The 180-foot Heesen Moskito typically spends summer days in the Mediterranean, perhaps at anchor with all of the water toys out. Come late afternoon, the anchor is weighed in time for an evening cruise with dinner on the upper deck aft. Charter guests see the moon, the stars and twinkling lights ashore as a warm breeze keeps everyone comfortable.

In the Caribbean, Moskito’s crew particularly enjoys being in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, especially the crystal-clear waters and reefs of Canouan and the neighboring Tobago Cays. These shoal waters are fantastic for scuba diving and snorkeling, and a visit to the turtle sanctuary is a highlight. A great end to the day is a barbecue with music from a steel-drum band, either on a beach or on board.

Given how popular the yacht has proved for charter through its exclusive agency, IYC, it’s almost hard to believe the project was started on spec. Indeed, Moskito began life as Project Pollux, named for the son of Zeus and one of the Gemini twins in Greek mythology. The yacht launched in August 2020 and sold about a month later, with the British owner taking delivery in spring 2021. Moskito is the fifth of presently 13 Heesen 55M FDHF Series trideck motoryachts, with four under construction.

This 760-gross-ton, steel-and-aluminum superyacht’s striking exterior and space planning come from Frank Laupman and his Omega Architects team. The efficient fast-displacement hull platform is by Van Oossanen Naval Architects. Moskito’s interior is the ninth Heesen with a scheme by London-based Bannenberg & Rowell.

Moskito’s interior entertainment areas—a salon, dining area and sky lounge—and six guest staterooms make for a solid charter platform, along with outdoor spaces such as the full-length sun deck, which has a hot tub and several sun loungers. At water level, there’s a beach club abaft the engine room that includes a sauna, hammam and day head, also popular amenities for enticing charter bookings.

The yacht’s six en suite guest staterooms provide up to 13 berths. The owner’s suite is forward on the main deck with an entrance off the lobby and 880 square feet of full-beam real estate. A desk and dressing area are immediately inside, followed by the stateroom with full-height picture windows that provide fabulous views. The forward-facing super-king berth is on centerline with a desk and chair to port, and a pair of armchairs and a table opposite.

Four guest staterooms are on the lower deck: two with forward-facing king berths, and two with twins that convert to super kings. One of those twin-berth staterooms also has a Pullman berth. The sixth guest stateroom is on the bridge deck with a double berth and could be used for private staff.

The yacht also has quarters for 13 to 14 crew, though Moskito’s owner staffs 19 in order to cover crew rotations. There are six twin-bunk cabins forward on the lower deck, along with a mess and the yacht’s laundry. The captain’s double-berth cabin is on the upper deck.

Crew can move around discreetly through most of the yacht. The main-deck galley amidships to port serves as the crew hub. From there, stairs connect with the crew cabins, the bridge, and pantries on the main and upper decks.

Moskito has two Ribeye tenders: a 21-footer for crew, and a 23-footer for guests to enjoy. The yacht also has inflatable docks, Sea-Doos, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, Seabobs, wakeboards, water skis and several Fliteboards for a variety of watersports interests and skill levels. I’m told that guests progress through them quickly.

Twin 1,350 hp 8V 4000 M63 MTU diesels deliver the yacht’s thrust via a pair of straight-shaft ZF boxes and five-blade nibral propellers. The top speed is quoted at 15.5 knots, with a long-distance run at 12.5 to 13 knots yielding a range around 4,500 nautical miles. On the bridge, the five-screen ECDIS setup includes dual radar.

Moskito may have started its life as a spec yacht, but given its popularity on the charter market, its continued success seems certain.  

BVI Namesake

This superyacht shares its name with Moskito Island in the BVI, which, like nearby Necker Island, is owned by Sir Richard Branson.  The name is believed to be a corruption of Miskito, the native people from the Mosquito Coast in Central America.

Making It Happen

Rotating captains Ian Robertson and Thilo Burks foster a can-do culture among the crew. Popular shoreside pursuits for guests include tennis and golf. Several of the crew play themselves and will serve as partners as needed. Other crew can instruct guests in yoga, Pilates and Irish dancing.

