From Flitescooters and inflatable slides to influencer chefs, wellness suites and ultra-flexible layouts, today’s most successful charter yachts are redefining luxury at sea. Julia Zaltzman investigates how owners and crews are standing out in an increasingly crowded superyacht charter market...
When it comes to boat layouts, six is the magic number. “Most people are looking for five or six cabins, but convertible cabins are very important,” says Annabel Gray, charter specialist at Y.CO. Having the versatility to configure suites as doubles or twins gives clients the option to finalise their guest list closer to the charter, which is “often desirable”.
That’s proven to be true for 60-metre Slipstream, which Seonaid Thomas, charter broker at Burgess Monaco, describes as a “no-brainer” that brokers can “book with confidence”. In addition to the yacht’s four doubles and two twins that slide into doubles, the gym is equipped with two Pullmans and an en suite and can be converted at a moment’s notice. Having the availability of a seventh cabin for teenagers or staff creates real flexibility.
Slipstream typically charters for nine to 10 weeks in summer and three to four weeks in winter, with around three repeat bookings each year. Simon Cowell has chartered the yacht so often he’s occasionally misreported as being her owner, while another charter guest has booked a whopping 20 times, visiting the Mediterranean in summer and the Caribbean in winter most years.
Yachts that incorporate multiple areas for guests to socialise are always appealing, especially for longer charters. The 47-metre King Benji boasts seven dining areas, from the swim platform to the crow’s nest, each capable of hosting intimate couples’ dinners simultaneously.
Read More/King Benji: On board Dunya Yachts' 47m second new buildEqually important, however, is an interior that feels understated yet inviting. A “classy, modest and supremely comfortable interior” is key to a successful charter yacht, says David Price, charter manager at Y.CO. He credits the decision of the owner of 53-metre Adventure to refit the interior and extend the swim platform as winning charter formulas.
“Under her current ownership, Adventure has transformed massively, enhancing what was already a well-laid-out and spacious vessel.” The interior by Tino Zervudachi was repeatedly highlighted as a plus by prospective clients during the 2025 Antigua Charter Show. “Anyone who steps on board feels instantly at home,” says Price.
Even yachts with more daring interiors can perform exceptionally well. While Slipstream’s bold red interior could be deemed as polarising, it has not stopped the 2009-built yacht from becoming an excellent charter performer. This, says Captain Steve Osborne, who has been with the yacht for 10 years, is down to the time put in by owner Jack Cowin and designer Andrew Winch to make the layouts guest-friendly.
He cites the bridge deck VIP’s high ceilings, large windows and private balcony as a highlight. “Guests don’t get that claustrophobic feeling that you may have on the lower decks.” For Cowell, it’s direct access from the master suite to the exterior decks that keeps him returning.
Crew
“On Titania, luxury isn’t just about the yacht itself, it’s in every detail the crew perfects,” her owner John Caudwell tells BOAT International. In 2025, 70 per cent of the 73-metre Lürssen’s 20 weeks of charters were with repeat clients.
“Titania’s success comes down to two main factors,” explains Burgess charter manager Bella Walton. “The first is the owner’s willingness to do what it takes to make the charter a success, from a Super Bowl evening in the Caribbean to accepting dogs on board (with a security deposit).
A lot of other yachts just aren’t that flexible.” Caudwell’s approach recently saw the crew recreate The Godfather for guests, hiring 20 actors, sourcing vintage cars and hosting them at filming locations and restaurants where the movie was shot back in 1972. “The second key ingredient is that the multi-skilled crew are phenomenal,” adds Walton. “They don’t seem to have an off button.”
“Crew chemistry is absolutely vital,” agrees Caudwell. It’s something that Josh Golder, owner of King Benji, has also homed in on. “Our biggest difference is the standard of service. The goal is always perfection. It’s whatever the guest wants and the best way they’ve ever had it.”
Golder draws the distinction between an owner’s crew who do charters, and King Benji’s charter crew who are especially set up to provide five-star experiences. That means anything from waking at 2am to take demanding guests to the beach by tender, to facilitating two onboard marriage proposals.
“The crew are professional, energetic and instinctive in their service,” says Vanessa Buck, charter manager at Cecil Wright, the yacht’s charter central agent. “The result is a seamless, high-impact charter experience every time, making her one of the most popular yachts in our fleet.”
King Benji completed a gruelling 12 weeks of charter last summer, and a further five in winter. “It’s the guest/crew interaction that makes the yacht extremely successful. Our returning guests tell us, ‘We’re coming back for you guys,’” says Captain Grant Du Preez.
