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When the 160-foot motoryacht Ohana launched just a couple of years ago, the owners had the idea to offer by-the-cabin bookings similar to a small cruise ship. But demand was so high for full-yacht charters in the Croatian cruising grounds that the practically new vessel is already undergoing a refit.

“We convinced them to upgrade it to a yacht with the amenities and service of a superyacht, and make it just for private charter,” says Aymen Boulehmi, marketing manager at Goolets Ltd. “To do so, they needed to do many upgrades to the cabins, salon and deck, and add many new amenities on board as well.”

The refitted yacht is expected to start accepting bookings this summer in Croatia, a nation that continues to be a highly sought-after East Mediterranean destination for motoryacht charters. The section of the Croatian coastline from the walled city of Dubrovnik south to Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor is particularly well suited to charter, with everything from historical cities to natural islands and quiet bays available to explore. Fans of the show “Game of Thrones” are particularly drawn to this region, where filming for the HBO series often took place in locations that tourists can visit today.

Ohana’s onboard guest spaces include a cinema where those “Game of Thrones” episodes can be watched after days of having fun in the sun. The yacht’s sun deck has an open bar, a barbecue, hanging egg chairs, an open fireplace and loungers for sun-worshipping time. A shade can cover the space around the hot tub for guests who want more protection from the elements. Inside, the yacht has a children’s playroom—an onboard space that is becoming increasingly popular aboard superyachts being ordered from European shipyards. There’s crew space for the addition of a babysitter as well.    

The Croatian Coast

• Dubrovnik has an Old City that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture is centuries old and is preserved in fountains, churches, palaces and more. 
• Korcula is an island about 20 miles long that’s sometimes called Little Dubrovnik because of its preserved buildings. 
• Hvar is another popular island, with fields of lavender, olive trees and vineyards. 
• Brac island is less touristy with rocky shores and popular scuba sites.

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IYC has welcomed the 109-foot Baglietto Islander II to the charter fleet, based year-round in Greece and Turkey with off-season dates available for bookings this autumn.

Islander II is a 2002 build that most recently was refitted in 2021. The yacht has accommodations for as many as 11 guests in five staterooms, including a full-beam master on the main deck. Islander II charters with six crew.

The flybridge is a focal point of the design, with alfresco dining, a bar, a grill, sunning areas and umbrellas for shade. At water level, there’s a beach club filled with water toys for fun in the sun.

What’s the lowest weekly base rate to charter Islander II? It’s about $71,000.

Take the next step: Contact a charter broker at iyc.com

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Fraser says the 115-foot Benetti Heaven Can Wait is accepting inquiries for remaining open summer charter dates in the Bahamas.

Heaven Can Wait is a 2006 build that most recently was refitted in 2020. The yacht bases in Nassau, with no delivery fees on itineraries that are round-trip from that home port.

Accommodations are for 10 guests in five staterooms, including a main-deck master. The yacht charters with seven crew.

What’s the lowest weekly base rate to charter Heaven Can Wait? It’s $85,000 per week.

How to book a week on board: Contact a charter broker at fraseryachts.com

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IYC has welcomed the head-turning, 171-foot Palmer Johnson DB9 to its charter fleet. Bookings are available this summer in the West Mediterranean at a lowest weekly base rate of about $276,000.

DB9 is a 2010 build that most recently was refitted in 2019. Accommodations are for 10 guests in five staterooms, and the yacht charters with 11 crew.

True to its exterior profile, DB9 is a speedster for its size, with a top-end speed of 30 knots and a cruising speed of 22 knots.

Onboard guest amenities include an open-air cinema on the sundeck, an infinity hot tub on the aft deck, a flybridge hot tub and a 25-foot foredeck pool.

Let’s talk tenders and toys: DB9 carries a 21-foot Castoldi jet tender, a pair of Sea-Doos, two Seabobs, four paddleboards, an inflatable kayak, a Lift eFoil and various tow toys.

How to book a week on board: Contact a charter broker at iyc.com

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The 131-foot Sunseeker Acacia has joined the Fraser charter fleet, with year-round availability in the Bahamas.

Acacia is a 2012 build that most recently was refitted in 2022. The yacht accommodates 10 guests in five staterooms that can be arranged for a group of friends or a multigenerational family.

Guest amenities on the sundeck include workout space, a hot tub, lounge areas and dining. For guests who prefer to have fun out on the water, Acacia carries what Fraser calls a “massive selection of toys,” including an inflatable beach-club platform and toy dock.

The lowest weekly base rate to charter Acacia is $140,000.

What is Acacia’s cruising speed? It’s 14 knots, with a top hop of 23 knots.

Take the next step: Contact a charter broker at fraseryachts.com

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IYC, which offers yacht management, charter and other services, has inked a partnership with private-helicopter operator HeliFlite.

The partnership will give IYC clients direct-transfer options from the superyacht to the helicopter and vice versa.