Stream Your Heart Out

Moskito has Starlink high-speed broadband connectivity, which means guests can do whatever they need to do online, wherever the yacht happens to be. Crew say that on transatlantic crossings, they have had no problem streaming live sports and movies.

Souvenir Screening

With permission from guests, Moskito’s crew will shoot GoPro and drone footage throughout a charter. Typically, they will screen a selection of images and videos with a soundtrack. On departure day, guests receive USBs with all the imagery as a keepsake of the trip.

Take the next step: heesenyachts.com and iyc.com

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We’ve seen a lot of interesting evolutions in charter-yacht toys over the years. There was the first inflatable waterslide that towered from the top of the sundeck down to the ocean’s surface. Then came the introduction of e-foil boards that let charter clients surf and glide several feet above the water with silent electric power. There’s even been the addition of personal submersibles on a few charter yachts whose owners have an interest in exploring the depths far beneath the water’s surface.

But a rock-climbing wall? That’s a charter feature we don’t see every day.

There is apparently just such a wall-of-fun (along with an inflatable slide and e-foils) aboard Batello, a 263-foot Oceanco that just joined the IYC charter fleet following a refit that was completed this year. The yacht is now accepting inquiries for Mediterranean charters this summer, and for Caribbean and Bahamas yacht charters this winter, according to the team at IYC.

Batello is a 2007 build with accommodations for 12 guests in their choice of nine staterooms—a layout that is also an unusual find, even aboard superyachts in this size range. The master stateroom spans the full beam, and there are 24 crew on board for a ratio of 2-to-1 guest service.

 In addition to the inflatable FunAir rock-climbing wall, Batello also has a 58-foot Anvera chase boat, newly delivered in 2025, for zipping all over the place to explore; a 28-foot Novurania Cat tender; a 28-foot Windy tender; and a 23-foot Cobalt ski and wakesurfing tender.

Additional toys for guests to use aboard Batello include four personal watercraft, a trio of Seabobs, two kayaks, standup paddleboards, surfboards, scuba gear for certified guests (and an onboard dive instructor), fishing gear, a driving range setup for golfers, an outdoor cinema screen, and space on the bridge deck aft for mini games of basketball, pickleball and other ball sports.

When guests are ready to relax after playing with all those toys, Batello has a heated swimming pool, a gymnasium and a spa. An elevator connects all of the yacht’s interior decks, to make moving around the yacht easier.

What’s the top speed aboard Batello? It’s 19 knots, according to IYC, with a cruising speed of 13 knots. That’s plenty fast for exploring the Mediterranean coastline or the islands of the Caribbean and Bahamas.

How to book a week of charter aboard Batello: contact a charter broker at iyc.com. The lowest weekly base rate advertised for the yacht is $735,000.

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Florida and the Bahamas can be great charter destinations all year round, and several companies are promoting yachts with dates open this summer.

For starters, Fraser recently announced that the 206-foot Rossinavi Utopia IV has joined the fleet with availability this summer in Florida, the Bahamas and New England.

Utopia IV is a 2018 build that most recently was refitted in 2022. This is a U.S.-flagged vessel, which is why it’s advertised for charter in Florida and New England, in addition to the Bahamas. Utopia IV has several notable spaces on board, including a beach club that spans more than 760 square feet, a master stateroom with a private salon, office and balcony, and a dedicated children’s playroom adjacent to the formal dining area. There’s also a glass-bottom pool on the main deck aft.

Accommodations aboard Utopia IV are for 12 guests in six staterooms. The yacht charters with 13 crew.

Also advertising availability in the Bahamas is the 164-foot Westport Second Love, which recently joined the IYC charter fleet.

Second Love is a 2010 build that most recently was refitted this year, accommodating 12 guests in six staterooms, and chartering with a crew of 10. The master stateroom spans the full beam with a private office, while the bridge-deck VIP stateroom has a private balcony for expansive views. Cruising speed is reportedly 15 knots with a top hop of 25 knots, which is plenty fast for cruising from island to island to check out the beach bars, restaurants and live music.

