Words: Rory FH Smith
Few names carry as much sway on the high seas as Kismet. After the last iteration — a Lurssen-built, 95.2-metre ocean-going giant — was sold by brokerage Cecil Wright & Partners for an undisclosed amount (£127 million was the asking price), it marked one of the biggest brokerage deals of 2023. Now, the long-awaited third iteration of the fabled Kismet name takes to the seas as a 122m gigayacht, complete with three pools, two cinemas and an underwater viewing lounge.
Owned and commissioned by Pakistani-American billionaire businessman and sports tycoon Shahid Khan, the Jacksonville Jaguars, Fulham F.C and All Elite Wrestling owner has focused on health and wellness for his latest craft. Despite only just being delivered, Kismet is already available to charter for 2024, commanding a cool £2.5m a week.
Built by the renowned German shipyard Lurssen, the exterior was designed by Nuvolari Lenard, with its dark-coloured hull in contrast with its champagne-shaded predecessor. As before, Kismet's long, sculpted bow links it to the last iteration, despite being a full 27-metres longer. On the inside, the interior was the work of the Khan family, alongside Reymond Langton Design, with enough room for 12 guests in nine cabins, spread over six decks. Kismet also has room for 37 crew, including the captain.
Upper deck salon
Main deck dining
Cinema
Spa
The master suite spans two decks, with a skylight and fireplace, as well as two en-suite bathrooms and dressing rooms. Bolted on to the master bedroom is a private jacuzzi and a sunbathing area, while a private staircase leads to a panoramic master office above, complete with its own dedicated pantry.
Pool deck salon
Wellness was top of the agenda for the new Kismet craft, with its Balinese-inspired spa, complete with a hammam, sauna, and cryotherapy chamber. There's also a gym, yoga studio and juice bar, both with opening sea terraces, alongside a treatment room with a massage table, waterfall shower and chromotherapy bathtub. For any image-conscious celebs or CEOs that care to charter her, there are two hair and beauty rooms - one in the spa area and another in the owner's suite.
Master Stateroom
Spa
Guest suite
Spa
When it comes to cooling off, take your pick of the pools — Kistmet has three in total, not including the four outdoor showers. There's a jacuzzi pool with a waterfall feature on the top deck, a main pool with a waterfall feature and swim-up bar on the pool deck aft, and another jacuzzi pool forward on the upper deck.
For those looking for something a little more adventurous, Kismet comes equipped with all the water sports toys, from WaveRunners, Jet Skis, SeaBobs, e-foils and Flitescooters, to an Aquaglide floating deck, inflatable slide and dive gear. Given the nature of its owner's line of business, you'll find a basketball and pickleball court forward of the master cabin on the foredeck, naturally.
Exterior decks
Exterior decks
Exterior decks
When it comes to entertaining, there's a few options to choose from. Fire up the outdoor pizza oven, the BBQ or the pool deck teppanyaki cooking station when dining al fresco, or sit down for a formal dinner around a table fit for 24 people on the upper deck. Four internal, marble fireplaces and two outdoor firepits keep it warm and cosy on colder evenings but, we'll take a guess that Kismet will typically be found in tropical climes most of the time.
After dinner, Kismet's set up for entertainment with its outdoor cinema and DJ station on the bridge deck, and full, indoor 'Nemo cinema' on the lower deck, sporting a 150-inch drop-down TV and underwater viewing lounge. With a Boganyi grand piano on upper deck and four interior bars, including a champagne bar and wine cellar room, there's a healthy supply of entertainment options for the Khan family and guests.
Main deck dining
When it comes to tenders and tools, there are four boats on board: an 11.2-metre Hodgdon Limo Tender, fit for 15 guests; an 11.8-metre Naiad capable of carrying 16 guests, an eight-metre Riva and a six-metre Fassmer. Naturally, there's a helipad that can accommodate a sizable Airbus H155 or similar, for those not-so-discreet guest arrivals and departures.
With no official word on how much Khan's latest gigayacht cost to build, estimates suggest it was nothing short of £280,000, making its charter price of £2.5m per week seem relatively good value, albeit in the rarified world of superyachts. With the yacht already delivered, expect to see Kismet dipping in and out of the world's harbour hotspots as early as this summer.
- Kismet is now available to charter
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