Maintaining that level of excellence requires clear leadership. While Golder leaves crew hiring up to Du Preez, he’s been “very hands-on firing crew”, adding “crew that aren’t performing at 100 per cent are a detriment to the programme”.
The owner of 56-metre sailing yacht Burrasca also envisioned a guest experience shaped by impeccable service, which is why the yacht sails with two captains. Charter guests can choose to have one or both. The benefit of the latter being, “two sets of eyes watching over her, two minds navigating, two spirits devoted to sailing”, says the owner. “Different personalities, different strengths, but united by passion and expertise. Together, the two captains ensure that Burrasca is not only maintained but truly thrives.”
According to Burgess charter manager Caroline Taylor, giving brokers the confidence that crew will perform well and look after their clients is imperative. Additional skill sets, such as a personal trainer, videographer or dive master, are always of benefit, and great service is often justly rewarded (such as a 33 per cent gratuity for the hard-working crew of 50-metre Akira One).
However, a positive mindset is perhaps the biggest crew prerequisite, something that Titania’s Caudwell nurtures by “keeping the sweets cupboard stocked, Red Bulls in the fridge, access to our crew gym or quiet time on deck to recharge”.
Itinerary
The Mediterranean and Caribbean milk run will always be firm charter favourites, but having a willingness to head where there’s growing demand can prove fruitful for charter yachts. King Benji owner Golder bases the yacht’s itineraries on demand, highlighting Italy, France, Croatia and Montenegro as “routes that people currently love”.
However, Melina Tsiotsiou, senior charter specialist at Fraser Greece, believes a great captain understands that a charter itinerary is no longer just a route. “It’s a narrative that is flexible, deeply personalised and built around small moments of delight.”
Aboard Akira One, for example, guests enjoy sequenced days that balance relaxation and exhilaration. Secret anchorages are chosen for privacy and atmosphere, while onboard entertainment draws on the local environment. “The result is an itinerary that feels effortless yet expertly choreographed,” says Tsiotsiou.
In more remote locations, a charter yacht’s extended facilities can greatly enhance the guest experience. One of the standout features is often a helicopter, which adds extra mobility, convenience and safety – allowing guests to reach a restaurant reservation, enjoy aerial sightseeing or transfer to the airport quickly.
Aboard the 85-metre expedition yacht Bold, the helicopter has proven particularly popular. By letting guests travel independently of the yacht, it enables Bold to remain a comfortable base while providing seamless access to activities and destinations, enhancing the overall charter experience. “The helicopter has been a big attraction for some clients, especially those that value efficiency and flexibility, so that the operation and location of the boat don’t have to be affected too much,” says rotational captain Benn Weatherseed.
When not in use, the helipad transforms into a basketball court or a yacht-club-style watersports setup within minutes. “That level of quick changeover gives guests more hours of actual experience and less time waiting, and that’s what they remember,” adds rotational captain Paul Verry.
This year Titania is heading to Greece for the first time after obtaining a charter licence to satisfy clients who have cruised the South of France so many times before. Obtaining such licences can be complex and time-consuming for yachts, particularly for countries such as Greece and Spain, though it creates a point of difference.
For Captain Spiros Antonio, who has spent more than five years commanding the 31.5-metre Suncoco around Greece, crafting the perfect itinerary is an art of balance. “A must-do itinerary isn’t simply about ticking off well-known bays. It’s about reading the group, interpreting the weather and creating a rhythm.”
Leisure facilities
“It always comes back to the toys,” says Burgess’s Taylor when asked what makes the perfect charter yacht. From jet skis and paddleboards to Seabobs and dive gear, equipping the yacht with watersports for all ages and abilities is the biggest must-do for charter yachts. The second is keeping on top of the latest must-have toy that guests request, such as Flitescooters and inflatable e-foils, designed for maximum fun with less of a learning curve.
King Benji added a pool and electric surfboard to its already well-stocked toy chest last season, while her 12-metre Nor-Tech chase boat enables 18 people to explore away from the mothership. The 53-metre Taleya also extends her versatility on charter with an Opus 12 chase tender.
Titania’s 13-metre inflatable slide – the largest on any yacht at sea – singles her out on the charter market, with one client booking her purely for the slide. According to Bold’s Captain Weatherseed, a solid toy inventory is a “must-have” for any successful yacht. “It’s what guests expect to see on board,” he says, highlighting tenders for watersports, e-foils, inflatable platforms and a full range of towable toys as being “the baseline on most yachts”.