Yet another yacht advertising Bahamas availability is Lady Elaine, a 163-foot Christensen that’s part of the RJC Yachts charter fleet.

Lady Elaine just announced a reduction in the yacht’s lowest weekly base rate, which previously was $225,000 and is now $200,000. This is a 2008 build that most recently was refitted in 2024, and that previously was known as Casino Royale.

Accommodations aboard Lady Elaine are for 12 guests, and the yacht charters with nine crew. The tenders and toys setup is well-suited for the Bahamas, with a 37-foot Intrepid tender powered by triple 300 hp Yamahas, a quartet of personal watercraft, a trio of Seabobs, and an assortment of paddleboards, kayaks, tow toys, snorkeling and fishing gear, and more.

Looking for a smaller yacht to charter in the Bahamas? Hill Robinson says the 113-foot Ocean Alexander A Salt Weapon is also in these islands this summer, accommodating 10 guests in five staterooms. A Salt Weapon charters with a 36-foot Boston Whaler tender for watersports fun.

How to book a charter on board Utopia IV, Second Love, Lady Elaine or A Salt Weapon: contact a charter broker at fraseryachts.com, iyc.com, rjcyachts.com or hillrobinson.com

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Every December, the world’s leading charter brokers gather on the Caribbean island of Antigua for an industry-only boat show. Yachts display the best elements of their charter programs, and some enter the chef and tablescaping competitions, which highlight crews that are creating some of the best dining and entertainment experiences afloat.

This year, the crew from one yacht—the Oceanco Wheels—absolutely dominated, winning first prize for food and decorating alike among all the superyachts that entered.

Chef Leny Belin and chief stewardess Emily Birkett led the effort. Belin had to incorporate two secret ingredients that judges foisted on him—caviar and tamarind—in a way that worked with the carnival theme Birkett and her team organized.

“It’s not an easy theme to design a menu for, but he did it with each course,” Birkett says.

Brokers stepped on board to find themselves amid cotton-candy and popcorn stands. “We had a game that our second stewardess put together, like a darts game to burst a balloon with a prize inside,” Birkett says. “We had the toffee apples and the balloon arches, and then they sat down at the table that had Ferris wheels with appetizers on them.”

The caviar got served with the fish course (an easy pairing), while the tamarind ended up being in the stalks of the candy apples, as well as grated over the top of the dessert for a sweet-and-sour element.

Wheels, which is in the Frasser fleet, is headed to the Mediterranean this summer and can re-create the experience for charters, Birkett says, especially the smiles that helped the team win: “I think it was as much the spirit of the crew and the good vibes we have on board that really shone through.”  

Just Press Play

Wheels is a 2008 Oceanco that most recently was refitted in 2022. The yacht accommodates 12 guests in six staterooms, including a split-level master. Relaxation spaces include a cinema that seats eight people, with extra beanbag seating for children. More than 4,000 movies are available to view from the yacht’s library, with a surround-sound system that brings all the action to life.

The Yacht

There are 21 crew aboard Wheels, and the yacht is outfitted to help them create all kinds of memorable experiences. Just one example is the main salon, where retractable ceiling panels conceal disco lights, and wall units hide smoke machines. For fans of outdoor fun, half the lower deck is dedicated to watersports gear, toys and tenders.

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As an increasing number of new-build charter yachts flood the seasonal hot spots all across the Caribbean and Mediterranean, older vessels can have a hard time standing out in the fleet. They simply don’t have the same look and feel as newer models, and their vintage style sometimes leaves them being wrongfully overlooked when it comes time to book a vacation.

What’s so sad about that reality is that in some cases, those older charter yachts have the better charter programs. The nicest, newest, sexiest yacht in a harbor can have a terrible crew or a lousy chef, while a well-kept, older yacht can have a dialed-in team that provides top-notch service and watersports.

