Not every yacht is right with kids aboard. The boats on this list have been physically vetted by the desk for the things that matter: zero-speed stabilisers (no sea-sickness at anchor), fold-out beach clubs (kids in and out of the water all day), a tender that can take ten guests at once (no waiting), and crews who have run a family week before and know to keep the chocolate milk stocked.

What to look for

Beach club. Master cabin and twin or bunk cabins (not all doubles). A second salon for the kids' movies. Sea toys: seabobs, paddleboards, water trampoline, jet skis (age 18+). A chef who will cook two menus a night.

Where to take them

The BVI is the desk's top pick — short hops, calm anchorages, kids in the water by 9am. The Bahamas Exumas (the pigs, the iguanas, the snorkelling) come a close second. In the Mediterranean: Croatia, the Balearics, and the Ionian.