Best locations for a Christmas yacht charter.

A Christmas yacht charter is the best present that you can’t fit under the tree. The festive season is the time to gather with family and friends, and there’s no better place to do it than on board a yacht charter in December.  

The ideal antidote to the chaos of the Christmas season, a luxury yacht charter allows you to sail away from routines and obligations. On board your private floating enclave, you’ll be well looked after by a doting crew and epicurean chef, freeing you up to simply savour quality time with loved ones in a stunning location.

Whether you crave soaking up some winter sun in the Caribbean, cruising by towering karst formations in Thailand, diving coral atolls in Fiji, or skiing in the winter wonderland of Norway, Burgess can arrange the perfect luxury yacht charter at Christmas to make all your Christmas wishes come true. You can also celebrate New Year’s Eve in style with fireworks displays over Sydney Harbour or watch vibrant Junkanoo parades in The Bahamas. With a Christmas yacht charter, you’ll close out the year feeling refreshed, relaxed and looking forward to new beginnings. 

Christmas in the Caribbean affords you the gift of myriad island chains to make your own. From the laidback British Virgin Islands, replete in barefoot beach bars, to the swanky shores of St Barth, with Gustavia Harbour lined by designer stores and high-end restaurants, there’s something for every taste. 

The active set might opt for St Lucia and the Grenadines, hiking up the challenging Piton peaks and celebrating with lunch at the architecturally alluring Jade Mountain. Or perhaps you’ll head further south to Curacao, walking along the seafront in Willemstad where houses akin to those found lining the canals of Amsterdam are painted in an array of bright Caribbean colours. And for New Year’s Eve, St Barth is the place to reserve a berth, as they book up far in advance, for the celebrity-laden New Year’s Eve yacht parties for which the French island is renowned.  

Sun-soaked South Pacific idyll is on offer year-round in Fiji. Celebrating Christmas in Fiji allows you to live out your island fantasies, perhaps while sipping champagne on the crescent of white-powder sand known as Champagne Beach on Yasawa-i-Rara island as your crew sets up a perfect beachside picnic. Later, for a taste of local culture, watch a traditional Fijian meke dance and attend a kava ceremony.  

During a Fiji Christmas charter, see the famed Blue Lagoon, featured in the 1980s movie of the same name, where you can snorkel or visit the shell markets ashore. There are plenty of calm anchorages to get out the watertoys and paddleboards, where you can explore protected atolls and palm tree-covered coastlines and while away the day on board your luxury yacht charter in paradise.  

Norway is one of the few places in the world where you can sail, ski and see the bewitching glow of the Northern Lights from the bow of a yacht all in one trip. Christmas in Norway sees the Nordic country transformed into a winter wonderland. Cruise the maze of fjords, gazing up at the snow-covered peaks that traipse down to the water’s edge. It’s blissfully quiet compared to the summer season, and you might be the only yacht in sight.  

Yet don’t let the peacefulness be confused for boredom. There’s so much to do during winter in Norway, such as skiing the Sunnmøre Alps - at a ski resort of going off-piste for some thrilling ski touring action. Or head further north to Tromsø, the gateway to the Arctic, where you can look for orca whales, try king crab sushi and watch out for the Northern Lights. 

The South of France might be the bastion of summer yacht charters, but the winter off season offers something entirely different. The French Riviera at Christmas trades in the summer beach club soirees and film festivals for festive decor and bustling Christmas villages. Yet the area still receives a bounty of sun and not-too-frigid weather, with highs around 15ºC. 

Visit the famous Christmas markets in Nice and Cannes, or wander the cobbled streets of Saint-Tropez, set aglow in decorative lights. Of course, the luxury stores in Cannes, Monaco and beyond are still open and buzzing so you can easily finish up your Christmas shopping. Just outside Monaco in seaside town of Beaulieu-sur-Mer you’ll find an ice-skating rink and horse-drawn carriage rides, while the tunes from carolers will get you fully into the Christmas spirit. And should you fancy some time on the slopes, the nearest ski resorts are only a few hours’ drive away. 

Another off-season charter destination to consider for a Christmas charter is Croatia. Christmas in Croatia is particularly magical as they start celebrating a month early for St Catherine’s day, so no matter when you begin your charter, the festivities will be well underway.  

