Everything you need to know to organise your next catamaran sailing holiday
The advantages of a catamaran sailing holiday with Skipper
If you have an existing group of travellers (of family or friends), we highly recommend reserving an entire catamaran with skipper. In such cases, it is often possible to receive a discount on you booking (from 10% of the total booking cost upwards), this is more likely to be the case if you are booking in advance or in less busy periods of the year. In addition to saving money, reserving a skippered catamaran allows you maximum flexibility in itineraries, with skippers often willing to be very accommodating to your wishes. Reserving a whole catamaran also allows maximum privacy, if you are looking to share some quality time with your family or friends.
If you are travelling as a couple or solo, bare in mind that you can book either a single berth or an entire cabin. A cabin allows for much more privacy and more personal space. Either way, you have the ability to share your sailing experience with other like-minded travellers - an excellent opportunity to meet new people and make new friends!
Catamarans: the comfort of a house, on the water!
Many describe catamarans as floating houses, for the extensive space and facilities they have onboard. After a long day of adventure, you can rest in large, well-equipped cabins, that are complete with a full size double bed. There are usually 2 cabins each for the 2 floats, or sides of the boat. These are then separated by a bathroom, complete with a shower and toilet. The common area of the catamaran including the lounge and kitchen are then located in the middle-upper part of the boat, in between each float.
Catamarans are generally very spacious and bright, with large windows that overlook the sea, a perfect view when cooking or relaxing! They are very social and friendly due to how the design of the boat. Finally, it is true that the bridge offers lots of charm to the catamaran, this area of the boat is the main area for relaxing and enjoying time on the deck!
What are the differences between a sailboat or catamaran?
A sailboat may be better for people looking to learn the practice of sailing, or to sharpen their skills, where as the catamaran is the most comfortable and luxurious way to enjoy a holiday at sea. Here are a few advantages and disadvantages of each:
Sailboat: ideal for sailing, less emphasis on comfort, cheaper, less spacious, more user-friendly
Catamaran: less motion impact on the stability of the boat, more comfortable, more expensive, more spacious
The 8 best destinations for a catamaran sailing holiday
The Mediterranean, Caribbean, Indian oceans - some destinations are ideal for a skippered catamaran sailing holiday. For those who dream of a trip in the Caribbean, it is full of ideal different destinations for a catamaran trip. We mainly recommend the Grenadines (which normally set sail from the port of Marin in Martinique), Guadeloupe, and Cuba.
The Mediterranean Sea is another paradise for catamaran trips. We recommend a week between Corsica and Sardinia to explore the famous Lavezzi Islands and the Maddalena Archipelago, but there is also the wonderful Greek archipelago of the Cyclades or the Ionian Islands. Last but not least, who does not dream of discovering the paradisiacal landscapes of Seychelles aboard the catamaran with a local skipper? An adventure to treasure for your entire life.
All you need to know for your next skippered catamaran cruise
The demand for skippered catamaran holidays can be very high compared to the number of offers. We recommend booking several months in advance - January or February for summer trips in the Mediterranean and September or October for winter trips in the Caribbean.The best time for a catamaran holiday in the Mediterranean is from May to October. For a Caribbean holiday, between November and April.
The price of a catamaran sailing holiday can be much higher than a sailing holiday on a monohull because of the extra comfort and the limited availability. You can find experiences between €600 and €1,200 per week depending on the destination and the period of the year.
The best destinations for catamaran holidays are: Antilles (Grenadines, Guadeloupe, Cuba, British Virgin Islands), Seychelles and the Mediterranean (Greece, Corsica, Sardinia, Croatia). Booking an entire catamaran with a skipper is a brilliant option for holidays with family or friends.
