How to Charter a Yacht (+ the Best Yacht Charters)

Looking for pinch-me-I’m-dreaming scenery, historical heritage or that next grand adventure?

Why not charter a yacht?

You may think yacht holidays are only for the rich and famous frolicking in tropical playgrounds.

But a yachting vacation doesn’t have to break the bank.

And there are many places around the world other than the Bahamas or Caribbean that are ideal for sailing charters.

How to charter a yacht

Renting a yacht for a week is an intimate way to vacation with your family or friends.

Different from cruises – even small ship sailing cruises – yacht charter vacations allow you to customize your own itinerary, giving you the flexibility to sail where you want, when you want.

Crewed yacht charters vs. bareboat charters

That’s a taste of the life on a crewed yacht charter – one we got to experience on a Tradewinds catamaran yacht charter in the Caribbean.

Choosing whether to have a crew on your boat charter is one of the first decisions to make.

Crewed charter

Typically, a crewed yacht has several cabins (accommodating 6 to 10 persons) and is staffed by a captain and a cook (often a husband/wife team).

If you’re looking for a luxury yacht vacation, a crewed charter is the way to go.

Bareboat charter

You can charter smaller yachts on a bareboat basis.

A bareboat yacht charter is one where you sail the vessel and tie the bowline yourself.

You’re also responsible for food supplies, cooking your meals and planning where to go.

Boats tend to be under 55 feet long. Larger yachts usually need their own skipper (and probably crew).

Bareboat charters are less expensive than crewed yacht charters, but obviously, one or more people in your group will need to know how to sail the boat.

It’s also possible to hire a skipper to sail the boat for the first few days, who gradually hands over the reins until you feel comfortable enough to skipper the boat alone.

Cabin charter

What if you can’t (or don’t want to) rope in friends and family to charter a whole yacht?

Some yacht chartering companies offer the option to book just one cabin – called a “cabin charter.”

Another question to consider is the type of boat. Do you want to go by sail or motor power?

On a sailboat or sailing catamaran, you harness the wind. And there’s no denying the romance of actually sailing the seas!

A power yacht, on the other hand, can go faster and cover more distance in less time.

Also, the design of a motor yacht means it usually has more deck space.

That can translate into more onboard amenities. There might be room for a hot tub in which to sip gin-and-tonics as you cruise along.

The bigger the motor yacht, the closer it becomes to being a superyacht (discussed in more detail below).

Best yacht destinations

The number of appealing yacht charter destinations around the globe continues to grow as vacationers and adventurers explore new territories.

They range from the charter-friendly Bahamas and Mediterranean to more remote parts of the world like the Indian Ocean and even Antarctica.

The most popular yacht destinations are the British Virgin Islands, Eastern Mediterranean and Western Mediterannean.

1) British Virgin Islands (BVIs)

The Caribbean is home to roughly 7,000 islands, cays and islets, all with their own tropical vibe. 

But don’t think just sandy beaches, gin-clear waters and palm fronds waving overhead (though there’s nothing wrong with that).

European colonialism, the African slave trade and native Indian tribes have all played a part in shaping the local architecture, music, food and customs.

So you’re in for a diverse cultural experience as well as a beach escape when you ply the Caribbean waters.

The British Virgin Islands – with over 50 islands spanning 1,000 square miles – probably offer the quintessential tropical island experience in the Caribbean.

A popular destination for Caribbean yacht charters, they are indeed best explored by private yacht.

Virgin Gorda

Virgin Gorda is one of the largest of the BVIs.

An island of rolling hills, it’s famous for The Baths.

This collection of cottage-sized granite boulders at the water’s edge has created a wondrous labyrinth of caves and grottos, ideal for snorkeling and rock scrambling.

Jost Van Dyke

At tiny Jost Van Dyke, drop into the Soggy Dollar Bar on beautiful White Bay.

You’ll likely wade ashore from your boat’s dinghy. But you’ll be in good company – many people swim ashore to sample the bar’s famous “Painkiller” cocktail.

It’s a wonderful concoction, made from premium dark rum, cream of coconut, pineapple juice, orange juice and fresh-grated nutmeg.

We tried it when visiting the Soggy Dollar Bar on a beach excursion from the Viking Sea cruise ship.

Anegada

Anegada (“drowned land” in Spanish) is the island of shipwrecks. Over 300 offshore wrecks of Spanish galleons, American privateers and British warships lure scuba divers to discover their nooks and crannies.

And if you love lobster, you’re in for a treat – Anegada lobster is the best in the Caribbean (the island even hosts an annual Anegada Lobster Festival).

Oh, and don’t overlook the pink flamingoes in the salt ponds at the western end of the island!