This partnership will be in place across the U.S. Northeast and in Florida, and will include collaborations at events such as Art Basel Miami Beach, the Newport Charter Yacht Show and the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

“We are excited about the possibilities this partnership brings and the opportunities it presents for our clients to create extraordinary experiences, combining the freedom of yachting with the convenience and speed of helicopter transportation,” Raphael Sauleau, IYC’s CEO, stated in a press release. “Whether our clients are looking for a convenient way to join us during the Palm Beach International Show, fly from Nantucket to the Hamptons for dinner, head over to their preferred golf course, or travel to and from their jet, we look forward to providing a seamless journey together with HeliFlite.”

More about HeliFlite: The company has served destinations along the Eastern Seaboard for more than 25 years.

Where to learn more: go to iyc.com

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The 207-foot Benetti Soundwave, previously known as 11.11, has joined the Y.CO charter fleet. Inquiries are being accepted now for bookings in the Mediterranean.

Soundwave is a 2015 build that accommodates 12 guests in six staterooms and that charters with 15 crew. The master stateroom has a private sundeck and a hot tub, while the sundeck for all guests has a jet pool, dining and an outdoor bar.

“Well suited to many kinds of groups, she is a master of family charters; it’s the level of service, her amazing toy collection and her stunning interior that have made her an extremely sought-after charter yacht,” Tom Debuse of Y.CO charter management stated in a press release. “With many of her longstanding crew still on board, Soundwave is set to astound guests this summer.”

What’s the lowest weekly base rate to charter Soundwave? It’s about $730,000.

How to book a week on board: Contact a charter broker at y.co

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Polestar, which, at 229 feet long, is the largest-ever Rossinavi build, is now part of the Fraser charter fleet.

The 2021 launch accommodates 12 guests in six staterooms. Plans are to offer charters this summer in France and Italy, with the owner considering other locations on request.

For winter 2023-24, Polestar is expected to be available for bookings in the Indian Ocean.

“Polestar showcases the perfect balance of elegance and performance,” charter manager Alexia Eude stated in a press release. “She boasts an impressive range, making her ideal for long-range cruising adventures. Guests can expect top-notch service and expertise while on board this magnificent yacht.”

What’s the lowest weekly base rate to charter Polestar? It’s about $785,000.

How to book a week on board: contact a charter broker at fraseryachts.com

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Y.CO has welcomed the 78-foot Sunreef power catamaran Kokomo to the charter fleet, with bookings available in the South Pacific and Australasia at a lowest weekly base rate of $90,000. Inquiries are being accepted starting in August.

Kokomo is a 2021 build that accommodates eight guests in four staterooms. Maximum speed is 23 knots, and the yacht charters with four crew.

“The team on board are committed to offering an experience which leaves guests feeling rejuvenated and refreshed, with a focus on healthy living and wellness—be it through the clean cuisine the chef prepares, a tailored workout program with the gym equipment or hours of active fun on the water with the impressive selection of toys,” Fleur Tomlinson of Y.CO Charter Management stated in a press release. “The yacht is ready to charter immediately this season and is set to cruise around the lesser-explored parts of Fiji.”

Kokomo’s healthy-living concept is no joke: The yacht has a gym with a reformer, a rowing machine and free weights, and members of the crew include a qualified personal trainer and a sponsored foil-boarder.

How to book a week on board: contact a charter broker at y.co

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It’s always a good day when a new build becomes available for charter, giving guests a chance to check out the latest offering from a prominent builder. That’s the story of Sea-renity, a Horizon FD100 that is marketed as a 2023 build and is now based in the Bahamas for charter inquiries throughout the summer season.

This particular FD100 has an interior that’s unusual, with a substantial amount of light wood that’s paired with black accent items throughout all the guest spaces. The decor was created by the Miami-based JAC design studio. “A lot of boats these days, it’s grays or blues and greens. This is different,” says Sarah Egger, charter manager with Fraser.

At an industry charter-yacht show in the Bahamas earlier this year, brokers also commented about how large the boat felt compared with others that are the same length overall. The extensive use of glazing certainly contributes to that ambience, as does the combination of decor and overall design. “The space on the inside, the volume, it seems much bigger than it is,” Egger adds. “I think it’s the lightness, but it’s also the build. That Horizon has a wider beam.”

As of this writing, Sea-renity had just completed its first few charters with friends of the owners on board, and the new owners had used it as well. Egger says a few of the favorite spaces are the yacht’s three bars—one in the beach club, one on the aft deck and one on the bridge deck next to the hot tub—along with the Portuguese seating and sunning space forward of the bridge. There’s also a beach club aft, which Egger says the owners are planning to fill with an increasing number of water toys. A towed tender is also in the works.

Sea-renity itself has a cruising speed of 13 knots and a top hop of 20 knots, which should be plenty fast for zipping around the Bahamas in style.    

The Horizon FD100

This is a current model available for orders with Horizon Yachts. It can be built as a skyline or tri-deck, which means either an enclosed sky lounge or an open flybridge, respectively. The designer of the Horizon FD100 is Cor D. Rover, whose other work includes yachts as large as the 220-foot Benetti Seasense. He has been working with Horizon Yachts since 2012. As a team, Rover’s studio and Horizon count more than 60 yachts either built or in build now. 

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