Top 10 Med charter experiences

Burgess is 45 years old this summer. To celebrate four and a half decades of unforgettable moments and endless fun on board the world’s most celebrated charter yachts, here are the top 10 experiences Burgess charter experts recommend to truly enjoy this summer in the Med.

Playtime

No matter how you like to spend your time on board your yacht, the Burgess superyacht fleet has a fun activity for everyone to enjoy. From mini-golf driving ranges to inflatable slides and just about every conceivable watertoy imaginable, active life simply doesn’t get any better this summer on board a superyacht charter.

When it comes to watertoys, a yacht without doubt up there with the best in class is the perennial charter favourite LAZY Z. Renowned for having a fantastic crew, this yacht goes all out for fun in the sun. From stand up paddleboards to kayaks, snorkeling and scuba diving equipment to an inflatable climbing wall, LAZY Z will please both the young, and the young at heart. She is also certified as an approved RYA training centre, so guests looking to improve their watersports skills or maybe even learn an entirely new watersport can rest assured that they have the best instructors to hand.

For those looking to channel their inner child, inflatables are always popular. Most of the Burgess charter fleet carry some sort of inflatable on board, and some even have extensive inflatable waterparks. TITANIA, for example, offers both a 13m inflatable waterslide, one of the tallest ever made, and a extensive inflatable park where adults are just as welcome as children.

LAZY Z 51.8m (169.1ft), 12 guests

TITANIA 73m (239.6ft), 12 guests

Cuisine scene

You can expect gastronomic excellence the moment you embark on a yacht charter, and tailor made gourmet cuisine is an intrinsic part of any charter experience.

On board any of the Burgess fleet you will be met with an enlightened chef and a never ending stream of innovative and healthy menu choices. Environment always plays a part in anything culinary, and the majority of the Mediterranean’s cruising grounds are famed for their fine cuisine, with sumptuous displays of fresh fish, cheese, bread, fruit and regional delicacies adorning the local markets. Whether you choose the French Riviera, Italy, Corsica or Sardinia, the Balearics, Adriatic, Greece or Turkey, a taste sensation awaits.

This is true as much ashore as afloat with a wide choice of gastronomic, even Michelin starred restaurants, the latter of which are an integral part of any superyacht charter. The best gourmet superyacht experience usually combines dining both aboard and ashore.

Family time

A superyacht provides the perfect setting for a family holiday: it’s small enough to bring everyone together, but still big enough to give everyone their personal space. And spacious superyacht decks can also be multi-purpose. While you are on the bridge deck finishing a long rosé lunch, your children can be sheltering from the strong afternoon sun in the sky lounge, main saloon or even in the on board cinema (many of the larger superyacht yachts have dedicated cinema rooms).

And while you relax in the beach club, they can be taking a supervised dip in the ocean or splashing about in the jacuzzi on the sun deck. Evenings on board can be equally flexible, with adults socialising in the main saloon and the sky lounge becoming a children's zone (or vice-versa). By its very nature a superyacht is also mobile, so there is something new for the children to see every day, along with plenty of watertoys on board to entertain them.  Boredom is never an issue on a superyacht charter.

One perfect yacht for a family charter is HEMISPHERE. The world’s largest sailing catamaran, HEMISPHERE has an enormous beam, which means that her communal areas on the main and upper decks are more square than rectangular and simply vast. Another unique feature is the fantastic trampoline between the hulls forward, an area that your children literally never get tired of bouncing around on.

HEMISPHERE 44.2m (145ft), 12 guests

Join the party

Should you ever feel like a change of scene for the day and getting off the yacht then the shores of the Mediterranean play host to some of the hottest beach clubs in the world.

Drop anchor and step ashore to discover the superyacht crowd’s favourite hangouts. Along the coastline of the French Riviera, Le Club 55 remains the hip institution that it has always been, welcoming a steady flow of yacht tenders arriving to the private jetty throughout the summer season, while the Hôtel Byblos recently opened outpost Byblos Beach Ramatuelle is a welcome addition to the scene.

The party vibe also remains strong on the island of Ibiza and the beach clubs on this Spanish island continue to attract the younger superyacht set aiming to combine some high energy partying with some chillout time.

Over in the Eastern Med, the Dalmatian Coast, and in particular Hvar, has also become a firm favourite with the yachting crowd. The island is now firmly in a partying premier league with Saint-Tropez and Ibiza, thanks largely to Carpe Diem and Carpe Diem Beach.