So many other islands too

Other popular spots in the BVIs include Manchioneel Bay on Cooper Island (check out the chill Cooper Island Beach Club) and Sandy Spit, an oh-so-perfect uninhabited islet encircled by talc-white sand, off Green Cay.

2) Eastern Mediterranean

Romantic Venice, with its beautiful Grand Canal lined by palaces and baroque churches. Istanbul, with its mosques and bazaars and exotic east-meets-west culture.

These cities are on your travel bucket list, right?

Depending on your itinerary, your eastern Med yacht trip could take you there and to one or more of the following destinations too.

Navagio Beach, Zakynthos, Greece

You can only reach this extraordinary beach by boat.

The steep limestone cliffs surround some of the clearest water you’ll ever see.

And what’s that striking rusted hulk on the white sand?

The wreck of the freightliner Panagiotis.

It ran aground in 1981 after a chase by the Greek navy, which suspected it of smuggling contraband (cigarettes, and maybe also wine and women).

One of the fun facts about Greece is that Navagio Beach is now probably the most photographed beach in Greece.

For a great travel shot, head up to the Agios Gergio Kremnao monastery 600 feet above the wreck – there’s a viewing platform where many pictures are taken.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Embracing the Adriatic Sea, Croatia’s long coastline is sprinkled with come-hither beach coves, medieval towns and idyllic islands. There’s a reason sailing in Croatia has become increasingly popular in recent years!

A great place to start or end a Croatian sailing trip is the historic city of Dubrovnik, which dates back to the 12th century.

Be sure to walk the Dubrovnik city walls surrounding the Old City.

Looking down, you’ll see monasteries, churches, palaces and outdoor cafés, along with children playing soccer, and you can peek through windows of people living in apartments and homes built into the wall.

Also visit the Franciscan Monastery, which has the third oldest pharmacy in Europe. Monks still use the medieval bowls and instruments to make medicines.

Santorini, Greece

So you’d like to rent a yacht for a week in Greece?

Consider including Santorini in your itinerary. Volcanic Santorini is often voted the best island in the world.

Topped with white sugar-cube villages, it looks like a slice of vanilla-frosted chocolate cake with a huge bite taken out. It’s truly one of the most unique places in Greece!

Anchor off the capital of Fira, and you can ride a donkey up the 588 steps to get from the port to the town (or walk or take the cable car).

At sunset, people gather in the fairytale town of Oia to photograph the sky as it turns blood orange.

To stretch out your sea legs, plan to hike from Oia along the rim of the volcanic crater to Fira – stupendous sea views on either side will amply reward you.

You may even want to extend your stay in Santorini by bunking down in a luxury cave hotel like the stunning Ikies Traditional Houses.

3) Western Mediterranean

Sun-drenched beaches, hidden coves and ports-of-call favored by celebrities (hello Beyoncé) – welcome to the western Mediterranean!

Easy to get to from major centers around the world, it’s a much-loved haunt for the superyacht crowd.

Majorca, Spain

Many consider Majorca (or Mallorca) the most attractive of the Spanish islands. One of Spain’s Balearic Islands, it’s another one of the best places for a charter vacation in the summer season.

Of course, once docked in Palma de Majorca, you must see the Gothic cathedral and its magnificent flying buttresses.

And maybe shop for shoes – we counted dozens of shoe stores when we visited the city!

For sights outside Palma, take the vintage narrow-gauge train that clackety-clacks through 13 tunnels on a one-hour scenic ride to the town of Soller.

Further up the north coast, Deia is a charming artists’ village with a sweet swimming cove.

Rainbow-colored, Genoese-style tower houses cling to the steep rocky coast, all vying for views of the sea below.

There’s a lovely seaside walk (in fact, called the “Love Walk”) from Manarola to Riomaggiore, the southernmost of the five Cinque Terre villages – only 20 minutes, so no excuses!

And if you want to cool off with a swim, simply dive off the rocks beside the miniature harbor.

Corsica, France

Sure, there’s St. Tropez and the French Riviera.

But Corsica is just so picturesque and diverse, it would be a shame to omit it from your yacht trip.

You’ll recall Napoleon Bonaparte came from Corsica. 

In the seaside capital of Ajaccio, you can visit the house where he was born (in 1769), now a museum.

Also pop into the superb Palais Fesch-Musee des Beaux Arts, established by his uncle, showcasing priceless canvases by Botticelli, Bellini, Titian and Veronese.

And don’t miss cruising by the towering red granite cliffs in the Scandola Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site – keep your eyes peeled for dolphins and ospreys.

5 Best yacht charters and brokers

There are many yacht companies in the business of chartering yachts.

