5 TIPS: DESIGNING YOUR YACHT FOR CHARTER
February 24, 2025
Design Tips
- Tags: Interior Design, Refit, Yacht Charter
Lauren and Cindy give their expert advice on the 5 most important areas and aspects to consider when refitting or designing your yacht for charter.
Offering your yacht for charter has many advantages. An otherwise underutilized asset will be producing income instead of sitting idle; your crew will stay active and collect extra income from tips, and, a popular, well-maintained charter boat could lead to easy resale. There are, however, important considerations when it comes to the design and decor of your charter yacht.
Depending on the type of charter experience you wish to offer and the type of guests you plan to cater to, listing your yacht on the charter market is not unlike offering a property as a short-term rental: many different guests of different ages and lifestyles will bring some wear and tear. Many guests of many ages also means you have to consider a wider variety of tastes when selecting your yacht’s decor style. And finally, many guests of multiple ages means that your toys and onboard tech and entertainment better bring the WOW factor!
In our decades of experience designing and refitting some of the best yachts on the charter market, we have five key areas and aspects to consider when undertaking a new design or refit for your charter yacht.
FURNISHINGS
A successful charter yacht will have several key versatile spaces. “Freestanding furniture that can easily be configured for multiple uses works well in these spaces,” says Lauren. “For a charter yacht, the crew should be able to easily transform a salon into a cinema or quickly break down the sun deck for evening cocktails and dancing followed by morning cycling and pilates.”
“Loose furniture is also advantageous when catering to large groups,” says Cindy. “It offers flexibility and duality to a space. Cozy conversation areas are important, but so is the ability to expand the seating arrangement when groups combine. It also helps a space feel more residential and chic.” Choose this furniture carefully, however, particularly movable objects like chairs with arms that may chafe against the underside of a tabletop when pushed in.
Furniture for the exterior spaces should be versatile as well. “In the exterior spaces we are seeing trends with sumptuous, oversized sofas or low-slung loungers that invite guests to flop down in a wet bathing suit and enjoy the sun,” says Lauren. Armless loungers or chairs and tables with curved lines—Lauren and Cindy recommend the Sundeck outdoor collection from Summit Furniture—minimize both the space occupied by the piece as well as the risk of bruising when brushing against a sharp metal or wood edge.
When designing your yacht for charter, don’t forget that the design will likely need to appeal to a broad spectrum of guests of all ages - and not everyone loves the sun, says Lauren. “When designing the exterior of the 142’ Royal Denship Baca, for example, we ensured that the deck areas provide a variety of shade and sun that can be controlled with the help of umbrellas and sun awnings.”
MATERIALS
The selection of materials, from upholstery and accessories to wall coverings and carpeting, are a critical element of a yacht refit. Yet these items can become an expensive cost if they wear easily and need to be replaced often. “Make sure you select materials that are luxurious yet durable and will hold up under heavy use,” says Lauren. Forego exotic, bespoke wall coverings and priceless coffee table accessories and opt instead for decor that is high-end but durable and replaceable. The designers recommend Kravet Smart Performance fabrics or any fabric with a Crypton treatment as well as Fabrica for luxurious, yet durable carpet options, which they implemented throughout the 151’ Delta Pisces “High-wear fabrics and carpets with synthetic or wool fibers—as opposed to silk—are easier to maintain,” says Cindy. “Slight patterns in the carpeting will also help disguise high-traffic areas.”
It’s important to implement a design that appeals to a wider audience when designing and decorating your yacht for charter. Neutral tones and minimal decor that complements the yacht build will welcome a broader audience than will a radical style with intense colors or textures and shapes.
ENTERTAINMENT SPACES
Because the yacht charter experience is all about fun and entertainment, well-planned spaces for relaxation and play are critical to the yacht’s success. “Space planning is the first step in the design process,” says Lauren. “When it comes to the entertainment areas, these must be configured to accommodate the various needs of the charter guest. On the sundeck, for example, it’s ideal to have a large, shaded bar with television, a jacuzzi, and plenty of seating or lounge areas, such as that which we incorporated aboard the 151’ Delta yacht, Pisces. This space should be as multi-functional as possible, and able to quickly transform to accommodate dancing, fitness, yoga, or group meditation.”
“Retaining a highly qualified crew means ensuring they have all of the essentials they need to best serve the charter guests.”
LAUREN BONVILLE
Al fresco dining is another important aspect of onboard entertainment. “We aren’t seeing as many requests for large tables seating twelve taking up entire deck areas,” says Cindy. Instead, hi/lo and convertible tables are now the norm, particularly tables that lower and separate into coffee tables when not in the formal dining configuration. “Dining should always be shaded and pay particular attention to the shape and material of the table and chairs themselves,” says Lauren, “as the desired number of people should be comfortably seated, not with knees against a table leg or with chair arms blocking the chair’s proximity to the table itself.”
ONBOARD CONNECTIVITY
In today’s on-demand world, charter guests will expect that onboard connectivity and entertainment options will be equal to or better than what they enjoy at home. Upgrade accordingly, says Cindy. “Most yachts are now equipped with the Starlink system for uninterrupted connectivity, whether for keeping up with work calls and emails or uploading TikTok videos,” she says. “It’s important that all tvs and devices onboard are routinely updated and offer the latest streaming services and accessibility, should a guest wish to quickly screencast a video of the day’s adventures from his or her smart phone.” From unlimited music to unlimited movies, the onboard entertainment system and its offerings must be the latest and greatest.
THE ESSENTIALS
Charter guests are paying for an experience, and with that comes an expectation for 6-star space and service,” says Lauren. “Everything that a charter guest touches needs to remind them of the luxury of the experience, so in addition to making sure you have high-end custom bedding and custom linens, also plan to implement the best robes, soaps, shampoos, even the best toilet paper.”
“Every charter yacht must have the appropriate dining essentials as well,” says Cindy, citing the bespoke elements the team implemented aboard the 182' Feadship Cynthia. If your yacht will accommodate up to twelve guests, plan to have at the very least three sets of tableware for twelve guests with dedicated storage for ease of service.
“Retaining a highly qualified crew means ensuring they have plenty of storage and all of the essentials they need to best serve the charter guests,” says Lauren. Plan dedicated storage for table decor, beach towels, deck furniture coverings and all of the tenders and toys you plan to offer onboard. Also make sure your yacht has adequate laundry facilities, ideally one facility for the guest spaces and another for crew with enough space to iron eight to ten feet of linen.
At the end of the day, when designing your yacht for charter, keep in mind the fact that you’ll be offering your space for other people to enjoy. Contact Lauren and Cindy today for a consultation on how best to design your yacht for charter.
