As the luxury yacht charter fleet grows, new design trends and technologies emerge, and a discerning clientele demand ever-greater features and experiences on their yachting vacations. Watching the evolution of the charter yacht fleet is a fascinating business, as the superyacht industry continues to expand the boundaries of the world’s most elite vacation option.
Here are some of the most exciting trends in the charter yacht market in 2024:
A New Breed of Charterers
The past few years have seen a veritable boom in first-time charterers, many of whom are also younger than the traditional superyacht charterer. Millennials are joining the yachting set in considerable numbers – and crucially, these first-time charterers are coming from outside the established yachting circles. Where charter clients used to be largely an ‘insider’ group, whereby children and friends of existing charterers end up chartering their own yachts, the successful young people of today are flocking to yacht vacations independently, as yachting increasingly becomes considered a mainstream luxury vacation option.
These young clients tended towards active and adventurous itineraries, featuring plenty of watertoys and opportunities to party. In the Med, the wild party scene of St Tropez, Ibiza, Hvar and Mykonos attract this cohort of charterers, while other thrill-seeking charterers are venturing further afield to exotic, far-flung destinations like Antarctica, Patagonia, and Indonesia.
A ‘Greener’ Yacht Fleet
Yacht charter brokers are reporting an increase in client requests for more eco-friendly yachts, from vessels sporting hybrid electric-diesel propulsion and increased fuel efficiency, through to onboard anti-plastic-waste programs and marine-friendly cleaning products.
Explorer Yachts continue to be Popular
While explorer yachts are designed for remote cruising, we also see many of these vessels operating on the Mediterranean charter circuit during breaks between global itineraries. Because these vessels tend to be large and need to entertain guests in places with little yachting infrastructure, they come equipped with a dazzling range of facilities to keep guests entertained and pampered.
As such, helicopters, cinemas, libraries, spas, observatory decks, dance floors, and a huge selection of watertoys are all features you may encounter on an explorer yacht. They often carry specialist crew on board, such as masseuses, fitness trainers, and qualified watersport instructors. Some of these yachts also hold larger passenger licences, making them an ideal choice for extended family groups, corporate charters, or special events such as yacht weddings.
Yacht ‘Winter Gardens’ make Year-Round Charters a Dream
The latest trend on yachts, ‘winter gardens’ may have been designed for remote cruising in cold climates like Antarctic, Alaska, or along Norway’s chilly fjords, but these gorgeous spaces are also ideal for extending the Mediterranean season into the cooler months.
Imagine sitting in a heated winter garden with a cognac or mulled wine, cruising along the French Riviera in mid-winter, with the snow-capped Alps rearing up above the coast and the Mediterranean glinting with that enchanting winter sparkle. With yacht design increasingly catering for cold-climate cruising as well as summer fun, the appeal of a late season or winter charter in the Med becomes apparent, allowing you to take in an evening at the Opera in Monaco, a winter walk in the Provencal hills, or an afternoon of shopping and galleries in Cannes. Also, for ski enthusiasts, the easy proximity of the ski fields to French Riviera ports makes a ski-and-sail yacht charter a superb winter holiday.
Watertoys Drive Charter Bookings
Watertoys are one of the highlights of any charter yacht and certain toys really do drive charter bookings, particularly for family groups. Waterslides are exceedingly popular in the current market, while the newest toys like Jetsurfs and e-Foils are always in demand. Personal watercraft including Jetskis have long been considered essential equipment on charter yachts, and Seabobs remain perennially popular. Inflatable waterparks are also highly attractive to the charter market.
The watertoy to make the biggest splash in recent years was the advent of the personal submarine, but this toy was limited to vanishingly few charter yachts. However, with U-Boat Worx now offering their submarines for charter to clients in the Med and beyond, charterers now have the opportunity to explore the depths as never before.
Yacht Layouts are Diversifying
Yacht interiors are becoming a great deal more diverse, and many of the layout changes are well-suited to the charter market. A private owner’s deck has become extremely sought-after by charterers in recent years, as have convertible cabins that adapt to different group configurations (for example, a twin that converts to a double, or a full-beam suite that divides into two cabins).
Also at a premium are on-deck cabins, as well as yachts that offer either a double-master layout or a very generous VIP – a feature which really suits charters where two couples are sharing the charter costs. Today’s yacht design also celebrates indoor-outdoor living, with interior living spaces that open up seamlessly onto the deck, as well as the resurgence of large windows that can open to let fresh air and sea breezes flow through the yacht. When it comes to interior design fashions, modern minimalism is giving way to a more neutral, easy-living style.
The Gourmet Offering Continues to Expand
Charter guests are demanding ever-more from their yacht chefs, who are now required to be able to cater to a large range of dietary requirements, including vegan, raw-food, gluten free, vegetarian, paleo, dairy-free, kosher, and keto diets. Additionally, guests will also expect the chef to be highly skilled at multiple cuisines, from sushi to French gastronomy. Today’s charter yacht is truly a moveable feast.
Gardens are the Latest Yacht Design Trend
The trend towards going green is not just limited to more eco-friendly practices, with a literal ‘greening’ of some yachts in the fleet. Plant life on board superyachts has traditionally been limited to pots of orchids and massive arrangements of cut flowers. Spectacular, yes. But not permanent.
This is changing, with yacht design beginning to incorporate green walls, lush courtyards, herb gardens and the aforementioned ‘winter gardens’ with giant potted ferns scraping the ceiling. While this is an emerging design trend on superyachts, we can expect yachts with greenery to perform well on the charter market in future.
Charter yachts, and their clientele, are diversifying. We can’t wait to see what comes next!
