Skip to main content

Cruise the Mediterranean for a week like a mogul for a mere $1 million

If you have reached the age where you can dip into your trust fund capital, or you’ve won the lottery, or maybe cashed in after your tech company IPO lock-up period, we found a way you can spend some of the money. CRN Yachts launched the 74-meter superyacht Cloud 9 earlier this year, according to Boat International, and she’s already listed for charter.

The near-243-foot yacht has a steel full displacement hull, an aluminum superstructure, and teak decks. Cloud 9 was built at CRN’s Ancona, Italy, shipyard. Rome’s Zuccon International Project designed the exterior and the London-based firm Winch Design was responsible for the interiors. She was launched during a ceremony in January.

Luxury Superyacht - The launch of CRN 74m M/Y Cloud9

The buyer is happy the result of the collaboration. The new owner told Boat International, “She’s beautiful. For me it is a very proud day, and for my family and my mother. It takes a lot of energy, passion and commitment to build something so magnificent.”

Recommended Videos

Cloud 9 is almost 243 feet long and just over 42 feet wide at her widest part. She is powered by two Catepillar 3516C diesel engines with a total of 5,360 horsepower.

Maximum speed is 16.5 knots and she cruises at 15 knots, which means Cloud 9 can go a bit faster than most boats her size (there aren’t too many). Her most economical cruising speed is 12 knots.

Cloud 9 has a 6,000 nautical mile range at 12 knots with her 250,000-liter fuel tanks topped off. That’s 6,904 land miles and 66,044 U.S. gallons of fuel. So put it this way, Cloud 9 can travel the distance from New York to Los Angeles, back to New York, and south to Key Largo, Florida, without refueling.

Cloud 9 has five decks plus a sundeck. When she’s chartered, as many as 12 guests are accommodated in one master suite, one VIP suite, four doubles, and two double/twin staterooms. There is also space for 22 crew members.

The vessel has a custom made limousine tender so getting to and from Cloud 9 will be classy. Onboard is a large beach club aft, a 12-meter (39-foot) pool, a gym, a deck Jacuzzi, and a side-loading garage for her impressive selection of water toys.

The toy list may be excessive, but hey, if you’re going to drop $1 million for the week, excess is expected. The inventory includes two Waverunners, two kayaks, a waterslide, a fly board, wake surf, wake skate, Seabobs, stand up paddleboards, wakeboards, water skis, kneeboards, and snorkeling and fishing equipment. On the chance that you might have the limo (oops, the tender) scoot you into town, there are four 18-inch folding bicycles.

Cloud 9 is available for charter in the Mediterranean from YachtCharterFleet. The weekly charter fee ranges from $970,000 to $993,500, depending on the season, plus expenses.

Expenses will likely put you over the $1 million mark, so be sure to inquire what they cover in advance. At a minimum, there’s probably a daily fuel and basic meal allowance including wine, in which case you’d pay for booze and any excess over the allowances. Or, the full cost of food, drink, and fuel may be on you. You also may be responsible for dockage and mooring fees, which can run in the tens of thousands.

Bruce Brown
Bruce Brown Contributing Editor   As a Contributing Editor to the Auto teams at Digital Trends and TheManual.com, Bruce…
Slate Unveils $20K Electric Truck That Transforms Into an SUV
slate 20k ev blank  roller 1 web

Slate Automotive, a new American EV startup, has just unveiled its first vehicle: a radically minimalist electric truck that can convert into a five-seat SUV. Dubbed the “Blank Slate,” the EV made its debut this week, instantly turning heads not just for its versatility but for its incredibly low price—starting under $20,000 after federal tax incentives.

Unlike Tesla and Lucid, which launched with high-priced luxury models, Slate wants to flip the model: start cheap, scale up.
At its core, the Slate Truck is a utilitarian, two-seat electric pickup designed for simplicity and affordability. But what sets it apart is its transformative potential. Thanks to a modular accessory system, the truck can be upgraded over time—including a kit that adds a rear seat, roll cage, airbags, and SUV body panels. This means buyers can start with a minimalist pickup and evolve it into a family-friendly SUV—either themselves or through Slate’s growing network of service partners.
Customization is central to Slate’s vision. Owners will be able to choose from over 100 accessories at launch, ranging from vinyl wraps and Bluetooth-ready audio systems to larger battery packs and off-road upgrades. The company encourages a DIY approach, offering tools and tutorials through “Slate University” to empower users to modify and maintain their own vehicles.
Powering the truck is a 52.7-kWh battery for up to 150 miles of range, or an optional 84.3-kWh pack targeting 240 miles. Fast-charging capabilities and Tesla’s NACS port come standard. The vehicle is rear-wheel-drive and delivers around 200 horsepower—enough for urban commuting and light-duty hauling.
What enables the low price is Slate’s stripped-down approach to manufacturing. There’s no paint shop, no stamping, and only one trim level—everything else is modular. The vehicle features steel wheels, crank windows, and a rugged plastic body designed to take a beating and still look good. It’s a rejection of the tech-saturated, high-cost vehicles dominating today’s market.
Despite the minimalist specs, Slate isn’t skimping on safety. The truck is engineered to meet top crash test ratings and comes equipped with up to eight airbags, active emergency braking, and forward collision warning.
Backing this ambitious approach is significant investor support—including Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos. That backing, combined with a simplified production model, positions Slate to scale quickly once production begins in 2026.
Reservations are now open for $50 at slate.auto, with deliveries expected in late 2026. Whether Americans are ready for a stripped-down, shape-shifting EV remains to be seen, but Slate’s bet on affordability and customization could make it one of the most disruptive entries in the EV market to date.

Read more
ChatGPT’s awesome Deep Research gets a light version and goes free for all
Deep Research option for ChatGPT.

There’s a lot of AI hype floating around, and it seems every brand wants to cram it into their products. But there are a few remarkably useful tools, as well, though they are pretty expensive. ChatGPT’s Deep Research is one such feature, and it seems OpenAI is finally feeling a bit generous about it. 

The company has created a lightweight version of Deep Research that is powered by its new o4-mini language model. OpenAI says this variant is “more cost-efficient while preserving high quality.” More importantly, it is available to use for free without any subscription caveat. 

Read more
Star Wars legend Ian McDiarmid gets questions about the Emperor’s sex life
Ian McDiarmid as the Emperor in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

This weekend, the Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith 20th anniversary re-release had a much stronger performance than expected with $25 million and a second-place finish behind Sinners. Revenge of the Sith was the culmination of plans by Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) that led to the fall of the Jedi and his own ascension to emperor. Because McDiarmid's Emperor died in his first appearance -- 1983's Return of the Jedi -- Revenge of the Sith was supposed to be his live-action swan song. However, Palpatine's return in Star Wars: Episode IX -- The Rise of Skywalker left McDiarmid being asked questions about his character's comeback, particularly about his sex life and how he could have a granddaughter.

While speaking with Variety, McDiarmid noted that fans have asked him "slightly embarrassing questions" about Palpatine including "'Does this evil monster ever have sex?'"

Read more