Some yachts on the water today turn heads due to their brand new construction and ultra modern styling. Others, like the Delphine, are classic yachts built many decades ago. Great Lakes Engineering, a builder located in the USA, custom made Delphine in 1921, long before superyachts were popular on the waterways.

Instead of the motor and sailing yachts you’ll find out there, Delphine is a throwback in every sense of the word. This gigantic 257-foot yacht is a steam ship, comparable to legitimate steam ships of the era, and has been redesigned inside to resemble a private charter yacht.

In total, upwards of 60 people can travel aboard Delphine comfortably – 28 guests and 32 crew members. It takes a lot of manpower to run this retro steam ship. When it was built for multi-millionaire Horace Dodge in the 1920s, SS Delphine was the biggest private ship in the world. Today it has stiff competition but still manages to rank among the largest private yachts.

SS Delphine was rotting away at port a little over a decade ago, with no legitimate owner and certainly no plans to ever put the ship back into the water. A Belgian billionaire saw Delphine and decided that it was well worth saving from the depths.

The redesign process took quite a long time. The idea wasn’t to replace any of the original hull and engine materials, but instead to accentuate the existing style to custom-fit this classic yacht. The end result is a modern take on retro that cost millions of dollars to realize.

Because of its steam power, SS Delphine is one of the slowest private yachts you could charter. It’s more a statement ship than it is a tool to travel with. To own Delphine outright, you’ll have to fork out nearly €40 million, give or take, and also spend thousands a week simply to maintain this gargantuan yacht.

The seller makes it clear that the possibilities are endless for Delphine. It’s more of a miniature cruise ship (think Carnival) than a private yacht, and its interior is perfect for large ceremonies like weddings, graduation parties, and much, much more.

You’ll find 11 staterooms on Delphine, featuring two VIP cabins with king-sized beds and bathrooms with both tubs and stand-up showers. The remaining 9 suites also have attached bathrooms, only not as large. Each cabin boasts a flat-screen TV, mini bar, intercom, lounging area, and more.

No expense was spared in the redesigning of this ship. The interior was handled by Tiffany and Company, one of the foremost names of luxury in the world. Delphine features a full-sized music saloon with a large piano, bar and seating area, as well as a smoking room and many other entertainment areas.

With a max speed of 13 knots, you’re not going to get anywhere fast on Delphine. But with all the various entertainment options, the idea is to savor the trip.