10 things that make multimillion-dollar yachts truly luxurious

It was once the case that luxury yachts were simply a comfortable way of travelling from one island to another in the Caribbean or Mediterranean charter grounds, and the height of luxury was a fast motor yacht with sizeable lounge and a bar.

As owners have asked for more from their investment, shipbuilders have evolved to provide spa facilities, incredible water toys … and occasionally something completely unique to the industry.

Security aboard superyachts is changing with the new threat of drones, while designers continue to reduce the boundaries between the exterior and interior environment. Technological innovations have pushed designs in unique directions and luxury yachts have never been more visually distinctive or versatile than in the 21st century. Here are 10 novel features aboard superyachts to keep pace with our changing world.

1. Swarovski crystal interiors

The yachting lifestyle often lends itself to opulence and there are occasions when a few on board interiors are designed to bedazzle with artistic use of crystals and gems. The latest superyacht to receive a stunning Swarovski crystal masterpiece from Stefano Curto is 28-metre (92-foot) motor yacht Cadet V from Ilumen, and the sophisticated eye-catcher is placed on the forward wall of the main salon for diners to admire as it catches the sunlight.

2. Anti-drone systems

Privacy and security is becoming ever more of an issue when superyachts dock in marinas due to the cheap availability and lax rules regarding the use of drones. More than just a pest from tech-savvy and curious bystanders, drones can be used to assess security measures on board and plan routes for burglaries or worse. Drone defence systems can involve anything from preventing the signal from unauthorised drones from sending to specialised net canons for capturing and retrieving the offending machine.