Most years, new launches depart from shipyards bound for the Mediterranean in time for the summer charter season—with savvy clients strategizing to be among the first parties welcomed aboard. The pandemic caused a blip in that pattern, making new launches a lot harder to book for a couple of years, but quite a few charter companies are now advertising 2023 and 2024 builds with itineraries available in the most popular cruising grounds all along the West and East Mediterranean.

As you can see in the images on the opposite page, these new builds come in all kinds of styles, from eco-friendly power catamarans to motoryachts with sole-to-ceiling glazing. Some are among just a handful of newer models out cruising anywhere on the world’s waters, for private or charter use.

The Benetti Alluria, for instance, was one of just eight Motopanfilo 37M hulls when it launched last year. Amenities include a full-beam master stateroom, a foredeck pool and sun pads, and an Axopar Brabus 900 chase boat for looking sharp when heading into port.

The Sunseeker 86 Mowana is also a notable newer build, with a top speed of 28 knots and a cruising speed of 19 knots for making the runs easy between waypoints. Guest areas are forward and aft, letting charter clients avoid prying eyes no matter how the yacht is situated in an anchorage. Inside, one of the four staterooms has a bunk-style Pullman along with twin berths, creating an enclave for the kids.

Yet another interesting new offering is Catallaxy, a Sunreef 60 Eco sailing yacht. It has a full-beam bow terrace in addition to a guest area on the flybridge and an outdoor relaxation area aft.

Of course, destinations in the Mediterranean are classics, but visiting them in the comfort of a brand-new yacht only enhances the charter experience.

The Adriatic Sea

• Croatia has become a full-on popular summer charter destination, with its coastline full of villages, cities and islands to explore. An increasing number of charter yachts offer itineraries here each year.
• Vrbnik is in the north, while Split and Dubrovnik are popular destinations farther to the south.
• Dubrovnik is especially popular with fans of the HBO series Game of Thrones, which filmed many of its episodes in and around the city.

The post New Mediterranean Charter Options appeared first on Yachting.

The charter team at IYC has just welcomed not one, but two Custom Line yachts into the fleet for bookings this summer in the East Mediterranean.

First up is the 93-foot Custom Line At One. This is a brand-new build that was just delivered to its owners for 2024. The yacht has a bunch of modern bells and whistles—including high-speed Internet connectivity via Starlink, and dual stabilizers with a gyro and fins for added guest comfort at anchor and underway.  

Accommodations aboard At One are for 10 guests in five staterooms. Those guests will have access to a bevy of tenders and toys, including a nearly 12-foot Highfield tender, a pair of Seabobs, standup paddleboards, a Hobie Eclipse, water skis, wakeboards and snorkeling gear.

Inquiries for bookings aboard At One are being accepted this summer in Greece, where the yacht is expected to remain at least through the end of September. Bookings are also being taken now for the 2025 summer season in Greece.

Also new to the IYC fleet is the 108-foot Custom Line Daloli. This is a 2011 build that most recently was refitted in 2022, and that is also accepting inquiries for Greece yacht charter this summer.

Daloli accommodates as many as nine guests in five staterooms, including a master on the main deck. 

Onboard amenities include an outdoor hot tub and barbecue. The yacht has stabilizers for added guest comfort, and it charters with a crew of seven that has spent many years together as a team. 

Tenders and toys for guests to use during a charter aboard Daloli include a 26-foot ZAR tender, a 13-foot Grand tender, a Sea-Doo, a trio of Seabobs, water skis for adults and children, wakeboards, a water slide, standup paddleboards and fishing gear. An unusual offering from the yacht’s toybox is a pair of canoes for guests who want to paddle around quiet anchorages.

Greece Yacht Charter Options: The Greek Isles are some of the world’s most popular cruising grounds during the summer season. There are numerous archipelagos to explore, whether a charter booking is for a week or a month. Many of the islands have ancient ruins along with local tavernas and beaches. Land-and-sea itineraries can also be fun in this part of the world, with Athens on the mainland filled with landmarks from ancient Greek civilization.