Step off the yacht in Split, feasting your eyes on the spectacular decorations and perusing the myriad wooden stalls at Diocletian's Palace while sipping warm mulled wine. Further down the coast, in the medieval city of Dubrovnik, traditions include Christmas carolers filling up the street with joyful tunes, midnight mass at church, and a bevy of market stalls.  

The Maldives are a classic Christmas hot spot for a good reason. A Maldives Christmas holiday promises warm weather, white-sand beaches and epic diving. Embarking on a luxury yacht charter in the Maldives allows you the freedom to drift from one picturesque atoll to the next rather than being stuck in one place, basking in utter privacy on board your own yacht.   

For action seekers, there is everything from diving, fishing and surfing to discover here. For those who prefer a luxe spa to a surf break, there are plenty on offer at the many resorts you’ll pass along the way - or simply stay on board and enjoy a massage in your yacht’s beach club, listening to the sound of waves gently kissing the hull.  

In the southern hemisphere city of Sydney, Australia, Christmas is a summertime affair. The warm weather means you can dine al fresco on your charter yacht, enjoying a Christmas lunch while cruising under the famed Sydney Harbour Bridge. Or the adventurous on board might prefer to take part in a BridgeClimb, with a special visit from Santa at the summit of the 134m-high bridge, taking in sweeping views of the harbour below while posing for photos with the man in red.  

Though you’ll be soaking up the sun, the Christmas spirit is alive and well in Sydney. Stroll by the colourful light display at the grand St Mary’s Cathedral, watch the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s Rendition of The Nutcracker, or visit the many Christmas markets. Of course, Sydney is famous for its New Year’s Eve parties and fireworks displays, with epic explosions taking place at 9pm and at midnight to mark the start of the new year. Watch from the deck of your yacht, far from the crowds, while toasting your friends and family with the finest champagne.  

Board your charter yacht in the yachting hub of Phuket, casting off to explore the more than 500 islands in Thailand’s Andaman Sea. Christmas in Thailand is synonymous with excellent diving, stunning scenery and delectable food, and the experience can be as festive or laidback as you like. By December the rainy season has passed, and you can expect sunny days as you bask on the sun deck of your yacht, swim in the warm sea or play with the vast array of watersport toys stocked on board.  

Take to the tender and motor past the spectacular limestone rock formations, known as karsts, that rise out of the sea in Ao Phang Nga National Park. For the adventurous spirited among your guests, Thailand is a rock-climbing haven, and at Railay Beach, which is only accessible by boat, affords the opportunity to scale a cliff wall over the water. On the island of Koh Muk, kayak through the Emerald Cave, arriving at a secret beach where pirates once stored their bounty. 

With more than 700 islands to explore, the island nation of The Bahamas offers plentiful cruising grounds that are only a stone’s throw from Miami - the closest island, Bimini, is only 50 miles away. Christmas in The Bahamas is celebrated with joyful Junkanoo parades. Similar to Carnival celebrations you’d find on Caribbean Islands or in Rio, Junkanoo parades are a colourful cacophony of music, dance and costumes that take place on Boxing Day and New Year’s morning in the capital of Nassau and in many of the Out Islands.  

While it might be easy to get to The Bahamas, when cruising the Out Islands, you will feel worlds away. The Exuma islands, for instance, are a favourite Christmas charter destination where you can swim with gentle nurse sharks, see the famed swimming pigs, explore James Bond’s Thunderball Grotto, and picnic on a sandbar, all before calling in at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club for their iconic New Year’s Eve masquerade party and fireworks display.  

Subtropical weather, varied cruising grounds, cinematic scenery, and excellent wine - a New Zealand Christmas charter is a gift for the senses. As it’s a summertime Christmas, you might opt to trade the traditional Christmas lunch for a luxurious beach BBQ, prepared by your yacht’s excellent chef.  

On the North Island of New Zealand, cruise the Bay of Islands, stopping off at the Cavalli Islands nature reserve, which are abundant in wildlife, from petite blue penguins to enormous blue whales. Make passage to Poor Knights Island marine reserve, which famed oceanographer Jacques Cousteau dubbed one of the best dive sites in the world. Further down the coast, visit the vibrant city of Auckland, or opt for a slower pace on Waiheke Island, known as the Martha’s Vineyard of New Zealand. And, of course, fans of Lord of the Rings can head inland to pay a visit to the shires of Hobbiton and book out the Green Dragon Inn for a private celebration.