Weatherseed also underlines technical amenities, such as high-speed internet to stay connected in any location, quality AV/IT systems, and effective stabilisers for smooth cruising as non-negotiables for charter, not to mention providing guests with the amenities “to shift from high-energy activities to maximum relaxation”, such as a spa pool and comfortable lounging areas, both shaded and unshaded.
All of the above notwithstanding, “wellness is definitely one of the faster-growing requests”, he adds. Bold’s large main aft deck has increasingly been converted into a space for yoga, Pilates and circuit HIIT workout sessions.
The ability to decompress on charter is not just popular, it’s now essential. “If you’re a centi-metre [100-metre-plus] yacht and you don’t have wellness facilities, you’re going to lose out on a lot of the charter bookings,” confirms Burgess charter manager Bella Walton. Luckily for Titania, wellness has long been on the yacht’s calling card “to ensure guests can maintain their routines even at sea”, says owner Caudwell. Her newest feature is an ice bath installed next to the sauna, “so we can now offer hot/cold therapy, which is so popular”, adds Walton.
Marketing
On occasion, the legacy of a superyacht is strong enough to drive people to charter it. The legend of 99-metre Christina O’s bar stools, famously upholstered by Aristotle Onassis in leather made from whale foreskin, only adds to the yacht’s opulent history and appeal.
The backstory of the 88-metre sailing yacht Maltese Falcon, whose innovative FalconRig was a world-first and whose sails still play host to the largest outdoor cinema screen, has become maritime lore. Meanwhile the 54-metre Seagull II, built in 1952 as part of the “Six Poets” series by Croatian shipyard Uljanik, is an important part of yachting history, bridging the gap between pre-war elegance and post-war modernism.
“Clients choose Seagull II because she offers an experience that goes far beyond a typical charter, she provides an escape into another era,” says her owner. The yacht’s longest-standing guest is booked to return for his eighth season on board, drawn to her classic lines and golden-era ambience not found on modern yachts.
While history and heritage can be a draw, modern superyachts often appeal through innovation and performance. When tasked with creating a marketing campaign for the 107-metre Black Pearl, IYC’s Anna Granlund, head of charter management in Monaco, singled out the sailing yacht’s capability to travel at almost no cost to the charter client as one of its biggest selling points. “She can cross the Atlantic with a fuel bill of around $12,500 [£9,235], which is phenomenal compared to a typical cost of $100,000 for other yachts of her size,” she says.
Black Pearl joined the charter market for the first time in 2025, bagging a three-week charter in the Mediterranean straight out of the blocks. Other enquiries include the Norwegian fjords. “It’s usually a big decision to relocate boats to remote locations for a charter, but as she sails on average 80 per cent of the time, the financial and sustainable savings are significant considerations for clients,” adds Granlund.
Of course, it’s not just one-off charter yachts that can benefit from clever and strategic marketing support. The 34.6-metre A Salt Weapon sits in a highly competitive charter size range for the Bahamas, “so we priced her slightly below her competitors, so clients were getting the newest yacht, first of its model, at a slightly lower price point”, says Casey Noble, charter manager at Moravia. “Now that they’ve built a reputable programme with client and broker references, we’ve increased their rate to match their competitors.”
Inviting brokers on board early to tour and meet the crew leads to early exposure, as does accepting media charters, which naturally brings more publicity. Being ready to open the yacht to tours during boat shows is another plus. “We’re in an age where getting people’s attention is hard, and if you open the boat at shows and allow people to make videos on board, they’re creating advertisements for you,” says King Benji’s Golder.
Creative marketing isn’t limited to events and tours. The chef aboard Titania, which starred in Netflix’s The Crown and recently appeared on the Channel 4 TV series Inside The World’s Most Luxurious..., also manages the yacht’s Instagram account, showcasing the yacht’s range of food and tablescaping, which the stews go all out on.
But a TikTok doesn’t work for everybody – for larger yachts such as Black Pearl, “it’s a very different market and social media is not something we can rely on”, says IYC marketing director Steve Bailet. “It’s about marketing one of the most exclusive experiences in the world.”
Ultimately, in a crowded charter market, perfection lies in delivering something genuinely distinctive – an experience guests want to return to, year after year.
First published in the April 2026 issue of BOAT International. Get this magazine sent straight to your door, or subscribe and never miss an issue.