A good example of this phenomenon is the 142-foot Christensen Grade I. Built in 1995 and most recently refitted in 2018, Grade I is currently available for bookings in the Caribbean at a reduced weekly base rate of $120,000 for 12 guests. The yacht has six staterooms, a scuba program for certified divers, and recent client feedback that shows just how special a charter vacation on a yacht of this age can be.

“I wanted to write you a note to formally thank you for a wonderful week on Grade I,” a client wrote to the crew. “My mother and our family felt right at home and truly relaxed to the point of time slipping right by. However, I would feel remiss if I didn’t share a few thoughts of ours from the experience. From the inside to the outside, every crew member was on point and with a smile! Never a kink in the armor. We had so many laughs, experiences, water sports, crazy sport fishing and culinary delights to the point where I can’t remember them all. Growing up in a boating family, my father always made times spent on the open water super special. He picked our crew members as family members in an effort to create an endless warm experience. We felt those old times again!”

Talk about a glowing recommendation, which was shared by Grade I’s management company, Fraser Yachts. The fact that the yacht originally launched 30 years ago didn’t matter to these charter clients at all.

Like vintage yachts for charter? Check out this Feadship, too: The 151-foot Ancallia is a 1984 build that underwent a rebuild in 2015, and then a refit in 2022-23. Classic Feadship style is still very much on display in this yacht’s exterior lines, with an updated interior that includes modern technology and amenities. Ancallia recently joined the IYC charter fleet and is accepting bookings this summer in Greece and Turkey for 12 guests.

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

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If having options is a goal in life, then now is a heck of time to be alive for anyone thinking about booking a yacht-charter vacation.

Quite a few charter management companies have been welcoming yachts into their fleets, with bookings on all kinds of boats being advertised in destinations around the world.

Fraser, for instance, just welcomed a style of yacht we don’t see advertised often for charter: the 90-foot WallyAce Athena. It’s a 2018 build that most recently was refitted in 2021-22, and that was the last of five GRP WallyAce hulls to come out of the shipyard. Accommodations are for as many as seven guests in three staterooms, with an unusual lower-deck master stateroom that has direct access to the yacht’s swim platform. Athena is accepting bookings now for summer charters in Greece, where the yacht will operate with four crew.

Another recent announcement of note came from IYC, which has added the 106-foot Numarine Calliope to its charter fleet. Calliope—which has a striking light-blue hull—was built in 2018 and most recently refitted in 2024. The minimalist interior has modern furniture, and IYC describes the setup as “kid friendly” in a way that “balances safety with entertainment for younger guests.” Accommodations are for 10 guests in five staterooms, with a complement of six crew. Inquiries are being accepted now for Florida, the Bahamas and New England yacht charters.

Yet another notable option comes from Hill Robinson, which recently welcomed the 113-foot Ocean Alexander 35P A Salt Weapon to the charter fleet. This is a brand-new build that was delivered in 2024 as the first hull in Ocean Alexander’s Puro series. Accommodations are for 10 guests in five staterooms, including two staterooms that can be set up with twin or double berths. The crew complement is five on this yacht, which is available for bookings on Florida’s West Coast and in the Bahamas—and which charters with a 36-foot Boston Whaler tender.

What about charters in Central or South America? Edmiston just welcomed the 131-foot Westport Rule No. 1 to the charter fleet, with inquiries now being accepted out of Baja California, Mexico. This yacht is a 2011 build that underwent a multimillion-dollar refit in 2023-24. Accommodations are for as many as 12 guests in five staterooms. The tenders and toys include a 37-foot Freeman along with Seabobs and scuba gear.

How to book any of these charter yachts: Contact a charter broker at fraseryachts.com, iyc.com, hillrobinson.com or edmiston.com

The post Choose Your Yacht Charter Experience appeared first on Yachting.

Burgess has welcomed the 639-foot Rev Ocean—scheduled to be delivered in 2027 as the world’s largest yacht—to its charter fleet.

