Bliss

An explorer in evening dress

Bliss occupies an interesting place in the Feadship fleet, combining the polish of a classic motor yacht with the toughness of a genuine expedition vessel. Delivered in 2021 at 94.75 metres, she carries an ice-class steel hull and holds Polar Code certification, which clears her for high-latitude cruising that most yachts of her finish would never attempt. Her gross tonnage of 2,983 GT sits within a hull designed and built to Lloyd's Register standards. The project ran under the name hull 1009 and launched in the spring of 2021.

The significance of Bliss lies in that dual nature. Owners increasingly want to cruise beyond the familiar summer routes, and a yacht like this makes remote destinations realistic while keeping the comforts intact. Her Polar Code status is a formal endorsement of that capability rather than a marketing line. Feadship has built explorers before, yet Bliss shows how far the type can be refined. She stands as evidence that ruggedness and elegance can share a single hull.

Studio De Voogt draws the profile

The naval architecture and exterior are the work of Studio De Voogt, which gave Bliss a graceful line that hides her expedition credentials at first glance. The displacement steel hull and aluminium superstructure are shaped for efficient passage-making rather than sprint speed. A defining exterior feature is the commercially certified helideck, engineered to accept a helicopter and to convert into a full sports and games deck when the aircraft is away. That flexibility is typical of the thinking behind the yacht.

Elsewhere the exterior gives owner and guests plenty of room to enjoy remote anchorages. A beach club opens the lower deck to the water, and the sundeck carries sunpads and a deck jacuzzi for warmer cruising grounds. The layout is arranged to make the most of dramatic scenery, with terraces and open areas positioned to take in the view. An ice-class hull means those views can include waters well off the usual chart. The design keeps her equally at home in the tropics or the far north.

An ice-class explorer in evening dress, cleared for the poles yet finished like a classic Feadship.

Remi Tessier below decks

The interior of Bliss comes from Remi Tessier, whose restrained and refined style suits a yacht meant to travel far and stay comfortable. She accommodates up to 18 guests in nine staterooms, supported by a crew of around 41 for extended and self-sufficient cruising. An interior lift links the decks, easing movement through a tall and voluminous vessel. Tessier's work favours quiet material palettes and precise detailing, giving the yacht a warm calm that contrasts with the wild places she can reach.

Space aboard is arranged for long stays rather than quick weekends. A gym, generous lounging areas and a beach club support an active life afloat, which fits the expedition brief. Because the yacht is built to be independent for weeks at a time, storage and service spaces are sized accordingly behind the scenes. The guest areas stay serene while the working parts of the vessel do the heavy lifting out of sight. Comfort here is engineered as much as decorated.

Diesel-electric and ice-ready

Bliss runs a twin diesel-electric propulsion package based on Caterpillar 3516E engines, a layout chosen for efficiency and smoothness on long passages. Her top speed is around 17 knots and she cruises economically at about 12 knots, where her range reaches roughly 6,000 nautical miles. Diesel-electric power lets the generators run at their best point while electric motors drive the propellers, which helps both fuel use and onboard quiet. The system also delivers the fine control useful when navigating ice or tight anchorages.

The ice-class structure is the engineering heart of the design. Building to that standard means a reinforced hull, protected systems and careful attention to operating in cold and remote conditions. Compliance with Lloyd's Register and the Polar Code demands rigorous documentation and testing across the vessel. That underlying strength allows Bliss to visit places where support is distant and self-reliance is essential. Everything about her machinery is set up for long, independent voyages far from a shipyard.

A young owner and a versatile asset

Bliss has been linked in press reports to Snapchat co-founder Evan Spiegel, said to be among Feadship's youngest clients, though the yard has never confirmed her ownership. As with all its projects, Feadship keeps the identity of the owner private. What is clear is the brief the yacht answers, a demand for a luxury vessel that can genuinely explore. The award community has taken note, and she received a Judges' Commendation at the Boat International Design and Innovation Awards.

In market terms the explorer format has proved durable, and Bliss is a strong example of it. Yachts that combine polar capability with high-end finish appeal to owners who want their cruising options kept open. Her Marshall Islands flag and commercial-standard certification make her flexible to operate and, in principle, to charter. Assets of this kind hold interest precisely because they are versatile and rare. Bliss shows why the type has moved from niche to mainstream at the top of the fleet.

Design

Для кого: Owners who want to cruise beyond the usual routes, from the tropics to the poles, without giving up the finish of a full-custom Feadship.