Private Yacht Charters and Cruises
Bespoke luxury holidays built around Private Yacht Charters and Cruises, tailor-made by our specialist travel advisors.
Private Yacht Charters & Luxury Cruises
A glimpse at some of the exceptional properties we recommend for Private Yacht Charters and Cruises, hand-picked by our specialists.
What Is a Private Yacht Charter?
A private yacht charter gives you exclusive use of the vessel, its crew, and its itinerary. You choose where to sail, when to stop, and how long to stay. You can anchor off a quiet cove for the afternoon or change course entirely because the wind favours a different island.
Charters range from sailing yachts and motor yachts for smaller groups to a full superyacht charter for those who want more space, more crew and a broader range of onboard facilities. Most charters operate on a weekly basis, with embarkation and disembarkation ports agreed in advance, though flexibility is part of the appeal.
Your travel designer coordinates everything beyond the yacht itself. This includes restaurant reservations on shore, ground transport at each port, provisioning preferences, and any specific requests for the crew.
What Is a Luxury Yacht Cruise?
A luxury yacht cruise sits between a private charter and a traditional cruise. The ships are smaller, the guest count is lower, and the service ratio is closer to a five-star hotel than a conventional cruise line.
These are luxury sailing cruises operated by dedicated small-ship luxury cruise lines, with published itineraries, set departure dates and all-inclusive pricing that typically covers dining, drinks, and excursions.
For clients who want the experience of life on the water without the planning that a private charter requires, this is the format to go for.
Our Partner Yacht Collections
Berkeley Travel works with several yacht and cruise partners, each offering a distinct experience on the water. As with our hotel programmes, these partnerships give our clients access to benefits and priority booking that are not available through standard channels.
Below, we explore the leading names in this emerging world of refined exploration, from Four Seasons Yachts to Orient Express, each offering a distinct blend of adventure, privacy, and indulgence.
Four Seasons Yacht Collection
The Four Seasons Yacht Collection brings the group’s hotel standard to the water. Suites are designed to the same specifications as Four Seasons rooms on land, and the service, dining, and spa follow accordingly.
Berkeley Travel is a Four Seasons Preferred Partner, and that relationship extends to the yacht collection. Clients booking through us receive the same category of preferred access and added benefits that apply across the Four Seasons hotel portfolio. Itineraries cover the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and beyond, with the flexibility to combine a sailing with a stay at a Four Seasons property on either end.
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection operates purpose-built luxury yachts with suite-style accommodation, multiple dining venues, and an onboard marina for water sports. Every suite has its own terrace, and the ships are sized to access ports that larger cruise vessels cannot reach.
As part of Marriott’s luxury division, the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection falls within Berkeley Travel’s STARS and Luminous programme. Clients earn full Marriott Bonvoy points and elite night credits on every sailing, layered on top of preferred partner benefits.
The Maltese Falcon
The Maltese Falcon brings the Jumeirah Privé standard to the water aboard an 88-metre icon of yacht design, distinguished by her three freestanding, rotating carbon masts, a rig conceived to sail like nothing else afloat. Interiors, dining, and service follow Jumeirah’s own hospitality tradition rather than a conventional charter crew, which is what sets her apart from most sailing yachts of her size.
Berkeley Travel books the Maltese Falcon through Jumeirah Passport to Luxury, and clients booking through us receive the same preferred benefits that apply across the Jumeirah portfolio. Itineraries cover the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, with the flexibility to combine a sailing with a stay at a Jumeirah property on either end.
Orient Express Corinthian
The Orient Express Corinthian carries the same editorial sensibility that defines the brand’s legendary rail journeys into the water. The ship is intimate in scale, with design details that reference the Art Deco heritage of the Orient Express name while remaining contemporary in comfort and technology.
Orient Express sits within the Accor group, and Berkeley Travel’s Accor Preferred partnership covers bookings on the Corinthian. Our travel designers can advise on itineraries that pair a sailing with an Orient Express rail journey or a stay at a Raffles or Fairmont property.
Amangati / Aman at Sea
Amangati is Aman’s first vessel and the flagship of the Aman at Sea programme. It extends the Aman philosophy of space, privacy, and understatement to a maritime setting: a small number of generously proportioned suites, an unhurried pace, and destinations chosen for depth rather than volume.
Berkeley Travel works closely with the brand across its hotel and resort portfolio. Our travel designers can coordinate sailings with stays at Aman properties on shore for a combined itinerary.
Charter or Cruise - Choosing the Right Fit
The choice between a private yacht charter and a luxury sailing cruise can be a difficult one.
In the end, it comes down to how much control you want over the itinerary and how much planning you want to take on.
Private Charter
A private charter offers total flexibility. You set the route, the schedule and the pace. It suits clients who want privacy, who are travelling as a group or family, or who have a specific coastline or set of islands in mind. A luxury sailing holiday on a chartered yacht is built entirely around you.
Cruise
A cruise offers a curated itinerary, a fixed departure date and an all-inclusive price. It suits clients who want the experience of travelling by sea without the logistics of planning a bespoke route, or who are interested in a particular ship or brand. The social element is also a factor. Some clients enjoy the opportunity to meet like-minded travellers on board.
Something Else?
Your travel designer can advise on which format suits your trip, and in many cases can combine both.
