best sailing yacht companies

10 Best Sailboat Brands (And Why)

10 Best Sailboat Brands | Life of Sailing

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

December 20, 2023

‍ There's no denying that sailors are certainly a passionate bunch. We’re so passionate about our boats that we always try going for the best sailboats. To make it a lot easier for you, here are the best sailboat brands.

Owning a sailboat is an indulgence that many of us only dream about but very few ever have the privilege of sailing the seas in what they can actually call their own.

While there's nothing wrong with renting a sailboat, the honor of owning one is certain what many sailors dream of.

With a perfectly crafted sailboat as company, gliding through the water, waves, and wind brings some sort of unmatched comfort and peace.

Add this to the fact that sailing takes you far away from the daily hustles and bustles that we've become accustomed to in our daily lives and you'll see why the life of sailing is very appealing to the masses.

But without a proper sailboat, all this fun and the good life of sailing are thrown out of the window.

Contrary to the widespread opinion, owning a sailboat isn't beyond anyone's reach. It's something that we can all achieve. But before getting into that, it's important to know some of the best sailboat brands.

The best sailboat brands will make your life as a sailor a lot easier and more fun. The best sailboat brands have, for decades if not centuries, mastered the art of woodworking. They've dedicated their skills and immense amount of their time to designing and manufacturing nothing but the best quality of sailboats in the industry.

So if you've been looking for the best sailboat brands from all over the world, you've come to the right place. We'll discuss the best of the best, something that will give you a perfect getaway from your normal life.

Table of contents

‍ Must-Have Features for Your Sailboat

Before highlighting the best sailboat brands, it would be appropriate to jog your mind a little with some of the features that must be available in your sailboat.

Choosing a sailboat can sometimes be a matter of compromises. In other words, it's sometimes sensible to accept that a sailboat cannot have all the features that you desire.

As such, it's all about going with a sailboat that has the features that matter to you most.

For this reason, let's look at the most basic features that can make the difference in both safety and comfort while improving your sailing experience.

A Safe and Comfortable Sailing Cockpit

You'll most definitely be spending a huge amount of time in the cockpit. Whether you're keeping watch, trimming sails , helming, or just enjoying the scenery, there's no better place to do all these than from the cockpit. That being said, a good cockpit should have the following.

Have a good depth for safety reasons and adequate drainage
Should give you a quick and easy access to jammers, cleats, and other important parts of the winch system
Should have a seat or seats that are about 35 cm high, 50 to 55 cm wide to provide ideal support
The seats should be adjustable to offer maximum comfort and allow you to change your position

GPS Chartplotter

Use a GPS Chartplotter once and your sailing will never be the same without it. It not only allows you to map a course but is also a great way of ensuring that your sailboat exactly follows that course. It also gives you constant updates on ocean conditions, weather conditions , and potential hazards such as deadly currents and sandbars.

A GPS Chartplotter is also an important safety device that can help you in some very critical situations while out there on the water.

For instance, it has a man-overboard button that is essentially meant to allow you to receive coordinates of the exact location should someone fall off your boat.

Electric Winch System

This is an amazing addition to any sailboat. It allows you to sheet a jib even in high and strong winds with a simple press of a button. It also gives you the chance of trimming a mainsail easily while still carry out other essential tasks in the sailboat.

An electric winch system can be of great importance, especially if you're short on crew. This is because it can free up some crew members to carry other important tasks. In other words, it can make duties that would otherwise require more crew members a lot easier.

More importantly, an electric winch system can maintain safety even in the roughest of conditions, thereby preventing you and your crew from getting injured. In essence, an electric winch system will make your sailing a lot safer, less stressful, and more enjoyable.

Reverse Osmosis Watermaker

This is a very valuable accessory, especially if you're going on long sea voyages. You can spend days on end without drinking clean and safe water.

As the name suggests, you can use this accessory to turn seawater into purified drinking water. It uses the reverse osmosis method that's essential not only in removing bacteria and parasites from the water but also in turning the water into purified and safe drinking water.

Even though this device is pricey, it's a great way to mitigate the over-reliance on huge water tanks. All you have to do is to ensure that it's properly maintained and you'll have an endless streak of safe drinking water no matter where you are.

Wide and Clutter-free Deck

While the deck is often an overlooked feature of a sailboat, it can be the difference between a great sailing experience and a stressful one. In essence, the deck of a sailboat should be wide enough and clutter-free.

This is significant as it can enable you to quickly access different parts of your sailboat with hindrance or getting tangled. As you can see, this is particularly important in improving safety and reducing stress.

With that in mind, make sure that the deck is organized in such a way that you can have easy access to sails, masts, and winches.

You should, therefore, avoid sailboats with decks that are designed in such a way that you have to climb on top of the cabin just to access these features. Needless to say, this can be quite unstable and very dangerous especially when conditions are rough.

The Best Sailboat Brands and Why

1. hallberg-rassy.

Hallberg-Rassy is a Swedish yacht maker that's very well-known in the blue water cruising circles for making some of the highest quality and sturdiest sailboats. For many sailors, this is the number one sailboat brand as it offers absolute comfort, utmost safety, and good and easy handling.

This brand is not only synonymous with sturdy construction but you won't worry getting soaking wet while out there on the water. This is because it has a well-protected deck and cockpit, finished with nice woodwork, and has a powerful engine with a big tankage just to ensure that you can go on long voyages.

When designing its sailboats, this brand has made it a norm to add some features that stand out from the rest. For instance, the bowsprit is an integral feature that makes sailing a Hallberg-Rassy quite easy and much enjoyable. This is because it grants easy access to and from the deck. Its electric anchor winches facilitate smooth maneuvering. Even more, its large steering wheels makes it much easier to control the boat even in the roughest of conditions. In essence, this brand has features that provide good control and an extra sense of safety.

Although this brand has evolved over the years, you'll easily recognize it even from a distance. And why is this? A Hallberg-Rassy never goes out of style. This is a unique sailboat brand that has always stayed true to its principles and concept. No matter which part of the world you go, Hallberg-Rassy will remain the undisputed king of blue water cruising.

2. Nautor's Swan

For over 50 years, Nautor's Swan has endlessly raised the sailing levels by designing and manufacturing new sailboat models that not only push the boundaries but also meet that many requirements and demands of sailors across the world. Thanks to its wide range of seaworthy, timeless, elegant, and highly-performing sailboats, the Nautor's Swan remains one of the best if not the best sailboat makers in the world.

Based in Jakobstad, Finland, this brand has severally set the industry standard with its speedy and sleek models such as the Swan 48, Swan 65, Swan 98, Swan 78, and Swan 120. These models have one thing in common: they never compromise on safety. As a brand that puts safety first, it ensures that its models are made of foam-cored glass fiber and reinforced both with carbon-fiber and epoxy. In essence, Nautor's Swan is widely revered for its unmatched seafaring and safety records.

Additionally, Nautor's Swan models are incredibly responsive. You can easily tell this just by the feel of the wheel. This brand has models that will gracefully slice through the biggest of waves with ease. That's not all; the interior of these models that are very comfortable even when the going gets tough. This is, without a doubt, a brand that strives to create self-contained worlds with each model.

3. Beneteau

This is perhaps the most selling sailboat brand in the world. For over a century now, this brand has based its models in a combination of simplicity and performance. This is a brand that will serve you just right across all latitudes and in all circumstances. Whether you prefer the Oceanis Yacht 62 or the Figaro Beneteau 3, this brand will never let you down on all fronts.

This brand revolves around a simple concept of creating a link around the world. From the deck space to its design and light, this brand does everything possible not just to uniformly transform life at sea but also to open doors to new horizons in a very luxurious yet practical way. Its models are designed with clear deck plans, stable hulls, simplified maneuvering and interior materials and equipment that can be easily personalized.

Whether you're looking for a racing sailboat or something that's designed to explore and enjoy the world in the company of friends and family, Beneteau is a true combination of sensations and simplicity. This is a brand that brings to the seas fun, simplicity, smartness, toughness, safety, intuitiveness, as well as dazzling reinvention.

4. Amel Yachts

Based on the ethos of designing and manufacturing comfortable, robust, and easy-to-handle boats, this French brand has, for over five decades, offered sailors and other sailing enthusiasts the perfect opportunity to explore the seas with the utmost quality, comfort, and more importantly, safety.

Using 100% French know-how, this brand has brought to the sailing world some of the best boats such as the Santorini, the Mango, the Super Maramu, and the Maramu. We would be doing this brand total injustice if we said that they're distinctive. Truth be told, there's nothing comparable to an Amel model. Well Amel was and still is, the ultimate standard by which other sailboat models are measured.

From items such as electric winches and furling, to generators, Watermaker , and washing machine down to the simplest of items such as towels. Spare filters, bathrobes, deck brush, and a boat safe, the Amel is in reality with what the real life of a sailor is and should be.

Although some may say that Amel still has room for improvement in terms of specifications and personalization, it cannot be denied that the Amel is a serious brand that designs and manufactures complete boats. With this brand, you'll be guaranteed of a higher degree of reliability, safety, and an edge of fun while out there on the water.

5. Hinckley Yachts

Based in Maine, United States, Hinckley Yachts is a brand that has been building robust, luxury, and safe sailboats for more than 90 years now. In its sailboat class, you'll find several sailboats that have classic shapes, inner strength, dramatic lines, and features that are absolutely essential in dealing with the challenges of the North Atlantic.

This brand has been successful in integrating impeccable craftsmanship with new technologies to ensure that their models always stand out while articulating advanced sailing practices, timeless aesthetic, robust construction, and the utmost safety. Whether you choose the Bermuda 50, the Sou'wester 53 or any model for that matter, you'll never be short of advanced performance based on the best design and technology.

In terms of features, this brand provides sailboat models with modern performance hulls. These hulls are constructed with inner layers of carbon, outer layers of Kevlar, and are aligned with computer-designed load paths. Every feature is designed without compromising comfort.

To this end, this brand offers you a perfect combination of both fun and sail. This brand offers more than just sailing. Instead, it offers a unique sailing experience that's combined with the pure joys of sailing in the blue waters with an ease of ownership and maneuverability.

6. Oyster Yachts

If you've been looking for luxury more than anything else, Oyster Yachts provides you with numerous solutions. This British brand is widely known for manufacturing a wide range of luxury cruising sailing yachts. Its sailboats are among the finest in the world and are immensely capable of taking you to some of the far-flung places in the world without having to worry about high winds and hellish waves.

Whether you choose the iconic Oyster 565 or the immense Oyster 595 you never fall short of experiencing the new world like never before. These are models that will enable you to own your adventure, choose your destination, set your courses, pick your anchorage, and stay safe at all times. If you want to hold the wheel and pull the sail while feeling the tang of salt spray on your face, Oyster Yachts is the way to go.

This is, unquestionably, a brand that's meant for you if you want to explore the seas in comfort, luxury and utmost safety. From craftsmanship, sailboat design, to hull, deck, and keel configurations, everything is designed to allow you to circumnavigate the world in comfort, elegance, and style.

7. Tartan Yachts

Based in Fairport Harbor, Ohio, there's arguably no better to begin your sailing adventures than with a sailboat designed and manufactured by Tartan Yachts. With several award-winning designs and construction, this brand is widely known for providing easy handling, great performance, and an ultimately stable platform.

This brand always strives to deliver a unique and the best possible experience to every sailor. As a brand, Tartan fully understands that every sailor has his/her unique sailing needs. As such every component of their models is designed with engineering levels that guarantee optimum performance, excellent on-deck visibility, and luxurious interior.