“Launching Rev Ocean to the charter market, the largest yacht in the world, is a milestone not just for Burgess but for the entire yachting industry,” Ben Harwood, Burgess sales and charter director, stated in a press release. “This is more than a vessel. It’s a global platform for the most unique guest experiences filled with ocean discovery, marine conservation and meaningful impact. By seamlessly integrating research with expeditions, it sets a new benchmark for how yachting can transform the guest experience, offering unmatched access to the rarest and most extraordinary opportunities.”

Rev Ocean will be able to host 34 scientists on board. According to Burgess, some 75 percent of the yacht’s voyages will be dedicated to scientific research, with 25 percent available for other uses.

Charter guests may be able to book itineraries in remote destinations where research is being conducted, become part of discoveries as scientists are making them, or observe from the mission-control room. The idea is for research projects to be accessible and educational, so guests can contribute to marine conservation firsthand.

Net revenue from the expeditions will help to fund Rev Ocean’s marine research and conservation initiatives, with the hopes of making groundbreaking discoveries out on the world’s waters.

Construction of Rev Ocean is taking place at the Norwegian shipyard Vard. Design is by Espen Oeino with interiors by H2 Yacht Design. Gross volume on the mammoth yacht is 19,235 (and no, that figure is not a typo).

Far from a typical charter yacht in terms of tenders and toys, Rev Ocean is expected to carry DSV Aurelia, the deepest-diving acrylic submersible, along with ROV Aurora, a remotely operated vehicle rated to dive for more than 3.5 miles.

There also will be autonomous underwater vehicles for seabed mapping and exploration; two helipads for aerial surveys, transportation and safety; a dive center for scuba needs and enthusiasts; and an auditorium for immersive presentations on board.

Rev Ocean will also have guest relaxation areas including outdoor lounges, a spa, a padel tennis court and a swimming pool.

What’s the weekly base rate to charter Rev Ocean? It has not yet been announced. Burgess is accepting general-interest inquiries from potential guests now.

Take the next step: click over to burgessyachts.com or follow the build process and other news about the yacht’s plans at revocean.org

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Several leading yacht-charter companies have announced unusual options for clients who want their vacations to have a bit more adventure to them.

First is RJC Yachts, which is promoting the 157-foot Trinity Miss Christine for bookings in Costa Rica for all of this year. The yacht is set up for world-class sportfishing with the option of a 66-foot Spencer Sportfish Yacht, and is run by Capt. Mike Souther, a native of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, who used to chase billfish in competitive sportfishing tournaments worldwide. Aboard Miss Christine, he combines that knowledge and skill with the yacht’s luxury amenities.

Miss Christine is a 2006 launch that was most recently refitted in 2022, with accommodations for 10 guests in five staterooms.

Also in the off-the-beaten-track category, Fraser just welcomed the 180-foot Trinity Purpose to its charter fleet with a home base in Southeast Asia. Purpose is a 2005 build that was most recently refitted in 2023, and that accommodates 12 guests in six staterooms—five of which have king-size berths.

Purpose will be offering itineraries that include cherry blossom season in Japan, whale sharks in Indonesia, and Formula 1 racing in Singapore. According to the team at Fraser, this yacht and crew have an “adventurer’s spirit.”

Fraser also is now managing the 172-foot MIE Big Eagle, which is headed to the ABC Islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao this winter. It’s unusual for such a large charter yacht to be based so far south in the Caribbean. Big Eagle accommodates 12 guests in six staterooms, and is offering itineraries that include scuba diving.

Y.CO is also adding to the adventurous offerings with two of the world’s largest sailing yachts in New Zealand. Bookings are now being accepted aboard the 265-foot Royal Huisman Sea Eagle and the 282-foot Oceanco/Vitters Aquijo.

Sea Eagle is available to charter in New Zealand until May, and offers the thrill of regatta-level racing. Aquijo is ideal for larger groups, with seven staterooms, three outdoor bars, and a beach club with a steam room and sauna. “Both of these beautiful vessels offer such unique and exemplary propositions that charter guests are guaranteed to fall in love with New Zealand,” Fleur Tomlinson of Y.CO Auckland stated in a press release.

