancy, but when you consider the audience it all seems necessary. Individuals with a lot of dough stacked away in the bank are usually the ones attending these yacht shows, as they are the ones who can afford to purchase these luxuries. For the show in Fort Lauderdale, they fly in from around the world, which is why the city is easily recognized as the global yachting capital.
This year’s event was the 59th edition of the most high-profile yacht show in the world, and the best of the best in the industry were welcomed to unveil their latest offerings in front of prospective buyers. The yachts on display were not average in any way, which is why they are often referred to as super yachts due to their grandiosity. Price of a single yacht easily touched in millions of dollars.
This year’s event was the 59th edition of the most high-profile yacht show in the world, and the best of the best in the industry were welcomed to unveil their latest offerings
The Elandess was the crown jewel in all of the yacht collection on display, not only because of its ginormous size but also because of the luxuries being offered by the vessel.
Apart from the fact that the Elandess has the capacity to accommodate 14 people (2 each in the seven cabins installed on the vessel) excluding a crew of up to 24 people, a transparent swimming pool measuring 26 feet adds to the glamour of the giant ship, making it an irresistible purchase.
Ticketing & Pricing
A single day’s ticket cost $33 per individual who wanted to attend the show, which was not too expensive considering the value of the products on display. However, this was only for the general admission category, and for those who were more high-profile, which is another way of referring to people with a higher propensity to actually make a purchase, exclusive offers were on the table such as the Windward VIP Club.
The Elandess was the crown jewel in all of the yacht collection on display, not only because of its ginormous size but also because of the luxuries being offered by the vessel
The Windward VIP Club access was being presented by the event’s official jet carrier, Delta Private Jets, in collaboration with Ulysse Nardin which was tasked to keep the official time of the show.
Access to the Windward VIP Club cost an individual around $300 per day, however in return members of the club were offered a wide array of exclusive luxuries, including an open bar, events of an exclusive nature, access to a climate-controlled area to enjoy the exhibitions on display at the show, and, of course, gourmet food choices.
The water taxi transportation was also offered complimentary to the Windward VIP Club members, along with custom-rolled cigars to be smoked at a members-only smoking lounge in a private, outdoor setting courtesy of Delta Private Jets. If all that wasn’t enough, members were also given wine tastings courtesy of Wine Enthusiast.
The Best of the Best
We have already extensively talked about the gorgeous Elandess, but it is essential that we also mention some other yachts that made a mark with their impressive presence.
There were two yachts that followed the Elandess and crossed the 200 feet mark, the Party Girl built by Icon Yachts, and the Utopia VI built by Rossi Navi. Abeking & Rasmussen also had the Elysian on display, which measures 196.9 feet, and although it is not as big as the company’s other offering, the Elysian certainly did impress nonetheless.