When you rent a yacht, you’re really making two decisions at once: what kind of vessel you want, and how you want it run. The main types of yacht to rent are motor yachts, sailing yachts, catamarans, gulets and superyachts, each suited to a different pace, group size and budget. On top of that sits the charter format, from a fully crewed yacht where everything is taken care of, to a bareboat you skipper yourself. Getting both right is what makes the difference between a good trip and the perfect one.
This guide covers everything you need to choose with confidence: the vessel types and who each one suits, the charter formats and what they mean for your licence and budget, how to weigh up size, cost, duration and destination, and the questions first-time charterers most often ask. If you already have a destination in mind, it helps to see a real fleet alongside the theory, such as the range of luxury yachts available in Mallorca. By the end you’ll know exactly which combination fits the holiday you have in mind.
Yacht types by vessel
The vessel itself is the first choice, and it shapes everything from speed and space to the kind of coastline you can reach. Below is a quick comparison, followed by a closer look at each type.
| Vessel type | Best for | Speed | Running cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motor yacht | Speed, space, entertaining | High (15-25 kn) | Higher (fuel) |
| Sailing yacht | Atmosphere, lower cost | Low (6-8 kn) | Lower |
| Catamaran | Families, stability, space | Low-medium | Lower |
| Gulet | Groups, events, character | Low-medium | Medium |
| Superyacht | Luxury, celebrations | High | Highest |
Motor yachts
The motor yacht is what most people picture when they imagine chartering, and for good reason: they account for the large majority of all yacht charters. Powered by engines, they offer speed, stability and generous indoor and outdoor space, often with amenities like water toys, sound systems and room for entertaining. They cruise at roughly 15 to 25 knots, so they can reach several spots in a single day and cover real distance between anchorages.
Within the category there’s plenty of variety. Express yachts prioritise speed and agility for short trips and day charters, while flybridge yachts add an expansive upper deck with extra seating and panoramic views. The trade-off across the board is fuel: motor yachts are the thirstiest option, and the surcharge grows with size and speed. They suit guests who want a lively, fast-paced trip and don’t mind paying for the convenience.
Sailing yachts
A sailing yacht trades speed for atmosphere. Propelled mainly by wind, it delivers a quieter, more traditional experience and lower running costs, since you’re not burning fuel to move. A typical sailing yacht cruises at around 6 to 8 knots, so distances take longer to cover, but for many travellers that slower rhythm is the whole appeal.
Modern sailing yachts still offer comfortable cabins and good amenities, but interiors tend to be more compact than a motor yacht of similar length, because the hull shape and the space taken by the rig leave less internal volume. This is the choice for travellers who see the journey itself as the point, and for romantic or intimate trips rather than large gatherings. Adding a crew turns a modest sailing yacht into a genuinely luxurious, hands-off experience.
Catamarans
Catamarans have surged in popularity for a simple reason: their twin-hull design makes them exceptionally stable, which all but removes the rolling motion that causes seasickness. That stability, combined with wide deck space and a shallow draft, makes them a favourite for families and groups. The shallow draft matters more than it sounds, it lets a catamaran anchor close to shore in coves and shallow bays that a deep-keeled monohull simply can’t enter.
Space is the other big advantage: a catamaran offers noticeably more living area, both inside and on deck, than a monohull sailing yacht of the same length, with cabins spread across two hulls for privacy. The trade-offs are that they’re generally slower than a comparable motor yacht and that marina berths can cost more, since they take up more width. For a family holiday or a group wanting to get close to beaches, they’re hard to beat.
Gulets
Gulets are traditional wooden vessels, most common in the Mediterranean and especially around Turkey and the Balearics, that combine sailing and cruising with a relaxed, characterful feel. They’re typically broad and spacious, with large deck areas for dining and lounging, and many are luxuriously fitted despite their classic looks. Because they’re built for comfort at anchor rather than performance, they suit unhurried, sociable trips. Their generous capacity, some carry large groups, makes them a popular pick for events, celebrations and multi-family holidays.
Superyachts and megayachts
At the top tier sit superyachts, generally defined as luxury vessels over 24 metres, always with a full professional crew. They offer five-star amenities, multiple decks, and often extras like jacuzzis, tenders and a full range of water toys. Charter prices reflect this: weekly rates typically start in the tens of thousands and climb well beyond for the largest megayachts. They’re the choice for milestone celebrations, corporate charters and guests for whom the vessel is the centrepiece of the trip rather than simply transport.
Choosing the right vessel for your trip
With the categories clear, the decision usually comes down to how you’ll actually use the boat. A few honest pairings:
- Speed, distance and entertaining: a motor yacht. Best for covering ground and lively days out.
- Peace, atmosphere and lower cost: a sailing yacht. Best for those who love being on the water for its own sake.
- Families, stability and space: a catamaran. Best for comfort at anchor and getting close to beaches.
- Groups, events and something different: a gulet. Best for character and capacity in the Mediterranean.
- Celebrations and full luxury: a superyacht. Best when the vessel is the centrepiece of the trip.
Yacht charter types by format
Once you’ve chosen a vessel, you choose how it’s run. This is where many first-time charterers get caught out, because the format affects your licence, your budget and how much you actually have to do. All charters fall into one of four formats.
