Emerging from the yard’s South Yard facility in Plymouth, the Princess X90 now enters sea trials following completion of her fit-out phase, with early sales indicating strong market traction for the latest addition to the X Class range.
A key milestone after steady build progress
The launch of the Princess yacht follows a series of staged construction updates over the past year, including the installation of the deck, canopy, and hardtop structures that enabled full interior fit-out to progress. With that phase now complete, the X90 shifts into testing, where performance, onboard systems, and handling will be evaluated ahead of delivery.
The timing keeps the project aligned with Princess’ original schedule, which targets a full public debut during the 2026 European boat show season. Interest has built steadily since the model’s initial reveal, with seven units reported sold prior to launch, underlining demand for the yard’s expanding Princess X Class platform.
A reworked cockpit built around the water
One of the defining elements of the X90 is its aft cockpit, developed as a more open, water-focused space than seen on earlier X Class models. Fold-down terraces extend the deck footprint to port and starboard, creating a wider platform at anchor and reinforcing the connection to the sea.
A glass transom replaces a conventional solid structure, opening sightlines aft and bringing natural light deeper into the main deck. This area can be configured with modular seating, a wet bar, and entertainment features, shaping it into a flexible social space that supports extended time outdoors.
The overall effect shifts the cockpit closer to a beach club environment, while retaining the practicality expected of a sub-30 meter flybridge yacht.
Curved glazing reshapes the main deck
A central architectural feature of the X90 is its curved patio door system, linking the cockpit with the main deck salon. When opened, the doors create a continuous indoor-outdoor dining space, while their full-height glazing maintains visibility even when closed.
Inside the yacht, the salon is surrounded by large windows, creating an open feel across the main deck. The layout runs on a single level from the aft cockpit through to the forward owner’s suite, removing thresholds and preserving clear sightlines throughout.
Owners can choose between an open galley arrangement with a breakfast bar or a fully enclosed configuration, depending on privacy preferences. Forward, the main deck owner’s suite benefits from wraparound glazing and, optionally, a gullwing door that provides direct access to a private foredeck terrace.
Below deck, the motor yacht offers a standard three-cabin guest layout, each with en suite bathrooms. For owners requiring higher capacity, this can be expanded to five guest cabins, increasing versatility for charter or extended family use.
The Super Flybridge remains central
As with other X Class yachts, the X90 is defined by its enclosed skylounge and elevated helm position. This arrangement moves the primary helm station to the upper deck, freeing up additional volume on the main deck below.
The skylounge itself is designed as a social space, with opposing seating and optional large-format screens, while sliding doors connect directly to the wheelhouse. Aft of this enclosed area, the flybridge deck can be configured in several ways, from a spa-focused layout to a bar or open-plan arrangement for loose furniture.
Forward seating areas on this level can convert into sunpads, adding another layer of usable space. The result is a split-level upper deck that balances protected and open-air areas without isolating the helm from guest activity.
A new hull platform focused on efficiency
Underneath the design, the X90 introduces a new Hybrid Progressive-Planing hull, developed in collaboration with Olesinski. The geometry is engineered to deliver efficiency across a wide speed range, with features such as a pronounced aft skeg for stability and progressive chines to manage transitions between displacement and planing speeds.
According to the yard, the hull requires around 10 percent less power above 16 knots than the Princess Y85 when normalized for displacement, despite the X90 carrying additional weight. At lower speeds, fuel consumption remains in line with comparable models, pointing to gains in overall efficiency. The yacht is expected to reach a top speed of up to 28 knots, depending on engine specification.
X90 Launch Lands Within a Busy Order Book
The launch of the X90 comes during a busy period for Princess Yachts, with YachtBuyer MarketWatch, the largest yacht database in the world, currently tracking 16 Princess yachts over 24 meters either in build or on order.
Recent activity also points to development across several parts of the portfolio, from the X95’s formal induction into the YachtBuyer Hall of Fame at the 2026 Palm Beach International Boat Show to the production progress of the new C48, Princess’ first outboard-powered model and the first yacht in the new Princess C-Class range.
The yard has also revealed the S74, a new 23m sportsbridge model set to enter production in 2027. Seen alongside those updates, the X90 is not an isolated launch but part of a wider product cycle, with Princess strengthening its larger X Class range while also expanding into fresh performance and sports yacht territory.
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With the Princess X90 now in the water, attention turns to sea trials, where propulsion systems, handling characteristics, and onboard systems will be tested under real conditions. This phase will be critical in validating the new hull design and refining onboard performance ahead of delivery.
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