From the Tartan 5300, the Tartan 4300, the Tartan 345 to the New 365 and the Fantail, this brand makes it a priority to ensure that its models are among the strongest, lightest, and more importantly, the safest in the sailing industry. In essence, this brand can be ideal if you appreciate performance. It has rewarding sailing features both in narrow water lines and wider passages. Add this to its easy handling and you'll have a top-notch performer in virtually every condition.

8. Catalina Yachts

As one of the most popular boat manufacturers in the world, this American brand is widely revered for building the sturdiest boats that can hold up perfectly well in real-world conditions. These are generally family-oriented boats that are intelligently designed to ensure that your entire family can have fun out there on the water.

Some of the models include the cruiser series such as the Catalina 315, the Catalina 385, the Catalina 425 while the sport series include the Catalina 12.5 Expo, the Catalina 16.5, and the Catalina 14.2 Expo. As the current winner of the "Boat of the Year" Cruising World, you'll rarely go wrong with a Catalina model.

It offers a wide range of sailboat sizes that suits your lifestyle. This brand makes it a priority to ensure that all their models are not only safe but offer the best ownership and sailing experience. If anything, this brand is widely known to have one of the most excellent resale values in the sailing industry.

9. Island Packet Yachts

From the IP 525, the IP 439 to the IP 379, the Island Packet Yachts is a brand that encourages its customers not to keep the world waiting. This brand is meant for sailors who want to explore the world in utmost comfort and safety.

The first thing you'll notice in an IP sailboat is its large aft deck. This is not only perfect for sunbathing but can also serve you well if you want an impromptu dinner with friends and family while out there on the water. The living space is also large enough to carry most of your belongings, which is an added advantage especially if you've been planning to spend longer periods in the seas.

With modern evolution and refinement, as well as proven features, this brand is known to offer sailors maximum comfort, luxury, and safety. You'll have better access to the cockpit, have enough space, and are excellently designed to provide superior seafaring and the best features to enable you to spend extended periods when cruising.

10. Sparkman & Stephens

For more than 90 years, Sparkman & Stephens has been at the forefront of the belief that sailboat excellence goes beyond hull lines and deck plans. Instead, this brand believes in excellent naval architecture, innovation, sophistication, and beauty. This is a brand that has laid the foundation of sailboat as a sport not just in America but all over the world.

These models have graced the world for decades and bring immense pleasure to their owners in terms of innovation, performance, and excellence. Though rooted in tradition, the brand has pushed sophistication, technology, and sailing experience to a whole new level. You'll be a proud owner of the Sparkman & Stephens model.

There you have it; these are the best sailboat brands in the world. Although there are several other sailboat brands to choose from, the-above described brands stand shoulder above others in terms of quality, safety, performances and luxury.

Hopefully, you're at a much better place when it comes to choosing a sailboat that suits your lifestyle, needs, and budget .

Happy sailing!

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I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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40 Best Sailboats

By Cruising World Editors
Updated: May 24, 2024

Sailors are certainly passionate about their boats, and if you doubt that bold statement, try posting an article dubbed “ 40 Best Sailboats ” and see what happens.

Barely had the list gone live, when one reader responded, “Where do I begin? So many glaring omissions!” Like scores of others, he listed a number of sailboats and brands that we were too stupid to think of, but unlike some, he did sign off on a somewhat upbeat note: “If it weren’t for the presence of the Bermuda 40 in Cruising World’s list, I wouldn’t even have bothered to vote.”

By vote, he means that he, like hundreds of other readers, took the time to click through to an accompanying page where we asked you to help us reshuffle our alphabetical listing of noteworthy production sailboats so that we could rank them instead by popularity. So we ask you to keep in mind that this list of the best sailboats was created by our readers.

The quest to building this list all began with such a simple question, one that’s probably been posed at one time or another in any bar where sailors meet to raise a glass or two: If you had to pick, what’re the best sailboats ever built?

In no time, a dozen or more from a variety of sailboat manufacturers were on the table and the debate was on. And so, having fun with it, we decided to put the same question to a handful of CW ‘s friends: writers and sailors and designers and builders whose opinions we value. Their favorites poured in and soon an inkling of a list began to take shape. To corral things a bit and avoid going all the way back to Joshua Slocum and his venerable Spray —Hell, to Noah and his infamous Ark —we decided to focus our concentration on production monohull sailboats, which literally opened up the sport to anyone who wanted to get out on the water. And since CW is on the verge or turning 40, we decided that would be a nice round number at which to draw the line and usher in our coming ruby anniversary.

If you enjoy scrolling through this list, which includes all types of sailboats, then perhaps you would also be interested in browsing our list of the Best Cruising Sailboats . Check it out and, of course, feel free to add your favorite boat, too. Here at Cruising World , we like nothing better than talking about boats, and it turns out, so do you.

– LEARN THE NAVIGATION RULES – Know the “Rules of the Road” that govern all boat traffic. Be courteous and never assume other boaters can see you. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

40. Moore 24

39. Pearson Vanguard

38. Dufour Arpege 30

37. Alerion Express 28

36. Mason 43/44

35. Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 43DS

34. Nor’Sea 27

33. Freedom 40

32. Beneteau Sense 50

31. Nonsuch 30

30. Swan 44

29. C&C Landfall 38

28. Gulfstar 50

27. Sabre 36

26. Pearson Triton

– CHECK THE FIT – Follow these guidelines to make sure your life jacket looks good, stays comfortable and works when you need it. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

25. Islander 36

24. Gozzard 36

23. Bristol 40

22. Tartan 34

21. Morgan Out Island 41

20. Hylas 49

19. Contessa 26

18. Whitby 42

17. Columbia 50

16. Morris 36

15. Hunter 356

13. Beneteau 423

12. Westsail 32

– CHECK THE WEATHER – The weather changes all the time. Always check the forecast and prepare for the worst case. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

10. Alberg 30

9. Island Packet 38

8. Passport 40

7. Tayana 37

6. Peterson 44

5. Pacific Seacraft 37

4. Hallberg-Rassy 42

3. Catalina 30

2. Hinckley Bermuda 40

1. Valiant 40

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13 Best Cruising Sailboats in 2023 & Why They're Better

If you're interested in long-distance exploration at sea, cruising sailboats are a popular choice. The best cruising sailboats are designed to provide comfort, durability, and seaworthiness. From high-performance cruisers with heirloom-quality materials to versatile boats, there's something in this lineup for your skill level and preference. These boats have raised the bar and are set to provide memorable sailing experiences.

The best cruising sailboats are:

Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 54

Jeanneau sun odyssey 490, x-yachts x49, dufour grand large 460, hallberg-rassy 340, tartan 4300, island packet 420, fountaine pajot saona 47, lagoon 450f, bavaria cruiser 46.

One aspect that sets these sailboats apart is their focus on innovation and performance. Let's take a closer look at the 13 best cruising sailboats of 2023 and explore what makes them stand out from the rest.

These cruising sailboats feature spacious interiors, sturdy hulls, and versatile sail configurations.
These sailboats are equipped with navigation and communication systems, as well as additional features such as watermakers, generators, and refrigeration systems.
You can buy these boats for anything between $250,000 and $1.4 million or more.
A cruiser is a type of sailboat that is generally larger and more comfortable than a racing sailboat.

Size	Accommodation	Starting Price
50 feet	6 to 8 people	$1.3 million
56.5 feet	6 to 8 people	$1.4 million
54 feet	6 to 8 people	$690,000
49 feet	6 to 8 people	$425,000
49 feet	6 to 8 people	$1.2 million
46 feet	6 to 8 people	$370,000
45.8 feet	6 to 8 people	$350,000
34 feet	4 to 5 people	$300,000
43 feet	6 to 8 people	$600,000
42 feet	6 to 8 people	$550,000
47 feet	8 to 10 people	$900,000
45 feet	8 to 10 people	$700,000
46 feet	6 to 8 people	$250,000

In this section, we'll explore the 13 best cruising sailboats of 2023, highlighting their unique features and reasons why they stand out in the market.

Living Space	Seaworthiness	Sailing Performance	Safety	Storage Space	Energy Efficiency	Durability
5	5	4	5	5	5	5
5	5	4	5	5	4	5
5	4	4	4	5	4	4
4	4	4	4	5	4	4
3	5	5	4	4	4	5
5	4	4	4	5	4	4
4	4	5	4	4	4	4
4	5	4	4	4	4	5
4	4	4	4	4	4	5
4	5	3	4	5	3	5
5	4	4	4	5	4	4
5	4	4	4	5	4	4
4	4	4	4	4	5	4

Comfortable living space : A cruising sailboat should have a comfortable living space that can accommodate the crew for an extended period of time. This includes a spacious cabin, galley, head, and berths.

Seaworthiness : A cruising sailboat should be able to handle rough seas and adverse weather conditions. It should have a sturdy hull, a well-designed keel, and a balanced rigging system.

Sailing performance : A cruising sailboat should have good sailing performance, which includes speed, stability, and ease of handling. It should be able to sail efficiently in different wind conditions.

Safety features : A cruising sailboat should have safety features such as a reliable navigation system, adequate safety equipment, and a strong anchoring system.

Storage space : A cruising sailboat should have enough storage space for provisions, equipment, and personal belongings. This includes storage lockers, shelves, and compartments.

Energy efficiency : A cruising sailboat should have an energy-efficient system that can provide power for lighting, electronics, and other equipment without relying on shore power.

Durability : A cruising sailboat should be built to last and withstand the wear and tear of extended cruising. This includes using high-quality materials and construction techniques.

The Amel 50 is known for its luxurious and comfortable accommodations, and excellent seaworthiness. Its unique features include a spacious interior with modern design, an innovative cockpit layout, and a powerful yet easy-to-handle sailing system.

The Amel 50 has a unique feature called the "Amel Easy Docking" system, which allows for easy and precise maneuvering in tight spaces. It also has a unique "Amel Silent Block" system, which reduces noise and vibration for a more comfortable ride.

The Oyster 565 is known for its high-quality construction, attention to detail, and luxurious accommodations, as well as its excellent safety features. It provides you with exceptional performance and comfort. Its sleek hull design offers fast, stable sailing, while the spacious, high-quality interior ensures you'll enjoy your time onboard.

The Oyster 565 has a unique feature called the "Oyster Deck Saloon," which provides 360-degree views and adequate natural light in the living space. It also has a unique "Oyster DNA" system, which allows for customization of the boat to suit the owner's preferences.

With its cutting-edge design and performance, the Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 54 lets you sail in style. Its chined hull, twin rudders, and easy handling make it a pleasure to sail, while the spacious, modern interior ensures your comfort on longer voyages.

The Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 54 has a unique feature called the "Dock & Go" system, which allows for easy and precise maneuvering in tight spaces. It also has a unique "Beneteau Smart Sailing" system, which includes a suite of electronic and navigational tools for easy and safe sailing.

The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 is known for its hard chine design, and excellent performance and stability. It offers innovative design and functionality. Its walk-around decks, unique cockpit layout, and high-quality interior make it ideal for cruising in comfort.

The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 has a unique feature called the "Walk-Around Deck," which allows for easy and safe movement around the boat. It also has a unique "Jeanneau Sun Loft" system, which provides a flexible and customizable living space.

The X-Yachts X49 combines performance, luxury, and comfort. It is known for its high-performance hull design, excellent speed and stability. With its fast hull, advanced sailing systems, and plush interior, the X49 is perfect for both racing and cruising.

The X-Yachts X49 has a unique feature called the "X-Yachts Pure X" system, which includes a suite of performance-enhancing features such as a carbon fiber mast and boom, a racing-inspired sail plan, and a deep lead keel.

The Dufour Grand Large 460 provides you with both comfort and performance. It is known for its innovative design, featuring a self-tacking jib and retractable bow thruster for easy handling. Its spacious interior, ergonomic deck layout, and powerful sailing capabilities make it an excellent choice for long-distance cruising.

