Crew Reviews, Ratings & Info for Royal-Romance

The Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) of Ukraine has announced on April 2, 2026, that it is actively proceeding with the sale of the luxurious superyacht 'Royal Romance.' This move comes after essential legal processes have been completed, marking the advancement of the case towards its final stages. 'Royal Romance' is associated with Viktor Medvedchuk, a Russian politician who was sanctioned in 2021 by Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, which involved freezing his assets as well as the seizure of properties linked to him. Currently, the yacht is under Croatian jurisdiction, with its management and sale being overseen by ARMA following a judge's ruling. A significant milestone in this case was reached with the conclusion of the pre-trial investigation, as the Ukraine Prosecutor General's Office has submitted the indictment to the court, shifting the matter into the trial phase. In an effort to ensure international compliance, legal documents have been provided to Croatian authorities. The ARMA is now focused on conducting a valuation of 'Royal Romance,' determining the sale method, and ensuring a transparent process. This strategy includes upholding the Ukrainian court’s ruling, completing the sale, and properly allocating the proceeds to state accounts, with the funds distributed among jurisdictions as required. However, the case has encountered challenges from individuals associated with Medvedchuk, who have attempted to hinder progress through various legal maneuvers. The ARMA anticipated such challenges and reported the associated risks to the appropriate authorities. Additionally, ARMA is addressing other assets tied to Medvedchuk, such as the yacht 'Amore Mio,' facing hurdles in pinpointing its location. To mitigate this issue, ARMA collaborated with global organizations including Interpol, Europol, and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). This effort led to the addition of 'Amore Mio' to Interpol’s Stolen Vessels database, facilitating global tracking of the vessel.

The luxury yacht 'Royal Romance', which was seized in Split in 2022, is scheduled for essential technical maintenance at the port of Trogir. This update comes from Ukraine’s National Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) on June 16, 2025. The agency announced that the yacht will be escorted during its transfer by both a police vessel and a private maritime security firm, ensuring its safety. Once the maintenance is complete, 'Royal Romance' will return to its current location at the Croatian naval base in Split. ARMA reiterated that the vessel remains under arrest and is jointly managed by Ukrainian and Croatian authorities. After the yacht's return to Split, the agency plans to reach out to the Prosecutor General’s Office to renew efforts for selling the asset in accordance with Ukrainian law.

In a notable legal turn, a Croatian court has rescinded the seizure order for the luxury yacht 'Royal Romance', historically linked to Viktor Medvedchuk, an associate of the contentious oligarch. This striking outcome results from the absence of a pending indictment in a criminal case led by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, putting at risk an asset worth an astounding $200 million that could bolster the Ukrainian budget and military efforts. On June 25, the District Court of Split determined that the yacht's arrest was unfounded, attributing the cancellation to the lack of formal charges from the Prosecutor's Office. The saga began in April 2022 when the Split District Court confiscated Medvedchuk's yacht following a petition from Ukraine's Prosecutor General. The seizure, which was prolonged multiple times, faced continued challenges, and by May 2024, the auction house selected to dispose of the yacht withdrew from the deal, citing interference from Medvedchuk's legal team at the international law firm Steptoe. Consequently, the absence of any indictment has rendered the yacht's arrest indefensible. Despite this setback, the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) is still actively pursuing Medvedchuk’s assets, including other seized properties like ATVs and contraband electronics. These sales on the Prozorro.Sale platform aim to generate significant funds for the Ukrainian state, enhancing economic development. Meanwhile, the yacht 'Royal Romance' remains subject to indefinite seizure due to EU sanctions aimed at Medvedchuk. The Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) is tirelessly working alongside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to initiate the confiscation and eventual sale of the vessel. Legal proceedings addressing Medvedchuk’s alleged high treason and violations of war conduct are ongoing, with another investigation into his suspected support of terrorist factions nearing completion. Since 2022, the court has been evaluating serious accusations against the former Member of Parliament, and following extensive collaboration between the PGO, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and testimonies gathered by law enforcement, sanctions were imposed by the EU on May 27 against Medvedchuk and his spouse. Currently docked in the port of Trogir, the 'Royal Romance' cannot exit EU waters, while efforts continue to ensure its confiscation and sale proceed in line with international law.

The luxury yacht 'Royal Romance', previously owned by oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk, has officially been authorized to fly the Ukrainian state flag as of May 15, 2024. This significant development follows the registration of necessary changes with the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The announcement was made by the Ukrainian Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA), highlighting the collaborative efforts between ARMA and the Shipping Administration. By obtaining Ukrainian vessel status, the 'Royal Romance' is now under the jurisdiction of Ukraine. Yevhen Ihnatenko, Head of the Shipping Administration, confirmed that all relevant changes were successfully registered with the IMO, paving the way for the methodical sale of the seized luxury yacht, with proceeds benefiting the state budget of Ukraine. Notably, the Dutch auctioneer Troostwijk Auctions, which initially won the bid to auction the high-value yacht estimated at around 200 million euros, has declined to finalize a contract to conduct the auction. The yacht was seized by Croatian authorities in March 2022 amid sanctions imposed by the EU against Medvedchuk.