Princess 68 Flybridge

CAPRIO’S FIRST IMPRESSION: I’ve always liked the tasteful styling, inside and out, that Princess Yachts offers prospective owners. This may be the new tradition—a sculpted shape of enduring appeal.

Coming off her public debut at the Southampton Boat Show last month, the Princess 68 slots nicely between this builder’s 64 and 72, and promises to give buyers high-quality construction and finish, a cornucopia of amenities, and sparkling performance.

Don’t be fooled by the small increments in overall length. Yachts are scaled up or down, so the differences in volume and displacement are substantial. Princess claims that the 68 has more interior volume for her LOA than any of its models.

In keeping with trends in yacht design, the Princess 68 encourages mingling among owners and guests during cocktail hour, parties, and meals. An electric window opens the after galley to the cockpit, enhancing the interior and exterior synergy.

The afterdeck is the main dining area with mood lighting, upholstered seating for eight, and a large teak table. After dinner, diners may retreat to the swim platform to relax on the aft-facing twin seat set into the transom.

A small step up from the inside dining area, the saloon gives everyone great sightlines through full-height side windows. Farther forward, the helm shares space with a raised L-shape seating area to port.

The full-beam owners’ en suite stateroom is amidships, with private access from the saloon. Large windows in the topsides wash the area in natural light and give dramatic views of the sea. Mirror-image double cabins share a head, and the VIP suite forward fills the rest of the lower deck. Crew’s quarters are abaft the engine room.

Past experience with Princess yachts indicates that the 68 Flybridge will deliver a refined driv- ing experience all the way up to a top speed of more than 30 knots on her warped-plane bottom.

Princess Yachts, 877-846-9874; www.princessyachtsamerica.com

LOA: 69'9" BEAM: 17'8" DRAFT: 5'2" DISPL.: 82,673 LB. FUEL: 1,080 GAL. WATER: 220 GAL. STD. ENGINES: 2/1,150-HP CATERPILLAR C18 ACERTS TOP SPEED: 30-32 KNOTS CRUISING SPEED: 26-27 KNOTS PRICE: UPON REQUEST