Jeff Bezos on Jan Koum’s ‘Moonrise’ in Croatia
Just around two weeks ago, it was moored at Kaštela Marina near Split; now, the Moonrise, a superyacht measuring just under 101 metres in length, is making headlines a few nautical miles further south. Off the coast of the island of Mljet, WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum welcomed some high-profile guests aboard his yacht: Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and US media entrepreneur Barry Diller met on board.
For the Croatian Adriatic coast, this visit is yet another example of the importance the region has now come to hold for some of the world’s largest private yachts.
From Kaštela on to Mljet
In early August, we spotted the Moonrise herself at Marina Kaštela. Amidst the significantly smaller yachts and charter boats, the vessel was hard to miss, if only because of her sheer size. Measuring 100.7 metres in length and 15.7 metres in beam, this Feadship – delivered in 2025 – belongs to a class of vessel that is a rare sight even in the large marinas of the Adriatic.
Just around two weeks later, the Moonrise is now moored off Mljet. There, it became the venue for a meeting of three prominent entrepreneurs.
Jan Koum arrived at the yacht by helicopter on Monday. Jeff Bezos and Barry Diller joined him in the late afternoon. The meeting and the eye-catching superyacht quickly attracted attention along the Croatian coast.
The new Moonrise
The Moonrise currently sailing in Croatia is Koum’s new Feadship, which was only completed in 2025. It is the successor to a Moonrise from 2020, which was also nearly 100 metres long.
This is an important distinction, as recent reports have sometimes confused the details of the two yachts. The new Moonrise officially measures 100.7 metres and was built by Feadship in Makkum, the Netherlands. The exterior design is by De Voogt, whilst Rémi Tessier is responsible for the interior.
Rather than developing a completely new concept, the basic idea behind the first Moonrise has been carried forward and refined in various areas. These include larger outdoor spaces, an extended sun deck, and technical solutions to reduce noise and vibrations.
Visually, too, the yacht remains comparatively understated. Despite its enormous size, its profile appears clean and linear – a contrast to some of the far more expressively designed superyachts in this class.
A 68-metre vessel as an escort
However, it is not only the Moonrise itself that is extraordinary. It is accompanied by the Nebula, a support catamaran approximately 68 metres long.
This support vessel alone would be larger than most superyachts. The Nebula handles part of the logistics for the main yacht and, amongst other things, provides space for additional equipment and crew. Another key element of the design is the large helicopter hangar.
This allows tenders, water sports equipment and technical infrastructure to be partially relocated away from the main yacht. As a result, there is more space on the Moonrise itself for private living and lounge areas.
The yacht’s current stay off Mljet also demonstrates just how practical such a concept can be: Koum himself travelled to the yacht by helicopter.
Croatia as a cruising destination for the largest superyachts
The fact that a yacht of this calibre is initially moored in Kaštela and anchors off Mljet shortly afterwards also highlights one of the great strengths of the Croatian coast.
There are comparatively short distances between the modern marinas around Split, sheltered island bays and destinations such as Hvar, Korčula, Mljet and Dubrovnik. It is precisely this combination that makes the central and southern Adriatic so attractive to both traditional charter guests and large private yachts.
Marina Kaštela is situated right in the Split metropolitan area and offers an ideal location between Trogir, Split and the offshore islands. From here, virtually the entire archipelago of Central Dalmatia lies open to exploration.
The Moonrise’s stay there was just one stop on its Adriatic itinerary. Around two weeks later, the action had already shifted to the largely unspoilt coast of Mljet.
Three billionaires, one yacht and the Croatian Adriatic
Jeff Bezos is, of course, no stranger to the world of superyachts. His own sailing yacht, Koru, is also one of the best-known private superyachts of recent years. The fact that Bezos was now a guest on Koum’s Moonrise turned what was already a high-profile yachting visit into a story that attracted attention far beyond the nautical scene.
For us, the timing is particularly interesting: as recently as early August, the new Moonrise was moored right in front of us in Kaštela. Two weeks later, the same yacht became the meeting point for Jan Koum, Jeff Bezos and Barry Diller off the coast of Mljet.
Visits such as these demonstrate that Croatia has long since ceased to be merely one of Europe’s most important traditional charter destinations. In the international superyacht sector, too, the Adriatic is now a regular stop on the summer itinerary of some of the world’s largest and most famous yachts.
Recent posts