The Dufour Grand Large 460 has a unique feature called the "Dufour Easy" system, which includes a suite of tools for easy and safe sailing, such as a self-tacking jib and retractable bow thruster. It also has a unique "Dufour Grand Large Lounge" system, which provides a flexible and customizable living space.

Experience easy handling and modern style with the Hanse 458. It is known for its sleek and modern design, self-tacking jib, large swim platform. Its innovative self-tacking jib, efficient deck layout, and comfortable accommodation make it perfect for family cruising.

The Hanse 458 has a unique feature called the "Hanse Easy Sailing" system, which includes a suite of tools for easy and safe sailing, such as a self-tacking jib and retractable bow thruster. It also has a unique "Hanse Individual Cabin Concept" system, which allows for customization of the living space to suit the owner's preferences.

Known for its quality and craftsmanship, the Hallberg-Rassy 340 offers you comfort and performance in a compact package. It is known for its classic design, long waterline, spacious cockpit, and comfortable and practical accommodations. With its stable hull, efficient sailplan, and well-designed interior, it's ideal for long-range cruising on a smaller scale.

The Hallberg-Rassy 340 has a unique feature called the "Hallberg-Rassy Hardtop," which provides protection from the elements and a spacious cockpit area. It also has a unique "Hallberg-Rassy Quality Concept" system, which includes high-quality construction materials and techniques for durability and longevity.

The Tartan 4300 delivers a perfect balance of performance and comfort. It is known for its high-quality construction, cored hull and deck for added strength and durability. Its epoxy-infused hull provides lightweight strength, while the spacious, beautifully crafted interior ensures a luxurious cruising experience.

The Tartan 4300 has a unique feature called the "Tartan Infusion Molding Process," which allows for precise and consistent construction of the hull and deck for added strength and durability. It also has a unique "Tartan Smart Sailing" system, which includes a suite of electronic and navigational tools for easy and safe sailing.

For those who value comfort and classic design, the Island Packet 420 won't disappoint. It is known for its full keel design, excellent stability and seaworthiness. Its spacious, well-appointed interior and solid construction make it a reliable choice for long voyages.

The Island Packet 420 has a unique feature called the "Island Packet Full Foil Keel," which provides excellent stability and seaworthiness. It also has a unique "Island Packet Anchoring System," which includes a powerful windlass and a custom-designed anchor roller for easy and safe anchoring.

The Fountaine Pajot Saona 47 catamaran offers you the perfect combination of speed, stability, and space. Its sleek hulls and spacious, well-designed living areas make it an excellent choice for cruising with friends and family.

The Fountaine Pajot Saona 47 has a unique feature called the "Fountaine Pajot Helmsman's Position," which provides excellent visibility and control of the boat. It also has a unique "Fountaine Pajot Lounge Deck" system, which provides a spacious and comfortable living space.

Cruise in style on the Lagoon 450F, known for its spacious accommodations and excellent performance under sail. With its distinctive flybridge, comfortable cabins, and efficient sailing system, it's ideal for multi-day getaways.

The Lagoon 450F has a unique feature called the "Lagoon Flybridge," which provides excellent visibility and control of the boat. It also has a unique "Lagoon Spacious Cockpit" system, which provides a comfortable and practical living space.

The Bavaria Cruiser 46 is a versatile and stylish cruiser that offers excellent performance and comfort. It is known for its innovative design, featuring a drop-down transom for easy access to the water. Its user-friendly sailing systems, attractive interior, and practical deck layout make it an ideal choice for a wide range of cruising adventures.

The Bavaria Cruiser 46 has a unique feature called the "Bavaria Hybrid Propulsion System," which allows for energy-efficient sailing and propulsion. It also has a unique "Bavaria Smart Storage" system, which provides enough storage space for gear and supplies. Additionally, the Bavaria Cruiser 46 has a unique "Bavaria Vision" design concept, which includes a spacious and comfortable living space with plenty of natural light and ventilation.

Cruising Gear Essentials

Key features to look for

Versatile hull design.

This allows your sailboat to navigate in various conditions, making it ideal for long-distance cruising.

Efficient sail plan

By having a well-designed sail layout, your boat provides better control, handling, and propulsion.

High-quality construction

Top-quality materials and craftsmanship not only increase the boat's durability, but also enhance its performance.

Comfortable accommodations

When you spend extended periods at sea, you want your sailboat to feel like home, with adequate living space and modern amenities. For an extended sailing trip, you are going to need these 41 sailboat cruising essentials .

How they improve sailing experience

Easier boat handling.

Advanced rigging systems, self-tacking jibs, and other innovative technologies make it easier for you to manage your boat, allowing for more time spent enjoying the sea.

Increased safety

State-of-the-art navigation equipment and weather forecasting systems help you anticipate environmental changes, ensuring a safe voyage.

Sustainable power options

Many sailboats in 2023 come with solar panels, hydro generators, or hybrid propulsion options, reducing your environmental impact and providing more sustainable choices while out at sea.

Integrated connectivity

These boats boast digital systems that allow you to stay connected, monitor your journey, and update your friends and family with your adventures.

Their advantages over others

Better performance.

These boats have been designed with speed, stability, and maneuverability in mind, ensuring top-notch sailing experiences.

Longevity and value

Since they're built with high-quality materials and expert craftsmanship, these boats are certain to last, making them a wise investment.

Customization options

Many of these sailboats offer customizable features, allowing you to tailor the boat to your specific needs and preferences.

Award-winning designs

Several of these boats have received prestigious awards for their innovative features and performance, making them the ultimate cruising sailboats for any passionate sailor.

The Island Packet 420 and Lagoon 450F are the two most popular cruising sailboats known for their comfort, seaworthiness, and versatility.

The Island Packet 420 is a well-regarded cruising sailboat that has a loyal following. It is known for its spacious interior, comfortable accommodations, and good sailing performance.

The Island Packet 420 features a full keel and a cutter rig, which makes it a stable and seaworthy vessel that can handle a variety of weather conditions. The sailboat has a large master cabin, a well-equipped galley, and a comfortable salon area, making it a popular choice for those who enjoy extended periods of time at sea.

The Lagoon 450F is a popular choice for those who want to explore the world by boat. It is known for its spacious interior, stable platform, and good sailing performance.

The Lagoon 450F features a catamaran hull design, which provides a stable and comfortable platform that is ideal for long-distance cruising. The sailboat has a spacious cockpit, multiple sleeping quarters, and a well-equipped galley, making it a popular choice for those who want to travel with family or friends.

The best size cruising sailboat

The best size cruising sailboat is in the range of 40 to 50 feet. Sailboats in this size range are large enough to provide comfortable accommodations for an extended period of time at sea, yet small enough to be easily handled by a small crew or even single-handed.

Sailboats that are too small may lack the necessary amenities and space for long-distance cruising, while sailboats that are too large may be difficult to handle and require a larger crew. Ultimately, the best size cruising sailboat will depend on individual preferences, needs, and intended use, and it's important to consider factors such as comfort, safety, and ease of handling when choosing a cruising sailboat.

The safest cruising sailboat

Hallberg-Rassy 340, and Island Packet 420 are considered among the safest cruising sailboats. These sailboats are known for their sturdy construction, well-designed hulls, and reliable systems. They are also known for their ability to handle a variety of weather conditions and their comfortable accommodations. However, safety can also depend on the boat maintenance, and the skill and experience of the crew.

You may also like, 41 sailboat cruising essentials for long trips.

In this post I list the items you are unlikely to have if you have never done bluewater or long-term cruising before. There are some essential safety product and …

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The five best sailing yachts launched in 2021

L’Aquila II

Built in steel and aluminium, Mengi Yay 's, 42.5 metre flagship sailing yacht L’Aquila II was delivered to its owner in June 2021. L'Aquila II was first commissioned in May 2019 by a repeat client looking to upgrade their previous 34m sailing yacht named L'Aquila . L'Aquila II features naval architecture and exterior design courtesy of Ginton Naval Architects , while the interior comes from the boards of Rush Design.

The fourth yacht in Southern Wind Shipyard ’s 35.4 metre SW105 sailing yacht series, Taniwha was commissioned by a "passionate yachtsman" and first hit the water in Cape Town in April 2021. Designed by Farr Yacht Design and Nauta Design , Taniwha was built with a carbon fibre hull, intentionally lightweight hydraulic and electric power management systems, meaning the yacht is three tons lighter than the other hulls in the series.

Turkish yard Bodrum Oguz Marin ’s 34 metre Miti One was launched in August after being built on spec by the yard in Turkey with construction starting in January 2020. Featuring an interior of 180GT and a beam of 8.4 metres, the yacht accommodates 12 guests in five staterooms with a crew of seven. The yacht is part of the Turkish shipyard's ‘MiTi Navi’ series of semi-production sailing yachts built in steel. The series comprises 26, 34, 42 and 50 metre sailing yachts, all with in-house naval architecture and design.

The first 36.55 metre Swan 120 sailing superyacht was built by Nautor's Swan and made its global debut at Monaco Yacht Show this year. Penned by designer German Frers , the yacht is the flagship of the yard's Maxi Line series and represents a "new era" of performance yachts for Swan. There are two interior configurations, courtesy of designer Misa Poggi, to choose from; either with the owner's cabin aft or forward. Both configurations include an additional three guest ensuite cabins, with one double and two twins.

This year's Life Under Sail conference is taking place as part of the BOAT International Festival of Yachting . The Life Under Sail conference will form day one of the programme and will be followed by the Explorer Yachts Summit on November 11.

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The World’s Best Superyacht Shipyards

We highlight the top yards crafting the most spectacular yachts on the planet., geri ward's most recent stories.

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From Germany to the Netherlands, Italy, and the United States, the superyacht industry employs highly skilled craftsmen and women at shipyards around the globe. The handcrafted vessels can be seen in bodies of water from the Mediterranean to the Bahamas, providing enjoyment—and jobs—for those on board. Here we highlight the top 20 superyacht shipyards in the world.

Lürssen

The German name tops the list, having built 11 out of 20 of the world’s largest superyachts in the last two decades. The 145-year-old family shipyard’s largest yacht, Azzam , spans 592 feet, 6 inches. Imagine six football fields laid end to end, with dozens of staterooms and saloons filled with beautiful woodwork, custom furniture, and art, all inside a high-tech hull. That 2013 launch was followed by others like 512-foot Dilbar and this year’s 364-foot Project Tis .

Lürssen Dilbar, designed by Espen Øino. Photo: Josep Baresic

Still owned and managed by the Lürssen family, the company’s ability to consistently produce so many floating masterpieces is directly proportional to its skilled workforce and vast facilities. After recent acquisitions, including the famed Blohm & Voss yard, Lürssen owns eight shipyards across Germany. Its staff, some of the most experienced of any superyacht builder, include 400 designers, 600 engineers, 1,600 skilled workers, and 200 apprentices.

Lürssen’s Bremen shipyard. Courtesy of Lürssen

After launching the company in 1875, Friedrich Lürssen declared: “My firm shall be known as a leader in both quality and performance.”

With his name attached to the world’s largest yachts , Friedrich’s words have taken on a greater significance than he could ever have imagined.

Abeking & Rasmussen’s Elandess at the shipyard. Photo: Courtesy Abeking & Rasmussen

Abeking & Rasmussen

Located across the river from Lürssen’s Lemwerder yard, Abeking & Rasmussen has created advanced running surfaces, like its Swath hull that skips over turbulent ocean waves rather than pounding across. The name is known for commercial and military vessels as well as custom yachts.

