With its jaw-dropping turquoise waters, unruffled trade winds and world-class tourism infrastructure, the Bahamas is a magical boat charter destination.
A catamaran out on the open waters of the Bahamas (Photo: Craig Doring via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)
From the capital of Nassau to the southernmost island of Great Inagua, the length and breadth of the Bahamas make for some of the most idyllic yachting waters anywhere on the globe. There are a wide number of companies offering boat rentals in the Bahamas, with everything from modest sailboats to state-of-the-art catamarans to extravagant superyachts available. For those who like the idea of the spaciousness, stability and speed of a catamaran or the romance and resonance of sailing, we’ve picked out 3 of the best companies for finding a catamaran or sailing charter below.
Ritzy Charters
Ritzy Charters offers only crewed yachts, rather than bareboat, and so are our number one choice for crewed yacht rentals in the Bahamas. The Florida-based company has a huge variety of vessels across several categories, including sailing boats, motorboats, monohulls and catamarans. The booking process itself is quick and easy – all you do is fill in specific details about your trip, including number of guests, dates, preferred itinerary and special requests, then you ask for a quote and wait for the company to send back a short-list of vessels based on your requirements. When we looked at availability in the Bahamas, we found an exceptional choice of catamarans, with more than 40 available, starting at $11,000 per week for a 44-foot vessel that can sleep 4 guests.
Sailo
Described by the influential Conde Naste Traveller magazine as “the Airbnb of boats and yachts”, Sailo is a global yacht charter marketplace that connects boat owners, charter companies and renters on a secure and easy-to-use platform. Visitors can browse thousands of boats based on date, location, price, size, and user reviews, and you can even customise the search by creating your preferred trip directly in the booking flow. When we searched for charters in the Bahamas, we found over 100 vessels available, with the cheapest sailboat a 33-foot vessel offered for $199 per week. To rent a catamaran, meanwhile, you’ll have your pick of over 50 vessels, with prices starting at $1,000 per day for a 48-foot luxury power catamaran.
Bahamas Catamaran Charters
Bahamas Catamaran Charters is a renowned local company that specialises in custom-made, private sailing charters in the surrounding Bahamas islands of Nassau, Exumas, and Eleuthera / Harbour Island. Their fleet of modernLAGOON catamaran yachts are of varying sizes to cater to a range of different groups. Guests can tailor their trip to sail the region’s famous crystal clear waters, snorkel coral reefs teeming with fish, kayak, or just relax at the end of the day in the Bahamas. There are also options to equip your vessel with fine foods to be cooked on board by your gastronomic captain, with the chance to sit down to dinner together and share the fresh catch of the day. Multi-day and single day charters are both available.