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Five notable yachts just became available for charter in the West Mediterranean, with plenty of time left to book itineraries before the current season is over.

First up is Zazou, a 213-foot Benetti that launched in 2021. It’s new to the charter fleet at Y.CO, with plans to base in the South of France and Corsica. This is the first time that Zazou is being opened for charters, with availability beginning mid-August.

“Ideal for families, she is elegant and sophisticated thanks to her stunning interior,” Sioned Williams of Y.CO Charter Management stated in a press release. Notable features include a gymnasium, treatment room, outdoor cinema and beach club. Accommodations are for 10 guests in five staterooms.

Y.CO also just welcomed the new-for-2024 Benetti Dyna to the charter fleet in the Mediterranean. Dates are available in September and October.

Accommodations aboard Dyna are for 12 guests in six staterooms. Amenities include a main-deck pool, a cinema, a spa and a master stateroom with a private balcony.

“Dyna is a particularly fine example of the B.Now 50m Oasis model,” Yasmine Naitijja of Y.CO Charter Management stated in a press release. “No expense has been spared in the finishes throughout. The spa area is a real onboard highlight, as is the large main-deck pool, while the stylish Novamarine Black Shiver chase boat offers enhanced exploration.”

Also now available in the West Mediterranean is Alma III, a 97-foot Azimut that was just delivered to the owners from the shipyard in June. It’s part of the Fraser charter fleet and will have availability in August from Sardinia.

According to the Fraser team, Alma III is the only Azimut Magellano 30 currently on the charter market. Exterior design is by Ken Freivokh, and accommodations are for 10 guests in five staterooms. The master is full beam on the main deck.

In the IYC charter fleet in Greece, guests can book the 82-foot Maiora El Pecado, which became available earlier this summer. The yacht is a 2014 build that IYC’s team says is in “impeccable condition” with accommodations for as many as nine guests in four staterooms.

Notable features and equipment on El Pecado include low fuel consumption and at-anchor stabilizers for guest comfort.

Also in Greece with IYC is the 107-foot Custom Line My Mistake, a 2023 build that accommodates 10 guests in five staterooms. The IYC team notes that this yacht has a child-friendly setup, meaning it is a good choice for bookings with families.

Top speed aboard My Mistake is reportedly 26 knots, which should make short work of cruising between the Greek Isles while leaving more time for fun at anchor and in harbors.

When does the Mediterranean yacht-charter season end? The high season is over at the end of August, but with nice weather, the cruising in some parts of the region can be terrific well into October.

How to book a week on board: Contact a charter broker at y.co, iyc.com or fraseryachts.com

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As the summer yacht charter season in the popular Mediterranean cruising grounds gets into full swing, Edmiston is bolstering its presence by adding three notable motoryachts to the fleet.

The first addition to the fleet is the 262-foot Oceanco Aalto, which is a 2007 build that accommodates 12 guests in their choice of nine staterooms—including an owner’s suite that takes up almost half of the upper deck and has two hot tubs. The crew complement on this superyacht is 24, creating a notable guest-to-crew ratio for a high standard of service.

Aalto’s guest spaces include a salon that converts to a cinema room, a sky lounge with a grand piano and formal dining, and a VIP stateroom on the bridge deck. An elevator runs from there down to the lower deck, and there’s a wellness area on board with a gymnasium, beauty salon and massage room. The sundeck is home to a glass-backed swimming pool with contra-flow jets.

Also new to the Edmiston charter fleet in the Mediterranean is the 154-foot Heesen Atina. This 2008 build was most recently refitted in 2022. It accommodates 10 guests in five staterooms, and it charters with 11 crew.

The refit work that Atina completed in 2022 transformed the sundeck to include a sizable hot tub and a lounge area. Interiors on this yacht are by Bannenberg. Edmiston describes them as “sophisticated.”

