Chartering a yacht is a great way to have a safer and more secluded holiday, offering you and your family your very own floating villa filled with plenty to keep you entertained. With the only other people onboard being your dedicated crew, who are there to cater to your every need and keep the yacht sparkling clean at all times, you can enjoy true bonding time without worrying about who is sharing your space.
As travel restrictions begin to lift around the world, Monaco and London-based charter brokerage Y.CO has just revealed a handy new tool – an interactive map detailing which countries yacht charterers can now visit, which are expected to open soon and which are currently unavailable. Tempted to take the plunge? We’ve listed ten of charterers’ favourite yacht activities below, so you can get to grips with the full experience.
10 incredible yacht activities (to rival any resort holiday)
1. Water toys
As soon as the captain anchors down in a secluded bay, the first thing on many guests’ minds is the exciting selection of water toys onboard. Water toys for yachts span an incredible range, with adrenaline-inducing equipment such as seabobs, waterskis and inflatable slides ensuring that everyone on board has something to play with.
2. Snorkelling
Whilst the younger members of the family go crazy on the inflatable water toys for yachts, others might prefer to get out the snorkelling gear and head underwater to get a closer look at some colourful marine life. It‘s a wonderfully peaceful way to pass a couple of hours on a yacht charter.
3. Diving
In certain regions around the world, the marine life and vegetation underwater is so breathtaking that snorkelling won’t suffice. Many yachts that are chartered in the Med and Caribbean are equipped with scuba diving equipment, as well as with qualified crew to ensure that you dive safely and follow the necessary regulations.
4. Windsurfing
For windsurfing fans, some yacht charters also come equipped with boards so that you can set sail for some exhilarating ocean exploration. Water toys for yachts really are so extensive that you could spend your whole trip trying them out!
5. Family games
For something a bit different, ask the crew to organise your own family Total Wipeout on the yacht’s inflatable slide or trampoline – endless fun for all ages, plus a way of tiring out little ones. The crew often have great, out-of-the-box ideas for yacht activities, so even if your vessel doesn’t have these inflatables, don’t hesitate to ask for help in organising a family competition.
6. Weight training
Many yachts for charter now have their own gyms onboard, with state-of-the-art equipment including weights and treadmills. For serious gym junkies, some yacht charters have their own personal trainers to provide one-to-one training every day during your holiday.
7. Cooking
For foodies or those who enjoy learning new skills, why not ask the chef to provide some cooking lessons on board? Yacht charter chefs are usually highly trained with years of experience in menus from across the globe, and will be only too happy to pass on their knowledge.
8. Wine-tasting
Equally, the crew will also be able to pass on their sommelier knowledge with wine-tasting sessions featuring wines from local vineyards, which is especially popular with yacht charters guests in the South of France.
9. Cinema
If you are exhausted just thinking about all these yacht activities, then the cinema is for you! Many yachts now boast their own private cinema, which is a great way to unwind in the heat of the day, or relax at the end of the night.
10. Dancing
For party animals, a late night movie might seem a bit tame. So why not ask the crew to set up the decks onboard, hire a local DJ for the evening, and dance ‘til dawn?