Bahamas Yacht Charter
A Bahamas yacht charter offers access to over 700 islands and cays, shallow turquoise waters averaging 1–6 meters deep, and some of the clearest visibility on earth — often exceeding 60 meters underwater.
Cruising here means short island hops, calm protected anchorages, and year-round warm weather. Most charters start in Nassau or Marsh Harbor, with prime season running from November to May when conditions are calm and dry.
Because the Bahamas is spread over 100,000 square miles of ocean, yacht choice is critical. Shallow drafts are essential for reaching prime anchorages like Big Major’s Spot (swimming pigs) or Shroud Cay’s mangrove creeks.
That’s why, after years of arranging luxury crewed charters here, our brokers recommend motor yachts, power catamarans, and larger crewed sailing catamarans capable of covering distances while still accessing shallow bays.
Best Yacht Types for the Bahamas
Advice from a Broker and Captain
“For most Bahamas charters, we recommend a motor yacht or a faster power catamaran. The Bahamas is shallow and spread out, so the right yacht makes a real difference to where you can go in a week. Motor yachts give you speed, range, comfort, and strong toy setups. Power catamarans add shallow draft, stability, space, and better fuel efficiency. Sailing catamarans can be a great fit for relaxed, beach-focused charters, but they are slower, so we only recommend them when the itinerary matches the pace.”
Captain John Boullin, Charter Broker
Top Bahamas Yachts for Charter in 2026
We select crewed yachts in the Bahamas based on exceptional condition, standout luxury amenities, experienced crews, and overall value for money. Our Top Bahamas Yachts for 2026 represent the vessels we most confidently recommend, based on firsthand knowledge and client feedback.
Top 10 Bahamas Superyacht Charters (Reviews & Excl. Footage)
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Top 10 Bahamas Motor Yacht Charters with 5-Star Client Reviews
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Top 10 Crewed Catamarans for Charter in the Bahamas 2026
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Top 10 Power Catamarans for Charter in the Bahamas in 2026
Read MoreReady to Start Planning Your Bahamas Yacht Charter Vacation?
To ensure you get the best experience, our brokers provide a curated shortlist of top Bahamas luxury yacht charters tailored to your needs. They’ll share previous client reviews, walkthrough videos, and firsthand insights on yacht condition and crew, ensuring you book with confidence.
Why the Bahamas Is Ideal for Yacht Charters
Sandbanks & Flat Turquoise Water
The Bahamas offers an enormous shallow-water cruising ground where sandbanks stop ocean swell, allowing yachts to cruise in flat water while enjoying views of the open Atlantic.
World-Class Diving
A prime dive destination, the Bahamas offers endless shallow reefs and historic wrecks best accessed by yacht, where turtles, reef sharks, and manta rays are commonly seen.
Exceptional Watersports Conditions
Protected by extensive sandbanks, the Bahamas offers reliably flat water, ideal for jet skis, wakeboarding, e-foiling, kitesurfing, snorkeling, and other water toys.
Legendary Game Fishing
A Bahamas fishing charter unlocks access to one of the world’s top sportfishing grounds. Target marlin, mahi mahi, wahoo, tuna, bonefish, and barracuda.
True Seclusion
The sheer scale of the Bahamas allows yachts to bypass busy areas entirely, anchoring at uninhabited secluded islands and cays even during peak charter months.
Proximity to Florida
Located just off the U.S. coast, the Bahamas offers effortless access via commercial and private flights, making it one of the easiest international yacht charter destinations to reach.
Best Bahamas Yacht Charter Itineraries
Not sure where to cruise? Start with one of our curated Bahamas yacht charter itineraries—tailored for catamarans and motor yachts.
Explore The Bahamas by Yacht
Luxury Amenities Onboard Bahamas Yachts
Best Bahamas Yacht Charter Destinations
Planning a Bahamas yacht charter? With over 700 islands and cays, it can be tough to decide where to go. To make it easier, we give you the 5 best Bahamas destinations, all easily reachable from Nassau on a one-week charter.
The right destination depends on your yacht type and style of travel. Motor yachts can cover more ground, making it easy to visit multiple regions in a week. Catamarans, while slightly slower, are perfect for shallow waters, letting you anchor right off the beach.
