Last updated: July 8, 2026
Tick off bucket-list items with the magic of charter vacations.
By Zuzana Prochazka
Why Charter Vacations Are Growing in Popularity
Boat charter is a premium and exclusive form of travel that’s the next-best thing to circumnavigating the world on your own vessel. The freedom to explore remote cruising grounds and the sense of achievement that comes from captaining a rented boat in new waters have an allure for boaters both new and seasoned. Seeing the world and its remarkable destinations from the deck of a yacht is, in a word, magic.
That’s why we’re introducing a new column dedicated to charter.
I can almost see the eye roll. “Charter is for sailors,” you say. “I’m a powerboater with no interest in hoisting sails or waiting for wind.”
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Yacht Chartering Isn't Just for Sailors
Ah, but I bet you are into swimming with sea turtles, lounging on sugary sand under swaying palm trees, and toasting spectacular sunsets in peaceful anchorages. Sure, 90 percent of charter boats are sailboats, but so what? You’re out there for the amazing experiences, and the boat is the delivery mechanism, like toast for melted butter.
Here’s a secret: Because vacations take place on a schedule, 80 percent of sailors forget about the sails by day three and just travel from anchorage to anchorage under power, and so can you. You may get there at seven knots rather than 20, but that’s fine because chartering is all about the journey.
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Understanding the Different Types of Yacht Charters
In each column, we’ll cover resources, tips, anecdotes, and ponderings on charter. But let’s start with some insight into the types of charter.
What is a bareboat charter?
The most popular is bareboat, where you are the captain of a small (under 60-foot) boat.
Crewed charter
Crewed charter adds a captain and possibly a chef. This is a full-service experience that comes with an upcharge.
By-the-cabin charter
By-the-cabin charters mix individuals and groups aboard one boat and add a captain. This is a good choice for when you can’t scare up enough like-minded friends to split the cost of a charter.
Peer-to-peer charter
Peer-to-peer services are a charter of sorts where boats are like an Airbnb rental from a private party. There are also fishing charters that come with a skipper and crew and may differentiate by the kind of angling they specialize in.
Superyacht charter
Finally, there are superyacht charters on large vessels that come with a full crew and run in the hundreds of thousands of dollars per week.
This column will focus on bareboat charter, which gives you independence, privacy, and flexibility but also places all the responsibility for crew and vessel safety on your shoulders. As captain, you’re in charge of creating an itinerary, navigating, troubleshooting equipment, and staving off a mutiny. If you’re up for being skipper, engineer, and cruise directory, this is your jam.
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The Rise of Modern Charter Travel
Bareboat charter initially gained visibility in the 1960s with the birth of The Moorings, now a key player. Charter grew in popularity in the post-pandemic world as people opted out of canned resort stays and turned to more exotic experiences and unique bucket-list goals. Bareboat charter is expected to grow at 5 percent annually over the next five years depending on the region, so why not ride the wave and possibly change the way you vacation from now on?
Top Yacht Charter Companies to Know
About 20 percent of bareboat charter bookings are through the “majors,” including:
The Moorings and Dream Yacht have a smattering of power catamarans, while others offer only sailing monohulls and catamarans. The rest of the charter world is comprised of regional and specialty outfits, some of which are quite good.
Best Yacht Charter Destinations Around the World
The key destinations are the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the South Pacific, but charters in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. and on the canals of Europe are spectacular too.
I’ve been organizing and running charters for nearly two decades, and no matter how many times I’ve visited a destination, each trip is different and has something new to offer. Swimming with manta rays in Tahiti? Check. Snorkeling on a sunken airplane in the Exumas? Yup. Anchoring below a spectacular temple to Poseidon in Greece? Uh huh. Navigating the canals of France from castle to castle? Absolutely.
Why Small-Boat Travel Delivers a Better Experience
Cruise ships can’t deliver the small boat experience that comes complete with locals who actually want to meet you and hidden anchorages where yours is the only hook in the water. Come along to learn how to tackle that bucket list and seriously up the magic quotient of your next vacation.
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