Bareboat charter
You rent the yacht and skipper it yourself. It’s the most independent and often the most affordable option, but it requires a valid sailing licence and recent experience on a similar vessel, usually within the last couple of years. Bareboats are typically smaller yachts, up to around 55 feet, since larger boats need professional handling. You take on full responsibility as captain once you sign the check-in list, with damage liability normally limited to the deposit.
Skippered charter
A middle ground: you rent the yacht and a professional skipper comes with it, but without full crew. It’s the answer for those who lack a licence or experience, or simply want to relax while someone else handles navigation and mooring. You keep the intimacy and lower cost of a smaller trip without the responsibility, and you also gain local knowledge, since a good skipper knows the best anchorages and how to avoid the crowds.
Crewed charter
The most hands-off option, and what most people mean by a luxury charter. The yacht comes with a captain and crew, which can range from around three staff on a smaller vessel to a large team on a superyacht handling everything from cooking to itinerary planning. No licence or experience is needed and you spend your time purely as a guest. The charter fee usually covers the crew, the vessel and most onboard amenities, with food, drink and port taxes billed separately.
By-the-cabin charter
Rather than booking the whole yacht, you rent a single cabin with full board and a set itinerary, sharing the vessel with other guests. It’s the most economical way to experience a crewed yacht and suits solo travellers and couples who don’t need exclusive use of the boat. These trips usually run on larger vessels such as catamarans and gulets, which hold commercial registration and can therefore carry more guests than the standard limit.
How to choose: the factors that actually matter
Beyond the type and format, four practical factors decide the right charter for you. Weighing them honestly saves both money and disappointment.
Group size and guest limits
Most recreational yachts are registered to carry a maximum of 12 guests, and small children count towards that limit. If your group is larger, you’ll need a commercially registered vessel, typically a gulet, catamaran or small ship, which is exactly why by-the-cabin charters can host more people. Match the boat to your group before falling in love with a specific yacht.
Budget and what’s included
Price varies enormously by type, size and season. Just as important as the headline rate is what it includes: a crewed charter fee covers the vessel and crew, but fuel, food, drink and port fees are usually extra, often added as an allowance on top. Peak summer months in popular regions command the highest prices and book up earliest, so flexibility on dates can save a significant amount.
Duration and destination
In the Mediterranean most charters run weekly, Saturday to Saturday, though crewed and motor yacht charters often allow day or short-term hire. A slower sailing yacht suits a leisurely week in one area; a faster motor yacht suits covering more ground in less time. Think about how much of your time you want on the water versus exploring on land, and plan the vessel around that balance.
Licence and experience
If you want to skipper the boat yourself, you’ll need the appropriate licence and recent experience, which limits you to bareboat charters on smaller yachts. If you don’t hold a licence, or simply want to switch off completely, a skippered or crewed charter removes the requirement entirely. For most holiday charterers, letting a professional take the helm is the more relaxing choice.
Matching yacht type to a Mediterranean charter
In practice, the right choice depends heavily on where you’re sailing, and the Mediterranean is a case in point. Its short hops between islands, sheltered coves and reliable summer weather make it ideal territory for motor yachts and catamarans in particular, which can reach a quiet anchorage in the morning and a lively harbour by evening. Around the Balearics, a day charter that combines islands is one of the most popular ways to experience the coast.
If you’re planning a trip in this region, it helps to look at a real fleet rather than the theory. Naizur’s yachts in the Balearics range from compact day boats to a 33-metre superyacht for up to 12 guests, covering every vessel type in this guide, while the boat charters based in Ibiza add easy access to Formentera and the island’s calas. Seeing the actual vessels, sizes and prices side by side is the quickest way to turn the categories above into a decision.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular type of yacht to rent?
Motor yachts are by far the most popular, making up the large majority of all charters. Their speed, space and wide availability make them the default choice for most holidaymakers, so you’ll usually have the widest selection to pick from in this category.
Do I need a licence to rent a yacht?
Only if you want to skipper it yourself on a bareboat charter, which requires a valid sailing licence and recent experience. Skippered, crewed, gulet and by-the-cabin charters need no licence at all, since a professional handles the vessel.
What’s the difference between a yacht and a boat?
The terms overlap, but «yacht» generally refers to a larger, more luxurious recreational vessel used for cruising or racing, typically with cabins for overnight stays. Smaller open craft without cabins are usually just called boats. There’s no single legal cut-off, but length and level of comfort are the practical dividers.
How many people can a charter yacht hold?
Most recreational yachts are limited to 12 guests, with children included in the count. Commercially registered vessels such as gulets, larger catamarans and small ships can carry more, which is why they’re used for by-the-cabin charters and larger events.
Which type of yacht should you rent?
The best type of yacht to rent is the one that matches your group, your destination and the experience you want: a motor yacht for speed and space, a sailing yacht for atmosphere, a catamaran for stability, a gulet for character or a superyacht for full luxury, run bareboat, skippered, crewed or by the cabin depending on how involved you want to be. Settle those two questions, weigh up size, budget, duration and licence, and the rest of the planning falls into place.
