Family Yacht Charter — Mediterranean & Caribbean
One floating villa. Six bays a week. Zero hotel breakfasts.
For families (and multi-generational groups) of 4–12 who want one base, daily new swims, and a week that works for both the four-year-olds and the grandparents.
A family yacht charter is the only kind of holiday where the youngest child and the oldest grandparent both have the week they wanted. Kids spend the entire day in the water; teenagers have their own cabin and their own watersports; adults eat properly without packing the car at the end of every day. The yacht becomes a floating villa that moves you to a different anchorage every morning.
For families our default recommendation is a crewed catamaran in the 50–65ft range. The shoal draft lets you anchor in shallow turquoise bays that monohulls cannot reach. The bridgedeck saloon doubles as a games room. The wide swim platforms are exactly what a four-year-old needs to be safely independent. And there is enough cabin separation that teenagers and grandparents both get peace.
Croatia and Greece are the most popular family destinations in summer — short inter-island legs, calm protected anchorages, and stable weather. The BVI is the standout winter family destination thanks to consistently calm trade-wind sailing, an island every two hours, and excellent kids' snorkelling.
How we run a family charter
- Catamaran-first fleet
We default to catamarans for families: stability, shoal draft for shallow anchorages, wide swim platforms, and bridgedeck saloons that work as living rooms.
- Kid-tested itineraries
Every itinerary we propose has been run for families. We know which bays have sand beaches you can walk onto, which have shade, and which restaurants actually welcome kids.
- Crew that babysit
On larger yachts the hostess often doubles as a nanny — daytime swimming supervision, evening meals served before adult dinner. Pre-agreed at booking.
- Watersports for every age
Paddleboards and snorkel kit on every charter; wakeboard, seabob, jetski (where licensed), waterslide and trampoline on larger crewed yachts.
- Multi-generational cabin plans
We deliberately match yacht layouts to families with grandparents — full-beam master, separate kids' cabin block, crew cabins on the other side of the hull.
- Chef-led menus that include kids
Pasta and pizza nights, separate fruit-and-vegetable provisioning, no negotiation at the dinner table.
Routes we run for this
Pick a trip length to see the regions we charter most often for family charters.
Mid-week base out of Palma. The Cabrera Archipelago is a national park — empty bays, the best swimming in Mallorca.
- →Es Trenc anchorage — the longest sand beach in Mallorca
- →Cabrera National Park — permits arranged, full day swim
- →Cala Pi for the cliffs and the cave swim
- →Magaluf side bays the day-boats don't reach
- →Final lunch at Portals before Palma
Yachts suited to this
Examples from our current fleet. Final yacht is matched to your group, dates and route at proposal stage.
Our team will hand-pick yachts for your dates and group size. Send us a brief and we'll come back with a shortlist within 24 hours.
Crew, chef & everything else
- Captain & crew
Captain plus hostess on 50–55ft; add chef on 60ft+. On 70ft+ crewed yachts you'll typically have a 3–4 person crew.
- Chef & family menus
Kid-friendly menus pre-agreed. Dietary needs (allergies, fussy eaters) handled in provisioning, not at the table.
- Watersports kit
Paddleboards, snorkel masks, fins, kayak on most; wakeboard, seabob, waterslide on larger crewed yachts.
- Safety on board
Kid lifejackets, harness lines, briefed safe-zones. Captain pre-briefed on ages and swimming ability.
- Shore activities
Donkey rides, snorkel tours, gelato stops, kayak hire. We pre-arrange the ones worth it and skip the ones that aren't.
- Babysitting
On larger yachts the second crew member doubles as a nanny in the evening. Pre-agreed at booking.
What they said after
“Three generations on one boat and nobody fell out. The kids didn't ask for screens once. The grandparents didn't ask for a hotel once. It is the only holiday we've all wanted to repeat.”
The L. family, Croatia, August 2025 · Croatia“The crew taught our nine-year-old to wakeboard on day two. He talks about it more than Disney.”
P. family, BVI catamaran, February 2025 · Caribbean“We were nervous about taking a one-year-old on a yacht. The crew brought a travel cot, a kid-proofed the salon and adapted the menu. It worked.”
K. family, Ionian, June 2024 · Greece
Common questions
- What's the best yacht for a family charter?
A 50–65ft crewed catamaran is the default. Shoal draft gets you into the best anchorages, the wide swim platforms are kid-safe, and the bridgedeck saloon doubles as a living room.
- What ages does a family yacht charter suit?
From toddlers up. We've placed families with one-year-olds and families of three generations. The crew is briefed on ages and any safety considerations before you board.
- Where is best for a family yacht charter in the Mediterranean?
Croatia and Greece's Ionian for first-timers (short legs, sheltered water). The Balearics for slightly older kids and easier flights from the UK. Sardinia and Corsica for outdoor-active families.
- How much is a family yacht charter for a week?
A bareboat sailing catamaran in Croatia or Greece is €6,000–€11,000/week (plus skipper if needed). A crewed 60ft catamaran is €25,000–€45,000/week plus APA. A crewed 30m motor yacht for 8 family members is €55,000–€95,000/week plus APA.
- Are there yachts with babysitting or kids' clubs?
Yes — on larger crewed yachts the second crew member commonly babysits in the evening. Dedicated kids'-club yachts exist in the 40m+ range. Pre-agreed at booking.
- Can my kids learn to sail / wakeboard / dive on the trip?
Yes. Most captains teach basics; we can arrange certified ASA / RYA / PADI instructors to come aboard for the week if you want a structured course.
Families come back to yacht charters more reliably than to any other format of holiday we book. Once you've spent a week where the kids are in the water from breakfast and the grandparents are in deck chairs by 10, hotels feel slightly absurd. Tell us the ages, the dates, and the swimming level — we'll send back the right boat.