That might mean a cruise on one leg and a private charter on the other, or a yacht charter bookended by hotel stays arranged through our concierge team.
Where to Sail: Popular Destinations
The two most requested regions for yacht charters and luxury sailing cruises are the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.
Each region comes with its own season, character, and appeal.
Mediterranean
A yacht charter in the Mediterranean typically runs from May through October. The western Mediterranean offers the French Riviera, Sardinia, the Amalfi Coast and the Balearics, while the eastern Mediterranean covers the Greek islands, the Turkish coast and Croatia.
Itineraries can be tailored to focus on a single coastline or island-hop across several. For clients planning a broader trip through the region, our European destination specialists can extend the itinerary on land with hotel stays, transfers and restaurant bookings.
Caribbean
A yacht charter in the Caribbean runs from November through April, aligning with the winter season for clients based in Europe or North America.
The British Virgin Islands, Saint Barthélemy, Antigua, and the Grenadines are among the most popular routes, with calm waters and short distances between islands making the Caribbean particularly well suited to sailing. Berkeley Travel’s Caribbean team can pair a charter with a stay at one of the region’s leading luxury resorts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yacht charters and luxury cruises involve more planning variables than a hotel booking. Seasonality, routing, vessel availability, and transfer logistics all play a role. Below are the questions our travel designers hear most often from clients considering their first or next sailing.
The same principles that guide our hotel bookings apply on the water. Our preferred partner relationships give clients access to benefits and priority allocation that are not available when booking directly or through a generalist broker.
Our team also brings first-hand knowledge. We visit the ships, meet the crews, and know which vessels, itineraries, and suite categories deliver the best experience. That guidance matters. In a market with a growing number of options, not every vessel lives up to its positioning.
For luxury yacht cruises on the Four Seasons Yacht Collection, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection or Orient Express Corinthian, the most popular itineraries and suite categories sell out six to twelve months ahead. Booking early also gives your travel designer the widest choice of cabin position and category.
For private yacht charters, lead times depend on the vessel and the destination, but six months is a reasonable starting point for peak-season Mediterranean or Caribbean bookings.
The Mediterranean sailing season runs from May through October. June and September offer the best balance of warm weather, calm seas and manageable crowds. July and August are peak seasons, with warmer temperatures and busier ports, particularly along the French Riviera and the Amalfi Coast. May and October are cooler but quieter, with lower charter rates and more availability.
The Caribbean season runs from November through April, with the driest and most settled weather falling between December and March. January and February are peak months, with the highest demand for both charters and luxury cruise sailings. The shoulder months of November and April offer good conditions at lower rates. The hurricane season runs from June through November, and most operators pause Caribbean itineraries during that period.
Yes. Our travel designers regularly coordinate private jet and helicopter transfers to embarkation ports, particularly for Mediterranean and Caribbean charters where commercial flight connections can add unnecessary travel time. This is arranged as part of your wider itinerary, alongside any hotel stays, ground transport or dining reservations at either end of the sailing.
Let's Chart Your Course
Whether you are considering a private yacht charter for your family, a luxury sailing cruise with one of our partner collections, or a combination of both, contacting one of our travel designers is everything you need to do to get started. They will guide you through the options, secure the right vessel and itinerary, and manage every detail from departure to return.
YOUR DEDICATED TRAVEL PARTNER
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TAILORED SERVICES
TAILORED SERVICES
Our in-house concierge service will use their extensive contact list
to help you source anything you desire.
TAILORED SERVICES
Our in-house concierge service will use their extensive contact list
to help you source anything you desire.
BESPOKE itinerary
BESPOKE itinerary
We work hand in hand with clients to create your dream
itinerary ensuring every detail is looked after from start to finish.
BESPOKE itinerary
We work hand in hand with clients to create your dream
itinerary ensuring every detail is looked after from start to finish.
BESPOKE AIR
BESPOKE AIR
We have access to every major airline and an extensive knowledge of their pricing schedules helping our clients achieve highly competitive airfares in all cabins.
BESPOKE AIR
We have access to every major airline and an extensive knowledge of their pricing schedules helping our clients achieve highly competitive airfares in all cabins.
PRIVATE SKY
PRIVATE SKY
Working directly hand in hand with our brokers and
aircraft owners we can source the best deals and most convenient slots for Private Jet hire.
PRIVATE SKY
Working directly hand in hand with our brokers and
aircraft owners we can source the best deals and most convenient slots for Private Jet hire.
EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS
EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS
We have arranged with a number of our luxury partners some exclusive additional benefits. These can include complimentary daily breakfast, a hotel credit towards food or spa treatments,an upgrade on arrival where available, and early check in / late check out.
EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS
We have arranged with a number of our luxury partners some exclusive additional benefits. These can include complimentary daily breakfast, a hotel credit towards food or spa treatments,an upgrade on arrival where available, and early check in / late check out.
COST MANAGEMENT
COST MANAGEMENT
We provide access for our clients to the most cost effective and convenient travel means. Our long standing partnerships and in depth industry knowledge ensure that we source the best rates available on the market.
COST MANAGEMENT
We provide access for our clients to the most cost effective and convenient travel means. Our long standing partnerships and in depth industry knowledge ensure that we source the best rates available on the market.
London office suite
