Superyacht festive holiday hotspots
Superyacht festive holiday hotspots
Journeys

Superyacht festive holiday hotspots

From get-away-from-it-all cruises to the ultimate New Year parties, superyachts offer pandemic-weary families and friends the ultimate festive escape – so where should you head this Christmas?

By Charlotte Thomas | 21 December 2021

A superyacht can deliver some of the greatest experiences on earth – enjoying the classic glitz and glamour of the Côte d’Azur, for example, or getting up close and personal with the sealife in the remote atolls of Polynesia; heading into the ice to see glaciers and polar bears on a high-latitiude expedition or, for the truly adventurous, perhaps even a cruise through the Northwest Passage. But a yacht can also deliver another ultimate experience – the best New Year party on the planet.

Choosing to spend Christmas and New Year on board your own private retreat, whether as an owner or a charterer, has never had more appeal than now. After a torrid 18 months during which the pandemic has not only restricted our ability to travel but has also brought home the importance of family, of friendship, and of sharing time together, a superyacht presents the perfect opportunity to relax and reconnect in a safe, secure, luxurious bubble.

“Yachts are very safe and very controllable environments when it comes to COVID,” says Burgess charter broker Sophie Spain, “and we are seeing a tremendous number of people booking charters for this winter, and also for next summer already too. Owners also know how safe their yachts are and are not discounting charter rates – in fact, there are only a few deals that are actually available now.”

Superyacht festive holiday hotspots

Secret Credits: Burgess

Superyacht festive holiday hotspots

Secret Credits: Burgess

The advantage that a yacht has, of course, is that aside from being a self-contained environment, it is also mobile. This means both that owners and charterers can pick their perfect spot to spend the holidays, and also that yachts can respond quickly to a change in local or regional circumstances. “The trends in terms of how or where superyachts spend the festive season hasn’t changed, although yachts won’t be hanging around islands or destinations that suddenly have an uptick in COVID cases,” Spain asserts. “We are constantly monitoring the situation and adapting accordingly.”

So if you do want to spend the Christmas period on board or to enjoy the ultimate New Year experience, where should you take or charter your yacht? Sydney has always been a popular destination, particularly for southern hemisphere clients or for those whose yachts have been operating in the Pacific region. The famous Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race starts from Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day, contributing to the festive feel, and of course the fireworks over the Harbour mean the new year always arrives in spectacular style.

Superyacht festive holiday hotspots
Superyacht festive holiday hotspots

However, king of the New Year party spot has to be in the Caribbean, and St Barths (as the island of St Barthelemy is known) in particular. Nestled between St Maarten and the British Virgin Islands to the north and Antigua to the south, St Barths – and its main city harbour town of Gustavia – has a reputation for attracting the world’s biggest superyachts and some of the world’s biggest A-listers for a celebration like no other. Roman Abramovich’s yacht Eclipse is often a mainstay, and other iconic yachts such as Luna or A are often in town. The harbour itself – which can take 60 superyachts – is packed to the port walls with the anchorage acting as overflow. The parties continue all night and into the next day, but that’s okay – revellers can recover by enjoying the rest of the island’s charms on a relaxing cruise. A part of S Barth’s appeal – as is true with superyachts in general – is that there is a degree not just of exclusivity but of privacy that can be hard to find in this world. 

However, not everyone wants to party – particularly in light of the pandemic – and this is where a superyacht can really come into its own. With the ultimate in facilities, accommodations, and service from your crew, Christmas and New Year on board can be the ultimate self-contained family experience in the most stunning surroundings. And, with a fleet that straddles the globe, there are options no matter what style of sojourn appeals.

“The Caribbean and the Bahamas are still the most popular Christmas and New Year spots by far, in general,” offers Spain. “But then there is also the Maldives, which is also popular, and there are a few charters also in Dubai (if you want city and shopping) and the Seychelles. However,” she continues, “hotspots by far are led by the charter yacht inventory and availability, and at this time of year the Caribbean and Bahamas still sway it given how many yachts are there.”

Superyacht festive holiday hotspots

Secret Credits: Burgess

Superyacht festive holiday hotspots

Secret Credits: Burgess

It’s tempting to think of remote destinations for a true escape – Christmas Island in Indonesia, perhaps – but as Spain points out, unless you have your own yacht and the time to take it to a far-flung destination, that might not be the most practical solution for a quiet Christmas. “If you really wanted to get away from it all in terms of avoiding crowds and parties, while still being relatively connected, the Exumas in the Bahamas is perfect,” Spain offers instead. “It’s great for diving, and not so much your typical party spot.”

Whether you’re looking to get in the middle of it all with your friends or just want to get away from it all with your family, there really is a festive superyacht cruise or charter for every desire and preference. After all, who isn’t dreaming of a white sand Christmas…

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