Off the Charts Adventure of the Lürssen Octopus

If it has been a while since wonder prompted wide-eyed amazement, and curiosity sparked new passion, it is time for a change. The Lürssen megayacht Octopus awakens the explorer within. Built for venturing beyond the charts to the far corners of the globe, Octopus reignites the spark of adventure, taking in iconic geography, fascinating wildlife, and exciting challenges.

An ice-classed explorer yacht with a 12,500 nautical mile range and suitable amenities, Octopus has been quietly delighting her private owner from the day her hull first touched water.

Her recent addition to the charter market offers the opportunity for those with a taste for adventure to indulge in a landmark voyage to some of the most pristine, remote destinations on the planet amid the luxury and innovation of a brilliantly designed Espen Øino yacht.

Endowed with an enviable itinerary history, Octopus knows no bounds. This capable vessel owns a list of features that support journeys to every corner of the planet, from balmy to frigid, remote to busy coastline. Adaptable, versatile, well-equipped, and comfortable, Octopus was built to extraordinary standards for Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. For a detailed look at the features of the yacht, see the March 2023 edition of NAVIS. Rigorous engineering and advanced design incorporate several layers of redundancy for all critical systems in a nod to durability, reliability, and self-sufficiency.

Future itineraries, like those already noted in the Octopus logbook, embrace balmy, secluded islands, frozen tundra, and dramatic geographic destinations. Octopus encourages big dreams and welcomes bespoke plans.

A Typical Day On Octopus

While there is hardly what one might call a “typical” day on board Octopus, Captain Thejs Pedersen offered his insight into how guests spend time on board, cruising along on an Antarctic summer voyage. The region is one of the few continents where less than 1 percent of the area has been explored.

Captain Pedersen allows that every day is influenced by what’s happening on the horizon and on the shore, not by a ticking clock. Here, thousands of miles from support, nature calls the shots. Sometimes that means plans change, but it always means there are engaging, thoughtfully considered lists of activities.

With that in mind, coffee in hand and the first cool, crisp breaths of sea and ice air refreshing every inch of mortal coil, the day holds the door open to discovery and awe. Captain Pedersen shared with us what a day might include while cruising with Octopus in the stunning Antarctic waters. 

Mellow Mornings

A soft start to the morning, guests awake and emerge from their cabins to survey the rugged line where ice and mountain meet the tranquil sea. Noting the change in position overnight to gain an edge over weather, guests gather in any of a dozen cushy common areas to attend an early briefing on plans, landings, routes, and options.

One route might point to shore on a tender for a short hike amid a colony of penguins, then trace the ridgeline to capture a once in a lifetime view from atop the crest. Another route might cruise aboard the yacht around icebergs and snowy edges, watching as nature plays with light and shadow, highlighting artistic vistas along the way. It would not be unusual to witness orcas or humpbacks in a display of power, either slapping loudly in a full breach, or barely surfacing before slipping quietly back into the sea. Seals are often casually draped across the ice in resting mode while seabirds draw circles in the sky.

Whether on shore or on the vessel, the Captain and crew share expertise about wildlife and habitat. They treat every wild thing with the utmost respect, helping guests understand the pristine environment they are privileged to enjoy. Guests and crew then humbly watch as birds and sea life go about their day, quietly observing while taking care not to disturb movement, activities, or habitat.

Guests awake and emerge from their cabins to survey the rugged line where ice and mountain meet the tranquil sea.

Afternoon Repast, a Tender Trip, and Luxury Indulgence

A return to the yacht for a rewarding lunch on board Octopus allows guests to continue observation of landscapes and wildlife from the comfort and convenience of the yacht as it moves through the sea. Perhaps there is time for a repositioning through the usually calm and protected Lemaire Channel, an 11-mile strait tucked between 1000-meter-high glacier-laden cliffs, should currents and winds allow.

Many days, a second afternoon outing navigates fragments of brash ice in a Zodiac tender, capturing a calving glacier. An afternoon might be spent observing playful dolphins as they jump, dive, and swim alongside. These moments happen in an instant, unscripted, changing as quickly as the conditions. Unique opportunities arise for breathtaking experiences that create enduring memories of this fabled land. Guests who come aboard with an open mind and flexible plans will be rewarded with the best shows nature allows.

With evening’s approach, the pace of the day slows. Guests often gather for reviews of the day, while the changing light shines blue and gold through the ice. Octopus invites all to enjoy a spa treatment, sauna, pool, or workout, followed by a chat at the bar, in the lounge, or one of the salons.

An informal briefing about the next day’s plans helps guests to prepare, while allowing the crew to apprise of any need for changes in the itinerary, guided by nature’s hand. Such flexibility is enabled by Octopus’s strength, beauty, and comfort, always ready to switch gears from one plan to another.

A casual dinner amid easy conversation provides an opportunity to share thoughts and observations collected throughout the day’s activities. Guests are often profoundly changed after experiencing this stunning, wildly dynamic part of the planet, immersing themselves in both the landscape and the wildlife.

