Maiora, a brand of Next Yacht Group, presents the preview of the new 42 Exuma project, a yacht conceived to revolutionize the onboard experience by placing at its core the very essence of living at sea.
The 42 Exuma is born from direct observation of daily life onboard and an authentic listening to the needs of owners and their guests. It breaks free from traditional nautical constraints — from guest cabins relegated to lower decks, to oversized and often underused main salons, to sacrificed crew spaces. Even the upper deck, typically the most active area on yachts of this size, has been reimagined compared to traditional layout, to offer owners and guests an exclusive space, free from forced cohabitation with technical areas and operational passages, embodying a new idea of privacy and liveability.
This project proposes a human-centered experience where every environment is conceived considering the real life onboard, breaking through classic archetypes. The result is a yacht that abandons the rigid, typical functional stratification of the yachting industry, giving back the yacht to its owner and the time spent at sea.
“When onboard experience is designed properly, the yacht becomes transparent to the eyes of the owners. From this seed, the 42 Exuma was born, inaugurating a new era of living at sea — surpassing outdated conventions to embrace a yachting idea that finally puts people, not old logics, at the heart of the project. It’s a paradigm shift reminiscent of the transition from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance: spaces designed not to meet static logics, but to be truly lived, enjoyed, and shared. We chose to break with conventional approaches, redefining the balance between aesthetics, function, and onboard wellbeing to restore centrality to experience and quality of life.” says Sebastiano Fanizza, CEO of Next Yacht Group.
The official presentation took place in one of Next Yacht Group’s Viareggio locations — the newly renovated Deck Lounge, opened to the public for the first time. An iconic venue for Viareggio’s nautical scene, located at ‘Via Coppino 114’, exclusively designed to welcome owners in an environment of absolute elegance. 800sqm of private lounge, curated to offer an immersive and memorable experience, featuring a boutique where innovation expresses itself through cutting-edge technological solutions and digital tools aimed at elevating every moment of encounter with excellence.
The Maiora 42 Exuma was designed by the Maiora team, in collaboration with designer Giorgio Maria Cassetta and ELIE SAAB. The concept and space planning were developed by the shipyard, proposing with this project a new living paradigm onboard.
The exterior lines are signed by Giorgio Maria Cassetta, the internationally renowned designer who, over eighteen years, has created more than 400 yacht and contributed to reshaping the aesthetics of contemporary yacht design. The interiors are by ELIE SAAB, an expression of the unmistakable elegance of the famous couturier, bringing his sophisticated and timeless vision to the nautical world.
With a length of 42 meters, a beam of 8.90 meters, and a top speed of 30 knots, with the more powerful propulsion option, the yacht spans four decks and can comfortably accommodate up to 12 guests in four VIP cabins and the owner’s suite, all located on the main deck. The crew area includes 5 cabins for 9 people.
The interiors stand out for their brightness, enhanced by extensive use of glass surfaces. The main living areas are distributed across the decks, where the functions are organized into wide and continuous spaces. The entire length of the vessel is accessible via walk-around decks in the upper deck, with both the main deck and the upper deck featuring openable terraces. The heart of the yacht is an open-space lounge on the upper deck, offering uninterrupted views from stern to bow and vice versa—an arrangement that allows those at the extreme bow to observe the entire longitudinal axis of the yacht without obstruction.
EXTERIOR LINES
The exterior lines of the 42 Exuma, designed by Cassetta Yacht Designers, introduce a new concept of dynamism defined by extremely sleek surfaces developed horizontally, large continuous glass panels, and fluid proportions that visually connect the interior and exterior spaces. The architecture seeks a balance between form and function, with a silhouette that evokes speed even at anchor and maximizes natural light, designed to accompany life on board at every moment of the day.
The overall result is a yacht with an open and transparent layout, where the exterior decks appear to pass through the hull’s shell, enhancing continuity with the surrounding environment and multiplying opportunities for dialogue with the sea.
