What the heart wants, the heart wants. For Oscar-winning actor, multimillionaire, and ardent environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio, what the heart wants is a long summer vacation aboard a luxury superyacht every year. And he has the means to get it.
Leonardo DiCaprio is a rarity in Hollywood, mostly by choice. Dubbed one of the last true movie stars of our generation, he only makes headlines for a handful of reasons, and they never change: when he has a new movie to promote, when he has an environmental cause to highlight, when he debuts a new girlfriend, and when he goes on his annual summer vacation. The last two are also the only reasons DiCaprio gets bad press.
His summer vacations are becoming increasingly the object of harsh and bitter criticism, because they also clash with his eco-activism, which has earned him the nickname “eco-hypocrite”. We arrive at the summer of 2024.
This year, DiCaprio has pushed back the start of his summer vacation to late July, rather than the early June dates he’s favored in previous years. Another difference this time around is that he and his entourage, which includes the likes of Vittoria Ceretti, his new girlfriend, and Tobey Maguire, his longtime best friend, appear to have scaled back.
Photo: Northrop & Johnson
For the past two weeks, DiCaprio and co. have been cruising and docking in the Mediterranean, enjoying the kind of vacation most of us can only dream of. Paparazzi photos available online provide a glimpse of what the life of luxury must be like for a true celebrity: sunbathing on a superyacht, taking a dip in the sea and jet skiing, heading ashore for a taste of the local cuisine, that sort of thing.
Again through paparazzi photos, we know that DiCaprio was stung by a jellyfish in the butt and that – to quote the tabloids – he “defied” the pain with Vittoria “by his side”, while a doctor treated him right there, on the superyacht's beach club.
Jokes and drama aside, these paparazzi photos prove that no matter what kind of compromises DiCaprio might make in the name of green living, he has no intention of giving up his long summer cruises. He might concede to wearing vegan leather shoes, riding a bike instead of driving himself around town, and not spending millions on a designer wardrobe, but he won't be abandoning his summertime love of chartered superyachts.
Photo: Northrop & Johnson
However, he will tone it down.
Initial reports claimed that DiCaprio’s choice for this year’s charter was the 226-foot (69-meter) Vassa, which was sailing under Drizzle before billionaire Amancio Ortega sold it earlier this year. Vassa would be a step down from the 318-foot (97-meter) Vava II, one of the world’s largest and most luxurious superyachts that was also DiCaprio’s favorite. He chartered it for several summers in a row.
According to local reports, the actor is actually spending the summer on Impromptu, an older, American-built and American-owned superyacht that is also a popular charter platform. Impromptu has been described as the ultimate party yacht, a sleek, more compact pleasure craft designed around the idea of entertaining multiple generations at once.
Photo: Northrop & Johnson
It’s certainly a downgrade from the old favorite Vava II, but it’s still a superyacht. The private yachting and cruise industries are two of the world’s biggest polluters, even with current efforts to include more sustainable features that reduce their carbon footprint.
That such a high-profile activist as DiCaprio vacations on a superyacht every summer for at least a couple of weeks is still a paradox that regular people on social media can’t accept. In other words, just as DiCaprio’s vacations have become a tradition, so too has the wave of criticism that accompanies them.
Smaller, but no less elegant
Delivered in 2011 by Trinity Yachts, Impromptu is 164 feet (50 meters) long and offers accommodation for 12 guests and 10 crew in 490 GT of interior space. Recently refitted, she boasts an exterior by Trinity and an interior by Patrick Knowles Design, described as elegant and timeless.
Photo: Northrop & Johnson
Among the highlights of Impromptu is the two-level master suite that boasts a unique elevated sitting area with panoramic views, a private office, walk-in closets and his and hers ensuite bathrooms. Another great feature is the elevated waterfall jacuzzi on the sundeck, large enough to accommodate the entire guest group and with beautiful eye-catching finishes.
Impromptu has garages full of gear for the perfect summer vacation, from a giant inflatable slide to a SeaBob and WaveRunner. It boasts beautiful entertainment areas, both inside and out, and luxury features like a grand staircase that ends in a modern interpretation of a wine cellar.
Thanks to two Caterpillar engines, the superyacht reaches a top speed of 20 knots (23 mph/37 km/h).
Photo: Northrop & Johnson
In 2020, Impromptu passed her 10-year survey just before a refit that included a new paint job, updated technology, and a modernized interior. The styling, however, remains more on the classic side, with plenty of polished veneer and polished marble.
It rents out on the fly for prices starting at $255,000 a week. It’s also for sale, as it happens, for $25 million.