Luxury yacht holidays - best activities for groups.

'There’s nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as messing about in boats,' Rat famously declared to Toad in the treasured children’s book Wind in the Willows. We couldn’t agree more, except perhaps suggest substituting the ‘boats’ for ‘superyachts’, for once you have experienced the glorious fun of a luxury yacht charter, it is hard to find an activity that even comes close.

Of course, some people turn to yachts for relaxation and solitude, but we believe that chartering is a pleasure that is only multiplied when shared with groups of friends and family on a yacht holiday. Whether you are a group of water lovers with a penchant for high-speed sports, you enjoy entertaining friends and family or you are keen to explore faraway lands, there’s a yacht charter experience that can be tailored to your every whim.

On board activities

There’s no need to step ashore when you’re looking for fun group activities to partake in during a yacht charter. Today’s luxury yachts are bursting with facilities and equipment dedicated to providing you with enjoyment all day long.

Most superyachts are chock-full of sporting equipment that is waiting for you to get stuck into some friendly competition, and if you need to make up the numbers then the yacht’s crew tend to be pretty handy sportspeople. A growing number of luxury yachts are being built with specialist sporting facilities to keep the whole family entertained during a charter.

Throw a cocktail party

After an active day on board, what better way to unwind than with a chic cocktail party on the sun deck with your nearest and dearest. Superyacht crew are expert mixologists who love putting together unique cocktail menus based on your personal tastes, and they will create the perfect party atmosphere with entertainment and cool cuisine. Aerial acrobats, lively musical bands, skilled magicians or cool DJs, whatever takes your fancy there is a way to bring the perfect vibe to your private cocktail party on board.

Step back into the golden age of the Roaring Twenties on board NERO for a speakeasy-themed cocktail party, complete with jazz band and costumed crew. Alternatively, AQUILA’s vibrant ambiance is perfect for a high-energy cocktail party celebration, complete with a full nightclub set-up for guests to show off their singing talents.

Indoor cinema

Many modern superyachts are equipped with cutting-edge cinemas that take your movie enjoyment to another level. Whether you are craving an action-packed blockbuster or family-friendly animated story, most charter yachts have extensive movie libraries on board so the options are practically endless. 

MOONLIGHT II and EXCELLENCE both have 3D cinemas to rival land-based options, while MAGNA GRECIA’s cinema has its own lit-up bar for continuous service from the attentive crew during movie marathons.

Beach clubs have become one of the most popular spots on a superyacht, especially when their design allows for a great connection between the interior space and the surrounding water. They provide a fantastic base for a morning of activities out on the water, can create a great setting for reviving workouts or indulgent wellness treatments, and some larger superyachts now provide full lounge set-ups in their beach clubs that are open at the waterline on three sides. 

The beach club on BATON ROUGE offers a sumptuous space in which to relax while watching the action on the water, with a comfy C-shaped sofa that invites you to enjoy the sit back and take it all in. SEANNA’s beach club has all you would need to awaken body and spirit; work out in the gym with the yacht's personal trainer while enjoying before stretching out in the sun on the sea terrace then indulge in some treatments in the massage room. 

Have a spa day

Wellness facilities are a top priority for a lot of groups looking to enjoy a yacht charter together. Whether it’s for ladies’ trip for a special birthday, or a big group of friends looking to celebrate in the evenings and revive themselves in the day, an on board spa is a great way to take your experience to the next level.

Fresh from a rebuild in 2020, LADY E features a wellness centre with a hammam and a counterflow current pool for keen swimmers, as well as a beauty salon to offer pampering from massages and facials to hair styling and mani-pedis. Adventurous chartering and wellness can go hand in hand on TRANQUILITY, the explorer yacht with a fully equipped, sea-level gym, stunning wellness centre with massage room, sauna, steam room and plunge pool.

Water activities

Of course, being on and in the water is one of the best ways to have fun with a group on a yacht charter. Your captain will take you to secret anchorages that are yours alone to enjoy, and the crew members will be keen to show off the full range of watertoys on board – even filming your adventures to create a personalised charter movie. Take the plunge and make some memories that will last a lifetime.

Think you have what it takes to beat your friends in a challenge of skill, balance and speed? Then get yourself down to the inflatable waterpark and prepare to get wild (and possibly wet) with an Olympics-style competition. As a popular addition to many a watertoy garage, these waterparks offer fun for big kids as well as small ones. Don your life jacket and prepare to get jumping! 

Some of the charter yachts that include inflatable waterparks in their watertoy inventory include SIREN, EXCELLENCE, BARBARA and TITANIA.

Plan a snorkelling trip

Snorkelling is one of the most accessible yet liberating activities to enjoy in the water on a superyachts. Charter guests of all ages can take part, with the crew members creating bespoke ‘snorkel safaris’ that will suit your experience level, mobilities and age range. Whether you are simply floating above the action while watching a colourful coral head or swimming into a mystical grotto teeming with tropical fishes, there are some great experiences to be had with a snorkel, mask and fins.

LA MIRAGE has built a stellar reputation as a charter yacht, and her crew are highly skilled at ensuring you make the most of your time in the water. Multihull HEMISPHERE has a strong focus on watersports, with two diving instructors among the crew who are ready to create a unique snorkelling experience for your group. 

Paddleboarding

Paddleboarding has become very popular over recent years, and it offers a great way to challenge yourself physically while also feeling closer to nature. Take off with a group of friends to explore a nearby cove or and get up close to a pod of migrating whales without the disturbance of a tender’s engine, for example. Another fun way to test your balance on a paddleboard is with a yoga session led by an instructor from the yacht’s crew. 

AIFER offers paddleboards among her many watersports toys on board, as do charter yachts PAPA and LA TANIA. #

Waterskiing

Although it might not be the easiest watersport to master, waterskiing is a hugely fun and, once you’ve got the hang of it, it is highly addictive! Many superyacht crew are excellent at providing expert instruction on how to pick up a new watersport like waterskiing, so be reassured that you are in good hands. 

Alongside wakeboarding and kneeboarding, GENEVIEVE’s toy inventory includes waterskiing gear. METSUYAN IV also offers waterskiing among its many fun water-based activities. 

Land activities

Visit nearby islands

Of course, you will no doubt want to visit attractions ashore as well as spending time on the water during a fun group charter. Perhaps learning the traditions of an ancient perfumery is up your street, you might like to tour a celebrated vineyard with the owner, or a historical site could be brought to life with a sunset dining experience. There are an endless array of land-based options for your charter, and the yachts can provide a safe and dry way to reach them from an anchorage, as well as some fun ways to get around once you get ashore.

AQUILA has an impressive five tenders in which to transport guests, as well as a comfortable and dry limousine tender. DECEMBER SIX has its own electric bicycles to give you a boost on the hills. For land expeditions further afield, GAME CHANGER has a certified helipad, expanding your range of exploration by hundreds of miles.

Spend time with those you love most this year. Book your next yacht charter holiday today.

Contact a Burgess broker today and give your group a holiday they will never forget.

To find out more about Burgess’ yachts for sale and yachts for charter, please contact a Burgess broker. Alternatively, get in touch with one of our offices directly: London, Monaco, New York, Miami, Singapore or all other locations.