Savannah & The Woman in Cabin 10: When a Superyacht Steals the Scene

For many viewers, the yacht is almost a character in its own right – sleek, enigmatic and unforgettable. For those in the yachting world, Savannah has been a benchmark vessel since the day she was delivered.

A Short Synopsis: Suspense at Sea

Based on Ruth Ware’s bestselling novel, The Woman in Cabin 10 follows travel journalist Laura “Lo” Blacklock (played by Keira Knightley), who is invited on an exclusive press trip aboard a private luxury yacht. One night, she believes she sees a woman being thrown overboard from the cabin next to hers.

When she raises the alarm, the crew insist that all passengers are accounted for. As doubt, isolation and paranoia grow, the entire drama unfolds within the polished, almost otherworldly environment of the yacht – corridors, decks, lounges and cabins becoming part of the psychological tension.

Around her is a cast of mysterious owners and high-profile guests, each of them adding to the sense that nothing on board is quite what it seems.

Meet Savannah: The Real Star Behind “The Aurora Borealis”

In reality, the yacht you see on screen is Savannah, delivered by Feadship in 2015 and still considered one of the most daring and forward-thinking projects in modern superyacht design.

Savannah at a glance:

Builder: Feadship (Royal De Vries)
Length: 83.5 metres
Beam: 12.5 metres
Guests: 12
Cabins: 6
Crew: 26
Top speed: approx. 17 knots
Range: up to 6,500 nm at cruising speed

Savannah is known in the industry not just for her looks, but for her engineering. She was among the very first large yachts to adopt a true hybrid propulsion architecture, combining a main diesel engine, electric motor, large-scale battery bank and azimuthing thruster. The result: significantly lower fuel consumption and emissions compared with conventional displacement yachts of similar size, and the ability to run in near-silence under certain modes.

Her boldness did not go unnoticed. Savannah collected a series of major prizes, including the Motor Yacht of the Yeartitle at the World Superyacht Awards, and has been repeatedly cited as a turning point in the evolution of “eco-conscious” superyachts.

Design Vision: Sculptural, Seamless, Cinematic

Savannah’s exterior and naval architecture were created by Feadship De Voogt Naval Architects, with interiors and styling by Cristina Gherardi Design. Rather than rely on traditional, rectangular layouts, the team opted for flowing lines and soft curves throughout the interior – a decision that translates remarkably well on screen.

A few of her most distinctive design elements:

The Metallic Hull

Savannah was the first superyacht to receive a full metallic paint finish on such a scale. Her shimmering, sea-foam tones and reflective surfaces accentuate her sculptural shape, making her instantly recognisable from almost any angle. For the film, this creates a striking contrast between the yacht’s cool, almost futuristic exterior and the rising human tension onboard.

The Nine-Metre Mosaic Pool

On the main deck aft sits a spectacular pool, around nine metres in length, tiled in shades of blue and green to form an abstract mosaic. It lies flush with the deck and flows visually into the main saloon thanks to large sliding glass doors, creating a single indoor–outdoor environment. It’s one of the yacht’s most cinematic spaces – and naturally, one of the most heavily featured in the movie.

The “Starry Sky” Saloon Ceiling

Inside the main saloon, a mirrored, light-studded ceiling reflects the sea by day and evokes a night sky after dark. Combined with carefully layered materials – rosewood, metals, soft textiles – the space feels simultaneously calm and theatrical. For a psychological thriller, it’s the perfect setting: glamorous, but with an edge.

The Curved Staircase & Flowing Layout

Savannah’s spiral staircase, crafted in rich wood and wrapped around a glass lift, connects the decks with a sense of vertical drama. There are almost no straight corridors in the guest areas; instead, each passageway curves gently, reinforcing the feeling of continuous movement. On camera, this flowing geometry adds to the sense that the yacht is a maze of perspectives and reflections.

