Catamaran charter. More space on deck, calm at anchor, and the bays other yachts cannot reach.
The most space for the length, a shallow draught that reaches bays other yachts cannot, and almost none of the movement that puts people off going to sea.
Why a catamaran
More space on board, and a calmer ride at anchor
A catamaran is two hulls carrying one wide deck between them. Because the beam is far greater than a monohull of the same length, everything on board grows: a saloon with windows on every side, a cockpit big enough to eat in properly, a flybridge, and guest cabins pushed out into separate hulls so nobody hears anybody else.
She also sits flat. A sailing catamaran does not heel in the way a monohull does, and at anchor she rolls very little, which is why families, nervous sailors and anyone travelling with older guests or small children keep coming back to them. Add a draught far shallower than a monohull of the same size and you can anchor close in, off the beach, where the big yachts have to stay out.
At a glance
What she carries
- GuestsTypically 6 to 12Most crewed charter catamarans sleep 8 to 10. Twelve is the usual maximum on any charter yacht.
- CabinsUsually 3 to 6Spread across the two hulls, most with their own shower room. Layouts are more equal than on a monohull, which suits two families sharing.
- CrewUsually 2 to 5A captain and chef on a smaller boat; a full crew with stewards and a deckhand on the larger ones.
- DraughtMuch shallower than a monohullThe reason she can lie off a beach in the Grenadines or tuck into a Balearic cove.
What you notice on board
The things guests remember
- A dining table on the same level as the saloon and the water, not down a companionway
- Two hulls give you two ends of the boat: children at one, adults at the other
- Trampolines forward, which turn out to be where everyone spends the afternoon
- Steps down to the water at each stern, so swimming, paddleboards and the tender are all easy
- A flybridge on most modern boats, with shade and a second outdoor seating area
- Very little motion at anchor, which matters more to most guests than an extra knot of speed
Honest comparison
Catamaran, sailing yacht or motor yacht
| Catamaran | Sailing yacht | Motor yacht | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motion | Flat under way and at anchor | Heels when sailing, steady at anchor | Steady, with stabilisers at anchor on larger yachts |
| Space for the length | The most | The least | Generous above 30 metres |
| Anchorages | Shallow bays and close to the beach | Limited by the keel | Limited by draught and by size |
| Speed and range | Modest, fine for island hopping | Modest, quicker in a good breeze | The fastest, and the furthest in a day |
| Best for | Families, first charters, the Caribbean | Sailors and quiet weeks | Groups, entertaining, covering distance |
Power catamarans exist too: the same wide, level platform without the rig, with more speed and more interior volume. They are a good answer for guests who want the stability but have no interest in sailing.
Where they work best
Cruising grounds
Balearics and Mediterranean
Getting there
Worth knowing
Berths are the one place a catamaran costs you
A catamaran occupies two berths' width in a marina, and in the busiest Mediterranean ports in August that is either expensive or simply unavailable. It matters far less in the Caribbean and the Balearics, where the nights are spent at anchor anyway. We flag it in every proposal so the itinerary is built around it rather than against it.
Request a proposal
Tell us who is coming
Dates, guests and ages, and where you would like to be. Tell us if stability is the reason you are asking, because it changes which boats we put in front of you.
Prefer to talk? +44 2030 048300 or WhatsApp, at any hour.
Questions people ask
About catamarans
Are catamarans safe?
Yes. They are stable, buoyant and sailed by professional crew, and a modern charter catamaran is surveyed and certified like any other commercial yacht.
Will anyone be seasick?
Far less likely than on a monohull. A catamaran stays level under sail and moves very little at anchor. If seasickness is a real worry in the party, tell us and we will also suggest routes with short, sheltered passages.
Is there a proper cabin for the adults?
On most crewed catamarans the cabins are more equal than on a monohull, which is either the attraction or the drawback. Larger boats offer a full owner's hull with a private cabin, study and bathroom.
Can we charter one for a single day?
Yes, in the Balearics and on the Riviera in particular. See day charter.
How many can we have on board?
Twelve guests is the usual maximum for sleeping on a commercially registered charter yacht, and many catamarans are set up for eight or ten.
