The Best New England Yacht Charter Guide for 2024 and 2025 | USA
Charter a luxury motor yacht, crewed sailing yacht or bareboat sail boat in New England and discover Newport, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard and the Hamptons
The combination of Long Island and the famous port destinations in Maine, Massachusetts (Boston, Cape Cod, Marthas Vineyard, Nantucket) Connecticut, and Rhode Island (Newport) in New England provides everything from nearly endless and dunes to unbelievably quaint towns to historic ports still resonant from colonial New England and its Native American heritage and of course world-famous lobster. Newport is well known for bareboat yacht charters and our sailing itinerary can take you from the historic town of Newport to the boutique restaurants in the Hamptons.Â
New England is rugged, spectacularly beautiful, and full of history and charm. Its quaint port towns, sandy beaches, romantic islands, small shops, and art galleries, and fine restaurants exude understated elegance. There is a long tradition of fishing and sailing that is apparent at every stop. You won't find a lot of flash in New England, there is a strong link all the way back to the Puritans where ostentation is not the natural way of New Englanders. They would rather let their bounteous land speak for itself, and mesmerize you with all it has to offer.
New England Charter Destinations
Newport, Rhode Island - Historic Sailing Town
Newport is the original sailing capital of the USA and retains a strong yachting heritage. Thie town offers museums, mansion tours, beaches, jazz festivals, beautiful walks, and a taste of old New England. Expect to find colonial architecture and regal mansions with a backdrop of cliffs and a stunning coastline. Dine on lobster as you embark on a yacht for an through the unforgettable wonders of New England. It's truly a sailing lover's paradise and was home to several classic Americas' Cup races.
Most New England Charters begin in Newport, as most of the best boats are based here and it's close to both New York and Boston.
Newport Bareboat Charter Yachts
Cape Cod - Understated New England LuxuryÂ
Cape Cod, just an hour south of Boston, is the area where Bostonians go to get away, and often love it so much they buy their second house there. Cape Cod offers amazing beaches, bass fishing, quaint fishing towns that include Provincetown and island excursions.Â
Cape Cod is essentially a long spit of sand, curled northward like a flexed arm. With all that sand, there are beaches and dunes everywhere, all with their own aspects and advantages. The west coast of Cape Cod offers dramatic dunes and great breakers, while the northern and southern beaches are calm and offer great fishing and massive low tides to explore for shells and sand dollars. Throughout Cape Cod you can explore famous towns such as Falmouth, Woods Hole, Chatham, and Dennis that have a fantastic New England charm.
Martha's Vineyard - An Island with a Timeless, Classy Feel
While closely associated with and visible from Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard has its own identity and definitely has in Island feel to it. The primary port for yachts is Edgartown, which is upscale "preppy" and offers excellent restaurants and beaches nearby. Martha's Vineyard is very much about its abundant beaches and dunes and will lose you in its timeless pace.
Martha's Vineyard Charter Yachts
Nantucket - Historic Whaling island and Home to the Rich & Famous
The remote, charming island of Nantucket, a 1-2.5 hour ferry ride from Cape Cod (depending on which ferry you take), has become the place to be for New England's well-heeled. Â The old whaling town of Nantucket has many quaint, timeless restaurants and shops, with original cobblestone streets and beautiful sea views. Â It's a great place to rent a bike and just enjoy the dunes, grasslands, small beach towns, and ice cream cone or two!
Long Island - Sag Harbor and the HamptonsÂ
The Hamptons lie on Long Island's South Fork and are increasingly a popular a summer yacht charter destination for affluent residents of New York City. Guests will enjoy long stretches of sandy beach, as well as many popular towns which are adorned with 18th-century traditional buildings and large estates. For the international jet-set, head to East Hampton where you will find the best restaurants, bars and haute-couture boutiques.
Maine - Rugged Coastlines, Picturesque Towns, Lobster and Blueberry Pie
Winslow Homer spent a good part of his career trying to capture the beauty of the Maine coastline - it can have a mesmerizing effect on you. The famous coastline was carved long ago by the ice age glaciers that left behind many inlets and estuaries that can take a lifetime to explore. Maine mixes understated money well with its natural beauty, where towns such as Kennebunkport, Camden and Prouts Neck serve as retreats for some of the most famous families in America. Beautiful sandy beaches and quaint fishing/lobster ports are nestled among the rocky shoreline, and you'll take more than a few pictures of classic New England Lighthouses.
Boston - Freedom Trail, Beantown, Faneuil Hall
Boston from its beginning looked to the sea, and it remains a city where boating is a key part of the culture. Today, Boston mixes an international outlook with traditions dating back to its founding in colonial times, and of course, its most famous attraction is the Freedom Trail, that takes one through many of the key events and places of the American Revolution. A Boston stop is almost requisite for any New England Charter, to see Boston Commons, the Statehouse, the Old North Church ("one if by land, two if by sea"), Faneuil Hall and the other key attractions. Boston offers fine cuisine, great shopping (Newbury Street), and if you're looking for traditional entertainment - try to take in a Red Sox game while you're there. Sports are a key part of the city's fabric.
Northern New England
Starting from Boston, you quickly reach the delightful and historic ports along the north shore. Marblehead, Gloucester, and Manchester by the Sea are all pretty ports with great New England charm and history. Continuing up the coast, you will briefly be on the New Hampshire coast, and then into Southern Maine. Classic ports to visit are Prouts Neck (Winslow Homer), and Kennebunk Port (you can see the Bush estate). Continuing up the coast ("Down East" in the local parlance) you will find Wiscassett, Boothbay harbour and finally Bar Harbor and Mount Dessert National Park. While you are nearly guaranteed to have a day or two of fog along the way, you will be relaxed and mesmerized by the beautiful coastline, enjoy plenty of lobster and seafood, and bring home many pictures of lighthouses and lobster boats!
Southern New England and Long Island
A southern New England charter normally starts in the historic town of Newport, home to many America's Cup races and some of the greatest American Mansions. You can cruise across the Long Island sound to the Hamptons and then continue Northeastward to explore the sandy beaches and incredibly quaint towns of Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and Cape Cod. This is American beach culture at its finest and you will find many great local shops and restaurants featuring seafood, especially clams, mussels, and lobster. End up by spending some time in Provincetown, which has a culture all it's own and go whale watching and bass fishing on your way to Boston.
New England Charter Yachts
New England isn't as flashy as Florida or the South of France, but you can find any type of yacht you desire.
New England Crewed and Luxury Charter Yachts New England Bareboat Charter Yachts