Abeking & Rasmussen’s Cloudbreak. Christopher Scholey

Its award winners include the 237-foot Cloudbreak , which set new design standards for expedition yachts, and the 244-foot Elandess , featuring its “Nemo Lounge” with a window below the waterline. Abeking’s flagship, the 321-foot Aviva , is unique among yachts its size with an unmatched interior volume that includes a regulation-sized paddle-tennis court .

Aviva’s paddle-tennis court. Photo: Abeking & Rasmussen

The 112-year-old yard is typically ahead of the latest trends. It is developing a hybrid fuel cell powered by methanol that emits only clean steam. The system could well be the first hydrocarbon-emissions-free propulsion in the yachting world.

Feadship Amsterdam Yard. Photo: Courtesy of Feadship

Formed as a group in 1949, Feadship is probably the most famous name among the Dutch builders. Feadship is comprised of the De Vries and Van Lent family yards, with locations in Aalsmeer, Makkum, Kaag, and Amsterdam. The group also includes De Voogt Naval Architects .

Feadship’s 312-foot Faith. Photo: Courtesy of Feadship

Feadship, credited with dozens of custom launches over the last seven decades, has grown into Holland’s superyacht powerhouse. In the 2015, it launched 333-foot Symphony , the first Feadship to cross the 100-meter mark. Faith , a stunning 312-footer launched two years later, has a streamlined profile and helicopter pad with hangar on the foredeck and swimming pool with glass floor (forming the ceiling of the beach club below) on the aft deck.

Feadship Hasna. Photo: Courtesy of Feadship

Last year, Feadship launched a half-dozen other yachts, including 241-foot Sherpa . Its expedition-yacht exterior, including two industrial-looking exhaust stacks on the aft cockpit, shows Feadship’s design capabilities. Its Project 814, with its vertical bow and long, lean forefoot, will be an example of an entirely new look, when launched later this year.

Nobiskrug Sailing Yacht A. Photo: Courtesy of Nobiskrug

Specializing in made-to-measure, custom-built superyachts, award-winning builder Nobiskrug produces its vessels out of three different facilities in northern Germany: Rendsburg, Kiel-Gaarden, and Kiel-Friedrichsort. The yard was established in Rendsburg in 1905, shortly after the Kiel Canal opened in 1895. Today Nobiskrug employs more than 1,000 highly skilled craftsmen and women across the three shipyards. In-house production includes hull construction, steel cutting, mechanical work, fitting, pipe fitting, paint, electrical, and carpentry, with these workshops organized under one roof.

Shown above is the brand’s Best of the Best winner A , designed by Philippe Starck and built by Nobiskrug, the yacht is a 470-foot sail-assisted motor yacht that was delivered in 2017.

Nobiskrug Mogambo motor yacht best of the best

Nobiskrug Mogambo. Photo: Courtesy of Nobiskrug

Nobiskrug’s 241-foot Mogambo won Robb Report ‘s Best of the Best award in 2013. Featuring both interiors and exteriors by UK-based Reymond Langton Design, Mogambo is a great example of Nobiskrug’s past projects.

Nobiskrug’s Artefact is an Eco-Friendly Hybrid Superyacht

Nobiskrug’s hybrid superyacht Artefact. Photo: Courtesy of Nobiskrug

Representing the future of the company, Nobiskrug’s hybrid superyacht Artefact (ex-project 790) was revealed last fall in Monaco and is scheduled for a 2019 delivery. With an exterior by Canada’s Gregory Marshall Studio and interior by Reymond Langton Design, the yacht features numerous eco-friendly characteristics, such as lower emissions and a quieter ride. It also utilizes a Dynamic Positioning System to hold its position for longer, delaying the need for sea-bed-damaging anchors.

Amels Shipyard. Photo: Courtesy of Amels

Amels celebrated its centennial in 2018, but the superyacht builder has modern facilities and one of the industry’s smartest business plans. It was acquired by the Damen Group in 1991, which gave it the financial resources and vision to become one of the most respected custom yacht builders. Ten years ago, it launched a Limited Editions range. Built on proven hull platforms from 180 to 272 feet, owners have a choice of customizing both the interior and exteriors. Close to 40 yachts have been delivered since, proving that the disruptive concept has a place in yacht-building.

Amels Limited Editions 242 Monaco Yacht Show

Amels Limited Editions 242. Photo: Schöningh Wulffraat

The Amels’ yard in Vlissingen has two climate-controlled bays, one 475 feet and the other 670 feet, for multiple new builds or refits. Its second yard in Vlissingen East has a climate-controlled bay, measuring 705 feet.

Amels Volpini 2. Photo: Courtesy of Amels

Used for military and commercial vessels, it has the facilities and skilled workers to handle the world’s largest custom, steel-hulled yachts. Noteworthy launches last year include 243-foot Universe , 205-foot Sea & US , and 189-foot Volpini 2 .

Oceanco Launches 110-Meter Project Jubilee Superyacht

Oceanco launches 110-meter Jubilee. Photo: Francisco Martinez Photography

Oceanco is a relative newcomer, but it has created some of the world’s most beautiful custom superyachts. Names like the recently launched 295-foot DAR are great examples, but the yard has also built technically advanced vessels like the 350-foot sailing superyacht, Black Pearl , with some of the most advanced sails ever designed. Its other award winners like Jubilee , Aquijo , and Infinity , retain their own unique DNA. The yard has worked with the most sought-after yacht designers, including Terence Disdale , Nuvolari-Lenard , Espen Øino , Sam Sorgiovanni , Igor Lobanov , Tim Heywood , and Andrew Winch .

Oceanco Bravo Launch 2 - Credits - Francisco Martinez

Oceanco Bravo launch. Photo: Francisco Jose Martinez Mendez

The Alblasserdam yard is working on 357-foot Project Bravo , the first Oceanco with its proprietary LIFE design (lengthened, innovative, fuel-efficient, and eco-friendly). Bravo will combine hybrid propulsion, weight savings, and extra interior space in a package that could be a game-changer for yachting. “Our approach with Bravo was to maintain a stunningly sleek profile without sacrificing interior space,” says designer Dan Lenard. “The new exterior style concept is bound to create a new design stream.”

The superstructure is lowered over the hull of Project Triton. Photo: Dick Holthuis

Among the Dutch builders, Heesen has seen the greatest expansion of its model line, which is available in aluminum and steel. Its recent launches range from the 164-foot futuristic hybrid, Home , to more conventional designs like the 180-foot Laurentia . The yard really started its upward trajectory in 2011 with the simultaneous launches of Quinta Essentia and Satori, two very different yachts that captivated the superyacht world.

Heesen Home. Photo: Courtesy Dick Holthuis Photography

Two years later, Galactica Star , the first fast-displacement yacht, showed that Heesen lived in a world where design and technology intersect. Its largest-ever build, 230-foot Galactica Super Nova , was a sign that Heesen can move into larger categories. The yard has drawings of an ultra-modern 83-meter custom Maximus concept, complete with an entirely open cockpit and swimming pool with waterfall, waiting for the right owner.

A Delfino 95 emerges from the shed at Benetti’s Viareggio yard. Photo: Courtesy of Benetti

Benetti is not only the world’s largest superyacht builder, it is also one of the oldest. Started in 1875, the Italian builder always has a parade of custom and semicustom builds. The Azimut Benetti Group now has 97 yachts under build over 78 feet. In the last year, Benetti has launched a range of yachts, including Ironman , its sixth Fast 140, 207-foot custom Metis and 226-foot Spectre .

Benetti custom superyacht Spectre james bond staluppi

Benetti Spectre. Courtesy of Benetti

Benetti also recently launched its largest-ever build, 351-foot FB277, one of three gigayachts currently being built in its Livorno yard. The other two are due to launch this year. The world’s largest superyacht builder continues to push the boundaries in design and technology, as it moves into gigayacht territory that the yards in Northern Europe have dominated for years.

CRN’s superyacht yard. Photo: Courtesy of CRN

The 262-foot Chopi Chopi was a landmark yacht for CRN when it launched in 2013, showing that the Italian yard could go toe-to-toe with the yards in Northern Europe. Chopi Chopi is still CRN’s largest build to date, but the Ancona facility has launched a succession of custom yachts that have established CRN’s place as the crown jewel of the Ferretti Group. The military exterior of 180-foot Atlante , sleek hull of 239-foot Yalla , or stunning, high-tech interior of its most recent launch, Cloud 9 , show the range of the custom builder.

CRN’s Cloud 9 superyacht. Photo: Maurizio Paradisi

CRN’s current builds include a 260-foot tri-deck motor yacht, a pair of 203-footers with low superstructures and vertical bows, and a 164-foot Superconero , a modern version of the 1970s SuperConero that defined CRN. Ferretti has invested about $10 million to upgrade the Ancona yard, with plans to invest another $15 million.

Baglietto Shipyard. Photo: Emilio Bianchi

Baglietto is one of Italy’s most revered yacht names, having started in 1840 when Pieto Baglietto built small wooden fishing boats in his backyard. The company built boats for kings and popes, and put the first combustion engine into an 80-foot yacht in 1906. After being rescued from bankruptcy by the Gavio Group, a multinational corporation owned by a yacht-loving family, Baglietto has experienced a renaissance. Both its production facility, which gained a $25 million facelift, and model line, ranging from 43 to 230 feet, are now state of the art.

Baglietto’s Silver Fox. Photo: Federico Ferretti

Francesco Paszkowski, Italy’s most revered yacht designer, does the lion’s share of design for Baglietto, but the builder recently unveiled other concepts by Milan-based Hot Lab and Santa Maria Magnolfi for its midrange superyachts. Baglietto is offering these very different designs on five proven hull platforms. Its 230-foot flagship is from Mulder Design in the Netherlands.

Rossinavi Aurora. Photo: Courtesy of Rossinavi

Rossinavi ’s recent launches are some of the most inspired designs in the superyacht world. The 2017 launches, 160-foot Endeavour II and 161-foot Aurora , are as different in design as chalk and cheese. The yard worked with Achille Salvagn i on both interiors. Salvagni, known for his stylized residential interiors and whimsical decor, brought a fresh sensibility to both yachts that gave them very distinct personalities.

Rossinavi’s Custom Utopia IV. Photo: Courtesy of Rossinavi

Last year, the yard launched two more inimitable yachts, 206-foot Utopia IV and 161-foot Flying Dagger . Utopia IV is unique among superyachts because of its top end of 33 knots, with transatlantic range. Always on the lookout for new ideas, Rossinavi has unveiled concepts with Pininfarina, designer of many Ferrari models, and the Phantom 62, a sleek, futuristic design by Enrico Gobbi.

Sanlorenzo’s superyacht yard. Photo: Silvano Pupella

With headquarters in Ameglia and other yards in Viareggio, Massa, and La Spezia, Sanlorenzo is ranked among the top three builders of yachts over 80 feet. In the last two years it has introduced a 118-foot planing yacht, a 210-foot 64Steel (due out this year), the 171-foot custom Seven Sins —not to mention the flagship of its explorer line, the 164-foot 500EXP Ocean Dreamwalker III , which it launched at the last Monaco Yacht Show . The light-blue steel hull shows the style that Sanlorenzo gives to each new launch.

Sanlorenzo SL102 Asymmetric Yacht. Photo: Courtesy of Sanlorenzo

The recently introduced SL102 employs an asymmetric exterior design , with an outer walkway on just one side of the boat to increase interior volume.

The hull of the 56-meter motor yacht in the Perini Navi Voyager line, designed in partnership Philippe Briand, arrives in La Spezia from the Yildiz shipyard in Istanbul. Photo: Courtesy of Perini Navi

Perini Navi

The Perini name extends across a succession of groundbreaking yachts from 289-foot Maltese Falcon , which had a DynaRig sail plan that was designed from a theory, to the ultimate blue-water cruiser, the 229-foot Sybaris , through to the flagship of Monaco’s 2017 show, the 1 97-foot Seven .

