Ferretti vs Princess: Two Different Takes on Luxury Cruising

Ferretti and Princess are natural rivals for buyers looking for a premium motor yacht that can handle family cruising, longer stays aboard and regular Mediterranean use. Both have strong flybridge ranges, established pre-owned markets and models that move from manageable owner-operated yachts into substantially larger crewed boats.

Yet the differences are more subtle than simply choosing Italian design over British engineering.

Ferretti tends to favour relaxed onboard living and a warmer, residential feel. Princess often feels more restrained, highly organised and focused on practical circulation. But once you start looking at individual yachts, layout, condition, machinery and specification matter far more than nationality.

If these two builders are on your shortlist, compare current Ferretti yachts for sale with Princess yachts for sale before narrowing the search to individual models.

Ferretti vs Princess at a Glance

Neither column tells you which yacht to buy. The useful differences appear when you start imagining how the boat will actually work with people aboard.

The Brands Are Different, but Not for the Reasons People Usually Give

Describing Ferretti as Italian and Princess as British does little to help someone make a seven-figure purchasing decision.

The more important distinctions are found in the details: where the galley sits, how easily people move between decks, how crew reach working areas, where the tender is stored and whether the engine room remains accessible once every locker is full.

Ferretti generally leans towards a relaxed Mediterranean style of ownership, with substantial exterior spaces and interiors intended to feel comfortable for longer periods aboard.

Princess often takes a very ordered approach to yacht design. Circulation, visibility from the helm and the relationship between different living areas tend to receive considerable attention.

But these are tendencies, not rules.

The comparison becomes useful when you stop comparing logos and start comparing how each yacht works during an ordinary day aboard.

The Real Difference Appears When You Start Moving Around the Yacht

A yacht can look exceptional while everyone is standing still.

The better test is to start moving.

Can somebody prepare lunch while guests walk through the saloon? Is the flybridge staircase positioned where it will not constantly interrupt the cockpit? Can people reach the foredeck comfortably? Is there enough room beside the helm for someone to assist with lines without blocking the driver?

Look at:

• cockpit-to-saloon movement;

• galley position;

• flybridge access;

• side-deck width;

• helm visibility;

• cabin circulation;

• crew access;

• bathing-platform arrangement.

Buyers understandably spend time examining timber, upholstery, lighting and finishes. Those things matter.

But you might admire the cabinetry once during a viewing. You will walk between the saloon and cockpit dozens of times every day you use the yacht.

Small points of friction become much more important after purchase.

Which Ferretti and Princess Models Belong on the Same Shortlist?

Around 50 feet, a Ferretti 500 and Princess F50 make a logical shopping comparison. Both appeal to buyers looking for a premium flybridge yacht that remains relatively manageable while offering proper family accommodation.

Move further up and the comparisons become more dependent on age and budget.

A Ferretti around the mid-60-foot range may enter the same search as a Princess F-Class model, while buyers moving towards 70 feet could consider a Ferretti 720 alongside a Princess Y72.

These are shopping alternatives rather than exact equivalents.

A few feet of additional length can hide significant differences in beam, displacement, accommodation, crew space and machinery.

Before comparing model names, establish what matters most:

1. guest numbers;

2. owner-operation or crew;

3. cruising area;

4. overnight accommodation;

5. tender requirements;

6. realistic annual running budget.

That usually reduces the shortlist faster than comparing brochures.

Don't Judge Cruising Ability from Maximum Speed

Maximum speed is one of the easiest numbers to compare and one of the least useful in isolation.

Most owners spend far more time at normal cruising speed.

What matters is how the yacht behaves there.

Pay attention to ride comfort, noise, vibration, visibility from the helm, stabilisation and how easily the yacht can be handled around a marina.

Propulsion matters too, but avoid treating one system as automatically superior. Shaft drives, pods, thrusters and joystick systems each affect manoeuvrability, maintenance and machinery layout differently.

A yacht that is comfortable and predictable for three hours underway may ultimately provide more value than one that posts the stronger top-speed figure.

On a pre-owned yacht, condition and maintenance history should be considered alongside the original performance figures.

Before You Buy, Put Both Yachts Through a 24-Hour Test

Most yacht viewings last an hour.

Ownership does not.

One useful way to compare a Ferretti and Princess is to mentally run each yacht through a full 24-hour day.

At 07:30, six people want breakfast. Is there enough seating? Can somebody use the galley without blocking everyone else?

At 10:00, you leave the marina. Where do guests sit while underway? Is the helm area comfortable and sociable, or isolated?

At 13:00, you drop anchor. How easily can you launch the tender, reach the water and retrieve equipment from storage?

At 16:00, everyone wants to swim. Can several people use the bathing platform without it becoming crowded?

At 19:30, you have dinner aboard. Does the cockpit or flybridge table genuinely accommodate the number of people the yacht sleeps?

Then at 23:00, people start moving between cabins, bathrooms and the saloon. Can they do so without disturbing everyone else?

This exposes something specification sheets cannot: daily friction.

A yacht may technically have three social spaces, four cabins and accommodation for eight, but that does not mean eight people can use those spaces comfortably at the same time.

The yacht that performs better over the imaginary 24 hours may be the one you enjoy more over the next five years.

As the Yacht Gets Bigger, Crew Separation Starts to Matter

At around 50 feet, crew accommodation may be secondary for an owner who intends to run the yacht personally.

Move towards 70 or 80 feet and the equation changes.

Look at where crew sleep, how they reach the galley, whether they can access machinery without crossing guest areas and how easily routine work can happen while owners are relaxing aboard.

This is not simply about privacy.

Good crew circulation can make the entire yacht function more efficiently.

An owner using the boat mainly with family may give this relatively little importance. Somebody planning long Mediterranean cruises with permanent crew should give it considerably more.

Age and Condition Can Completely Change the Comparison

The pre-owned market can overturn assumptions about brand positioning very quickly.

A carefully maintained older Ferretti may represent a better purchase than a newer Princess with incomplete servicing. An excellent Princess may be far more attractive than a Ferretti carrying deferred mechanical work.

Look closely at:

• engine and generator history;

• stabilisers;

• hydraulic equipment;

• electronics;

• air-conditioning;

• teak;

• previous refits;

• water ingress;

• VAT status;

• ownership documentation.

Equipment matters too. Two yachts of the same model and year can carry very different specifications.

This is why a professional yacht survey should be viewed as part of the purchasing process rather than something arranged simply to satisfy paperwork.

Think About the Next Buyer as Well

Both Ferretti and Princess have established international brokerage markets. Resale, however, happens at model and yacht level rather than simply by brand.

Condition, engines, layout, specification, maintenance records, VAT position and asking price will all influence future demand.

There is also value in looking at your preferred specification through somebody else's eyes.

An unusual interior or heavily personalised layout may be exactly what you want today while narrowing the pool of interested buyers later.

You do not need to buy a yacht for the next owner, but future marketability is worth considering before making expensive modifications.

Ferretti or Princess? Start with the Yacht, Not the Nationality

Ferretti may appeal more if relaxed Mediterranean living, generous entertaining spaces and a warmer residential atmosphere sit high on your list.

Princess may appeal if practical circulation, understated styling and a particularly organised approach to onboard usability suit the way you intend to cruise.

But if two pre-owned yachts remain on your shortlist, forget which country built them.

Walk through how you would use each one from breakfast until bedtime. Then compare condition, service history, machinery, specification and the findings of an independent survey.

The yacht that creates fewer compromises during that imaginary 24-hour day is likely to be the stronger candidate.

Browse UNICO's wider selection of yachts for sale, or compare current Ferretti yachts and Princess yachts before arranging viewings.