Three Superyachts Dock in Puerto Portals – a Lovely Start to Spring

Three Superyachts Dock in Puerto Portals – a Lovely Start to Spring

Carinthia VII, Juice and Avantage on display in Mallorca's premier marina

On Monday morning, with a mild 22 °C and a few scattered clouds over Palma, the marina of Puerto Portals took on an unusual sheen: three large motor yachts lay side by side at the floating pontoons. Anyone who happened to be having a coffee on the harbour promenade heard the gentle rocking of the lines, the clinking of crockery and the distant roar of the road – a typical picture when spring brings visitors to the coast.

The longest of the three is the Carinthia VII, roughly 97 metres long. She was built in Germany in the early 2000s, later refitted and most recently underwent a comprehensive modernization in 2023. The vessel is now set up for charter and offers space for up to 12 guests in several suites; an experienced crew takes care of on-board wellness and leisure amenities such as a salon, fitness area and a private beach club.

The Juice, at just under 71 metres, comes from the Netherlands and was handed over to her owner in 2022. Her interior bears the signature of a well-known design house, while a renowned studio created the exterior look. The yacht is laid out for around ten guests in five suites and offers amenities designed for longer stays: cinema, lounge areas, underwater lighting as well as a beach club, Wi‑Fi and modern communications technology.

Between the two was the Avantage, about 87 metres long. She was completed in 2020; the interior was designed by British stylists. On board up to 14 guests can be accommodated in seven suites, and a generous crew is responsible for service. This yacht also offers a beach club and is geared toward comfort.

The three vessels belong to owners with an international presence: an Argentine entrepreneur known as the founder and major shareholder of an electronics company; a British jeweller whose name is associated with high-end jewellery; and a Kazakh businessman also involved in diplomacy and philanthropy. It is not new that such personalities bring their yachts to Mallorca – the island is part of the established route for luxury motor yachts in the Mediterranean.

For Puerto Portals and the surrounding area, the arrival of such vessels is more than a photogenic moment. Marinas, berth operators, yacht management agencies, food suppliers and tradespeople benefit in the short term through provisioning, support and services. On the terraces by the harbour the activity increases: servers carry trays of tapas, delivery vehicles unload fresh goods, harbour workers manoeuvre support boats.

Local observers see these calls as an opportunity to further sharpen service quality. Good prerequisites are clean berths, reliable logistics for provisions and spare parts, and measures for environmentally friendly operation – for example offers for shore power and proper harbour waste management. Such improvements benefit not only the owners but also the island's reputation as a professional port of call for discerning charter guests, as discussed in Black Pearl in Puerto Portals: Luxury Sailing Yacht, Sustainability Promises and Open Questions.

Walking along the pier one could observe small everyday scenes: a boy feeding the seagulls, a dockhand wiping salty marks from a railing, and a skipper checking the fenders while guests stood quietly on deck looking out to sea. The picture was neither staged nor spectacularly orchestrated – rather a moment in which the harbour once again presented itself as an interface between local life and international seafaring.

Spring is expected to attract further yachts; the season is just beginning. For residents and businesses this means preparing and contributing: small, practical measures improve the guest experience and environmental protection alike. For all who enjoy watching, Puerto Portals will remain a good spot for maritime short appearances in the coming weeks – and for a slice of harbour culture in the middle of Mallorca.

Quick facts: Carinthia VII – approx. 97 m, extensively refitted in 2023, converted for charter, up to 12 guests; Juice – approx. 71 m, built and handed over in 2022, space for around 10 guests; Avantage – approx. 87 m, delivered in 2020, up to 14 guests. All three yachts feature beach club areas and sizable service crews.