Last but not least, Edmiston has also welcomed the 207-foot Benetti Soundwave to the Mediterranean charter fleet for the summer season. This is a 2015 build that most recently was refitted in 2019. Soundwave accommodates 12 guests in six staterooms, and charters with 15 crew.

This yacht has two master staterooms, including one on the upper deck with a private deck. The other one is on the main deck with sole-to-ceiling windows.

Guest entertainment spaces on this yacht are particularly noteworthy. The sundeck has a jet pool with a design inspired by an English spa. This deck also has an Italian stone bar.

For shuttling guests ashore in high style, Soundwave charters with a 26-foot custom Benetti limo tender. The yacht has a strong history in charter, with comments available from previous guests.

Are there still summer dates available? Yes. According to the most recently available information, all three of these charter yachts still have dates open on their calendars for bookings in the Mediterranean from now through September.

How to book a week on board: contact a charter broker at edmiston.com

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Welcome to the season for charter-yacht deals and discounts. We’re now well beyond the high-demand holiday season, and the summer’s prime cruising months are still a good ways off. This means some yacht owners with extra weeks of availability between now and then are looking to incentivize clients to book.

One of the newly advertised offers is from the 157-foot Rossinavi Parillon, which is part of the Edmiston fleet. The yacht is giving a 20-percent discount on charter bookings in the Caribbean until March 15. (After that, the yacht is off to the West Mediterranean for the summer 2024 charter season.)

With the discount, the lowest weekly base rate drops to $196,000.

Parillon is a 2014 build that most recently was refitted in 2023. Accommodations are for 10 guests in five staterooms, including a full-beam master on the main deck. For guest relaxation, the beach club has access to a sauna and shower, well-positioned for use following an afternoon out on the personal watercraft, Seabobs and standup paddleboards.

Also offering a deal right now is the 155-foot Sunseeker Alessandra III, which is part of the Fraser charter fleet. That yacht is offering a 15-percent discount on Bahamas charter bookings for the first five clients that secure dates this year. The usual lowest weekly base rate is $231,000.

Alessandra III is a 2016 build that most recently was refitted in 2022. Accommodations are for 12 guests in six staterooms, including a master and two VIPs on the main deck. The three guest staterooms belowdecks are convertible for twin- or double-berth setups.

Yet another charter yacht offering a deal right now is the 141-foot Varadero Maridueña Kontiki, which is part of the Edmiston fleet. This yacht is giving 25 percent off through May in Costa Rica, where the lowest weekly base rate drops to $120,000.

Kontiki has accommodations for 18 guests in nine staterooms. Four of the staterooms are connected, making them a good option for families that need more than one room. Eight of the nine staterooms have convertible berths.

A deal on longer-term charters: The 279-foot AKYacht Victorious is giving a 10 percent price break for charters longer than one week in the Bahamas. Victorious is part of the Fraser fleet. It accommodates 12 guests.

How to book a week on board: contact the charter brokers at edmiston.com or fraseryachts.com

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Not terribly long ago, I sat down and tried to puzzle out how many destinations I’ve visited aboard charter yachts. If I include industry-only boat shows that are held annually, the number of yachts themselves swells well into the hundreds. The destinations are somewhere in the dozens—popular coastlines and islands throughout the Mediterranean and Caribbean, of course, but also less-cruised locales such as the Galápagos Islands, French Polynesia and Indonesia. I’ve snorkeled and dived twice with the wildlife in Fiji, explored the historical architecture in Croatia and Greece several times, and donned a warm jacket in Alaska and Norway for views of glaciers and fjords. The amount of fog surprised me as I sat on board and sipped Cloudy Bay sauvignon blanc near its bottling place in New Zealand, and I couldn’t believe the amount of boat traffic cruising past the Sydney Opera House in Australia. People often ask me, “What’s the best place to charter a yacht?” My answer is always, “That depends. What do you want to do?”

