Winter luxury yacht charters are a chance to change your scenery, leave short dark days behind you and make worthwhile memories with loved ones.
Take a rest from feeding the family and let your expert crew provide first-class service while you wallow in the Jacuzzi or go off exploring the peaks of the Pitons on St. Lucia in the Caribbean. Delve into a crystal-clear sea and discover a magical, mesmerising world before you resurface for a sundown dinner on a golden sand beach.
If you need some location inspiration for your own escape, here are three regions with proven popularity for culture seekers, social butterflies and nature lovers alike.
The Maldives & Seychelles
This long-favoured luxury destination is a place to indulge all your senses, with restaurants to compete with the quality of your professional on-board chef, spa and wellness centres, boutique shopping and – best of all – quiet, sun-drenched beaches without any other groups in sight. Go snorkelling with rays in Hanifaru Bay and encounter turtles, nurse sharks and other iconic marine species as you visit one reef after another. Spend the afternoon bonefishing for your dinner, then settle onto the sunbeds to watch the vibrant sunset give way to a canopy of stars.
Beautiful Seychelles is the world’s oldest granite island archipelago, its seashore boulders washed and worn into characteristic shapes that add unique features to the otherwise gently inclining white sands and shallow turquoise waters. On your cruise, see the Aldabra giant tortoises on the protected island of Curieuse, botanical marvels like the coco de mer within Vallée de Mai, and go snorkelling and Scuba diving among thriving reefs for a Christmas Day without compare.
Australia & the South Pacific
The difference in charter grounds around Australia is striking, from the Great Barrier Reef and Whitsundays, the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast around Brisbane, the cosmopolitan wonders of Sydney to the cooler climes of Tasmania. In Western Australia, the Kimberley Region has stunning colours and quiet island beaches to make your own for the day, or you can become entranced with the majesty of another World Heritage Site: Ningaloo Reef.
The South Pacific is a place of many identities, cuisines and cultures ready to welcome you over the southern hemisphere summer. Even though the unique biodiversity of Australia and renowned World Heritage Sites will capture your attention, its neighbours have their own treasures for you to discover.
New Zealand has some magnificent cruising grounds, including the snorkelling and Scuba diving paradise that is the Poor Knight’s Islands, and plenty of golden sand beaches cover the coast north and east of Auckland, a hub for the arts as well as shopping, spa and wellness options, and nightlife.
Volcanic Vanuatu is an ideal destination for water sports, particularly Scuba diving due to the warm water and excellent visibility. Complete beginners and experienced divers alike are treated to colourful surroundings around reefs, wrecks, caves and swim-through channels.
De-stress and go on a meditative retreat into the distant, undeveloped islands of French Polynesia. Anchor in tranquil bays and spend days strolling along the sands, dipping into the water and exploring the island trails. In town, visit the local markets for handicrafts and locally farmed pearls, and taste regional treats for a festive feast unique to your holiday.
The Caribbean, Bahamas & Bermuda
The myriad Caribbean islands offer a fantastic variety for charters of a week or more: The US Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands are some of the most popular for having an excellent balance between shopping and fine dining, and natural attractions above and below the sea.
On Saint Martin/Sint Maarten, there is the choice of the more developed Dutch side for shopping, casinos and vibrant nightlife, while the French side is more relaxed and natural in its surroundings. Anguilla is a short hop to the north for beautiful reef and wreck dive sites and white sand beaches for meals, games or simply taking in the moment. Nearby Saint Barthelemy is a return to civilisation and all of life’s little luxuries, with boutique shops and fine dining along the waterfront. The island is most famous for the Saint Barths Bucket regatta in late winter/early spring; however, the Christmas and New Year celebrations are a great way to mark these occasions in a jolly company.
Farther south, yacht charters will find warm hospitality, unique Caribbean cuisine and a wealth of natural beauty in destinations such as Grenada, Saint Lucia, Guadeloupe and Antigua & Barbuda.
Whereas the Caribbean has a packed winter calendar to keep you occupied, the Bahamas Out Islands is all about letting go. Leave behind bustling New Providence and Grand Bahama for the sportfishing centre of Great Abaco, the pink sand beach on Harbour Island, and one little tropical paradise after another in the Exumas. Snorkel and Scuba dive with turtles, reef sharks and rays, or kayak or paddleboard around reefs and lagoons to watch schools of fish casually glide by.
If you want pink sand beaches and a vibrant turquoise blue sea, a close community and few distractions from the natural world, then Bermuda is calling out to you. Depending on when you visit, you might be swimming with whales, dolphins or turtles in the warm shallows. The islands create a natural barrier for a calm interior harbour ideal for snorkelling and other water sports, while the best pink and white sand beaches are along the outer southern edge. Beyond such renowned attractions, there is Cooper’s Island Nature Reserve, quaint towns, old forts and lighthouses, and impressive underground caves. Between outdoor activities and local landmarks, treat yourself and your loved ones at cafes, craft shops and museums within the converted Royal Naval Dockyard.