Perini Navi Seven. Photo: Courtesy Perini Navi

Since a management restructuring in 2017, Perini Navi has introduced multiple new lines , including its E-volution sailing yacht series and three styles of motor yachts—Argonaut, Heritage, and Voyager. With two yards in Italy and a third in Turkey, Perini now has three sailing yachts under construction, including two 138-foot E-volutions. Its three motor achts under build include two Philippe Briand–designed 53 and 56 Voyagers, as well as its 82-foot hybrid-powered Eco-tender. The brand’s new energy promises a bright future.

Sunseeker’s shed. Photo: Courtesy of Sunseeker

When John and Robert Braithwaite started their fledgling boat business in 1969, the two brothers had no idea it would become one of the UK’s most important shipyards. Sunseeker is different from most yards on this list because it builds only in composites up to 155 feet.

The Sunseeker 161 being built by Icon Yachts. Photo: Courtesy of Sunseeker/Icon

Prompted by owner demand, Sunseeker is now venturing into aluminum with its new 161 Yacht. Easily recognized by Sunseeker’s exterior design cues, the 161 will be built by Icon Yachts in Holland. “We are combining the metal build expertise of ICON with our design DNA, technical expertise, and market know-how,” says Sean Robertson, president of Sunseeker USA, adding the new yacht will “absolutely” be a Sunseeker. The 161 will be launched in 2021.

Princess Yachts shipyard. Photo: Courtesy of Princess Yachts

Princess Yachts

Princess Yachts is the other British builder that continues to evolve in interesting, new ways. Established in Plymouth in 1965, Princess has grown into multiple modern production sites measuring more than 1.1 million square feet. Situated in a port with maritime ties that date back centuries, Princess’s South Yard, where the M Class superyachts are built, is a former 17th-century naval yard.

Princess Yachts Imperial Princess. Photographer: Marc Paris

The Princess flagship, the 131-foot 40M Imperial Princess, seems like a larger superyacht, with large interior volume and unusual natural light. The yard also makes a 30M (98 foot LOA) and 35M (115 foot LOA).

Princess Yachts R35. Photo: Courtesy of Princess

Its most exciting launch was the R35, a 35-footer designed by Pininfarina, with a foil system that reduces drag by 30 percent. Princess plans to add the foil design to its larger yachts, an innovation that could revolutionize yachting.

Royal Huisman Ngoni. Photo: Courtesy Royal Huisman/Breed Media

Royal Huisman

Established in 1884, Royal Huisman is one of the oldest shipyards in Holland but one of its most modern. Its waterside facility in Vollenhove totals about 350,000 square feet, with four heated bays to accommodate yachts up to 266 feet. It has another facility in Amsterdam and a third in Emden, with facilities for yachts up to 394 feet. Its fleet of famous sailing superyachts include Gliss, Antares, Hyperiod, Hanuman, Elfie, and Arcadia . Its recent launches include the 190-foot Ngoni , which has one of the most eclectic interiors ever, and the more classic 184-foot Aquarius . Though best known for custom sailboats, the yard is currently working on Project Phi, a 180-foot motor yacht designed by Van Ooosannen Naval Architects.

Nautor’s Swan Pietarsaari shipyard. Photo: Courtesy of Nautor's Swan

Nautor’s Swan

Finnish builder Nautor’s Swan , founded in 1966 by Pekka Koskenkyla, has always had its sights on building high-performance sailing yachts with beautiful wood interiors. Koskenkyla enlisted Sparkman & Stephens, designer for many winning America’s Cup yachts, to create its first fiberglass boat. The new boats saw instant racing success.

Swan 115 sailing yacht. Photo: Eva-Stina Kjellman

The builder eventually partnered with German Frers Design. The Frers team, working with 30 Swan designers, is responsible for many innovative designs, including the first Swan 115 S introduced in 2015 at the Monaco show. The 115 was the flagship of the its Maxi division, which includes the Swan 98 , and eventually became the Swan 120.

The 98’s multipurpose deck makes for a great hangout and sunning area, while at the same time has optimal space for sail handling. Photo: Courtesy Nautor's Swan

Nautor’s Swan expanded beyond its historical plant in Kallby in 2002, when it opened a new high-tech facility in Pietarsaari for yachts from 60 to 115 feet. Its Kronoby facility produces its famous wood interiors. The most noteworthy yard in Finland has produced 2,000 Swans since it launched operations.

Westport’s shipyard in Port Angeles, Washington. Photo: Courtesy of Westport

Westport Yachts

Westport Yachts has been North America’s most prolific superyacht builder since it began building boats in 1969. Its facilities in Westport and Port Angeles, Washington, include enclosed spaces of 170,000 and 100,00 square feet, respectively, with a separate 80,000-square-foot cabinet shop and 4,100-square-foot upholstery shop. Westport has launched more than 140 yachts.

A recently launched 130-foot/40-meter Westport superyacht. Photo: Courtesy of Westport

Westport’s success lies in its disciplined approach to yacht building, which involves a production mentality that keeps each build on time and on budget. The builder uses leading-edge machinery, proven coring materials, and components like MTU and Caterpillar engines, Northern Lights generators, and Furuno electronics that bring quality and consistency to the build process.

The saloon of Westport’s recent 130-foot superyacht. Photo: Courtesy of Westport

Its line of the W112, W125, W130 and W164 are contemporary but not ostentatious, with high levels of fit and finish across the yacht. That type of production mentality, which allows for a certain degree of customization, means the yachts are built to the same high standards.

Westport clients appreciate that level of reliability, not to mention resale value, when it comes to yacht ownership.

Delta Marine shipyard. Photo: Jeff Brown

Delta Marine

Delta Marine is not given much to self-promotion, but the Seattle yard shares the same type of pedigree as many of the top European builders.

Delta Marine Invictus. Photo: Jeff Brown

Its production quality, skilled labor, and proven ability to turn intricate, complex designs into beautiful, custom superyachts has earned it a place among the world’s top builders. The yard comprises a 25-acre complex in Seattle, with 300,000 square feet of manufacturing space in its state-of-the-art facility. With Boeing headquarters just down the road, and Seattle being a leading tech center, the trickle-down influence on the shipyard is noteworthy. Its collection of custom yachts includes 216-foot Invictus , 164-foot Arianna , and 240-foot Laurel . Recently, an unnamed 204-foot launch was seen on sea trials near the yard.

Mangusta El Leon launch. Photo: Emilio Bianchi

The Overmarine Group’s Mangusta brand has been known for speed during its 34-year-history. The Balducci family defined their niche, though the range has expanded to maxi open yachts and long-range yachts. The line extends from 94 to 215 feet LOA, with 300 yachts produced over the years. Its Mangusta Maxi Open series, ranging from 94 to 215 feet, offers speed as well as quietness and stability, in a stylish package. Its 50M (164-footer) is considered an industry icon. The Mangusta Oceano are long-range yachts with ranges up to 5,000 miles.

Mangusta Oceano 46 Q95 superyacht Monaco Yacht Show

Mangusta Oceano 46 Q95. Photo: Courtesy of Mangusta

The Mangusta GranSports are a combination of the two lines, fast-displacement yachts capable of covering long distances. The group has 10 production facilities in Tuscany and Viareggio, Massa, and Pisa that total around two million square feet of indoor and exterior space. It has two wharfs in Viareggio where it does the final work on its yachts. Overmarine is vertically integrated, from the initial design to making the molds, to installing the electronics. The company celebrated a milestone in December: Its Gransport El Leon (shown above) crossed the Atlantic, the first Mangusta to ever accomplish that feat.

Southern Wind Kiboko Tres. Photo: Courtesy of Southern Wind

Southern Wind

This 25-year-old builder has design offices in Italy and a modern yard in Johannesburg, South Africa, where it builds advanced composite sailing yachts from 82 to 115 feet in length. Over the years, it has worked with renowned sailing yacht designers, Farr Yacht, Reichel/Pugh, and Nauta Design. Most launches are semi-custom projects built on proven running surfaces, giving the owner the choice to customize interior and exterior. Southern Wind ’s most recent launch is SW105 Kiboko Tres , the second of its performance cruiser series. Designed for offshore sailing but with the comforts of a superyacht, Kiboko Tres passed the ultimate sea trial: 7,000 miles from Johannesburg to Italy, on its way from the shipyard to the offices in Italy.

Christensen Chasseur. Photo: Jeff Brown

Christensen

Rare among superyacht builders, Christensen Yachts does virtually all of its work in house. The Vancouver, Washington–based yard has its own metal department for completing stainless handrails, stairways, anchor pockets, and other custom pieces, as well as a stone shop for marble, onyx, quartz, granite, and limestone used in the inlaid floors, countertops, and panels; and shops for woodworking, painting, and upholstery. Vertical integration allows the yard to deliver exceptional details for its yachts, which run up to 164 feet. Christensen’s Chasseur won top award in its category in the 2017 International Superyacht Society, in part for the intricate interior.

Christensen’s Vancouver shipyard.

Located on a seven-acre marina, the shipyard has a dozen bays enclosed in 180,000 square feet of climate-controlled space.

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Creating a unique yacht charter experience starts with you. On board, the possibilities are endless – all you have to do is realise them.

A honeymoon yacht charter is the perfect getaway after your wedding. You and your spouse can settle down to spend some quality time together on board, as your private boat heads toward your dream destination. Relax on a Caribbean beach with a cocktail in hand, or discover the wonders of Thailand together. The choice is yours.

Tempted by a summer yacht charter? Set sail for the Mediterranean , where you can unwind in one of Ibiza ’s famous wellness retreats, or explore the iconic pink streets of Saint-Tropez . Greece also makes the perfect destination for an explorer yacht charter holiday, thanks to its abundance of islands. Perfectly blending beautiful coastlines, sunsets and sites of antiquity, you’ll be well on your way to an indescribable Greek adventure.

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Luxury yacht manufacturers are spread all over Europe and all over the world. Most of motor yacht manufacturers are based in Europe. Leading super and mega yacht builders are from Northern Europe — Netherlands and Germany. Dutch shipyards specialized in sailing yachts are also the best. Italy has very strong yachtbuilding traditions as well, their yachts of various sizes are truly excellent vessels. Italian shipyards are one of the most successful, they build and sell very well. Great Britain is very good at building luxury motor yachts in GRP with sizes up to 40 m. France for now is less about building super yachts, but stunning sailing yachts and extremely performant multihulls are their success.

United States have numerous shipyards of their own. Each with great history and unique technologies. But european production is getting more and more popular among american clients. Benetti, Overmarine Group | Mangusta, Wider, Feadship, Luerssen — twice a year they all come to the american boat shows with their newest launches and the most successfull yachts.

Asian manufacturers have only recently entered the market. Although some strong production has been already organized in Taiwan.

Australia builds motor yachts rarely but builds very well. Their production is of true luxury. As for New Zealand, it's a unique country with very strong yacht building traditions. They are experts at sailing yachts, brilliant at building motor yachts.

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A yacht charter cruising the Bahamas islands

A Pleasurable Bahamas Yacht Charter Awaits – From Bareboats to Superyachts!

Bountiful bahamas, charter options, from bareboat sailing yachts to the grandest crewed superyachts, abound in the bahamas..

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Superyacht charter in the bahamas, travel tips:.