Nassau
Nassau is more than just a starting point for a yacht charter—it’s a destination in itself. Located on New Providence Island, it’s the ideal hub for exploring the Bahamas, offering easy access to the Exumas, Eleuthera, the Abacos and the Berry Islands.
The city is home to world-class marinas like Atlantis Marina, Bay Street Marina, and Hurricane Hole, making it easy to provision your yacht and start your adventure.
Spend a morning snorkeling the vibrant reefs at Rose Island or diving with reef sharks at Stuart Cove’s. Afterward, hit one of Nassau’s famous beaches—Cable Beach for the scene or Love Beach for a quieter vibe.
The town itself offers plenty of island culture, from the bustling Straw Market to historic sites like the Queen’s Staircase. When the sun sets, the energy picks up. Whether you’re dining at a waterfront restaurant, sipping rum cocktails at a beach bar, or trying your luck at the Atlantis casino, Nassau knows how to keep the night going.
The Exumas
The Exumas are the number one yacht charter destination in the Bahamas, no question. It is The Bahamas you see on postcards but better in real life. Stretching 120 nautical miles from top to bottom, this chain of islands is packed with iconic stops all in perfect line for easy island hopping. If you are going on a Bahamas catamaran charter, we recommend you focus on the Exumas, there is more than enough to see.
Heading out from Nassau, start with a 35-nautical-mile cruise to Highbourne Cay. From there, it’s all about slow island-hopping south, with each cay offering something completely different. There’s Norman’s Cay, where you can snorkel around the wreck of Pablo Escobar’s old drug plane, Shroud Cay with its winding mangrove creeks perfect for paddleboarding, and Warderick Wells, home to the headquarters of the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park.
And of course, you can’t skip Thunderball Grotto, made famous by James Bond, or Big Major Spot, where the swimming pigs live up to the hype.
Eleuthera
Eleuthera is one of those places that feels like it’s been hiding in plain sight. Long, skinny, and stretched out over 100 miles, it’s nothing like the busy Exumas or the yacht-packed marinas of Nassau. This is where you go when you want pink-sand beaches, secluded anchorages, and a coastline that seems to stretch forever without a soul in sight.
Just a 30 nautical miles jump east from Nassau, it’s an easy cruise done in a few hours, but the vibe shift is instant. The water here is impossibly clear, the reefs are alive with tropical fish, and if you’re into diving or game fishing, you’ve hit the jackpot. The Glass Window Bridge—where the deep blue Atlantic meets the calm turquoise Caribbean—is a must-see, not just for the view but for the way it sums up Eleuthera: wild on one side, laid-back on the other.
The best way to experience Eleuthera? We recommend a 10-14-day motor yacht charter that loops from Nassau through the Exumas, then up to Eleuthera before heading back. It’s around 300 nautical miles all in, and at a cruising speed of 15 to 20 knots, you’ll have plenty of time to drop anchor, dive in, and explore. Spend a lazy afternoon on Harbour Island’s pink-sand beaches, snorkel the reefs off Current Cut, or just find a quiet bay, crack open a cold drink, and enjoy the fact that most people never make it this far.
Abaco Island
The Abaco Islands lie just 60 nautical miles north of Nassau, in the opposite direction of the Exumas, and stretch over 120 nautical miles. The main islands are Great Abaco and Little Abaco, but the archipelago also encompasses numerous smaller cays and islets, with endless places to anchor.
Chartering out of Nassau, you would choose between going to the Exumas or the Abacos. The Abacos offer a more laid-back, authentic Bahamian vibe compared to the Exumas. While the Exumas are famous for their remote, postcard-perfect cays and swimming pigs, the Abacos feel like a string of charming island villages connected by calm, yacht-friendly waters. You can easily hop from lively local bars in Hope Town to quiet anchorages near Elbow Cay without long, open-water passages. The sailing conditions are easier too—protected waters, short distances, and plenty of sheltered harbors make it perfect for families or relaxed cruising. Plus, the Abacos’ reefs and fishing spots are top-notch, offering some of the best underwater adventures in the Bahamas.
