A big birthday, a wedding anniversary, a honeymoon, a reunion of old friends: many of the charters we arrange are built around an occasion. A yacht is a wonderful place to celebrate. You have your own private space, a crew whose job is to make the week special, and a different, beautiful setting every evening.

Here’s how to make the most of it.

Tell us, and tell the crew

The most important step is simply to tell us when you enquire, and to put it on your preference sheet. Crews love being part of a celebration and are wonderfully inventive with a little notice. If it’s a surprise for someone in your party, tell us privately and we’ll make sure the crew keeps the secret.

Birthdays

  • A cake at anchor. Chefs bake birthday cakes in the galley, and there’s something special about candles being blown out in a quiet bay at sunset.
  • The birthday breakfast. Champagne, the birthday person’s favourite breakfast and decorations on deck.
  • A day of their choosing. Let the birthday person pick the anchorage, the activities and the dinner.

For milestone birthdays with a bigger group, a larger catamaran or motor yacht gives space for everyone, and a lunch or dinner at a favourite beach restaurant can be booked ahead.

Anniversaries and honeymoons

Couples often choose a smaller yacht: a sailing monohull or a compact catamaran with a crew of two. Quiet anchorages, starlit dinners on deck and the freedom to do absolutely nothing make it one of the most romantic holidays there is.

Ideas crews have arranged:

  • A private dinner on the beach, with a table, lanterns and the chef cooking ashore (where local rules allow).
  • Breakfast on the trampoline at sunrise.
  • A sunset sail with champagne, timed to the minute.
  • Rose petals and candles in the cabin.

Proposals

A surprising number of proposals happen on charter yachts. If you’re planning one:

  • Tell us early, and we’ll brief the crew in confidence.
  • Choose the moment. Sunset at anchor, a deserted beach, the bow under sail, or the top of a hill after a walk ashore.
  • Let the crew help with the ring, the champagne on ice and, if you’d like, a discreet photograph.
  • Plan the celebration afterwards: a special dinner aboard or ashore.

Reunions and family milestones

Multi-generation charters for a grandparent’s birthday or a family reunion are some of the happiest weeks we arrange. Bring the family together on one larger yacht, or arrange two yachts sailing together in company, meeting each evening for dinner.

Full moons and festivals

Some occasions are made by the calendar. In the BVI, Trellis Bay on Beef Island has hosted a much-loved full moon party with fireball sculptures, music and food. Antigua’s Sunday sunset party at Shirley Heights is a fixture. New Year’s Eve in St Barths is legendary. Your captain will know what’s on during your week.

Practical tips

  • Book early. Holiday weeks and the best crews go first.
  • Bring decorations that are light, reusable and won’t blow overboard. Balloons and confetti are best avoided at sea.
  • Gifts and surprises can often be delivered to the yacht before you arrive.
  • Photographs: some islands have photographers who can meet you for a session on a beach.

Plan the occasion with us

Tell us what you’re celebrating, who’s coming and when. We’ll suggest yachts and crews who’ll make it unforgettable.

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