The beauty of a crewed-yacht charter vacation is that it can be virtually anything that anyone wants it to be—an ultimate, customizable getaway. Me? I’m a fan of wildlife and untouched nature. My favorite charters are in places where the sea lions, fish and whales outnumber the people; places where, when the yacht turns off its lights at night, the lack of light pollution lets the stars glow impossibly bright in the sky. For other charter guests, the best possible itinerary is off the South of France during the Monaco Grand Prix or the Cannes Film Festival, hobnobbing with the titans of civilization in between shopping trips at high-end boutiques and dinner ashore with a view of superyachts docked along Billionaires’ Row. These experiences could not be more different, but they’re equally memorable and all well worth enjoying at least once.

The good news this winter is that notable charter yachts of various sizes and price points are positioning themselves all around the world, giving clients options for just about any type of vacation they desire. The 212-foot Benetti Silver Angel, now part of the Edmiston fleet, is accepting inquiries not only for the Caribbean, but also for the Indian Ocean. The 196-foot Perini Navi Perseus^3, also with Edmiston, is expected to head to New Zealand before offering charter bookings next year in Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. Closer to home, Fraser says the 131-foot Sunseeker Acacia has completed a refit and is available in the Bahamas, with an inflatable beach club and a toy dock for all-day watersports fun. IYC says the 118-foot Intermarine Savannah XOXO has also completed a refit, with bookings available in Florida and the Bahamas. Y.CO is promoting the 242-foot CRN Andrea in the Caribbean and the Bahamas this winter, with 25 crew at the ready, and with eight staterooms for the 12 charter guests to choose among.

None of these destinations are one-and-done locales. The Cyclades archipelago in Greece offers a different experience from the one that charter guests can try in the Dodecanese island chain. St. Vincent and the Grenadines, in the southern Caribbean, feels a whole lot quieter than the busier yacht hubs in the northern islands such as Antigua and St. Maarten. French Polynesia’s Society Islands welcome more tourists than the Tuamotu archipelago, where charter-yacht captains set a course for scuba diving with bigger game. In Croatia, a day exploring Dubrovnik—with Game of Thrones filming sites all around—is different from Korčula’s smaller-scale, but equally mesmerizing, scenery.

The ultimate charter escape can be for a few days, a few weeks or a few months. The only limitations, really, are the boundaries of all the world’s waters.

Qara

New to the charter fleet in the Virgin Islands this winter is the 82-foot Horizon Qara, which is managed by RJC Yachts. Qara is a 2001 build that until recently was kept for private use. The yacht underwent a refit this year and is now being offered for six guests at an all-inclusive weekly rate of $42,000. The captain is Mark Sperber, a native of St. Croix, which is also in the Virgin Islands—which means his local knowledge should be unsurpassed. A 27-foot Sea Hunt tender is part of the charter package.

Sól

Sól is Hull No. 1 of the 80 Sunreef Power Eco, which is an evolution of the popular Sunreef 80 sailing catamaran. Sól is outfitted with solar panels (including on the hullsides) as well as cruelty-free furnishings that did not involve any animals. The chefs are trained in high-end vegan cuisine, along with traditional dishes. Sól was delivered to its owners earlier this year in New England and then made its way down the East Coast for an official premiere at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Charters are already booked for this winter in the Virgin Islands, with Sól as part of the Regency Yacht Vacations fleet.

Arbema

The 236-foot CRN Arbema completed a multimillion-dollar refit last winter, according to the charter managers at Edmiston. Updates included a full paint job, technical upgrades, a new interior and upgraded water toys. Plans for this winter are for charters to start at Christmastime in the Caribbean, with inquiries also being accepted for the Bahamas and Central America itineraries. Guest amenities on Arbema include a master stateroom with a fold-out balcony, a beach club with a gymnasium, and a 48-foot chase boat for fun in the sun.