The Iconic Nemo Lounge

Perhaps Savannah’s most talked-about feature – both in yachting circles and now among film fans – is the Nemo Lounge.

This semi-submerged lounge is nestled low in the hull, with a large, curved glass wall looking directly into the underwater world outside. Guests can sit in stadium-like seating and watch marine life drift past at eye level, or dim the lights and convert the space into a private cinema, with a drop-down screen covering the glass.

In The Woman in Cabin 10, this space becomes inherently cinematic: an intimate, enclosed room where the outside world feels both close and unreachable. It’s hard to imagine a more fitting setting for a story built on doubt, perception and what you think you’ve just seen.

The Owner’s Deck: Light, Privacy and Perspective

Savannah’s upper deck is dedicated entirely to the owner. The master suite is framed by an arched wall of glass and crowned by an oval skylight, flooding the space with natural light. A marble-clad bathroom and discreet dressing area complete the retreat.

Interestingly, while much of the thriller plays with the notion of closed doors and hidden spaces, Savannah’s real design sensibility is about openness and flow. On the owner’s deck, the bedroom is almost the only room with a proper interior door – a deliberate balance between privacy and continuity.

On Set with Savannah: Filming The Woman in Cabin 10

Principal filming on board Savannah took place in September 2024, with the yacht based primarily in Portland Harbour, Dorset on England’s south coast. Many of the exteriors, deck scenes and key interior sequences were shot aboard the yacht herself, making the on-screen environment feel authentic to anyone familiar with large yachts.

Some cabin and corridor scenes were recreated at Shepperton Studios to accommodate camera rigs and specific story requirements. One notable cinematic liberty: in the film, each guest cabin appears to have a private balcony, a feature more typical of cruise ships. In reality, yachts of Savannah’s size are designed with enclosed staterooms and shared outdoor decks, which offer more flexibility and privacy in everyday use.

Still, the core of what viewers see – the metallic hull, mirrored passages, pool terrace, Nemo Lounge, owner’s deck and party-ready sundeck – is very much Savannah as she is.

Hybrid Power: A Quiet Revolution Beneath the Surface

Savannah’s hybrid propulsion system remains one of the most sophisticated ever installed on a private yacht. A single Wärtsilä main engine works together with electric motors, generators and a large battery bank, driving a central propeller and an azimuthing thruster.

In practice, this setup allows for:

Multiple operating modes, from diesel-only to fully electric

Reduced fuel burn and emissions compared with a conventional system

Periods of exceptionally quiet operation, enhancing onboard comfort

This pioneering approach has influenced a generation of later Feadship projects and other hybrid yachts, making Savannah not just visually influential, but technically important as well.

From Award Winner to Screen Icon

Since her launch, Savannah has accumulated an impressive list of accolades, including several major design and innovation awards. A comprehensive refit in 2024 refreshed her systems, finishes and paint, ensuring she continues to meet – and set – contemporary expectations for an 80m+ superyacht.

In 2025, she also completed one of the year’s standout brokerage deals, changing hands in a high-profile sale and confirming her enduring desirability among experienced owners.

Now, with The Woman in Cabin 10 streaming worldwide, Savannah has found an entirely new audience. For many viewers, she will be their first real glimpse inside a yacht of this calibre. For the yachting community, she is a reminder of what can happen when engineering ambition, design courage and a strong creative vision all align.

Why Savannah Matters

For us at Patrick Marine Yachts, Savannah represents more than a beautiful backdrop to a Netflix thriller. She stands for a very particular moment in yacht design: when sustainability, cinematic aesthetics and technical innovation started to converge at the very highest level.

She shows that a yacht can be:

A cutting-edge engineering platform

A refined private residence

A piece of moving architecture

And yes, even a compelling film set

As audiences around the world discover The Woman in Cabin 10, they are also discovering the possibilities of contemporary superyacht design. And in that sense, Savannah might be doing more for the perception of modern yachting than any trailer or brochure ever could.