Guests that come aboard with an open mind and flexible plans will be rewarded with the best shows nature allows.

Exploring chill climes

When anchored in a remote cold region, whether it is one of the poles, northern Europe, South America, or any of the extreme regions, guests can take the tender to shore where they can roam the coastlines and ice fields at a pleasant pace. Taking time to notice the small details along a gentle trail or on a hike to dramatic overviews places guests in the moment, free to contemplate deeper questions and possibilities. Penguins, seals, whales, and seabirds are often sighted along with more regional species. Of course, all activities have appropriate safety measures to keep both guests and wildlife safe.

Cruising the ice edges and narrow fjords in a Zodiac tender is an exciting outing, giving an up-close view that considers scale and perspective from a sea level view. Equally thrilling, viewing the icescapes flying overhead on a helicopter, stored on board the yacht, offers guests an incomparable view of sites that would otherwise prove unreachable.

Guests also have heli-skiing, snowmobiling, dogsledding, and diving as options with advance planning. Such expeditions are sometimes subject to environmental protections or logistical limitations, so flexibility in location, timing, and activity dictate the day. It is certain, however, whether through a micro or a macro lens anthropogenic view, these experiences invite guests to be present in the moment, reinforcing the connection to the planet’s most remote, pristine environments.

The Magic of Northern Europe

Greenland, Iceland, and Norway are all in the logbooks on Octopus, allowing guests rich cultural, as well as geographic and biological, experiences. From the colorful homes lining coastal Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, to the intense waterfalls around the fjords and the backdrop of Sermitsiaq Mountain, the scenery is captivating. The interior of this enormous, 2.16-million-kilometer island, covered by an ice sheet, makes for dramatic images and interesting coastal stops.

Icebergs abound, capturing the attention of Octopus guests observing from any of a dozen fabulous vantage points on the yacht. Bearing in mind that only 10 to 20 percent of an iceberg is visible above the waterline, a 300-foot-high iceberg sits atop a huge mass of ice below.

Aurora Borealis, otherwise known as the northern lights, is always a treat on an Octopus voyage with the best viewing during the longest, darkest nights between November and March. Greenland, like Iceland, Sweden, Finland, and Norway, all sit beneath the auroral oval, experiencing some of the most frequent views with incredible hues. Add to that the views on board Octopus and the wow factor increases dramatically.

Geysers and waterfalls, glacial lagoons and rhyolite mountains, Iceland offers Octopus guests impressive options. Snorkeling the Silfra Fissure puts guests between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates in glacial water so pure it acts like a crystal to bend the light.

Backcountry and downhill skiing, boarding, or hiking the eastern edges of Greenland around Kulusuk test even the most able skiers with steep uphill skinning followed by thrilling downhill runs overlooking the fjord where Octopus awaits. Heliskiing and backcountry touring under the midnight sun in Iceland is also a popular choice, and with a commercial helipad on the aft deck plus a hangar on board, getting up the mountain proves an easy task.

Octopus Works As Hard As She Plays

Whether cruising, hiking, skiing, sightseeing or working to perform tasks, Octopus has proven she is up to the assignment. Hunting prehistoric Coelacanth fish, tracking marine species, studying coral reefs, diving to explore wrecks, or lending assistance and support for remote research stations, Octopus continues to serve as the vessel of choice. Not just a leisure and luxury expedition yacht, Octopus gives a thumbs up to challenging and technical work required of such missions.

In 2004, Octopus pointed to Gibraltar on an exploration of the WWII aircraft carrier lodged 1000 meters below. Veterans of the original crew were on board to view the underwater footage. In 2015, Octopus worked with the British Royal Navy, sending its submersibles to recover the ship’s bell from the HMS Hood, a British Battle cruiser sunk in the Battle of the Denmark Strait in 1941. In 2015, the Octopus guided the yacht’s autonomous underwater equipment and ROVs to find the wrecked Japanese battleship Musashi, 1000 meters below the Sibuyan Sea in the Philippines.

Dovetailing Adventure, Versatility, and Luxury

Not just a cold climate vessel, Octopus knows how to enjoy tropical climes as well. Frequenting warm weather destinations like Fiji, Australia, the Maldives, Costa Rica, Panama, South Africa, and South America, Octopus loves to treat guests to sunny beaches, rainforests, and tropical destinations. From icy fjords or basking in equatorial sun, Octopus proves equally at home in every corner of the globe.

Stocked with pools, fishing equipment, scuba and snorkel gear, paddleboards, dinghies, outdoor dining and lounging areas, and all the speedy tenders to facilitate water sports and sun worshipping, Octopus is ready to roam. She offers every comfort expected of a megayacht with all of the equipment and features needed to circumnavigate the globe.

The privilege extended to those exploring on a yacht like Octopus can be life changing. Spending time around such vast unexplored areas that are home to exotic and untamed species, untouched by human footprints, offers a realistic view that changes one’s perspective. Much like the marine life she is named for, Octopus helps guests to see that nature is both a humble teacher and an incredible master. Where would you like Octopus to take you, and what would you like to learn?