“Maiora 42 Exuma had an almost instinctive and very rapid start: already at the first meeting with the Maiora team, the vision of this high-performance gentleman’s yacht took shape in a quick sketch.
It was a challenge to create a balance between lightness, interior volume, and generous heights while maintaining a clean and refined look. The most significant innovation brought by the shipyard was in the layout: we moved the guest cabins to the main deck, dedicating the lower deck to services and leaving the upper deck and sun deck completely free and fully dedicated to the guests.
Here we designed extreme transparency and innovative shapes, such as those of the forward infinity deck, which emphasize the relationship between inside and outside, eventually creating never seen before open spaces blessed with perfect functionality. For us, this boat is not just a technical project, but an emotional object — a dream come true, where every detail is cared for to deliver a unique and refined experience at every stage of life onboard,” explains Giorgio Maria Cassetta.
INTERIORS
Inside, the yacht reveals the unmistakable signature of ELIE SAAB, under the creative direction of Carlo Colombo – A++. A refined selection of pieces from the ELIE SAAB Maison collection is complemented by bespoke elements designed specifically for the yachting environment.
Luxurious materials such as Fumo di Londra and Mystic Ocean marble, light bronzed mirrors, and teak wood flooring and ceilings combine timeless design with marine-specific functionality. Every element is crafted in Italy, and special attention has been given to the research and development of high-resistance fabrics and finishes, ensuring interiors that are both elegant and tailored to the demands of life at sea.
“Our collaboration with Maiora marks a strategic expansion of the ELIE SAAB lifestyle into the world of yachting. Following our success in interiors, home décor, hospitality, and branded real estate, this evolution was both natural and intentional. The 42 Exuma is not just a yacht, it is a bold expression of our vision: to craft immersive, elegant spaces where design, precision and comfort converge. With this launch we bring ELIE SAAB to the sea, translating our legacy of craftsmanship and refined aesthetics into a frontier of contemporary luxury.” highlights Elie Saab Jr., CEO of ELIE SAAB Group.
MAIN DECK
The new paradigm is founded on the use of spaces on the main deck, entirely dedicated to comfort and functionality for owners and guests. The aft access immediately reveals the new design philosophy: a large sunbathing area beneath which water toys are stored. The cockpit has two levels, with folding side wings creating a direct sea view and a convivial breakfast area.
Traditionally, this deck would house the main salon and only the owner’s cabin. Often conceived as a large but rarely fully exploited space, the main salon under the classic layout forces guests to be accommodated below deck, with considerable drawbacks for conviviality, light, and comfort.
The conventional setup implies an unnatural separation between owner and guests, reduced natural light, closets shaped by the hull’s form, and increased noise exposure due to proximity to the water. The new main deck organization on the 42 Exuma overcomes these limitations, offering a radically different, more fluid, open, and contemporary onboard experience.
Along the central corridor, four generously sized guest suites feature well-proportioned layouts that guarantee comfort and functionality without compromise. Each cabin offers large closets and floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the spaces with natural light, creating bright and welcoming environments.
Approaching the central lobby, the careful design of onboard circulation becomes evident: a double trunk system ensures a clear separation between guest and crew areas. If desired, the design includes the pre-installation for a panoramic glass elevator to seamlessly connect the three decks without altering the overall layout. Guests on the main deck and the option to have an elevator are both features typically found on yachts over 60 meters.
At the bow lies the full-beam master suite, where every detail is designed to guarantee maximum comfort and privacy. It meets the needs of an owner who values discretion, elegantly arranged into separate sleeping and living areas, featuring a private bar corner, two walk-in dressing rooms, and two distinct bathrooms for him and her.
Also on the main deck is the wheelhouse, strategically positioned away from the main salon to guarantee maximum privacy for guests and owner alike. This design choice protects the tranquillity of the reception areas without compromising visibility and navigation control. For even more flexibility, an additional pilot station can be integrated on the upper deck or sun deck at Captain’s desire.
