Choosing

What size?

The right answer depends on three numbers: group size, days aboard, and itinerary. Here's how the desk reasons through it.

By group size

  • 2–4 guests: 25–35m. A 30m sailing yacht or motor yacht handles a couple or a small family comfortably and is materially cheaper than going larger.
  • 6–8 guests: 35–45m. The sweet spot for a typical family or two couples — three to four cabins, a proper aft deck, a tender that fits everyone.
  • 10–12 guests: 45–60m. The default charter category — six cabins, large beach club, full crew, helipad if you want one.
  • 12+: 60m+. The "12-pax rule" — charter yachts can't carry more than 12 passengers without a passenger-ship license. If your group is 14, look at two 50m yachts before you book one 80m.

By itinerary

Short hops (Med island-hopping): any size works. Long passages (Caribbean to Pacific): explorer-class only. Shallow water (Bahamas, Croatia): catamarans punch above their weight.

The trade-off

Bigger boats mean more comfort and more capability, but they're slower into anchorages, draw more (some Med harbours can't take 60m+), and cost more per guest. The desk's default recommendation: 5 metres per guest, rounded up.