But unless you have a recommendation from a friend or colleague, it’s difficult to know which company to work with to find the right yacht for your trip.

First-time charterers might want to look into getting a broker to help them find the right yacht for their trip (especially for the best charter boats).

The following are some names that we’re familiar with and/or have a good rep in the industry.

1) The Moorings

We’ve seen many Moorings boats in the Caribbean and have friends who’ve personally chartered a catamaran in the BVIs with Moorings. They offer some of the best yacht rentals around.

In business for some 50 years, the Moorings has a charter fleet of more than 400 yachts in 20+ places round the globe, including Thailand, the South Pacific, the Greek Islands and the Seychelles.

2) Tradewinds

Tradewinds has some 50 catamarans in French Polynesia, the Caribbean, Tonga, Croatia and Greece available for crewed charters.

Rates are all-inclusive, so you know exactly what your costs are right upfront.

You can choose from three different classes: Classic, Luxury and Flagship, each offering different levels of comfort.

The top “extra pampering” Flagship category offers some of the best luxury yacht charters. Your catamaran is 70 feet long, for example, and you’ll savor superior wines.

In the Grenadines, we sailed on a Luxury class cat (60 feet long), and were very impressed with the accommodations, food and service. (We also had the chance to go scuba diving, where we hunted lionfish, important to help combat the lionfish invasion in the Caribbean.)

Want to share a charter with other couples and rent just one cabin? That option is available too.

3) Dream Yacht Worldwide

Founded in 2000, Dream Yacht Worldwide (formerly known as Dream Yacht Charter) is one of the biggest yacht charter companies in the world.

They have more than 1,000 monohulls and catamarans in over 50 destinations globally.

Bareboat, crewed and cabin charters are all offered.

There are also different options for crewed charters.

You can get a skippered charter, where you have a professional captain with you on the boat.

Then there are easy crewed charters in the Greek Islands and Croatia. They include the services of a skipper and hostess, along with breakfast and light lunches. You go ashore for dinners on your own.

4) Intersailclub

5) International Yacht Charter Group

This company is a large yacht charter broker that works with privately-owned crewed yachts around the world.

You tell them the yacht size you’re interested in, where and when you want to go, the number of people sailing and your budget, and they’ll get back to you with choices.

The International Yacht Charter Group offers four classes of vessels: mega yachts (over 101 feet long), motor yachts (less than 100 feet), catamarans and traditional sailing yachts.

Hmmm… That sleek 110-foot Alexia with water skis and other water toys looks like it would be fun for cruising Greece! (Now we just have to come up with a minimum of $68,000 USD!)

International Yacht Charter Group: Website

How much to charter a yacht?

All-inclusive yacht charters

In the Caribbean, rates for crewed catamarans or sailing boats are typically all-inclusive.

The cost includes three meals and snacks a day, all drinks (including wine and liquor), snorkel gear and perhaps onboard watersports equipment like a kayak and SUP board, fuel and cruising permits.

Extra charges on top include such things as tips for the crew, meals taken ashore and scuba diving.

Plus Expenses charters

The other way you may be charged is on a “plus expenses” basis.

In addition to the yacht charter fee for the boat and crew, you pay for the food and drinks (according to your preferences), fuel, dockage, etc.

You’re asked to pay upfront an Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA), usually 25% to 35% of the base price, and then pay any additional expenses (or get a refund) at the end of the trip, based on the actual cost.

Luxury superyacht charters

So you’re thinking of something larger? And fancy! A big luxury charter yacht to satisfy the pickiest people in your group.

What’s a super yacht?

Any motor yacht over 80 feet is usually considered a superyacht. They often carry higher-end water toys like jet skis, and you can expect lots of amenities to keep 10 guests very happy, thank you very much.

For the ultimate charter experience, splash out on a yacht over 150 feet long.

Eye-popping amenities might include a swimming pool, movie theater, fully equipped gym – possibly even a personal submarine and helicopter landing pad!

Superyacht charter cost

Expect to pay up to $150,000 USD a week for a 100-foot mega yacht (though you might luck out and find a luxury yacht charter for as low as $60,000 USD).

That wraps up our guide on how to charter a private yacht!

Private yacht charters are a wonderful way to enjoy a water-focused vacation – and they’re becoming more popular.

Rather than staying put in a hotel, you sail (or motor) to new islands and destinations as the whim moves you. It’s the ultimate in vacation freedom!

In fact, your yacht charter could just end up becoming a trip of a lifetime.

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Photo credits: 4 © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase | 5, 6, 9, 16, 27, 29 Tradewinds | 7 International Yacht Charter Group | 28 Dream Yacht Charter

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