Virtuosity

Virtuosity is a 187-foot Sanlorenzo that launched earlier this year and is available for its first-ever Caribbean charter bookings this winter. Fraser, which manages the yacht, says the master stateroom is on the upper deck with a private outdoor terrace and a hot tub. Guest amenities aboard Virtuosity also include a glass-bottom heated swimming pool with jets, a fully equipped gymnasium and a nearly 1,200-square-foot beach club. On the bridge deck, there’s a DJ booth ready for parties near a bar.

The post Ultimate Yacht Charter Escapes appeared first on Yachting.

Northern Europe is not a destination that pops up very often in charter-yacht promotions. Most of the superyachts that accept charter inquiries in that part of the world base in the West and East Mediterranean, offering itineraries that focus on the beaches and high life all along the French and Italian rivieras, the Croatian coastline and the Greek Isles.

The owner and crew aboard the 200-foot Feadship Samadhi have a plan to do things differently. Through the yacht’s management company, Edmiston, charter availability for this summer was just announced for bookings in Northern Europe, starting toward the end of July.

Why toward the end of July? Because right now, Samadhi is in the shipyard for a substantial refit that’s expected to be completed by that time. This yacht, which launched in 2006, is going to come out of the yard with a 13-foot-long heated swimming pool on the main deck aft, a wholly refitted sky lounge with more creature comforts for guests, and a private spa with a sauna, cold plunge pool, massage room and hair salon. (That sauna sounds perfect for colder-climate charters in certain parts of Northern Europe.)

And, those guest areas will be in addition to existing spaces such as the sundeck, which has a gymnasium, a bar, loungers, a raised hot tub and a barbecue. Guests also have access to two tenders for watersports fun, along with Seabobs, personal watercraft, Fliteboards, foiling boards, wakeboards, standup paddleboards, kayaks, inflatables, and snorkeling and diving gear.

Accommodations aboard Samadhi are for 12 guests in six staterooms, one of which has bunks that are ideal for the kids, a nanny or staff. All of the guest staterooms are belowdecks, while the master stateroom is forward on the main deck with a shower and a tub, a sauna, a walk-in closet and a private office.

Samadhi charters with 16 crew who have experience in expeditions and wildlife charters, making them a good match for lots of locations around Northern Europe.

The refit work is being done back at the original shipyard, Feadship, which is located in Holland. It’s expected to be completed on July 12, after which Samadhi will reposition to London ahead of offering charters in broader Northern Europe.

What’s the lowest weekly base rate for a charter aboard Samadhi? It’s about $416,500, with fluctuations depending on the exchange rate between the US dollar and the euro. The high-season charter rate is about $466,000.

How to book a week on board: contact a charter broker at edmiston.com

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Two decidedly different builds from the Sanlorenzo shipyard in Italy have entered the charter market, one booking through IYC and the other listed with Westport Yachts charter management.

The newer of the two yachts is the 145-foot La La Land, a 2023 build that’s now part of the IYC charter fleet. It’s a Lissoni Limited Edition Sanlorenzo X-Space whose owner invested about $3.3 million in options to further enhance the cruising experience.

Accommodations aboard La La Land are for 12 guests in five staterooms—including an owner’s deck with a sky lounge, an alfresco lounge with a freestanding fire pit, a private pantry, an office, a walk-in closet and a head built with a heated sole and steam shower. The master stateroom also has direct access to one of two outdoor hydro massage pools that are on board.

Additional features aboard La La Land include two foldout platforms, a gymnasium, a hammam and a massage room.

The lowest weekly base rate to charter La La Land is about $317,500, with inquiries being accepted for the East and West Mediterranean through September 2024. For winter 2024-25, La La Land is expected to charter in the Caribbean.

Also now chartering is the 108-foot Sanlorenzo Daddy, which is new to the Westport Yachts fleet in the Bahamas this winter.

Daddy is a 2008 build. The charter agent says an extensive 2023 refit has left the yacht presenting in like-new condition. Daddy accommodates eight guests in four staterooms, including a belowdecks amidships master with a king-size berth, espresso machine and fridge. The VIP stateroom is forward with a queen-size berth.