Berry Islands
The Berry Islands are one of the best yacht charter destinations in the Bahamas for a simple reason: they’re close, quiet, and packed with hidden gems. Just 35 nautical miles north of Nassau, they’re easy to reach, but once you’re there, it feels like you’ve left the world behind. This chain of over 30 cays, most uninhabited, offers a perfect mix of secluded beaches, incredible fishing, and crystal-clear anchorages without the crowds you’ll often find in the Exumas.
The vibe here is different from both the Exumas and the Abacos: The Berry Islands are quieter, wilder, and more off-the-grid. Places like Chub Cay, known as the “Billfish Capital of the Bahamas,” draw sport fishers, while Great Harbour Cay offers miles of empty beaches and a sleepy marina that feels like a step back in time.
If you’re on a motor yacht, you can absolutely combine the Berry Islands with the Abacos. It’s about a 90-nautical-mile run from Great Harbour Cay to the southern Abacos—a smooth cruise in good weather. Many charters start in Nassau, hit the Berries for a few days, then head north to the Abacos for a mix of laid-back island life and charming settlements like Hope Town and Green Turtle Cay.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Best Time for a Bahamas Yacht Charter Vacation?
The optimal time to charter a motor yacht in the Bahamas aligns with the region’s peak season, spanning from late November to early May. During these months, the Bahamas experience mild temperatures, minimal rainfall, and favorable sea conditions, creating an ideal setting for a seamless and enjoyable yachting experience.
Make sure to book your Bahamas yacht charter well in advance. Ideally, you would inquire about your coming charter 12 months in advance. WHY? The best motor yachts are often fully booked long in advance and it’s not unusual to see popular dates booked 2 summers ahead for a Bahamas yacht charter. Inquiring less than 6 months ahead often means that your first choice is unavailable for charter.
Where Should I Start My Bahamas Yacht Charter?
Most of our charters start and end in Nassau, The Capital city of The Bahamas. This is where the airport is located, and it is here you will find the best provisioning to get ready for your Bahamas yacht charter.
After leaving Nassau most of our clients choose a route heading south along the Exumas, stopping at locations such as Highborne Cay, Norman’s Cay, Warderick Wells Cay, and Staniel Cay, and then doing an anticlockwise loop up to Eleuthera before ending in Nassau again at the end of their Bahamas yacht charter.
Also, check out our 7-day Bahamas Yacht Charter Itinerary as well as our article about the top 5 yacht charter destinations in the Bahamas.
How Much Does a Bahamas Crewed Yacht Charter Cost?
For crewed luxury yacht charters in the Bahamas, prices range from about $30,000 to $350,000 weekly, plus expenses. The cost depends on factors like the type of yacht, its size, and whether you’re going for an all-inclusive package or not. We don’t recommend you set a budget under $50,000. If you are looking for something cheaper, we suggest you consider a yacht charter in the British Virgin Islands.
Or search by yacht type:
Luxury Yachts
Motor Yachts
Catamarans
Power Catamarans
Sailboats
Feel free to inquire if you have questions about yacht charter types and price ranges. Our brokers, available on chat 24/7 are there to help you understand how you can make the most of your budget. Just click on the chat in the bottom right corner!
What is the APA?
The Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA) is a budget additional to the base yacht charter fee set aside in a separate APA account. The APA is between 25-40% of the base charter fee and covers costs like fuel, food, port fees, and any other miscellaneous expenses that occur during the yacht charter.
APA is a standard practice in Mediterranean crewed luxury yacht charters as well as in high-end destinations in the Caribbean.
💡 The Advantage of an APA Yacht Charter:
For clients seeking a customized, high-end experience, the Advance Provisioning Allowance allows for expenditures beyond what an all-inclusive charter would cover. Additionally, it provides budget-conscious travelers more control over their spending, ensuring they can manage costs effectively during their charter.
What is the Yacht Charter Tax in the Bahamas?
There is a 10% yacht charter VAT (Value added tax) on yacht charters in the Bahamas. Note that this is only added to the base charter fee, NOT the APA.
