Charter yachts have been fully booked for the past few years, but it seems that the backlog is finally starting to clear.

Many people from the United States and beyond have been struggling to secure a charter vacation due to the pandemic and yacht owners keeping their vessels for private use. Additionally, shipyard shutdowns have resulted in fewer new charter yachts entering the market. By summer 2022, even longtime charter clients were having difficulty finding available yachts. According to Ben Harwood, head of charter for Burgess, the market was unprepared for the high demand, particularly from mid-June to August. Burgess handled 860 charters in 2022, while Camper & Nicholsons International booked 700 charters. Harwood acknowledges that last-minute bookings for quality boats during this period were challenging. However, the situation appears to be improving for this summer and winter 2023-24. While Burgess still expects a busy summer, it has a plan in place for clients ready to book now. It has a number of new yachts coming onto the market that are being delivered in May or June, which they will advertise once they know they will be delivered on time. Burgess can communicate with clients on a case-by-case basis about these new builds that are not yet known to the public.

One of Benetti’s largest charter yachts is the Artisan, measuring 207 feet and constructed in 2019 with a refit completed in 2022.

It features seven staterooms that can accommodate 12 guests, with the owner’s stateroom alone spanning over 1,700 square feet. Burgess is now accepting charter inquiries for this summer in the West Mediterranean, as well as for the winter season in the Bahamas and Caribbean.