Gathering areas for all eight guests include aft-deck dining, foredeck lounging, and flybridge entertaining with dining, a bar and barbecues. The retractable sunroof has a removable enclosure for extra protection from the elements as needed.

Daddy is also kitted-out for fun in the sun in the Bahamas. The yacht charters with two tenders: a 30-foot Jupiter powered by twin 300-horsepower Yamaha engines, and a 14-foot Walker Bay Venture with a 70-horsepower Yamaha. Watertoys include a two-seat PWC, inflatable paddleboards, tow toys and snorkeling gear.

The lowest weekly base rate to charter Daddy is $65,000. The owner is reportedly eager to secure holiday bookings this winter at a weekly base rate of $70,000, with a one-week holiday minimum.

Are tenders important for yacht charter in the Bahamas? Yes, if you want to make the most of water sports. The area is known for being shallow, which means the mothership can’t get into some areas that a good set of tenders can access for fishing, snorkeling and other activities.

Take the next step: contact a charter broker at iyc.com or westportyachts.com

The post Two New Ways to Charter a Sanlorenzo appeared first on Yachting.

IYC has welcomed the 153-foot Dunya KB6 to the charter fleet, with a model on display at the recent Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

The actual yacht is expected to be delivered to its owner in 2024, with the charter debut planned for spring 2024, ahead of the Mediterranean charter season.

KB6 is a Greg Marshall design with interiors by Design Unlimited. According to IYC, the interior will be built with natural woods, “environmental feature walls” and a mixture of textures.

Charter-wise, IYC is promoting KB6 for families or couples. The yacht is capable of going to destinations that are off the beaten course, and inquiries are being accepted now for the East and West Mediterranean.

What’s the lowest weekly base rate to book KB6? It’s about $293,500 for 10 guests in five staterooms.

How to book a week on board: contact a charter broker at iyc.com

The post Coming to Charter in 2024: ‘KB6’ appeared first on Yachting.

When the 160-foot motoryacht Ohana launched just a couple of years ago, the owners had the idea to offer by-the-cabin bookings similar to a small cruise ship. But demand was so high for full-yacht charters in the Croatian cruising grounds that the practically new vessel is already undergoing a refit.

“We convinced them to upgrade it to a yacht with the amenities and service of a superyacht, and make it just for private charter,” says Aymen Boulehmi, marketing manager at Goolets Ltd. “To do so, they needed to do many upgrades to the cabins, salon and deck, and add many new amenities on board as well.”

The refitted yacht is expected to start accepting bookings this summer in Croatia, a nation that continues to be a highly sought-after East Mediterranean destination for motoryacht charters. The section of the Croatian coastline from the walled city of Dubrovnik south to Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor is particularly well suited to charter, with everything from historical cities to natural islands and quiet bays available to explore. Fans of the show “Game of Thrones” are particularly drawn to this region, where filming for the HBO series often took place in locations that tourists can visit today.

Ohana’s onboard guest spaces include a cinema where those “Game of Thrones” episodes can be watched after days of having fun in the sun. The yacht’s sun deck has an open bar, a barbecue, hanging egg chairs, an open fireplace and loungers for sun-worshipping time. A shade can cover the space around the hot tub for guests who want more protection from the elements. Inside, the yacht has a children’s playroom—an onboard space that is becoming increasingly popular aboard superyachts being ordered from European shipyards. There’s crew space for the addition of a babysitter as well.    

The Croatian Coast

• Dubrovnik has an Old City that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture is centuries old and is preserved in fountains, churches, palaces and more. 
• Korcula is an island about 20 miles long that’s sometimes called Little Dubrovnik because of its preserved buildings. 
• Hvar is another popular island, with fields of lavender, olive trees and vineyards. 
• Brac island is less touristy with rocky shores and popular scuba sites.

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