Make 2024, your year

With another new year just around the corner, it is a good time to think about how to make the most of the next twelve months. We know that time on a yacht is time very well spent for your physical and emotional wellbeing - and the science backs this up.

Just being at sea is enough to boost your health and fitness levels. Add to that an onboard spa, gym, pool, personal trainer and chef - and you have all you need to come back fizzing with energy. Here's how to max your yacht charter on every level...

For centuries people have flocked to the coastline hoping to boost their health, and it has been well-documented that blue spaces make us feel happier, healthier and calmer. But exactly why does the sea benefit the body and mind? From better sleep to happier relationships, you can discover the benefits for yourself...

Recent years have seen a demand for the yachting experience to take more of a holistic approach, with health and wellbeing as a priority of most guests. When it comes to the ultimate relaxation, many of the superyachts have their own spas and treatment rooms, along with Hammams, saunas and jacuzzis. Some of the larger yachts even have entire decks devoted to wellness, with dedicated beauty and massage therapists.

Many of the superyachts also offer state-of-the-art gyms, with a wide variety of gym equipment. Some yachts have personal trainers within the crew, and on the larger yachts the gyms are often located with views out over the horizon for an inspiring workout at sea. Those yachts that don’t have the space for a dedicated gym still carry some gym equipment that can help you work off lunch.

Whether it’s a one-to-one catch up with a friend, a BBQ-on-the-beach party or a family movie night on board with popcorn and candy, being on a superyacht provides the space and opportunities for social interaction with friends and loved ones. Strong social bonds are known to be important for your mental wellbeing, and a superyacht charter is the perfect chance to bring family and friends together.

Increases in the 'happy hormones' serotonin and oxytocin are proven benefits of being by the sea. Plus, being in, on, around or under the ocean also boosts your dopamine levels, a key chemical messenger within our inbuilt reward system. Added to this, for many people the colour blue is associated with feelings of calm and peace, so waking to views of the ocean actually changes the frequency of our brain waves and puts us into a mild meditative state. Some studies have also found that the colour blue is associated with a boost of creativity. 

Your peace of mind comes from knowing that it is all taken care of for you. So you and your friends can get on with sipping a green smoothie after a core-strengthening pilates session and think about a steam in the Hammam.

Aboard a superyacht your chef has access to the freshest fish, seafood and local ingredients which are both full of flavour and packed with nutrition. When arranging your charter your chef will discuss your nutritional requirements with you and will tailor your meals to complement your health and wellbeing charter - without losing any of the gourmet styling and taste. They will plan creative ways to deliver a delicious, nutritious menu, taking into account the fuel you need for workouts and watersports. At your request, your chef can even coach you how to recreate the meals for yourself on your return home.

Blending the indoor and outdoor experience adds to the holistic, relaxed atmosphere when the water feels within touching distance. Layouts that bring the outside in, or take the inside out, are always a popular feature on board today’s superyachts. Balconies, sea terraces and floor-to-ceiling glass doors are now commonplace on  modern yachts.

The larger yachts can also offer the complete beach club experience, with a deck at water level offering pools and bars as well as the swimming platform and dock. You can relax right by the water in privacy, and access the water and watertoys with ease.

Whether you are looking to channel your inner child playing with the kids or feel the ultimate thrill on an eFoil, messing about on the water is an essential ingredient of any yacht charter, and comes with the added bonus of keeping you fit while having fun. From on board golf driving ranges and basketball courts to inflatable slides and aqua parks, keeping active simply doesn’t get any better than on board a superyacht. You could opt to up-skill and learn a new watersports under the careful instruction of a qualified crewmember.

To ensure every member of the your party is comfortable, charter yachts offer flexible layouts, with convertible cabins to suit a range of different accommodation requirements. Many have double cabins that can be converted into a twin beds, and sometimes a twin cabin will have pullman berths for extra children. Every cabin on a yacht features a private en-suite bathroom, while many yachts have a master cabin for the principal charterer, usually located on the main deck. A handful of charter yachts also have a VIP suite to rival the master suite - ideal for when there are two principal charterers in your party.

On superyachts a spa pool is a given. You will usually find a jacuzzi on the sun deck, plus the largest of the charter yachts also have all manner of additional water features, ranging from infinity pools to swim-up bars, and even pools with a countercurrent so that you can exercise by doing laps while still on board.

Most superyacht gyms are fully immersive indoor-outdoor spaces. They are often located in the beach club by the water’s edge or on an upper deck with a view of the sea. The gym equipment available varies, but most yachts will have cardio machines plus free weights or a Technogym. Also, look for hydro-resistant rowing machines, ellipticals, Peloton spin bikes, and running machines - everything will be state-of-the-art.

From finding your ideal superyacht to incorporating wellbeing into your charter, our Burgess charter experts are on hand to make it happen for you. Just give them your party size and needs, and let them take care of you. Call or live chat with our charter brokers.