Best Private Boat Rentals and Yacht Charters for the Cruise of a Lifetime
Or perhaps chomping on a five-course feast created by a private chef on a Catalina Island yacht charter?
Whatever your deep-blue desire and chosen yacht-friendly destination, these stellar boat rentals and yacht charters can steer you to your version of paradise.
Boating brokers run the gamut. Some will simply help direct you to the right do-it-yourself local boat rental.
Others serve more like Airbnb-ish platforms for boating vacationers.
Then there are those over-the-top yacht outfitters that want to know your favorite scent before boarding so they can candle shop accordingly.
Here are 11 of our favorite boat rentals and yacht charters to make your dream cruise a reality.
Best Private Boat Rentals and Yacht Charters
1. Fraser
This luxury yacht charter company provides rentals—everything from motor yachts to classic sailing yachts to crewed superyachts—in destinations around the world, including Antarctica.
In 2021, Fraser’s fleet saw an increase in bookings of 112 percent with 40 percent of clients being first-time renters.
It’s because of this surge in interest that charters have shortened the typical booking window of three to six months prior to setting sail to just seven to 10 days.
On the fence about throwing down the cash? Think of it this way: If you’re traveling with multiple couples, chartering a yacht will be comparable in cost to paying for a luxury cruise—the upside being you’ve got the whole vessel to yourself.
2. Sail.Play.Dine
Say all aboard to the Caribbean boat escape of your dreams.
This company specializes in charters in the U.S., British Virgin Islands, Bahamas, Saint Vincent, and Grenadines.
Whether you’re looking for a personalized charter to pop the question or a vacation with your college buddies, the Sail.Play.Dine team will put together a customized itinerary that utilizes their insider knowledge to match you with the right boat and crew for your needs.
The starting price is $7,500 for a captain-only boat (not including meals or drinks) for seven days for up to four guests—or $9,900 for up to six guests for four nights on an all-inclusive rental.
Super-luxury yachts in the six-figure range are also up for grabs.
3. Boatsetter
Boatsetter is an online marketplace where boat owners, renters, and captains are brought together.
They also offer a boat rental insurance policy for secure, legal, and insured peer-to-peer boat rentals.
Using the app or website, book your next cruising, fishing, sailing, or chilling-at-a-sandbar adventure—with or without a captain.
More than 20,000 boats are available across the U.S., the Caribbean, Mexico, the Mediterranean, and other locations worldwide.
Boatsetter has boat rentals that can be scored for as low as $39/hour as well as chartered luxury mega-yachts that’ll cozily set you back thousands of dollars a day.
4. Barton & Gray Mariners Club
Looking for a membership-based club? This upscale outfitter is for you.
Founded in 2006 by a motley crew of marine, software, and marketing pros, B&G Mariners Club runs 60-plus yachts in over 30 harbors along the entire U.S. Atlantic seaboard, Great Lakes, and now the tropics.
Membership fees will set you back $9,800 per quarter, granting you an unlimited number of boat reservations to their fleet of boats, including spring 2022 debut Daychaser ‘48, the company’s first proprietary and exclusive yacht.
5. IYC
Another big player in the luxury yachting market, IYC is one of the world’s largest international yachting companies—with over 100 staffers based in 14 strategically located offices around the globe.
The company manages the largest charter fleet worldwide. If you’re looking to buy a boat, it’s consistently ranked among the top three brokerage companies globally for yacht sales.
All rentals have a one-week minimum, starting at $16,500 per week plus expenses.
Some run as high as $650,000 per week before all the add-ons.
6. Catamaran Guru
As the company name affirms, this extensive network of yacht owners is where to charter your next catamaran.
Weekly costs start at $9,000 for the entire boat for up to six guests on a “bareboat” charter—i.e. self-captained and -provisioned (requires license and certification).
$15,000-plus per week gets you an entire boat for up to six guests on an all-inclusive captained vessel with first mate/chef, full provisioning, and itinerary. New to chartering? Check out their helpful guide here.
7. The Yacht Week
Cruising on a yacht doesn’t always have to break the bank.
Here’s where to snag seven-nights from $737 per person with eight different routes to choose from—including Croatia, Tahiti, Greece, the British Virgin Islands, and more.
When you’re not nursing a beer on the deck, you’ll be scoping out little-known swimming coves, empty beaches, and hiking until your calves burn.
You can either book an entire yacht or, if you’re going solo, reserve a cabin on a shared yacht using the Crew Finder feature.
8. Lake Hop
Is lake life more your cup of tea? Based in Tullahoma, TN, Lake Hop offers their rideshare-like services in more than 30 states.
It’s essentially Uber for boaters, with the captains being local private boat owners who know the area well and can take you on fun experiences like wake surfing, bass fishing, or simply lazing on the water.
Hourly rates on some 600 boats nationwide range from $25 (barebones) to $900 (super luxe) per hour.
Most rentals require a minimum of two hours and a maximum of eight hours.
9. Discover Boating
Discover Boating helps you find the perfect boat rental or boat charter in your area.
Whether you’re in New York, California, or Wisconsin, just enter your zip code, and you’ll get a list of local boat rentals.
They’re a public awareness resource from the National Marine Manufacturers Association for recreational boating (not an actual charter company), so consider this more of a resource and educational center on everything from boat club memberships to how to get a boat loan.
10. Inspirato Luxury Caribbean Catamaran
Looking to head to the Caribbean on a private catamaran? If you’re already an Ispirato Pass member (or thinking of joining), lavish fun awaits.
For $2,500 per month, subscribers have access to Inspirato’s network of extravagant catamaran vacations.
Choose from one of three seven-night trips to the U.S. Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, or Spanish Virgin Islands on any of four state-of-the-art, luxury catamarans, each staffed with a crew at your beck and call.
Feast on sumptuous meals, try a hydrofoil board, stand-up paddle board, or water trampoline—or just bake in the sun and read that book you’ve been meaning to cross off your list.
11. GetMyBoat
The world’s largest boat rental marketplace lets you find luxury yachts by plugging in your destination and filtering by “Trip Types” to see the vessels on offer.
With over 150,000 boats in 9,300 worldwide destinations, prices vary dramatically, but a good rule of thumb is counting on about $1,000/hour to about $5,000 for a day.
An average week-long charter will land in the ballpark of $10,000-20,000.
Pro-tip: Some destinations like Dubai have shockingly affordable luxury yachts to charter—to the tune of $150/hour.
Check out the mobile app to quickly flip through.
Writer: by Perri O. Blumberg
Source: mensjournal.com