With a sleek profile, luxe appointments, and a 28-knot top speed, the Princess Yachts Y85 offers 360-degree views.

‍

In comparison to a rectangular table, a round table is less formal. All guests are seated equally at round tables, so they can converse comfortably while eating. It is even possible to call round tables relaxed. There is a democratic aspect to round tables.

It is the dining table in the salon that defines the personality of the Princess Yachts Y85. There is a round shape to it.

With the Y85, the British builder aimed to create a yacht with all the luxuries fans of the Princess brand are used to, but with a relaxed and comfortable feel. Its features imbue the rich onboard spaces with a casual touch, making it a yacht that can be operated by an owner or by a captain. In addition to Princess, the Italian design firm Pininfarina and naval architect Bernard Olesinski deserve credit for the combination of luxurious design and family-friendly amenities.

‍

One example is a galley that is accessible only by pushing a button just steps from the dining table. The galley is then separated by a partition. A partitioned space becomes a family room with built-in counter stools. When the space is closed, it becomes formal. A casual touch can be added if desired.

The ambience also contributes to setting the mood on board. There is a 9-foot-8-inch-wide window next to the table, starting just a few inches off the walnut sole and stretching up nearly 5 feet, forming what used to be called a picture window. Stainless-steel rails are capped with teak, so the bulkhead outside doesn't block ocean views. There is a hidden wine chiller behind the bar, as well as drawers fitted with glassware and bottle stowage.

Below the table, a U-shaped couch faces a pop-up TV, creating a comfortable media room. Through twin sliding doors, the casual touch continues into the cockpit. An alfresco feel is created by the doors disappearing behind the outboard panel.

‍

Future models' styling will be influenced by the Princess Y85's new decor. The glossy walnut trim on the recessed ceiling has swoopy curves. The headboard in the master bedroom also features these identical swoops. It can be seen in the curves of the galley divider. In the leather seats at the helm and on the vanity top in the master stateroom.

Guests and the skipper in the pilothouse can use the dayhead located on the main deck a few steps forward. Another gathering place is the helm area, which can be closed off for night running or salon privacy. Guests can sit at a raised dinette to port, while the skipper and companion have raised seats with armrests next to a pantograph door for side-deck access.

On our test Y85, Garmin electronics, including a Boening touchscreen display for ship's systems, were installed at the lower helm.

‍

Provisioning is also made easier with the galley's side deck door. The kitchen comes equipped with Wolf cooktops, induction ovens, and Sub-Zero refrigerators. Wine chillers and ice makers are available in the galley and on the bridge.

On the yacht's 20-foot-8-inch beam, the master stateroom features a centerline king berth, a desk/vanity to port, and two love seats with a table to starboard for morning coffee or evening cocktails. A double-sink head with a shower is aft in this stateroom, as well as a walk-in closet. The yacht was running at full throttle in the open sea when James Noble, Princess' vice president of marketing, and I explored the master, yet the sound meter barely registered the noise. In spite of the thundering 1,900 hp MAN V-12 diesels just a few feet away, we talked in normal tones.)

Each of the other guest staterooms-one a double, one with twins-has its own head, except for the VIP stateroom forward that has a walk-in closet and en suite head.

‍

When the hammer fell, I was surprised to see a lot more Princess S (sport) series than I expected from a Y (yacht). During this first sea trial before the full break-in, the Y85 reached almost 28 knots while moving more than 73 tons of leather, marble, and luxury appointments. After the engines are settled, Princess expects the yacht to reach 30 to 31 knots. After covering 180 nautical miles across the Gulf Stream in nine hours, this Y85 returned from a Princess owners' rendezvous in the Bahamas.

Above the flybridge, a fiberglass hardtop with a louvered sunroof eliminates sliding parts and canvas. A dinette faces the L-shaped bar in the alfresco entertainment area, and settees surround the skipper. By flipping a switch, the helm electronics-monitors and all-disappear into the dash. From rail to seating, the boat deck extends nearly 18 feet aft. A tender could also be launched from here by the Opacmare crane, or sun lounges could be placed here.

Elegant comfort is the hallmark of the Princess Y85. No matter who sits at the table, the yacht offers luxury when guests want it and relaxation when they prefer it.

‍