One lucky person with a passion for history, a flair for extravagance and a very large budget can now purchase a genuine Soviet spy boat.
La Sultana, built in 1962 and used by the Soviet Union to spy on American and British interests in cold war times is now for sale at an asking price of €22.5 million (£16.49 million).
Don’t expect to find the minimal austere interior often associated with the Soviet era. Stripped from heel to its upper deck, the 213 foot, six-deck vessel has been completely rebuilt into a luxurious private yacht, in the art deco style with strong oriental influences featuring original works by the Moroccan artist Jilali Gharbaoui.
The vessel was originally named Aji Petri, and was the fifth in a series of 12 ships. These sister ships served as a Black sea passenger ferry intended to carry people between Odessa, Sevastopol, Istanbul and Yalta before being used for strategic purposes in the seventies.
Inside La Sultana: a luxury Soviet spy yacht
Acquired by La Sultana Group in 2007 and converted into a superyacht, La Sultana has seven cabins with wood finishes used throughout the room as well as marble baths and onyx fixtures. It sleeps 12 guests.
The owner’s cabin in the most luxurious of them all, with 710 square feet of space and a panoramic view of the sea.
Guests can also relax in a top-deck Jacuzzi, or take a dip in the interior swimming pool, finishing their day with at drink at the indoor lounge bar before heading to the large dining room.
Read More:
Versace apartments: Luxury living hits the next level in London
Improbable ships: From hospitals to floating nuclear generators
How the Rich Kids of Instagram spent the holiday
With the latest technology and a refitted engine room, the 823-tonne ship has a range of 5,000 nautical miles cruising at 11 knots, and a top speed of 13 knots.
Completely refurbished, La Sultana retains some of its original features such as a Bulgarian language dial, located on the bridge.
