The yachts featured in this section of CharterWave are ones our experts have spent at least a few days onboard.

We include our expert opinions not just of each yacht, but also of the brokers we worked with, the service the crew provided, the chef's abilities, the yacht's accommodations, decor and outfitting, whether the yacht's features and amenities were appropriate for the destination, and anything else that might help you decide which yacht vacation to book.


Askari on charter in New Zealand | Go straight to The High Five 
While the Bay of Islands is a well-established tourist destination, it and the rest of New Zealand are only beginning to develop in terms of yacht charter. The 108-foot Askari is among the first yachts to arrive.


CD Two on charter in Spain's Balearic Isles | Go straight to The High Five
A windy week in this beautiful Mediterranean archipelago kept us tied to the dock at Palma de Mallorca. No need to worry, though: Our yacht's captain know the area so well, we felt like we got an insider's tour.




Clarissa on charter in Greece and Turkey  | Go straight to The High Five
This lovely 98-foot motorsailer may look like a lot of other Turkish gulets, but don't let the photos fool you. She's a whole lot more, with a history as interesting as the ancient lands where she cruises.



D'Natalin II on charter in the Virgin Islands | Go straight to The High Five
This yacht's top deck is a sun-worshipper's paradise. But who wants to be up there when you can be down below sampling some of the most creative, delicious dishes we've ever tasted from a charter yacht chef?


Endurance in the Pacific Northwest USA | Go straight to The High Five 
The scenery is breathtaking in quiet coves from the San Juan Islands all the way north to Vancouver Island. Endurance is a good fit: Rugged on the outside, elegant on the inside, and built to cruise comfortably.


Infatuation along Italy's west coast | Go straight to The High Five 
This stunning sailing yacht is the epitome of comfortable elegance, which is a perfect complement to the picturesque harbors and colorful street scenes all along Italy's western coastline.


Irony in the USA's Chesapeake Bay | Go straight to The High Five 
Don't let this yacht's commercial-style exterior fool you. She's a yacht through and through, built to be lived aboard for years on end. You won't find more headroom or stability anywhere--or better service at this rate.


 


Java on Antigua | Go straight toThe High Five
This motoryacht is neither the newest nor the fanciest in the world, but she's beautifully maintained with a can-do crew and a charter-savvy owner. Java just may be one of the best deals you can get in crewed yacht charter.



Joanne in the Exumas, Bahamas | Go straight to The High Five 
We know this sounds like a cliche, but the beaches and water in this part of the Bahamas have to be among the most gorgeous in the world. Even better, this yacht is among the fastest in the world for getting there.


Kayana on charter in Alaska | Go straight to The High Five 
Yes, that's our yacht in the photo, circling the tip of an iceberg! We also really loved standing in a stream full of spawning salmon, watching whales breach, eating filet mignon...


Lady Elizabeth in New England, USA | Go straight to The High Five 
Look at this cutie-pie, Desdemona, who comes as part of the crew onboard Lady Elizabeth. We couldn't help but smile as we stood next to her on deck, looking out for dolphins.


Melimar on charter in the Florida Keys | Go straight to The High Five 
Our chef onboard Melimar did a yeoman's job of creating visually impressive and equally delicious vegetarian meals for one charter guest. Some looked so good, we almost gave up our chateaubriand!


 
Melinka on charter in Antigua | Go straight to The High Five
We only had time for one night onboard this classic gentleman's sailing yacht, but it was enough to convince us that she's quite cool.



Oh Que Luna in Greece's Aeolian Islands | Go straight to The High Five 
The sunsets couldn't have been prettier during our charter off the coast of Athens. It was also fascinating to see just how different the Greek charter market is from other destinations.


Pacific Eagle in New Zealand wine country | Go straight to The High Five 
Peter Stewart owns this beautiful sailing yacht and acts as her captain, introducing charter guests to his home cruising grounds near the town of Picton, on New Zealand's South Island.



Phoenix in Greece's Dodecanes Islands | Go straight to The High Five
This Ted Hood-designed, 52-foot powercatamaran is the only one of her kind available for charter, anywhere in the world.


Princess Marcie on Harbour Island, Bahamas | Go to The High Five 
We got weathered in during a windstorm on Harbour Island and didn't make it to the rest of the Exumas, but luckily for us, Harbour one of the most enchanting islands in all of the Bahamas.

Revelation in the Galapagos Islands | Go straight to The High Five 
The animals in this Ecuadorian archipelago are fascinating to behold, but the journey is made even more memorable by being onboard the first proper yacht to charter in these waters in at least a decade.


Sovereign on charter in New England, USA | Go straight to The High Five 
The captain and crew onboard this aggressively priced, beautifully refit motoryacht really know their way around New England. Our charter focused on the area's deep--and sometimes dark--history.


Surprise on charter in Fiji | Go straight to The High Five 
When you're the only yacht in the bay, you feel like you own a sliver of paradise. We felt like that onboard Surprise thanks to her captain, Carol Dunlop, who's spent 30 years scouting the best charter locations in Fiji.


Taipan III on charter in Thailand | Go straight to The HIgh Five
The 172-foot motoryacht Taipan III is the first western-owned luxury charter yacht to make Thailand its year-round home. We spent a few days onboard off the coast of Phuket.



Teleost on charter in the Seychelles | Go straight to The High Five 
Our CharterWave Crewed Yacht of the Month for November 2006 is the epitome of what emerging-market luxury charter should be.