The layout is completed by a private outdoor crew area designed to offer a protected space for fresh-air breaks or outdoor workouts, ensuring the crew’s wellbeing and sustainability onboard.
LOWER DECK
The lower deck typically features well-known layouts that sacrifice crew comfort in small, cramped, and inefficient spaces. This often generates discontent and high turnover among crew members. Providing more comfortable and better-organized environments becomes not only an ethical choice but a strategic one to ensure Crew loyalty, professionalism, and top-level onboard service.
On the Maiora 42 Exuma, the lower deck is almost entirely dedicated to services and crew, who benefit from spacious, functional areas. The crew mess is roomy and designed for a team of nine. Adjacent to the crew mess, but in a separate room, are both a cold room and dry storage. Laundry includes ironing and drying zones.
A larger dumbwaiter is also installed, allowing simultaneous service to all guests in one shot.
Also on this deck, but separated, is a multifunctional space that can be configured as a gym, massage room, media room, or sixth cabin with bathroom.
Adjacent to the engine room, the deck houses a garage for a 6-meter tender plus two jet skis. CREW AREAS
Spaces have been designed for real comfort: large crew cabins, a separate outdoor relaxation area on the main deck, and dedicated accesses to avoid guest interference. An external staircase connects directly to the crew cabins, allowing ingress and egress without crossing guest areas — a feature that improves privacy management and onboard work efficiency.
UPPER DECK
The upper deck has always been the heart of onboard life — a strategic area often compromised by design choices little oriented towards owner comfort.
In traditional layouts, this space suffers from the presence of the captain’s cabin, the helm station and bulky technical areas, directly impacting liveability and privacy. In this model, by contrast, the upper deck is entirely rethought and dedicated to relaxation and outdoor living, free from functional interference or design compromises. An exclusive environment, finally fully utilized to the owner’s benefit.
A true panoramic living area, fully glazed and openable on all sides. Measuring 36 by 11 meters including fold-down terraces, this space is a natural extension of the outdoor areas, an airy, continuous volume where the boundary between inside and outside dissolves.
Enhancing the scene is the integrated pool positioned aft, with a transparent bottom that filters light even to the lower deck: an architectural element that becomes an integral part of the yacht’s design and visual enjoyment.
Inside the salon is the main dining area, immersed in maximum brightness and transparency. The total absence of invasive structural elements allows an unobstructed view from aft to bow, amplifying the sense of space and reinforcing the openness towards the marine environment, while offering owners maximum interpretive freedom: a fully customizable space, which can be furnished according to individual tastes and needs. This rare design flexibility allows the upper deck to become a true extension of the owner’s lifestyle, whether oriented toward relaxation, socializing, or sea contemplation.
At the bow, an exclusive circular sunbed area, remotely adjustable, allows following the sun’s path throughout the day. SUN DECK
The uppermost level features an 80-square-meter Sun Deck, designed as a space entirely dedicated to relaxation and outdoor living. A private area intended to offer moments of comfort and tranquillity, with an unobstructed view of the horizon that enhances the on-board experience. Here too, a second deck dedicated to guest’s life onboard, with maximum freedom of interpretation: a space that is fully customizable en plein air.
The 42 Exuma, solving all the constraints, is not just a project, but a vision. Every design choice, from the layout of the cabins to the configuration of the decks, from flow management to attention to the crew, reflects a new and radical approach that puts the human experience back at the center. The result is a yacht that redefines the standards of livability and functionality on board, opening new perspectives for high-end yachting.
Equipped with two engine options:
1) 2 x Volvo Penta IPS 40 2000 hp – reaching a top speed up to 20 kn and a cruising speed of 16 kn 2) 3 x MTU 2600 hp with MJP reaching a top speed up to 30 kn (28 kn fully equipped), and a cruising speed of 26 kn, a performance that surpasses the average for yachts in its class, offering the most precious luxury: TIME.
The first unit of the 42 Exuma has been sold. Construction has begun, with delivery scheduled for Summer 2027.
