Wellness Is the New Status Symbol — Even on Superyachts

Once, owning a superyacht was the ultimate marker of success, a gleaming vessel built to entertain, impress and indulge. But today, the truest form of luxury looks very different. The new status symbol is not gold taps or a private helipad. It is peace. It is stillness. It is wellness.

“Luxury has evolved. It is no longer about accumulation, but about alignment,” says Jordana Ashkenazi, Design Director at Element One House. “People are craving calm, connection and purpose in the spaces they inhabit, and that philosophy now extends across every part of their lifestyle, from homes to yachts and even private jets.”

This evolution has quietly transformed the world of yacht design. Once defined by glossy woods and mirrored ceilings, today’s superyachts are being reimagined as floating wellness sanctuaries; calm, minimalist spaces that nurture body, mind and spirit.

“Yachts used to be all about entertaining and indulgence, but now they are designed as spaces to detox, reflect and reconnect with the natural world,” Ashkenazi explains. “The ocean itself is inherently restorative, and our design approach honours that energy rather than competing with it.”

Wellness as a Lifestyle, Not an Accessory

The pandemic may have accelerated the movement, but it was not the beginning. For the new generation of yacht owners, often entrepreneurs, investors and creatives balancing demanding global lives, wellness is not an optional add-on. It is a daily ritual.

“The biggest request we get is not just for a spa or a gym; it is for spaces that feel restorative,” says Ashkenazi. “It is as emotional as it is physical. Clients want balance; infrared saunas, hammams, cold plunges, cryotherapy, meditation rooms, sound therapy systems, but also softness, light and silence.”

In place of champagne bars and DJ decks, the beach club has become the wellness heart of the yacht. “We are creating open, flow-through spaces that connect directly to the sea,” she says. “Imagine yoga platforms that drop down over the water, daybeds that double as massage tables or hydrotherapy tubs built into the deck. Every square metre works harder, but feels lighter.”

Even the design language itself has changed. Where traditional yachts once gleamed with chrome and gloss, the new era celebrates matte finishes, textured walls, natural stone and neutral palettes that absorb the light rather than reflect it. “It is what I call quiet luxury; design that nourishes you, not overwhelms you,” Ashkenazi says.

The New Language of Luxury

Wellness, in this context, is less about aesthetics and more about energy. It is a status symbol rooted in emotional intelligence rather than opulence. “The people we design for are incredibly high-performing, and they want spaces that regulate them, that help them slow down,” Ashkenazi explains.

Light, texture, sound and scent all become tools of restoration. “We use layered lighting to shift with the time of day, tactile fabrics that ground the senses, and diffusers that subtly change scent through morning, afternoon and evening. Even colour psychology matters; soft neutrals, sea-glass tones and natural textures like linen and travertine evoke stillness.”

The message is clear: the new luxury is not about how something looks, but how it makes you feel.

“Wellness is the most authentic form of indulgence we have,” Ashkenazi says. “It is about being present, being connected and finding beauty in quiet moments. That is the new benchmark of success.”

Empowerment at Sea

Element One House’s upcoming collaboration with luxury yacht consultancy Yomira aims to expand this philosophy beyond design. Together, they are curating wellness experiences that unite women across design, entrepreneurship and leadership.

“Our partnership with Yomira came about naturally because we share the same ethos: that luxury and wellbeing are inseparable,” Ashkenazi explains. “We are hosting intimate events for women who are shaping the future of luxury; founders, creatives, leaders, and we want to celebrate them. It is about showing that women can and should invest in themselves, buy yachts, book jets and own their success unapologetically.”

These events, like the yachts themselves, will focus on energy, emotion and empowerment, the modern pillars of luxury.

“Luxury has traditionally been a male-dominated space; yachts, jets, supercars, and we want to change that,” she says. “True luxury is freedom. For many women, wellness is how they access it.”

A New Course for the Industry

Wellness may once have been viewed as an indulgence, but now it defines the most coveted form of wealth: time, balance and inner peace.

Today’s most powerful people are not collecting possessions; they are curating experiences that restore them. And in that sense, wellness is not just a design choice. It is the new status symbol.