The Bahamas is relatively hassle-free, with minimal red tape. All travelers, including U.S. citizens, require a passport. Nassau’s Lynden Pindling International Airport implements TSA PreCheck, and Paradise Island facilitates pre-clearance for U.S. Customs and Immigration Services.
Private flight options are available through several fixed-base operators (FBO), like Jet Nassau and Odyssey Aviation. For a fee, the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism offers expedited services at the airport when flying commercial or transferring to the FBO from Nassau. You can also fly into George Town, Staniel Cay, Norman’s Cay, or Eleuthera.
A daily ferry runs from Fort Lauderdale to Grand Bahama Island, approximately three hours, but make sure it makes sense for your charter base location.
The Moorings can help organize travel, and brokers can recommend travel arrangements.
D’Offay recommends your broker organize transportation to the boat to ensure you get a reliable vehicle and driver. Minimize carrying valuables, check travel advisories, and be aware of your surroundings.

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These 3 lesser-known cruise lines offer amazing voyages on sail-powered ships

There is nothing quite as magical — or romantic — as a cruise on a sailing ship.

To stand on the deck of a vessel topped with dozens of billowing sails, propelled through the waves by the power of the wind alone, is to go back in time to an earlier age of travel, when crossing the world's oceans was as adventurous as it was challenging.

It's an experience that's all about the feeling of the wind in your hair, the lean of the vessel (known as the heel) as it's pushed by the wind and the sway from the waves (which is actually smoother than what you get on a motor ship).

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In contrast to what you'll find on so many motor-powered ships, cruising on a masted ship is about the simple thrill of traveling across the sea and not about all the many attractions you'll find on board.

Only a handful of small cruise brands — so small that you might never have heard of them — offer trips on sailing ships. Here, we look at the three biggest players in this niche subset of the cruise industry.

Sea Cloud Cruises

If it's an authentic, old-style sailing experience you want, then Sea Cloud Cruises is the line for you. The Germany-based company operates three large sailing ships where the sails are unfurled by hand, just as they were on sailing ships centuries ago.

On the biggest of these three vessels, the 136-passenger Sea Cloud Spirit , 18 deckhands scurry high into the rigging on sea days to manually untie and prepare the sails, an amazing sight. Unveiled in 2021 , it's a full-rigged, three-masted sailing ship of the sort that hasn't been common on the world's oceans for more than a century.

Related: Why Sea Cloud Spirit is a sailing vessel you'll want to try

Sea Cloud Cruises' two other vessels — Sea Cloud 2 and Sea Cloud — are smaller but offer a similar show as the sails are set by hand the old-fashioned way. The former is a 23-year-old, three-masted barque propelled by 23 sails (five fewer than Sea Cloud Spirit); the latter is a 93-year-old, four-masted barque with 30 sails and a storied past.

Now configured to carry 64 paying passengers, Sea Cloud was originally the private yacht of Postum Cereals heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post and her husband, the famed financier E. F. Hutton. At the time, the vessel was the largest private yacht in the world. It later served the U.S. Navy as a weather ship during World War II, after which it became the presidential yacht for the Dominican Republic. It only began sailing as a cruise vessel in the 1980s.

If you have money to spare, you can still book Post's opulent private quarters on Sea Cloud, now its owner's suite. It'll set you back around $5,000 per day per couple. Her husband's slightly smaller quarters are also available to book at a similar rate.

Post, the wealthiest woman in the U.S. during her lifetime, notably also built Mar-a-Lago, the massive estate in Florida that is now the official residence of Donald Trump.

Sea Cloud Cruises is the most all-inclusive and upscale of the three brands listed in this story, with pricing to match. Expect to pay nearly $1,000 per person per day or more for many sailings.

Sea Cloud Cruises' three vessels offer a diverse array of sailings in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Canary Islands and Morocco, the Caribbean or along the west coast of Central America.

Related: Cruising Costa Rica, Panama with Sea Cloud Cruises

Windstar Cruises

Founded in the 1980s, Windstar Cruises got its start as a sailing ship line. While it now operates traditional motor-powered ships, too, voyages on sailing ships are still a big part of its business.

Three of the Seattle-based brand's six vessels — Wind Spirit, Wind Star and Wind Surf — are sailing vessels, and they all offer a similar yacht-like, small-ship experience.

Two of the three vessels (Wind Spirit and Wind Star) are particularly intimate, measuring 5,407 tons and carrying just 148 passengers with every berth full.

Related: The 2 types of Windstar ships, explained

The line's third sailing vessel, Wind Surf, is nearly three times the size at 14,745 tons. It's one of the biggest sailing ships in the world (only a sister vessel that sails for Club Med is bigger). Wind Surf carries 342 people, an enormous number for a sailing ship.

Unlike on the vessels operated by Sea Cloud, the sails on Windstar's sailing ships aren't unfurled by hand in the old-fashioned way but by the push of a button from the bridge. It's a fully automated system that is much more modern, if less dramatic.

Still, the experience of slicing through the waves by the power of the wind alone on Windstar ships is as glorious and romantic as it is on the Sea Cloud ships.

Windstar Cruises is less all-inclusive and pricey than Sea Cloud but still offers a relatively upscale experience. Its dining program is done in partnership with the food-focused James Beard Foundation, which also brings James Beard Award-winning chefs to the ships regularly for food-themed itineraries.

For an extra $89 per person per day, passengers can also make the experience more all-inclusive with included Wi-Fi, unlimited beer, wine and cocktails, and gratuities (three things that aren't included in regular fares).

The line's three vessels typically spend nearly all of their time sailing in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean or along the west coast of Central America.

Related: Read more about Windstar's itineraries

Star Clippers

Like Sea Cloud and Windstar, Star Clippers operates three sailing vessels that are among the biggest and most elegant sailing vessels in the world.

The belle of the ball at the line is Royal Clipper, a stunning five-masted ship that is billed as the largest square-rigged ship in the world. Its enormous array of 42 sails has a sail area of 56,000 square feet — significantly more than the sails atop any of the Sea Cloud or Windstar vessels. (Only Sea Cloud Spirit comes relatively close with a sail area of 44,100 square feet spread across 28 sails.)

Built to resemble Preussen, a legendary tall ship of the 19th century, the 24-year-old Royal Clipper shares the spotlight at Star Clippers with two smaller sister vessels, Star Flyer and Star Clipper.

Carrying 166 passengers apiece, the smaller vessels were designed to resemble the speedy clipper ships of the 19th century, which were known for their narrow profile and large sail area. Each vessel has a sail area of 36,000 square feet spread across 16 sails, a large amount for the size.

When it comes to the setting of sails, Star Clippers vessels offer a level of old-style authenticity that is in between the ships of Sea Cloud and Windstar. Like on Sea Cloud vessels, the sails are pulled into position by a team of deckhands using hand power and winches to tighten the "sheets," or ropes.

Unlike on Sea Cloud vessels, the deck hands don't climb high into the rigging to untie and prepare the sails for winching. That part is done automatically at the push of a button from the bridge, as it is on Windstar vessels.

In one key difference, though, Star Clippers lets passengers harness up and climb into the crow's nest of its vessels — a thrilling experience. Just be prepared for your knees to go a bit wobbly as you get to the top; it's way up there.

Star Clippers sailings are the most affordable option among the three sailing brands, in part because the onboard experience is less all-inclusive and upscale.

The three Star Clippers vessels mostly operate sailings in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands, the Caribbean and along the west coast of Central America.

Bottom line

It's still possible to get a taste of what traveling the world's oceans was like in the days before motor power. Three small cruise companies — Sea Cloud Cruises, Windstar Cruises and Star Clippers — offer voyages on large sailing ships that are as majestic as anything that has sailed the seas in centuries past.

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43 of the best bluewater sailboat designs of all time

January 5, 2022

How do you choose the right yacht for you? We highlight the very best bluewater sailboat designs for every type of cruising

Which yacht is the best for bluewater boating? This question generates even more debate among sailors than questions about what’s the coolest yacht , or the best for racing. Whereas racing designs are measured against each other, cruising sailors get very limited opportunities to experience different yachts in real oceangoing conditions, so what is the best bluewater sailboat?

Here, we bring you our top choices from decades of designs and launches. Over the years, the Yachting World team has sailed these boats, tested them or judged them for European Yacht of the Year awards, and we have sifted through the many to curate a selection that we believe should be on your wishlist.

Making the right choice may come down to how you foresee your yacht being used after it has crossed an ocean or completed a passage: will you be living at anchor or cruising along the coast? If so, your guiding requirements will be space, cabin size, ease of launching a tender and anchoring closer to shore, and whether it can comfortably accommodate non-expert-sailor guests.

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All of these considerations have generated the inexorable rise of the bluewater catamaran – monohulls can’t easily compete on these points. We have a full separate feature on the best bluewater multihulls of all time and here we mostly focus on monohulls. The only exceptions to that rule are two multihulls which made it into our best bluewater sailboats of 2022 list.

As so much of making the right choice is selecting the right boat for the venture in mind, we have separated out our edit into categories: best for comfort; for families; for performance; and for expedition or high latitudes sailing .

Best bluewater sailboats of 2022

The new flagship Allures 51.9, for example, is a no-nonsense adventure cruising design built and finished to a high standard. It retains Allures’ niche of using aluminium hulls with glassfibre decks and superstructures, which, the yard maintains, gives the optimum combination of least maintenance and less weight higher up. Priorities for this design were a full beam aft cabin and a spacious, long cockpit. Both are excellent, with the latter, at 6m long, offering formidable social, sailing and aft deck zones.

It likes some breeze to come to life on the wheel, but I appreciate that it’s designed to take up to five tonnes payload. And I like the ease with which you can change gears using the furling headsails and the positioning of the powerful Andersen winches inboard. The arch is standard and comes with a textile sprayhood or hard bimini.

Below decks you’ll find abundant headroom and natural light, a deep U-shape galley and cavernous stowage. For those who like the layout of the Amel 50 but would prefer aluminium or shoal draught, look no further.

Allures 51.9 price: €766,000

The Ovni 370 is another cunning new aluminum centreboard offering, a true deck saloon cruiser for two. The designers say the biggest challenge was to create a Category A ocean going yacht at this size with a lifting keel, hence the hull had to be very stable.

Enjoyable to helm, it has a practical, deep cockpit behind a large sprayhood, which can link to the bimini on the arch. Many of its most appealing features lie in the bright, light, contemporary, clever, voluminous interior, which has good stowage and tankage allocation. There’s also a practical navstation, a large workroom and a vast separate shower. I particularly like the convertible saloom, which can double as a large secure daybed or pilot berth.

Potentially the least expensive Category A lift keel boat available, the Ovni will get you dreaming of remote places again.

Ovni 370 price: €282,080

There’s no shortage of spirit in the Windelo 50. We gave this a sustainability award after it’s founders spent two years researching environmentally-friendly composite materials, developing an eco-composite of basalt fibre and recycled PET foam so it could build boats that halve the environmental impact of standard glassfibre yachts.

The Windelo 50 is an intriguing package – from the styling, modular interior and novel layout to the solar field on the roof and the standard electric propulsion, it is completely fresh.

Windelo 50 price: €795,000

Best bluewater sailboat of 2022 – Outremer 55

I would argue that this is the most successful new production yacht on the market. Well over 50 have already sold (an equipped model typically costs €1.6m) – and I can understand why. After all, were money no object, I had this design earmarked as the new yacht I would most likely choose for a world trip.

Indeed 55 number one Sanya, was fully equipped for a family’s world cruise, and left during our stay for the Grand Large Odyssey tour. Whereas we sailed Magic Kili, which was tricked up with performance options, including foam-cored deckheads and supports, carbon crossbeam and bulkheads, and synthetic rigging.

At rest, these are enticing space ships. Taking one out to sea is another matter though. These are speed machines with the size, scale and loads to be rightly weary of. Last month Nikki Henderson wrote a feature for us about how to manage a new breed of performance cruising cats just like this and how she coaches new owners. I could not think of wiser money spent for those who do not have ample multihull sailing experience.