Over on the Greek isles, Mykonos also retains a loyal following of the A list, while the lesser known islands of Paros and Antiparos are attracting the cool crowd to their low key shorelines and boutique beach clubs, including the understated Beach House.

Sneak away

The coastlines of the Western Med are both beautiful but they can also be crowded in high season. Knowing where to escape the crowds in this period can be the key to enjoying your charter.

From tiny calas in the Balearics to coastal hideaways on Sardinia, a superyacht allows access to coves and beaches that are only accessible by boat and which can also provide peaceful overnight anchorages.

Promising more scenic anchorages than any yachtsman could wish for, the Eastern Med offers plenty of quiet spots for those who know where to venture, and they make for a magical destination for a superyacht charter.

Movie time

Dedicated cinema rooms, or outdoor spaces for even larger scale movie viewing, have become one of the most popular features on board charter yachts. Not only do they provide the perfect entertainment for long passages, but they are also popular on warm summer nights for unforgettable movies under the stars that live long in the family memory.

Immerse yourself in a full cinematic experience on board INVICTUS. The dedicated indoor cinema room on board is state of the art and has tiered seating for up to 14 guests, so the whole charter party can snuggle down into luxurious reclining armchairs and enjoy a huge screen.

Come rain or shine, movie aficionados are also in for a treat on board charter yacht LAURENTIA.  With her double-sided cinema screen, she has a retractable HD projector fitted right above the sliding doors that lead to the main saloon, meaning that guests can watch projected movies from the saloon or the aft deck.

And for the children? How about watching the latest Disney animation with them on the big screen? The huge modern cinema space on board JOY includes a vast video wall made up of multiple large screen TVs, which can either be used to play computer games or screen movies.

INVICTUS 66m (216.5ft), 12 guests

LAURENTIA 55m (180.5ft), 12 guests

JOY 70m (229.7ft), 12 guests

Well being

To enhance your superyacht experience many yachts have their own dedicated spa areas. Some are in the form of cabins that can be transformed into a treatment area, while others have entire purpose built spa decks with everything you would expect to find in a top hotel spa ashore.

If you are looking for the ultimate on board pampering experience, then opt for a superyacht with a masseuse on board. A few yachts have crew members that are also trained as beauty therapists, and if not then your Burgess charter broker can arrange for local specialists to come on board.

TITANIA 73m (239.6ft), 12 guests

ODYSSEY 74m (242.8ft), 12 guests

Fitness and fun

There was once a time when a superyacht was a place of indolence, where exercise on board meant a languid swim around the boat at anchor, but today’s health conscious yacht owners and charterers prefer to earn their lunch and like to keep up the fitness regime even when on vacation rather than letting it all go. Gyms are therefore no longer just the preserve of sports stars and fitness fanatics and these areas have become an essential space on board larger superyachts.

Equally, for those looking to ditch the gym and take to the water there are plenty of alternative ways to exercise on board a superyacht. Trampolining, for example, has become the new fitness fad of late, so increase the pace and try out an inflatable water trampoline for an excellent core strength workout. Once you are done, simply somersault into the warm waters of the Med. Fitness and fun combined.

ODYSSEY 74m (242.9ft), 12 guests

Cultural highs

Perfect for those with a passion for culture, the Mediterranean is rich in history and tradition. A charter through any of the cruising grounds provides a rich mélange of cultures and landscapes boasting fascinating ruins, temples and museums – some ravaged over thousands of years and others beautifully restored. From the archaeological wonders of the Eastern Med to the coastlines of the West Med steeped in historical splendor, each country’s identity is irrevocably intertwined with a great sense of ancient and mystical history.

Al fresco life

The superyacht lifestyle is all about al fresco living and the perennially favoured charter yachts are those that blend interior and outdoor areas and provide spacious living environments in both. From fold down balconies to beach clubs and multi-use spaces, any superyacht which allows guests to enjoy a complete on the water experience is always going to be a favourite in the Med.

A beach club, for example, not only allows for plenty of exterior space to sunbathe at sea level in privacy it also provides easy access to the water and watertoys. A balcony, meanwhile, can be used as a private retreat in the master cabin and closer living to the sea, as well as making the cabin feel much bigger when deployed.

ILLUSION 65m (213.3ft), 12 guests

The Burgess charter team can provide detailed guidance on the best yachts on which to embrace the Mediterranean lifestyle.

To find out more about Burgess’ yachts for sale and yachts for charter, please contact a Burgess broker. Alternatively, get in touch with one of our offices directly: London, Monaco, New York, Miami, Singapore or all other locations.