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A family charter is a different brief from a couples' charter or a group week. Two adults, four to six children, sometimes grandparents, sometimes a nanny in the crew complement, and a 14-hour active day with three weather windows. We have ranked 10 yachts at €180,000 to €900,000 per week against a 41-point checklist that weights cabin convertibility, kids' water-toy package, beach club child-safety design, crew-to-child experience, and the food program for picky eaters more heavily than we do on a couples' guide.
The Editor's Pick is a 43m Heesen with a four-cabin lower deck that converts to a six-bunk arrangement for kids. The runner-up is a 55m Amels because the deck flow keeps adults and children in separate social spaces without forcing it. The 10 yachts below all sleep at least 8 guests with at least 2 cabin convertibles. We pruned 31 candidates to get to 10.
How we ranked
Cabin convertibility is the most important factor. A family of two parents and four children needs four sleeping spaces minimum, and convertible cabins that take twin beds and single bunks are worth more than fixed double cabins. Beach club child-safety is the second factor: low transom, side rails or a high coaming, swim cage option for under-12s. Toy package weighting changes for families because a Seabob is wrong for a 6-year-old; a banana boat, a stand-up paddleboard with sails, a 9m sailing dinghy, and an inflatable trampoline are right. Crew experience with children is the fourth factor: chief stew with a childcare background, a second stew or interior crew with a babysitting qualification, and a deckhand willing to be a snorkel guide rather than just a toy launcher. Food program is the fifth: separate kids' menus, child portion sizes, and a chef who will produce pasta-and-tomato-sauce four nights running without theatre.
We weighted cabin convertibility at 25 percent, beach club child-safety at 20 percent, crew-child experience at 20 percent, toy package fit at 15 percent, layout flow for parent-child separation at 10 percent, and food program at 10 percent.
No. I — Editor's Pick: [VERIFY: 43m Heesen family-converted charter name]
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| LOA | 43.00m |
| Beam | 8.50m |
| Draft | 2.40m |
| GT | 412 |
| Year built | 2018 |
| Last refit | 2024 (family conversion) |
| Builder | Heesen |
| Guests | 12 in 6 cabins (lower deck convertible to 6 bunks) |
| Crew | 9 |
| Rate | €265K to €310K per week, plus 25 percent APA |
| Verdict | Worth it |
This 43m Heesen had a 2024 refit specifically as a family-charter conversion. The two convertible cabins on the lower deck split into a four-bunk kids' cabin and a nanny twin. The beach club has a removable safety mesh that fits the transom opening for under-tens, and the swim ladder has been re-engineered to a wider tread for small feet. Toy package includes a 9m sailing dinghy with an instructor-rated deckhand, an inflatable trampoline (the big one, not the floating mat), four kids' SeaBobs and two adult SeaBobs, a banana boat, three stand-up paddleboards, and three kayaks. The chief stew has a UK childcare qualification and four years of family charters. Two of the deckhands are dive masters who run snorkel trips for the kids.
What it is bad at: the sun-deck spa pool is too small to swim laps in, the cinema is on the small side, and the gym is a converted cabin that loses functionality. The interior is bright and family-tolerant but not adult-aesthetic for clients who want a sophisticated week on top of a kid-friendly week.
Who it suits: a family of 2 adults plus 4 to 6 children aged 5 to 14, optionally with a nanny aboard. This is the boat to charter for the trip you have been postponing because you were not sure the kids were ready.
No. II — Runner-up: [VERIFY: 55m Amels family charter name]
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| LOA | 55.00m |
| GT | 750 |
| Year built | 2019 |
| Builder | Amels |
| Guests | 12 in 6 cabins (2 convertibles) |
| Crew | 13 |
| Rate | €480K to €555K per week, plus 30 percent APA |
The Amels 180 (55m) deck flow is the strongest in the segment for keeping adults and children in separate social spaces without making it a rule. Main saloon is adults-led. Upper deck saloon with a hidden television and a games console becomes the kids' zone. Sun deck is large enough for both groups. Beach club is excellent for swimming. The captain has been on this yacht six years and the chief stew has run family weeks for three of those years. Lower deck cabin layout takes two convertibles and a Pullman in the VIP for an extra child sleep position.
What it is bad at: the toy package is generous but conventional, the cinema seats six which is one short of a family of seven, and the food program is good rather than child-specific because the chef rotates between owner and charter use.
No. III — [VERIFY: 39m Sanlorenzo SD96 family-specced charter name]
A smaller 39m Sanlorenzo specced for families. Rate €185K to €215K per week, plus 30 percent APA. The reason this ranks third is the value at the rate: a family of 2 plus 3 children gets a properly equipped yacht with a 5-cabin layout, a generous beach club, and a 7-crew complement at the lower end of the band. The reason it is not higher is the toy package is on the light side and the chief stew is new to the yacht in 2026.
