Yachting With Kids: How To Plan the Ultimate Family-Friendly Charter

A family yacht charter is the perfect opportunity to spend quality time together and create memories that last long after you return home. A yacht provides the ideal setting to bring people of all ages together.

Too often, luxury family vacations can feel fragmented, with limited opportunities and spaces to bring the whole group together throughout the stay. A yacht charter changes that. It can be fully customized for your family, with life onboard naturally encouraging connection. You can also select a yacht with versatile spaces designed to accommodate everything you want to get out of your time at sea.

Sharing the experience of yachting as a family—or even with multiple families—creates lasting memories. With thoughtful planning and the right vessel, a family yacht charter is one of the best ways to enjoy meaningful time together.

Below is a comprehensive guide to the most important factors to consider when planning a family-friendly yacht charter, so adults and children alike have the best possible experience:

The Yacht & Crew

First things first, choosing the right platform for a family-friendly charter sets the precedent for the experience. The layout of a yacht is essential. If you have younger children within the group, you may want to see if the yacht has convertible cabins or bunk beds, and even dedicated kids’ spaces that can double up as playrooms. 

Being on board is a lot different from being at a luxury resort on land; at sea, there is an added challenge of keeping younger guests safe in a moving environment. While every charter yacht will have a whole host of safety equipment for all guests and cruising environment, many family-ready charter yachts have extras. These can range from specific-aged life jackets, childproofing, and child locks, to deck netting, additional surveillance, and baby cams. The crew will also hold a pre-charter safety briefing tailored to younger guests with parents, explaining where muster stations, life jacket locations, and out-of-bounds areas are to help children feel safe from the moment they step on. 

Not necessarily safety-specific, but depending on the age of the children in the family, look out for extra features, amenities, and services that the yacht may have to offer, like high-chairs, cots, and strollers for use. 

A good crew is equally important, if not more so, than the yacht itself. Beyond being professionals and attentive to your needs, some yachts offer crew members with childcare experience, qualified watersport instructors, or even nannies. If the yacht you are considering does not have these members onboard already, ask whether there are additional crew cabins to bring on extra staff members for your charter. 

The Destination

Your destination of choice will, of course, depend on your desires, your availability, and where that leaves you with the best cruising destinations for the optimal cruising season. Typically, the best types of destinations for families going on a yacht charter are those with short cruising legs, calm anchorages, and laid-back, safe local cultures that welcome children of all ages. 

As well as ensuring there are calm places to anchor or dock within your itinerary, it’s also essential to understand the local atmosphere and available activities ashore. Are there enough family-friendly excursions to keep you occupied? Will you feel safe when you wander ashore? Local communities in popular charter locations are typically welcoming and accustomed to families, adding another layer of ease to cruising there. 

The Mediterranean offers easy island-hopping locations like the Greek islands, Croatia, Corsica, and Sardinia, perfect for those short cruising distances. Similarly, the Caribbean also has destinations like the Bahamas and the BVI’s, where you can enjoy different islands every day without having a lengthy cruise in between. Or, you may look further afield and want to get off the well-trodden path and have a true adventure with the kids in South East Asia, like Thailand and Indonesia, or the South Pacific atolls of French Polynesia. 

The Itinerary

Once you have the destination, the next step is to plan the itinerary. Depending on your time available, a 7-day or 14-day charter is most popular, allowing families time to explore and unwind and get used to yacht life, but also enough time to explore the destination without feeling rushed. 

The best itineraries are those that are entirely tailored to your family’s ages, interests, and energy levels, while striking a healthy balance between downtime and action. As soon as you have confirmed the yacht, it is recommended to start the itinerary planning process as early as possible—and to get everyone in the family involved. As a parent, letting the children get involved with this process can muster up even more excitement and set expectations for what will happen when they get on board. 

One hurdle most families often encounter is over-scheduling. While it can be tempting to pack out your days and evenings with endless activities, it is beneficial to leave room for flexibility and spontaneity in your itinerary. Depending on the ages of the group, there may be the odd tantrum or nap necessary, which may delay a part of the itinerary, so leaving extra space between activities is wise. 

Aside from activities on the itinerary, before your charter, you will be asked to complete a comprehensive preference form. This should include the preferences of every single family member to allow the crew to fully understand your desires, expectations, and ensure everything is set before you get on board. One part of this preference questionnaire will be based on mealtimes; it’s important to let your crew know as much as possible about these, and whether you will want child-friendly menus and when they will be served.

The Activities

Yachts can be some of the most family-friendly platforms for family vacations, thanks to the endless amenities. Most yachts, especially those touted as family-friendly, are fully stocked with books, puzzles, toys, and games. Depending on the size of the yacht, there may even be full rooms dedicated to playtime with games consoles, ball pits, and games tables ready and waiting. While playtime outside can include a whole toy box full of watersports and inflatables. 

Onboard, the creative crew is known to go the extra mile for younger guests with fancy dress boxes, karaoke setups, alfresco movie nights, or even treasure hunts. Some chefs offer cooking sessions like pizza making and cupcake decorating for those keen to get involved.  Many yachts are equipped with fast streaming services like Starlink, so streaming films, music, and even games on consoles is easily possible. If requested, you can also arrange specialists to come on board to entertain the kids, such as magicians and balloon modellers.

If the yacht has trained watersports instructors onboard, children, depending on age, can safely try out sports like wakeboarding, dinghy sailing, or scuba diving. For younger children, a range of inflatables, such as towables or netted inflatable pools, can be great options to get them involved in playtime on the water. 

While there may seem to be plenty of activities to keep all ages occupied onboard, there will also be plenty of opportunities to enjoy activities ashore. From visiting kids’ playgrounds and funfairs, going on family e-biking tours, to exploring villages and attractions, and interactive museums and cultural tours. 

The Practicalities 

As with the yacht charter itinerary, planning is key. When packing for a family yacht charter, depending on the ages of the children, it can be helpful to bring comfort items, such as familiar toys or blankets, to help them feel at ease. 

The yacht will have child-safe toiletries onboard, but if there are certain brands or types you need, please let the crew know beforehand or pack your own. The same applies to any medication; while the yacht will be well-equipped, it’s essential to consider any potential sea sickness, so it’s a good idea to consult your family doctor about options for seasickness prevention. 

When it comes to clothing, this will be location and weather dependent, but no matter where you cruise, most yachts follow the barefoot, or clean, non-marking soled shoes, onboard. But for ashore excursions, be sure to bring comfortable shoes, and water shoes for younger children. 

Family-Friendly Fun 

A family-friendly yacht charter provides not only a luxurious and comfortable base but also endless opportunities for adventure, exploration, and connection. Whether you are looking to plan a yacht charter itinerary for toddlers or teenagers, you can enjoy a vacation at your own pace and preference while in your own private safe haven.