Prestige 550 – a substantial cruising yacht with high topsides and a tall superstructure, it may have plenty of internal volume, but its designers have not attempted to cram it with accommodations in a misguided attempt to add value. Instead, they celebrate the space.
The windows are huge—both above and below. The master cabin is spread across all 15 feet 8 inches of beam, and the VIP forward feels almost as big. Headroom is well over 6 feet everywhere—and over 6 feet 6 inches in some places—and the master suite has a separate dressing room as well as a breakfast dinette. The VIP has a clever queen berth that scissors apart into two twins that border the hull sides. There is space for a full-size washer-dryer under the stairs. Stowage spaces are big and numerous. The guest twin is on the port side, sharing the forward head compartment, and with no attempt at a third head or a fourth cabin, all these spaces can breathe. They all feel big.
Though, there is a fourth cabin in the stern, intended for the captain, and has its own shower and toilet plus a large window in the transom.
Up on the main deck this impression of space is even more marked, and even more celebrated by the light flooding in through those huge saloon windows. Prestige 550 has its main deck focused on the raised central section, with a sofa and folding dining table benefiting from the view. The galley is aft on the port side, serving both saloon and cockpit, with the master cabin companionway abaft the lounge to starboard.
Huge fly bridge, with plenty of seating and sunbathing space for everyone onboard, a useful bar area with sink, grill, and fridge.
The engine room is reasonably well executed, with good access through the cockpit sole. Interestingly, jackshafts between the engines and the Zeus pods pass beneath the crew cabin—and with the tender housed on the optional hydraulic swim platform.
Our 550 can boast plenty of teak decking, and its cockpit and flying-bridge tables are generous slabs of teak.
Helm ergonomics are perfectly adequate, especially below, where the seat slides fore and aft and the wheel can also be adjusted, and visibility is proved to be extremely good.
Well-balanced forms, concentrated power, quality, and security…
