MAIORA 42 EXUMA: THE RINASCIMENTO OF LIVING AT SEA
Within the refined setting of the Maiora Deck Lounge, the iconic newly refurbished lounge of the Viareggio
shipyard, the groundbreaking new model was unveiled: a 42-meter yacht that ushers in a new paradigm for
luxury yachting. The vessel’s design by Maiora meets the architectural vision of Giorgio Maria Cassetta for the exterior lines and the refined world of ELIE SAAB for the interiors.
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 From this seed, the 42 Exuma was born, inaugurating a new era of living at sea surpassing outdated conventions to embrace a yachting idea that finally puts people, not old logics, at the heart of the project.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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
