The allure of superyacht charter

“I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect when we arrived on the quayside in Split, Croatia,” begins Rebecca Laughton. “It was my first time on a superyacht – the 48.9-metre charter yacht Cristal in this case – and I remember being surprised at how big it looked. I wondered if it might feel a little impersonal, but it turned out I couldn’t have been more wrong.”

Laughton is one of thousands of people who have taken the plunge into yacht and superyacht charter. Some come from smaller yacht experiences, some filter through from boutique cruise yachts which offer limited cabins and more of a personalised luxury experience, and some have no boating experience at all – but all of them are drawn to the unique appeal that a superyacht has. It’s about the freedom to set your own itinerary on your own timetable; to enjoy the privacy of the most private villa, service beyond what the best hotel can offer, and the space to bring family and friends for extraordinary experiences.

Yachts like Cristal typically get multi-generational families – grandparents, parents, children and grandchildren – and sometimes it is two or three families chartering together, say her crew. “They say it’s like the family gathering, that the only time everyone manages to get together is on the yacht – so they charter for a week, meet in Croatia and have family time in such a special way.”

For Laughton, enjoying the spectacular cruising, from islands to picture postcard towns and harbours, of Croatia was elevated by every aspect that a yacht could offer. “It was just so relaxing,” she enthuses. “It was super-quiet on board – Cristal has a garage full of toys and a crew who will do anything for you or take you anywhere you want to go if you had the inclination, but equally a yacht offers perfect corners and hideaways if you want to simply do nothing at all and switch off for a while.”

The attraction for families and friends, she says, is clear. “I think the combination of the yacht and what it offers merged perfectly with the stunning scenery and beautiful coastal towns of Croatia,” she says. From the Roman splendour and cosmopolitan feel of Split to pristine Hvar and the temptations of Dubrovnik and the national parks further north, Croatia is stunning, and certainly best experienced by sea – and preferably by superyacht. I can imagine it would be the same anywhere that a yacht can take you – which essentially is anywhere in the world with a coastline.

“Our charter also showed that it’s possible to get a taste of the superyacht lifestyle and the absolute freedom that a superyacht charter offers without breaking the bank,” she continues. “Indeed, for a group of friends, or perhaps a multi-generational family or two, the chance to get together in one place with such fantastic amenities for a similar price to staying a week in a top hotel seems too good an opportunity to miss. The combination of people we were with, the crew, the location and the yacht made it probably the most memorable holiday experience of my life,” she adds. “I think more people should try it – it may just change your life.”

The change can be palpable, particularly when it comes to seeing the stress melt from people’s faces the moment they step on board – and particularly as many charterers come from high-pressure work and business environments seeking the opportunity to completely switch off and reconnect with their families. “Once they step on board and see the crew waiting for them, and they see the yacht, their mood changes completely,” says Cristal’s captain, Andrija Marasovic. “They are happy, they see that finally the holidays are here – because sometimes they plan their charter a year or more in advance. Many of them ask when they can come again as soon as the charter is over.”

Chartering isn’t just about self-indulgence, however, and Laughton says the evidence of the positive impact the industry has on local communities and businesses was clear. “I could see that there’s a big industry in Croatia centred on yacht and superyacht charter that revolves not just around tourist dollars but around the maintenance and operational aspects,” she offers. “The captains, crew and chefs source local, using local produce and working with local farmers, local shops and local suppliers up and down the coast.”

As a first-time charterer – and as a non-yachtie – Laughton is sold on the allure of a superyacht charter and why people who try it often never look back. “When you consider the freedom to go anywhere, to tailor every day exactly how you want it, or to let the fabulous crew guide you with their local knowledge, all the while enjoying your own luxe experience, why wouldn’t you charter?” she concludes. “Sure, the biggest yachts can cost a fortune and can seem out of reach to all but the privileged few, but that’s only a tiny part of a very large charter fleet that encompasses opportunities, like Cristal, to get out for much less – at the other end of the scale chartering can very accessible to a far larger number of people. It’s an experience unlike anything else – in fact, we are already talking about a return to Cristal and Croatia in 2024!”