The 27m Princess X90 has now moved beyond launch and into active on-water validation, where her handling, onboard systems, and performance profile are being assessed before her first public appearance in September.
Sea Trials Begin for the New X Class Model
The first Princess X90 has successfully completed its initial sea trials, marking one of the most significant milestones yet for the new X Class model ahead of its world premiere at the 2026 Cannes Yachting Festival this September.
The achievement follows the yacht's launch earlier this year from Princess Yachts' South Yard facility in Plymouth and moves the project into a crucial phase of validation and refinement. Sea trials provide the first opportunity to assess the yacht beyond the controlled conditions of the shipyard, testing everything from propulsion and handling to onboard systems, stability, and overall performance underway.
Part of that evaluation will focus on the X90's new Hybrid Progressive-Planing hull, developed in partnership with Olesinski. Designed to improve efficiency across a broad operating range, the hull has been engineered to deliver stable low-speed cruising while maintaining strong planing performance at higher speeds. Princess has previously stated that the design requires around 10 percent less power above 16 knots than the Princess Y85 when normalized for displacement, despite the X90 carrying additional weight.
Expected to reach speeds of up to 28 knots depending on engine specification, the X90 now enters the next stage of testing as Princess prepares the yacht for its public debut and eventual delivery program.
Expanding the X Class Living Concept
The X90 builds on the foundations established by the X95, but places a greater emphasis on outdoor living and direct access to the water. At the heart of the motor yacht is an aft cockpit with fold-down terraces to port and starboard, expanding the usable deck area at anchor and creating a more open, beach club-style environment. A glass transom improves views aft, while modular seating, a wet bar, and entertainment features give owners flexibility in how the space is used.
That focus on volume and versatility continues on the upper deck. An enclosed skylounge and elevated helm position create a second protected living area while freeing up space on the main deck below. Sliding doors connect the skylounge to the wheelhouse, while the aft section can be configured with a bar, spa-focused layout, or loose furniture.
Forward seating areas convert into sunpads, creating multiple distinct social spaces across the deck.
Together, these areas reinforce the X90's role as a long-range cruising yacht built around extended time onboard, with a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces that can be enjoyed simultaneously without feeling disconnected from the experience of being at sea.
Inside the X90’s High-Volume Layout
Inside, the X90 continues the Princess X Class focus on space, long sightlines, and flexible use of the main deck. A curved patio door system links the cockpit with the main salon, creating a large indoor-outdoor dining area when open and preserving visibility aft when closed.
Large windows run along the salon, while the main deck layout extends forward to the owner’s suite on a single level. Owners can specify either an open galley with a breakfast bar or an enclosed galley arrangement, depending on how they want the yacht to operate.
The forward owner’s suite benefits from wraparound glazing and can be specified with a gullwing door giving access to a private foredeck terrace. Below deck, the standard arrangement includes three guest cabins with en suite bathrooms, with an optional five-cabin layout available for owners who require greater capacity.
New Models Drive Princess’s Next Phase
The X90's sea-trials milestone comes during a period of significant activity for Princess Yachts, which recently returned to profitability and continues to invest heavily in new product development. According to YachtBuyer MarketWatch, the world's largest yacht database, Princess currently has 16 yachts in build or development.
Alongside the X90, the Plymouth builder is progressing several major projects, including the C48, F54, S74, and Odyssey 106. The C48 has already entered fit-out ahead of its FLIBS debut and will become Princess's first outboard-powered yacht, first stepped-hull model, and fastest production yacht to date. Meanwhile, the Odyssey 106 signals the brand's return to the 30m-plus segment.
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Together, these projects highlight a builder actively expanding its portfolio across multiple size categories, with the X90 now among the closest to reaching the market ahead of its Cannes debut this September.
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