Yacht Charter Trends for 2025

catamarans are hot for 2025

Boatbookings’ view of what’s hot for 2025!

Boatbookings Charter Experts are in constant contact with captains, boat owners and clients all over the world. We got together recently to discuss trends in the yachting business that we’re seeing for 2026. Here are the headlines!

More, bigger, quieter, cleaner catamarans and motor catamarans

This is not a new trend, but it shows no signs of slowing. People love catamarans! They are more fuel-efficient, rock less (helps prevent seasickness), can sail in shallow waters, have comfortable living spaces, cabins, and galleys, and generally provide for a superb charter. When Boatbookings was founded 20 years ago, catamarans were the exception, and sailing yachts were the rule. This has completely reversed itself.

As we’ve previously written, we love the Bali catamarans for their easy access to the foredeck, inside/outside salon, quality finishings, and overall fabulous experience. More about the advantages of Bali Catamarans.

Motor cats. Powered Catamarans are everywhere, and no longer look like a catamaran that is missing its mast! We have Power Cats in every key port, offering comfort, luxury, fuel efficiency, and quick, easy cruising to your destination.

And the catamarans are getting bigger! We’re seeing many more 50-60 foot cats in all ports, normally by Lagoon or Bali. Each foot of additional length effectively provides triple the added space, as it’s a three-dimensional boat. You won’t believe the difference in useable space between a 45- and 50-foot catamaran! We also see a lot more 70- and even 80-foot catamarans, specifically from famed luxury catamaran builder Sunreef. These truly are superyachts in catamaran form. Discover our top-rated Sunfeef yachts.

The beginning of the end of noisy, smelly generators and diesel motors

Propulsion and electrical systems of yachts of all sizes are undergoing a silent revolution. Instead of the diesel-powered props that have been standard in nearly all yachts for the past 100 years, newly installed motors are increasingly electric. They have much greater torque and are far quieter.

These motors need to be powered by electricity, of course. Increasingly that electricity comes from solar panels, wind turbines, and propellers that act as turbines when you’re sailing. This electricity is then stored in on-board batteries that have come down dramatically in price over the past 10 years. These boats normally have a backup generator, but often it doesn’t need to be used at all, making the boat completely self-sufficient and zero-emissions! No more coughing from the fumes when you’re snorkeling around the boat.

We’re beginning to see yachts that have enough battery capacity to run the air conditioning through the night, so the noise and rumble of the generator are completely eliminated. Bliss!

See our most eco-friendly and sustainable charter yachts here.

The constant search for unique, unspoiled, charter destinations

While the French Riviera, Alamfi Coast, Greek Islands, and the BVI never disappoint, we’re seeing increasing demand for more exotic locations. Our top new recommendation is Raja Ampat, for its extraordinary diving, unspoiled islands, and unique culture. We also continue to see increased interest in Tahiti/Bora Bora, which is a convenient, direct 8-hour flight from LA or San Francisco.

More updates coming soon – please contact us if you’re interested in any of the above destinations or yachts!

World Ocean Day: What can we do together to help preserve our seas?

Today is World Ocean Day, a day to celebrate and honour the importance of our oceans. This year’s theme is ‘Planet Ocean: tides are changing.’

The oceans are our lifeline, literally. They provide us with 70% of our oxygen and cover 71% of the Earth’s surface. Without them, both humanity and our yachting industry would cease to exist.

At Boatbookings, we understand that we are united by oceans and reliant upon their health. We have long been an advocate for protecting them and continue to do so. To ensure their survival in the future we need more collective action.

What are the main threats facing our oceans? 

It is important to identify the main threats facing our oceans in order to understand what the issues are why we should protect them, and how to work to do so.

  • Plastic pollution: An equivalent of one truckload of plastic enters the oceans every minute, damaging the ecosystems and entering the food chain.
  • Overfishing: 90% of the world’s wild fish are either fully or over-exploited due to destructive fishing practices. 
  • Ocean Warming: Increasing ocean temperatures are affecting marine species and ecosystems and driving up sea levels. 

Why else do we want to protect them?

  • It is the ultimate playground: The ocean is different everywhere you go, from Greece to Croatia, to the Bahamas, to the Pacific. You can do so many things on, in and under the oceans. It is full of life’s great, diverse adventures, think kayaking fjords to scuba diving with reef sharks.
  • We share it: The oceans are a valuable resource that is utilised and shared around the globe. The oceans shape cultures and traditions and living by the sea has such an impact on your life, whether that be what you eat, where you work, or how you spend your time. 
  • The Biodiversity: The oceans are home to an incredible array of biodiversity, including millions of species that many are still yet to be discovered. Healthy oceans can support complex ecosystems, including coral reefs, mangroves and sea grass, which all provide habitats and feeding grounds.
  • Makes us feel good: Research has shown that bodies of water are strongly linked to your brain releasing feel-good hormones. Who wouldn’t be happy on a crewed charter catamaran in Tahiti

What can we do onboard a crewed charter?

There are so many ways we can help protect and conserve our oceans. Both small and large changes can make a world of difference to the health of our oceans and the overall sustainability of our planet. Here are some top ways this World Ocean Day you can help:

  • Make sure you choose one of our more sustainable electric charter catamarans for this summer. From electric to hybrid, there are so many green options out there. 
  • Offset your carbon emissions. You can use our carbon offset calculator to work them out. 
  • Reduce your plastic waste onboard. You can specify on your preference sheet that you would like to minimize single-use plastic wherever possible. For example, through reusable bottles, filtered water, and refillable toiletries onboard a crewed charter. 
  • Support and get involved in any local ocean conservation initiatives, from beach clean up’s in the BVI’s to supporting local communities in the Bahamas. 
  • Eat locally and seasonally onboard. You can ask your onboard chef to source sustainably and ethically throughout your trip. This will reduce your carbon footprint onboard due to the reduced air miles. 
  • It is important to understand why there are specific anchoring regulations in place and to always adhere to these. Your crew will ensure that you anchor in an environmentally-safe spot without damaging what is below, especially the coral reef.

While it is essential to recognize and acknowledge all the themes and topics behind World Ocean Day, we should work to protect and conserve our oceans every day. We ensure our clients take the protection of oceans seriously. At Boatbookings, we started this by helping facilitate greener chartering, leading the charge to provide our clients with a more sustainable charter fleet and practices. For a greener charter this year, contact the Boatbookings team today.