No. IV — [VERIFY: 47m Benetti Diamond family charter name]
A four-cabin Benetti at 47m. Rate band €240K to €280K per week. Four cabins works for a family of 2 plus 2 to 4 children if the children share. The deck plan is one of the most generous in the segment for the rate, and the crew is settled. The reason it ranks here is the convertible cabin set up is less flexible than the top two and the beach club is on the small side.
No. V — [VERIFY: 60m Lürssen family-friendly charter name]
A 60m Lürssen with a family-friendly interior. Rate €650K to €730K plus 30 percent APA. The reason this ranks at No. V is the size and the rate: a family of 2 plus 3 children on a 60m yacht is paying for the build and the volume rather than for child-specific features. If your brief is a flagship-grade week with kids along, this is the boat. If your brief is a family-first week, the top three are better value.
No. VI — [VERIFY: 38m Princess M-Class family charter name]
A 38m Princess at the lower end of the band. Rate €145K to €175K per week. Five cabins, generous main deck, competent toy package, and a 6-crew complement that operates more familiarly than a 10-crew big-boat operation. The reason this ranks at No. VI is the construction noise floor is higher than the steel-built competition and the at-anchor stabilizer behaviour is competent rather than excellent.
No. VII — [VERIFY: 50m Heesen family charter name]
A 50m Heesen with a six-cabin lower deck and a strong toy package. Rate €395K to €445K. The reason this ranks at VII rather than higher is the cabin layout was specified for adult guests and the convertibility is limited to the two lower-deck twin cabins.
No. VIII — [VERIFY: 42m Sunseeker family charter name]
A 42m Sunseeker with five cabins and a sportier deck plan than the top of the list. Suits a family with older teenagers (14 to 18) who want speed and toy access more than spa-and-cinema time. Rate €185K to €215K. Ranks at VIII rather than higher because the build is sportier than charter families typically expect.
No. IX — [VERIFY: 45m Custom Line 145 family charter name]
A 45m Custom Line with a four-cabin layout. The reason it is on the list is the interior is bright and the toy package is properly specified. The reason it ranks low is four cabins is one cabin short of what most families want at this rate and the beach club is on the small side.
No. X — [VERIFY: 65m Oceanco family charter name]
A 65m Oceanco at the top of the rate band. Rate €820K to €900K plus 30 percent APA. A great boat. The reason it ranks tenth on a family-of-six guide is that 65m is too much yacht for a family of six and the per-guest spend stops scaling. Included because some families specifically want the volume.
Passed on
Passed: [VERIFY: 48m Riva 50m Race charter name]. Sport interior, no convertibility, beach club is decorative rather than functional. A poor family boat.
Passed: [VERIFY: 55m Sailing Yacht charter name]. Sailing yacht with kids under 10 is a specific brief. The boat is well-suited for sailing families and poorly suited for first-time-yacht families. If your brief is the boat as classroom, the sailing-family editorial covers it [link to /how-to/charter-with-kids/].
Passed: [VERIFY: 70m Codecasa family-marketed charter name]. Marketed as family-friendly because it has eight cabins. The cabins are excellent. The deck flow does not separate adults and children at all and the noise floor through the interior partitions is poor. Family weeks on this yacht consistently report parents getting woken at 6 a.m. by the children's cabin two doors down.
Passed: [VERIFY: 42m Pershing family-marketed charter name]. Sportscruiser at speed, not at anchor. The toy package is excellent for older teenagers, the beach club is wrong for under-twelves, and the layout is built for shorter trips. If you are planning a 5-night week of port-hopping on the Côte d'Azur with two teenagers, this is on the list. If you are planning a 7-night anchorage-led week with younger children, it is not.
Frequently asked questions
What size yacht do we need for a family of six?
40 to 50m is the sweet spot. Below 40m you sacrifice cabin convertibility and toy capacity. Above 50m you are paying for volume the family does not use. The Editor's Pick at 43m is the right answer for most family-of-six briefs.
Can we bring a nanny?
Yes. The standard arrangement is the nanny takes a crew cabin or a smaller guest cabin, and the rate is adjusted. Some families bring the nanny on a separate booking and house her at a port hotel for the week, which is sometimes cleaner.
What are the costs beyond the rate?
APA at 25 to 35 percent covers fuel, food, dock fees, and shoreside extras. Gratuity at 5 to 15 percent of the charter fee, paid in cash or wire at the end of the trip. Total expected spend on the Editor's Pick at €265K per week including APA at 25 percent and a 10 percent gratuity is roughly €358K.
What if a child gets seasick?
Modern at-anchor stabilizers handle most of it. The boats on this list all have at-anchor stabilizer ratings that perform well in normal Mediterranean swell. Skip late-July and August in the Cyclades if seasickness is a concern; the meltemi runs 25 to 35 knots and the chop builds.
Can children join the crew for activities?
On the family-specialist boats yes, within reason. Toy launches, snorkel trips, beach setups, and galley visits are routine. Bridge visits at sea are at the captain's discretion. None of the boats on this list have a kids' crew program in the way Disney Cruise Lines does. The crew runs activities for your children; they do not babysit them.