This is very standard practice in the yacht charter industry, with destinations in the Mediterranean seeing a much higher VAT rate.
On top of that, there is a 4% tourist cruising tax.
Yacht Charter Price Calculator
When chartering a luxury yacht in the Bahamas, keep in mind the following extra fees and taxes:
- 4% Cruising Tax
- 10% VAT (Value Added Tax)
- 35% APA (Advanced Provisioning Allowance)
These fees total around 50%, meaning a $100,000 charter becomes $150,000 after fees. Compared to Greece’s 25% VAT + 35% APA, the Bahamas offers a more budget-friendly luxury experience.
Looking for all-inclusive charters and no taxes? Check out mybvicharter.com.
Best Superyacht Marinas in The bahamas
Atlantis Marina (Paradise Island, Nassau)
Atlantis Marina is an iconic destination with a protected harbor, perfect for a luxurious break on a yacht charter. Dock in one of the 63 berths for vessels up to 67m and immerse yourself in luxury. From the golf course and casino to the spa and water park, Atlantis offers a playground of indulgence. Arrange a unique swimming-with-dolphins excursion for an extra touch of fun.
Emerald Bay Marina (The Exumas)
Emerald Bay Marina is a sprawling haven for luxury yachts with a berth capacity of 150. Located in The Exumas, this marina offers easy access to enchanting cays like Cave Cay and Staniel Cay. Revel in the serenity and luxury, exploring the mesmerizing beauty of the Exumas from the comfort of your luxury yacht.
Lyford Cay Marina (New Providence)
Situated in a private and exclusive community, Lyford Cay Marina is known for its high-end services. The marina provides premium facilities, upscale dining, world-class retail outlets, and designer stores. Lyford Cay Marina provides access to the prestigious Lyford Cay Club.
Treasure Cay Beach, Marina and Golf Resort (The Abacos)
Sail to Treasure Cay for a lavish escape. This well-protected marina offers deep water berths and excellent provisioning. Beyond the pristine waters, indulge in an outstanding golf course and spa facilities. Arrange exclusive excursions, including encounters with the famous swimming pigs, making every moment aboard your luxury yacht unforgettable.
Highbourne Cay Marina (Exumas)
Indulge in exclusivity at Highbourne Cay Marina, an oasis on a privately owned island, renowned as the gateway to the Exumas. With 26 berths, this marina offers seclusion and pristine beauty, ensuring an intimate and luxurious experience for those seeking the epitome of yacht charters.
Harbour Island Marina (Eleuthera Island)
Immerse yourself in luxury at Harbour Island Marina, nestled on the shores of Eleuthera. Surrounded by the famous pink sand beaches, this marina is a sublime choice for those seeking a perfect blend of upscale tranquility and natural beauty during their luxury yacht charter.
Featured Yachts in The Bahamas
CHILLAXIN
STARSHIP
Lady Joy
NO BAD IDEAS
CLIENT REVIEWS
What Do Our Clients Say?
“This is the second charter with DMA”
This is the second charter with DMA, and I have been completely satisfied in both cases. Chris did a great job helping negotiate the charter and checked in every step of the way.
David Finan, 10. Jun, 2026
“Everything beat our expectations”
Aside from Exumas Bahamas being beautiful our Yacht – ZURI 3 and Captain Andre and Magda were fantastic. They customized our sail to make sure we did all the things we wanted to do on our sail. Meals were well prepared and delicious. Great captain and outstanding cook … and were fun interacting with us. I was worried this trip would be a let down because we did a similar adventure on a catamaran a few years back … but the whole family agrees that ZURI 3, crew and Exumas were the best yet!!!! Everything beat our expectations.
Steve, 26. May, 2026
“The yacht charter arranged by Louis Lamprell was superb”
The yacht charter arranged by Louis Lamprell was superb. I had delayed the contract until after hurricane season to be sure that the boat was not damaged. The Nauti Dogs catamaran charter was everything advertised and more. The most spectacular part of the charter was Captain Trevor and Chef Sarah. I strongly encourage you to use Louis to book this charter and sail the most beautiful region of the Bahamas.
Customer, 3. Jun, 2025
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