Under sail, the most fun was obviously reserved for the reaching leg under asymmetric, where we clocked between 11-16 knots in 15-16 knots wind. But it was the stability and of those sustained low teen speeds which really hit home – passagemaking where you really cover miles.

Key features include the swing helms, which give you views from outboard, over the coachroof or from a protected position in the cockpit through the coachroof windows, and the vast island in the galley, which is key to an open plan main living area. It helps provide cavernous stowage and acts as the heart of the entertaining space as it would in a modern home. As Danish judge Morten Brandt-Rasmussen comments: “Apart from being the TGV of ocean passages the boat offers the most spacious, open and best integration of the cockpit and salon areas in the market.”

Outremer has done a top job in packing in the creature comforts, stowage space and payload capacity, while keeping it light enough to eat miles. Although a lot to absorb and handle, the 55 offers a formidable blend of speed and luxury cruising.

Outremer 55 price: €1.35m

Best bluewater sailboats for comfort

This is the successor to the legendary Super Maramu, a ketch design that for several decades defined easy downwind handling and fostered a cult following for the French yard. Nearly a decade old, the Amel 55 is the bridge between those world-girdling stalwarts and Amel’s more recent and totally re-imagined sloop designs, the Amel 50 and 60.

The 55 boasts all the serious features Amel aficionados loved and valued: a skeg-hung rudder, solidly built hull, watertight bulkheads, solid guardrails and rampart bulwarks. And, most noticeable, the solid doghouse in which the helmsman sits in perfect shelter at the wheel.

This is a design to live on comfortably for long periods and the list of standard features just goes on and on: passarelle; proper sea berths with lee cloths; electric furling main and genoa; and a multitude of practical items that go right down to a dishwasher and crockery.

There’s no getting around the fact these designs do look rather dated now, and through the development of easier sail handling systems the ketch rig has fallen out of fashion, but the Amel is nothing short of a phenomenon, and if you’ve never even peeked on board one, you really have missed a treat.

Photo: Sander van der Borch

Contest 50CS

A centre cockpit cruiser with true longevity, the Contest 50CS was launched by Conyplex back in 2003 and is still being built by the family-owned Dutch company, now in updated and restyled form.

With a fully balanced rudder, large wheel and modern underwater sections, the Contest 50CS is a surprisingly good performer for a boat that has a dry weight of 17.5 tonnes. Many were fitted with in-mast furling, which clearly curtails that performance, but even without, this boat is set up for a small crew.

Electric winches and mainsheet traveller are all easy to reach from the helm. On our test of the Contest 50CS, we saw for ourselves how two people can gybe downwind under spinnaker without undue drama. Upwind, a 105% genoa is so easy to tack it flatters even the weediest crewmember.

Down below, the finish level of the joinery work is up there among the best and the interior is full of clever touches, again updated and modernised since the early models. Never the cheapest bluewater sailing yacht around, the Contest 50CS has remained in demand as a brokerage buy. She is a reassuringly sure-footed, easily handled, very well built yacht that for all those reasons has stood the test of time.

This is a yacht that would be well capable of helping you extend your cruising grounds, almost without realising it.

Read more about the Contest 50CS and the new Contest 49CS

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Photo: Rick Tomlinson

Hallberg-Rassy 48 Mk II

For many, the Swedish Hallberg-Rassy yard makes the quintessential bluewater cruiser for couples. With their distinctive blue cove line, these designs are famous for their seakindly behaviour, solid-as-a-rock build and beautifully finished, traditional interiors.

To some eyes, Hallberg-Rassys aren’t quite cool enough, but it’s been company owner Magnus Rassy’s confidence in the formula and belief in incremental ‘step-by-step’ evolution that has been such an exceptional guarantor of reliable quality, reputation and resale value.

The centre cockpit Hallberg-Rassy 48 epitomises the concept of comfort at sea and, like all the Frers-designed Hallberg-Rassys since the 1990s, is surprisingly fleet upwind as well as steady downwind. The 48 is perfectly able to be handled by a couple (as we found a few years back in the Pacific), and could with no great effort crack out 200-mile days.

The Hallberg-Rassy 48 was launched nearly a decade ago, but the Mk II from 2014 is our pick, updated with a more modern profile, larger windows and hull portlights that flood the saloon and aft cabin with light. With a large chart table, secure linear galley, heaps of stowage and space for bluewater extras such as machinery and gear, this yacht pretty much ticks all the boxes.

Discovery 55

First launched in 2000, the Discovery 55 has stood the test of time. Designed by Ron Holland, it hit a sweet spot in size that appealed to couples and families with world girdling plans.

Elegantly styled and well balanced, the 55 is also a practical design, with a deep and secure cockpit, comfortable seating, a self-tacking jib, dedicated stowage for the liferaft , a decent sugar scoop transom that’s useful for swimming or dinghy access, and very comfortable accommodation below. In short, it is a design that has been well thought out by those who’ve been there, got the bruises, stubbed their toes and vowed to change things in the future if they ever got the chance.

Throughout the accommodation there are plenty of examples of good detailing, from the proliferation of handholds and grabrails, to deep sinks in the galley offering immediate stowage when under way and the stand up/sit down showers. Stowage is good, too, with plenty of sensibly sized lockers in easily accessible positions.

The Discovery 55 has practical ideas and nifty details aplenty. She’s not, and never was, a breakthrough in modern luxury cruising but she is pretty, comfortable to sail and live on, and well mannered.

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Photo: Latitudes Picture Library

You can’t get much more Cornish than a Rustler. The hulls of this Stephen Jones design are hand-moulded and fitted out in Falmouth – and few are more ruggedly built than this traditional, up-for-anything offshore cruiser.

She boasts an encapsulated lead keel, eliminating keel bolts and creating a sump for generous fuel and water tankage, while a chunky skeg protects the rudder. She is designed for good directional stability and load carrying ability. These are all features that lend this yacht confidence as it shoulders aside the rough stuff.

Most of those built have had a cutter rig, a flexible arrangement that makes sense for long passages in all sea and weather conditions. Down below, the galley and saloon berths are comfortable and sensible for living in port and at sea, with joinery that Rustler’s builders are rightly proud of.

As modern yachts have got wider, higher and fatter, the Rustler 42 is an exception. This is an exceptionally well-mannered seagoing yacht in the traditional vein, with elegant lines and pleasing overhangs, yet also surprisingly powerful. And although now over 20 years old, timeless looks and qualities mean this design makes her look ever more like a perennial, a modern classic.

The definitive crossover size, the point at which a yacht can be handled by a couple but is just large enough to have a professional skipper and be chartered, sits at around the 60ft mark. At 58ft 8in, the Oyster 575 fitted perfectly into this growing market when launched in 2010. It went on to be one of the most popular models from the yard, and is only now being superseded by the newer Rob Humphreys-designed Oyster 565 (just launched this spring).

Built in various configurations with either a deep keel, shoal draught keel or centreboard with twin rudders, owners could trade off better performance against easy access to shallower coves and anchorages. The deep-bodied hull, also by Rob Humphreys, is known for its easy motion at sea.

Some of the Oyster 575’s best features include its hallmark coachroof windows style and centre cockpit – almost everyone will know at first glance this is an Oyster – and superb interior finish. If she has a flaw, it is arguably the high cockpit, but the flip side is the galley headroom and passageway berth to the large aft stateroom.

This design also has a host of practical features for long-distance cruising, such as high guardrails, dedicated liferaft stowage, a vast lazarette for swallowing sails, tender, fenders etc, and a penthouse engine room.

Privilege Serie 5

A true luxury catamaran which, fully fitted out, will top €1m, this deserves to be seen alongside the likes of the Oyster 575, Gunfleet 58 and Hallberg-Rassy 55. It boasts a large cockpit and living area, and a light and spacious saloon with an emphasis on indoor-outdoor living, masses of refrigeration and a big galley.

Standout features are finish quality and solid build in a yacht designed to take a high payload, a secure walkaround deck and all-round views from the helm station. The new Privilege 510 that will replace this launches in February 2020.

Gunfleet 43

It was with this Tony Castro design that Richard Matthews, founder of Oyster Yachts, launched a brand new rival brand in 2012, the smallest of a range stretching to the flagship Gunfleet 74. The combination of short overhangs and centre cockpit at this size do make the Gunfleet 43 look modern if a little boxy, but time and subsequent design trends have been kind to her lines, and the build quality is excellent. The saloon, galley and aft cabin space is exceptional on a yacht of this size.

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Photo: David Harding

Conceived as a belt-and-braces cruiser, the Kraken 50 launched last year. Its unique points lie underwater in the guise of a full skeg-hung rudder and so-called ‘Zero Keel’, an encapsulated long keel with lead ballast.

Kraken Yachts is the brainchild of British businessman and highly experienced cruiser Dick Beaumont, who is adamant that safety should be foremost in cruising yacht design and build. “There is no such thing as ‘one yacht for all purposes’… You cannot have the best of all worlds, whatever the salesman tells you,” he says.

Read our full review of the Kraken 50 .

Wauquiez Centurion 57

Few yachts can claim to be both an exciting Med-style design and a serious and practical northern European offshore cruiser, but the Wauquiez Centurion 57 tries to blend both. She slightly misses if you judge solely by either criterion, but is pretty and practical enough to suit her purpose.

A very pleasant, well-considered yacht, she is impressively built and finished with a warm and comfortable interior. More versatile than radical, she could be used for sailing across the Atlantic in comfort and raced with equal enjoyment at Antigua Sailing Week .

A modern classic if ever there was one. A medium to heavy displacement yacht, stiff and easily capable of standing up to her canvas. Pretty, traditional lines and layout below.

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Photo: Voyage of Swell

Well-proven US legacy design dating back to the mid-1960s that once conquered the Transpac Race . Still admired as pretty, with slight spoon bow and overhanging transom.

Capable medium displacement cruiser, ideal size and good accommodation for couples or family cruising, and much less costly than similar luxury brands.

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Photo: Peter Szamer

Swedish-built aft cockpit cruiser, smaller than many here, but a well-built and finished, super-durable pocket ocean cruiser.

Tartan 3700

Designed as a performance cruiser there are nimbler alternatives now, but this is still an extremely pretty yacht.

Broker ’ s choice

Discovery 55 Brizo

This yacht has already circumnavigated the globe and is ‘prepared for her next adventure,’ says broker Berthon. Price: £535,000 + VAT

Oyster 575 Ayesha

‘Stunning, and perfectly equipped for bluewater cruising,’ says broker Ancasta International. Price: £845,000 (tax not paid)

Oyster 575 Pearls of Nautilus

Nearly new and with a high spec, this Oyster Brokerage yacht features American white oak joinery and white leather upholstery and has a shoal draught keel. Price: $1.49m

Best bluewater yachts for performance

The Frers-designed Swan 54 may not be the newest hull shape but heralded Swan’s latest generation of displacement bluewater cruisers when launched four years ago. With raked stem, deep V hull form, lower freeboard and slight curve to the topsides she has a more timeless aesthetic than many modern slab-sided high volume yachts, and with that a seakindly motion in waves. If you plan to cover many miles to weather, this is probably the yacht you want to be on.

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Photo: Carlo Borlenghi

Besides Swan’s superlative build quality, the 54 brings many true bluewater features, including a dedicated sail locker. There’s also a cockpit locker that functions as a utility cabin, with potential to hold your generator and washing machine, or be a workshop space.

The sloping transom opens out to reveal a 2.5m bathing platform, and although the cabins are not huge there is copious stowage space. Down below the top-notch oak joinery is well thought through with deep fiddles, and there is a substantial nav station. But the Swan 54 wins for handling above all, with well laid-out sail controls that can be easily managed between a couple, while offering real sailing enjoyment to the helmsman.

