Princess S72 Review (2022 Edition)

Around the Marina

The S72 is a big old beast but once you get to grips with its dimensions, it's an easy boat to control at slow speed. With two helms and an optional third station in the cockpit, you should get a good vantage point for various berths. From the flybridge, for example, you have a great view forward and can see the bathing platform through the deck hatch, so most manoeuvres will probably be done from up there. 

An experienced two-person crew should be able to handle her just fine, though as always on a boat this big, it could be the handling of lines and fenders that could prove trickier than the physical handling of the boat. It's an easy boat to move around on, though, and there is good stowage for mooring equipment.

Although it may not have the joystick intuitiveness of the triple IPS Azimut S7, there is still plenty of slow speed control thanks to the meaty 1,800hp MAN motors and Sleipner's brilliant proportional thrusters. There's so much grunt from the motors that even with just one in gear you'll be pushing along at over 7 knots so you'll be in and out of gear quite a lot for some marina approaches. 

The Princess S72 effortlessly covers nautical miles, cruising at 25 knots feels leisurely with its top speed reaching an exhilarating 40 knots. With a fuel capacity of 4,500 liters, it boasts over 350nm of range at this speed. Dropping the throttles and feeling the surge towards its top speed is undeniably thrilling, and while not necessary, it's incredibly fun. Alternatively, if cruising at a slower pace is preferred, the planing hull can comfortably transition to displacement speed, extending the range to well over 2,000nm at 10 knots. As a result, the S72 offers remarkable flexibility in cruising performance.

Our test boat required a few too many turns lock-to-lock, which took the edge off the handling. It's still mightily impressive, though, and much like the straight-line performance it defies physics the way that Princess has made something so large and comfortable as agile as it is. 

We didn't get to challenge the hull in rough conditions but any waves we did cross were dealt with as if they weren't there. It's so quiet from the lower helm that you would hear any squeaks, rattles, or slams but there were none. The S72 feels like a robust, high-quality machine that will look after you in big seas. Similar to its Mercedes (S Class) namesake traveling at high speed down the fast lane of an Autobahn. Utterly unflustered luxury. 

The S72 is based on its flybridge cousin, the Y72. The similarities are limited to the hull and accommodation layout, though, because the S Class feels like a very different boat to be onboard.

The S Class range is a stylistic triumph but we reckon the S72 might be the best-looking boat in the current Princess range. It hides its size so well thanks to that beautifully sleek profile but there is a muscularity and a poise to it out on the water that is so appealing. They've even managed to incorporate a little hard top without upsetting the flow (it does look better without it, though). 

The lower deck accommodation may be the same as the Y72 but the S has a tender garage at its aft end to keep the bathing platform clear of obstructions and maintain those sweeping lines. The compromise is a smaller crew cabin with two bunks and a separate bathroom, though this style of boat is less likely to be run with a crew than the Y Class on which it is based.

The inherited Y Class layout is a good one because it includes private access to the full-beam owner's cabin from the saloon with a forward companionway to the three ensuite guest cabins.

The real beauty of the sportsbridge design is that you get both a flybridge and a sunroof over the saloon, in this case, a glass one that peels back to bathe the helm station and forward seating positions in sunlight. At this size the flybridge, though smaller than a regular flybridge, is still a really good size with all you need to serve guests on the top deck. 

There's nothing revolutionary about the layout of the S72's saloon but it's so beautifully put together. Princess Design Studio has done it again with an interior that is inviting, restrained, softly curved, and beautifully appointed. At the production boat level, it doesn't get any better, in our opinion.

The U-shaped galley is arranged aft with a pop-up window that fires up to the ceiling to link the cockpit to the galley and create a bar area in between. The benefit of having the galley aft is that it's part of the action so whether you're rustling up breakfast or shaking some cocktails you can still be part of the conversation in the main saloon. The dinette is well-placed opposite the galley and its table opens up so you could comfortably serve six adults at the internal dining table if you needed to.

Amidships, the deepest part of the side windows align with the saloon and main seating area. It's a lovely space that benefits from the luxury of floor space and some gorgeous detailing, such as the armchair perfectly integrated into the cabinet opposite the sofa. It's a glorious spot to sit and enjoy the remarkable views through those massive windows. 

A very positive hangover from the Y72 is the raised pilot station to port, opposite the helm. It provides space for two (maybe three) people to sit and enjoy the ride on the main deck and the pop-out laptop table enables someone to work from this area, too. It is quite the spot to fire off some emails.

The beauty of the S72's layout below the deck is the levels of privacy. Guests have access to their three cabins forward, two of which are ensuite, while the owner enjoys private access on the port side of the saloon to a splendid full-beam suite. It's a special cabin with acres of space and a particularly impressive ensuite that runs nearly the full width of the boat. Located behind the bed, it also acts as a useful extra layer of insulation between the engine room and cabin spaces. 

The cabin isn't just good to look at, it's practical too. There are big wardrobes adjacent to the bathroom and a dressing area that is separate from the bureau positioned beneath the hull window. Even the staircase down to the cabin has wine bottle storage neatly integrated behind it and there's a big laundry cupboard in the lobby.

