Types of Luxury Boat Charters
When it comes to exploring the open blue waters of the sea there are luxury boat charters to suite a wide array of adventure seeking individuals.
Some enjoy taking their time soaking up the sights, whereas others might like to use the speed of a well designed hydrodynamic vessel to glide over the tides, or perhaps hosting a party for friends and family on a luxurious yacht on the glistening water of a secluded bay.
Whatever sea recreation you prefer, it is important to understand the best luxury boat charter that’ll address your travel needs.
Luxury Boat Charters – Yachts
First off, we have the well-known yacht. The term ‘Yacht’ was originally coined from the Dutch meaning “hunt”, as its speed was used decades ago to hunt down pirates of the sea in shallow waters.
The perception of yachts has since evolved far beyond a ‘pirate hunting ship’ and into the current day luxury vessel for the wealthier class due to Charles ll of England and his adoption yachts for his travels.
The yacht, with its sharp appearance, is the sports car of the waters and just as there are varying degrees of sports cars, there are varying types of yachts each intended for their own journeys. A few types of yacht styles for charter are:
#1 Day Sailing Yachts
These beauties are great for a day out in the water, but keep it limited to just a day because the small size of the vessel doesn’t allow for many supplies to be brought aboard, as well as usually lack a cabin needed for longer journeys. Additionally space is usually pretty limited to a handful of guests, so not the best boat for hosting a large party.
With day yachts you’ll most likely get a boat with a ‘cuddy’ which is a small cabin (usually not tall enough to stand in) to help protect you from the wind or water mist but beyond that they lack proper sleeping quarters.
Those who may be too busy for ocean travels but want a vessel to take out for a quick wine and picnic date on the island may find these day yachts better suited to fit their needs.
#2 Weekender Yachts
These vessels usually average around 30 feet in length and are designed for those who may want to take a weekend trip to an island where they can land the boat right on the beaches.
Weekender yachts usually consist of a humble cabin where it can hold between two to four people and a beautiful kitchen area as well, however weekender yachts are still limited in the supplies they can fit.
These are great for spending a couple days at sea however may not be the best option for heading out into deep sea for long durations of time since frequent supply restocking is necessary. If you’re looking to do a double date weekend trip in and out of them bays, check out chartering a weekender yacht.
#3 Cruising Yachts
Cruising yachts are the most commonly bought yachts for private use and have a unique look with their teardrop-planform hull and a fin to help with stability. Cruising yachts usually range from 23-46′ in length making for a very versatile vessel.
Below these beautiful yachts consists housing quarters sleeping between 8-12 individuals with a galley and even a working bathroom. Cruising yachts have the ability to not only sleep numerous individuals, but also have the capacity to store supplies, and usually have small kitchens to prepare onboard meals.
These beautifully crafted vessels are equipped to travel long voyages and yield a structural design allowing them to stay upright in the shallow water.
When it comes to the various types of luxury boat charters, the cruising yacht seems to be the answer to all desires without spending an exorbitant amount of money.
#4 Luxury Yachts
This vessel is just as it’s named, luxurious with amenities paralleling what you would find in a Hilton or Marriot hotel. These yachts have it all; large sleeping quarters, full kitchens, multiple bathrooms, dining rooms, living rooms, onboard jet-skis, and the occasional hot tub (full extent of amenities varies by yacht).
Beyond the ‘fun’ perks of chartering a luxury yacht are additional benefits that aid in the journey such as enhanced GPS navigation, auxiliary engines, and some come prepared for long range traveling by having wind-, water-, or solar powered generators to back up all those luxurious needs.
A yacht style for those not willing to spare a dime at the expense of a leisure filled time at sea. Luxury yachts require a full deck crew to keep everything in order as well as to ensure your charter trip goes off without a hitch.
Luxury Boat Charters – Sailboats
The second type of luxury boat charters are the infamous sailboats. These boats use sails (as in the name) either partly or fully to navigate the waters by harvesting and channeling the power of the wind. These boats are more for the folks that enjoy taking their time to take a moment to appreciate the calming waters, hear the seagulls, possibly while enjoying a glass of wine.
These vessels have a slimmer look to them with their sails being the eye catcher for the audience making them very distinguishable. Sailboats usually have a backup engine to avoid leaving you stranded at sea should the winds die down.
Sailboats vary in size, style, and amenities with some being sleek and made for day trips while others are slightly larger housing a small cuddy. The number of sails can depend on the type of sailboat you decide to navigate on your travels, so if you are a person who wants to hear the wind in your sails you have a vast number of options when determining the type of sailboat to charter: Cutter, Catboat, Dinghy, Ketch, Schooner, Sloop, or a Yawl.
Luxury Boat Charters – Catamaran
Last but certainly not least is the catamaran which is gaining much popularity due to their open deck layout!
This luxurious vessel has a one of a kind look with two twin parallel hulls to balance itself on the seas. The catamaran uses the stability from its wide beam, as opposed to a blasted keel like sailboats. Due to this, the catamaran is lighter therefore giving it the ability to reach further into the shallow waters and white beaches, where it can either be launched or docked.
The structural design of the vessel also allows for less rocking of the waves, which provides a great added benefit over sailboats for those who fight with motion sickness. The chances of capsizing a catamaran are also less than a smaller blasted keel boat.
Catamarans can range in size however aren’t meant for hosting large groups of people on extended trips, they’re usually better suited for a handful of individuals with minimal storage space. If you’re looking for a quick way to hit the waters on stable yacht then the Catamaran is the fit for you!