Burgess partners with Joro: Also seeking to offer clients new experiences, Burgess has announced a joint venture with Joro, a company that is known for “rare adventures on land and sea.” According to Burgess, the partnership will give clients access to helicopters, submersibles and other ways to gain access to remote locations. “The world can feel rare, and therefore we go further into the adventure, journey deeper into our relationship with the planet, each other and ourselves to discover more,” Henry Comyn, co-founder and managing director of Joro, stated in a press release.

Take the next step: go to rjcyachts.com, fraseryachts.com, y.co or burgessyachts.com

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Daniela De Marco, Fraser’s head of charter management in Europe, says only three Columbus motoryachts are available for charter in the world today, with Anjelif being the newest. This bronze beauty was delivered in 2024 to a first-time owner who had definite ideas about how to make a charter yacht stand out.

“The owner is an experienced charterer from the past, so she implemented everything that she experienced and that she thought could be improved from her experiences when chartering boats,” De Marco says. “She was very much part of the design of the yacht.”

One example is the flexibility in how spaces can be used. The helipad on the bow is only for the owner’s use, De Marco says, “but it converts to a dance floor or an outdoor cinema. At night, this area becomes amazing, really.” By day, that same space can be used for yoga or other exercise, she adds: “Actually, we have a member of the crew who was a yoga instructor before coming aboard Anjelif.”

Inside, too, the owner aimed for a multipurpose experience. “What you normally wouldn’t find on a yacht this size is that there is a gym and a massage room on the main deck going toward the master suite,” De Marco says. “The massage room is to starboard, and the gym is to port. And the master suite is very special. It has a balcony, a walk-through dressing room and then also a study. There is also an en suite with a Jacuzzi, an infrared sauna—it’s really an outstanding space.”

Belowdecks, the four guest staterooms can be arranged in various ways, including with an apartment-style space for a family with kids.

And speaking of kids, a portion of proceeds go to the owner’s charity, which supports children all around the world.  

Fully Custom, All Aluminum

When Columbus Yachts launched Anjelif in 2024, the shipyard said the model was “packed with technical and stylistic innovations.” They include hybrid diesel-electric propulsion, and the application of cold plasma to sanitize air coming from outside for use in ventilation and air conditioning. The goal is to eliminate airborne viruses and bacteria in the airstream.

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Athos, a 210-foot Holland Jachtbouw that is one of the world’s most impressive sailing yachts, has joined the Fraser charter fleet. The yacht is heading to the Bahamas, Caribbean and Bermuda this spring ahead of accepting bookings in the unusual destination of Greenland this summer—part of the current owner’s program of using the yacht to visit remote destinations.

Launched in 2010 from the Dutch shipyard and most recently refitted in 2022, Athos is the world’s largest privately owned two-masted schooner. The amenities listed on board since the time of launch rival what guests find on some power-driven superyachts, with top-quality construction and technology systems.

The award-winning refit was done at Huisfit, which in 2019 took over the Holland Jachtbouw facility where Athos was originally built. The refit included extending the 203-footer to 210 feet by way of the stern overhang.

On deck, the cockpit layouts were redesigned, and a new forward navigation deckhouse was added. New booms, new sails and carbon rigging were installed, and all systems were updated. A considerable amount of the interior was replaced or reconfigured and updated, according to the Huisfit team.

“The multiple modifications to Athos have been beautifully done,” owner’s representative Jeremy “Bear” Wynne said at the time of the refit. “The attention to detail and finish is excellent. The new additions and modifications have not only improved the functionality of the yacht, they have also enhanced the appearance.”

The sheer size of Athos is also notable. The yacht’s main mast towers to about 200 feet in the sky.

The charter team at Fraser says the owner has also added a slew of watertoys to extend adventures in remote locations into all the various harbors, nooks and crannies.

What’s the lowest weekly base rate to charter Athos? It’s $220,000 per week, with a high-season base rate of $235,000.

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

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