Guest Cabins 

Forward, there are two near-identical twin cabins, both with the option to have electric sliding berths, which is useful. The only difference between the two is that the port side cabin has direct access to the day head, whereas those in the starboard twin will have to cross the lobby to use it. Forward there's a lovely VIP suite, with a private bathroom and enough storage to keep guests happy on longer cruises. 

The driving position from the upper helm is excellent. It's a big dashboard with lots of kit but it still feels intimate and all of the major controls are within easy reach. The helm chair is close to the centerline so the all-around view is very good and there is space between the two helm seats so the navigator can slip out without disturbing the skipper.

It's a helm position that suits the boat's performance. You want to engage with it because its performance is so engaging, but equally if you want to sit back and relax at what feels like a relatively relaxed 25 knots it's a comfortable place to sit for longer cruises. With twin Raymarine MFDs flanking a Böning digital command system, you have great oversight of all of the boat's systems and navigation software. 

Lower Helm

If anything, things improve at the lower helm where the comfort of those at the helm has been a primary focus. The seats are gorgeous and have a Bentley-like look and feel. They're adjustable and have tall backrests so you can position yourself close to the helm but sit right back in them when you're cruising. It's the same triple-screen arrangement as upstairs but there is a remote control for them on the lower dash as they're more of a stretch to use the touchscreens. 

It's a very easy helm to ventilate, too. Between the sunroof, windows on both sides, and the helm door you can fine-tune the amount of natural breeze depending on conditions, and, of course, the side door makes communication with crew and passage onto the side decks when berthing very easy indeed.

It's incredibly quiet, too. Bearing in mind that there is 3,600hp roaring away in the engine room it's remarkable that at a 25-knot cruise, we were seeing sound readings of around 73-75 decibels. It's one of the most refined cruising machines in the sector and this hushed cruising progress is a major reason why. 

The tender garage informs the design of the S72's stern and allows it to gently curve toward the hydraulic bathing platform. All of this boat's key rivals (see Rivals section, below) have tender garages and the S72's are large enough to swallow a 3.9m tender. Atop this is a decent sun pad, which backs onto a U-shaped dinette with modular end seats that can be unpinned and moved around the deck. 

The cockpit feels more protected than those of the Azimut S7 and Sunseeker 75 Sport Yacht and there is less seating. If you want sheer living space on deck then the other two are probably a better bet but the Princess has a more spacious feeling saloon. As an option, you can have either a unit with a fridge up against the saloon doors or a small L-shaped bench if you want a little more seating in this area. It does have much better protection because the flybridge overhang covers more of the cockpit than is usually the case with a sportsbridge design. 

Up Front

Teak is optional on the side decks and it's one that our test boat had. It's not cheap (see Value for Money, below) but it brightens up the deck spaces and adds to the feeling of quality, especially on the foredeck. It's an important part of a sportsbridge design given the smaller footprint of the top deck and Princess has done a good job here.

Again, it's not doing anything new but it's well executed. There is a broad bench running beneath the windscreen separated from a pair of adjustable sun pads by a walkway. A low table provides a space to serve drinks and snacks and deep storage bins on either side take care of the boat's fenders. 

There are no level changes in this area and the wide side decks with tall railings and substantial toe rails make the S72 an easy boat to crew, despite its size. 

Flybridge

At this scale, the top deck may be smaller than a traditional flybridge but the amount of living space is still really good. The port side is dominated by seating and split between a sizeable dinette, aft, and some additional seating opposite the two-person helm, forward. A wet bar with grill, sink, and fridge is neatly incorporated into the aft corner of the deck with a separate storage unit at the top of the flybridge steps, which offers easy passage between the two decks.

The hard top is an option that the market demands but it's a pricey option that does little to improve the sleek profile of the S72. It doesn't have a sunroof, either, so is less flexible than the cheaper Bimini option. 

The base price for a Princess S72 is GBP £5,156,285/USD $6,505,000 ex VAT (correct at the time of writing). This is in line with its rivals, which are all mainly from high-quality production shipyards in Europe. You don't expect a bargain from Princess but the build quality and attention to detail more than justify the elevated price and the boats tend to come with a healthy standard spec. That said, there are some key cost options that we think are worth adding, detailed below. 

Our Options & Pick

The Seakeeper isn't a must on this size of boat but if you plan to spend a lot of time away from the marina it will make life a lot more comfortable. And if you have resale in mind then most secondhand buyers will be looking for this on the kit list so they don't have to go to the hassle of retrofitting one. It's the best part of £150,000 to add as an option at build and it is worth it. 

The (£66,000) hard top is another option you may want to choose for the same reason. There's no question that the cheaper bimini is a more flexible option that has less of an impact on the boat's looks but many customers won't even consider a boat of this size without a hard top. 

The sunroof is a £23,000 option that should be standard as the whole point of a sportsbridge is that you get the combo of sunroof and flybridge. Either way, it's a must-have. 

Teak is standard in the cockpit but the £25,000 spent on the teak side decks and foredeck is worth it as it elevates the feeling of luxury as you move around the boat. The boat just looks a little plain without it, too. 

Some options, like a passerelle for example, will depend on where the boat is going to be kept but air-conditioning is a wise investment. It's a split gas system with 162,000 BTU that is suitable for ambient temperatures up to 50°C.