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Photo: Graham Snook

The Performance Cruiser winner at the 2019 European Yacht of the Year awards, the Arcona 435 is all about the sailing experience. She has genuine potential as a cruiser-racer, but her strengths are as an enjoyable cruiser rather than a full-blown liveaboard bluewater boat.

Build quality is excellent, there is the option of a carbon hull and deck, and elegant lines and a plumb bow give the Arcona 435 good looks as well as excellent performance in light airs. Besides slick sail handling systems, there are well thought-out features for cruising, such as ample built-in rope bins and an optional semi-closed stern with stowage and swim platform.

Outremer 51

If you want the space and stability of a cat but still prioritise sailing performance, Outremer has built a reputation on building catamarans with true bluewater characteristics that have cruised the planet for the past 30 years.

Lighter and slimmer-hulled than most cruising cats, the Outremer 51 is all about sailing at faster speeds, more easily. The lower volume hulls and higher bridgedeck make for a better motion in waves, while owners report that being able to maintain a decent pace even under reduced canvas makes for stress-free passages. Deep daggerboards also give good upwind performance.

With bucket seats and tiller steering options, the Outremer 51 rewards sailors who want to spend time steering, while they’re famously well set up for handling with one person on deck. The compromise comes with the interior space – even with a relatively minimalist style, there is less cabin space and stowage volume than on the bulkier cats, but the Outremer 51 still packs in plenty of practical features.

The Xc45 was the first cruising yacht X-Yachts ever built, and designed to give the same X-Yachts sailing experience for sailors who’d spent years racing 30/40-footer X- and IMX designs, but in a cruising package.

Launched over 10 years ago, the Xc45 has been revisited a few times to increase the stowage and modernise some of the styling, but the key features remain the same, including substantial tanks set low for a low centre of gravity, and X-Yachts’ trademark steel keel grid structure. She has fairly traditional styling and layout, matched with solid build quality.

A soft bilge and V-shaped hull gives a kindly motion in waves, and the cockpit is secure, if narrow by modern standards.

A three or four cabin catamaran that’s fleet of foot with high bridgedeck clearance for comfortable motion at sea. With tall daggerboards and carbon construction in some high load areas, Catana cats are light and quick to accelerate.

Sweden Yachts 45

An established bluewater design that also features in plenty of offshore races. Some examples are specced with carbon rig and retractable bowsprits. All have a self-tacking jib for ease. Expect sweeping areas of teak above decks and a traditionally wooded interior with hanging wet locker.

A vintage performer, first launched in 1981, the 51 was the first Frers-designed Swan and marked a new era of iconic cruiser-racers. Some 36 of the Swan 51 were built, many still actively racing and cruising nearly 40 years on. Classic lines and a split cockpit make this a boat for helming, not sunbathing.

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Photo: Julien Girardot / EYOTY

The JPK 45 comes from a French racing stable, combining race-winning design heritage with cruising amenities. What you see is what you get – there are no superfluous headliners or floorboards, but there are plenty of ocean sailing details, like inboard winches for safe trimming. The JPK 45 also has a brilliantly designed cockpit with an optional doghouse creating all-weather shelter, twin wheels and superb clutch and rope bin arrangement.

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Photo: Andreas Lindlahr

For sailors who don’t mind exchanging a few creature comforts for downwind planing performance, the Pogo 50 offers double-digit surfing speeds for exhilarating tradewind sailing. There’s an open transom, tiller steering and no backstay or runners. The Pogo 50 also has a swing keel, to nose into shallow anchorages.

Seawind 1600

Seawinds are relatively unknown in Europe, but these bluewater cats are very popular in Australia. As would be expected from a Reichel-Pugh design, this 52-footer combines striking good looks and high performance, with fine entry bows and comparatively low freeboard. Rudders are foam cored lifting designs in cassettes, which offer straightforward access in case of repairs, while daggerboards are housed under the deck.

Best bluewater sailboats for families

It’s unsurprising that, for many families, it’s a catamaran that meets their requirements best of increased space – both living space and separate cabins for privacy-seeking teenagers, additional crew or visiting family – as well as stable and predictable handling.

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Photo: Nicholas Claris

Undoubtedly one of the biggest success stories has been the Lagoon 450, which, together with boats like the Fountaine Pajot 44, helped drive up the popularity of catamaran cruising by making it affordable and accessible. They have sold in huge numbers – over 1,000 Lagoon 450s have been built since its launch in 2010.

The VPLP-designed 450 was originally launched with a flybridge with a near central helming position and upper level lounging areas (450F). The later ‘sport top’ option (450S) offered a starboard helm station and lower boom (and hence lower centre of gravity for reduced pitching). The 450S also gained a hull chine to create additional volume above the waterline. The Lagoon features forward lounging and aft cockpit areas for additional outdoor living space.

Besides being a big hit among charter operators, Lagoons have proven themselves over thousands of bluewater miles – there were seven Lagoon 450s in last year’s ARC alone. In what remains a competitive sector of the market, Lagoon has recently launched a new 46, with a larger self-tacking jib and mast moved aft, and more lounging areas.

Photo: Gilles Martin-Raget

Fountaine Pajot Helia 44

The FP Helia 44 is lighter, lower volume, and has a lower freeboard than the Lagoon, weighing in at 10.8 tonnes unloaded (compared to 15 for the 450). The helm station is on a mezzanine level two steps up from the bridgedeck, with a bench seat behind. A later ‘Evolution’ version was designed for liveaboard cruisers, featuring beefed up dinghy davits and an improved saloon space.

Available in three or four cabin layouts, the Helia 44 was also popular with charter owners as well as families. The new 45 promises additional volume, and an optional hydraulically lowered ‘beach club’ swim platform.

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Photo: Arnaud De Buyzer / graphikup.com

The French RM 1370 might be less well known than the big brand names, but offers something a little bit different for anyone who wants a relatively voluminous cruising yacht. Designed by Marc Lombard, and beautifully built from plywood/epoxy, the RM is stiff and responsive, and sails superbly.

The RM yachts have a more individual look – in part down to the painted finish, which encourages many owners to personalise their yachts, but also thanks to their distinctive lines with reverse sheer and dreadnought bow. The cockpit is well laid out with the primary winches inboard for a secure trimming position. The interior is light, airy and modern, although the open transom won’t appeal to everyone.

For those wanting a monohull, the Hanse 575 hits a similar sweet spot to the popular multis, maximising accommodation for a realistic price, yet with responsive performance.

The Hanse offers a vast amount of living space thanks to the ‘loft design’ concept of having all the living areas on a single level, which gives a real feeling of spaciousness with no raised saloon or steps to accommodation. The trade-off for such lofty head height is a substantial freeboard – it towers above the pontoon, while, below, a stepladder is provided to reach some hatches.

Galley options include drawer fridge-freezers, microwave and coffee machine, and the full size nav station can double up as an office or study space.

But while the Hanse 575 is a seriously large boat, its popularity is also down to the fact that it is genuinely able to be handled by a couple. It was innovative in its deck layout: with a self-tacking jib and mainsheet winches immediately to hand next to the helm, one person could both steer and trim.

Direct steering gives a feeling of control and some tangible sailing fun, while the waterline length makes for rapid passage times. In 2016 the German yard launched the newer Hanse 588 model, having already sold 175 of the 575s in just four years.

Photo: Bertel Kolthof

Jeanneau 54

Jeanneau leads the way among production builders for versatile all-rounder yachts that balance sail performance and handling, ergonomics, liveaboard functionality and good looks. The Jeanneau 54 , part of the range designed by Philippe Briand with interior by Andrew Winch, melds the best of the larger and smaller models and is available in a vast array of layout options from two cabins/two heads right up to five cabins and three heads.

We’ve tested the Jeanneau 54 in a gale and very light winds, and it acquitted itself handsomely in both extremes. The primary and mainsheet winches are to hand next to the wheel, and the cockpit is spacious, protected and child-friendly. An electric folding swim and sun deck makes for quick fun in the water.

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Nautitech Open 46

This was the first Nautitech catamaran to be built under the ownership of Bavaria, designed with an open-plan bridgedeck and cockpit for free-flowing living space. But with good pace for eating up bluewater miles, and aft twin helms rather than a flybridge, the Nautitech Open 46 also appeals to monohull sailors who prefer a more direct sailing experience.

Made by Robertson and Caine, who produce catamarans under a dual identity as both Leopard and the Sunsail/Moorings charter cats, the Leopard 45 is set to be another big seller. Reflecting its charter DNA, the Leopard 45 is voluminous, with stepped hulls for reduced waterline, and a separate forward cockpit.

Built in South Africa, they are robustly tested off the Cape and constructed ruggedly enough to handle heavy weather sailing as well as the demands of chartering.

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Photo: Olivier Blanchet

If space is king then three hulls might be even better than two. The Neel 51 is rare as a cruising trimaran with enough space for proper liveaboard sailing. The galley and saloon are in the large central hull, together with an owner’s cabin on one level for a unique sensation of living above the water. Guest or family cabins lie in the outer hulls for privacy and there is a cavernous full height engine room under the cabin sole.

Performance is notably higher than an equivalent cruising cat, particularly in light winds, with a single rudder giving a truly direct feel in the helm, although manoeuvring a 50ft trimaran may daunt many sailors.

Beneteau Oceanis 46.1

A brilliant new model from Beneteau, this Finot Conq design has a modern stepped hull, which offers exhilarating and confidence-inspiring handling in big breezes, and slippery performance in lighter winds.

The Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 was the standout performer at this year’s European Yacht of the Year awards, and, in replacing the popular Oceanis 45, looks set to be another bestseller. Interior space is well used with a double island berth in the forepeak. An additional inboard unit creates a secure galley area, but tank capacity is moderate for long periods aboard.

Beneteau Oceanis 473

A popular model that offers beam and height in a functional layout, although, as with many boats of this age (she was launched in 2002), the mainsheet is not within reach of the helmsman.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 49

The Philippe Briand-designed Sun Odyssey range has a solid reputation as family production cruisers. Like the 473, the Sun Odyssey 49 was popular for charter so there are plenty of four-cabin models on the market.

Nautitech 441

The hull design dates back to 1995, but was relaunched in 2012. Though the saloon interior has dated, the 441 has solid practical features, such as a rainwater run-off collection gutter around the coachroof.

Atlantic 42

Chris White-designed cats feature a pilothouse and forward waist-high working cockpit with helm position, as well as an inside wheel at the nav station. The Atlantic 42 offers limited accommodation by modern cat standards but a very different sailing experience.

Best bluewater sailing yachts for expeditions

Bestevaer 56.

All of the yachts in our ‘expedition’ category are aluminium-hulled designs suitable for high latitude sailing, and all are exceptional yachts. But the Bestevaer 56 is a spectacular amount of boat to take on a true adventure. Each Bestevaer is a near-custom build with plenty of bespoke options for owners to customise the layout and where they fall on the scale of rugged off-grid adventurer to 4×4-style luxury fit out.

The Bestevaer range began when renowned naval architect Gerard Dijkstra chose to design his own personal yacht for liveaboard adventure cruising, a 53-footer. The concept drew plenty of interest from bluewater sailors wanting to make longer expeditions and Bestevaers are now available in a range of sizes, with the 56-footer proving a popular mid-range length.

The well-known Bestevaer 56 Tranquilo (pictured above) has a deep, secure cockpit, voluminous tanks (700lt water and over 1,100lt fuel) and a lifting keel plus water ballast, with classically styled teak clad decks and pilot house. Other owners have opted for functional bare aluminium hull and deck, some choose a doghouse and others a pilothouse.

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Photo: Jean-Marie Liot

The Boreal 52 also offers Land Rover-esque practicality, with utilitarian bare aluminium hulls and a distinctive double-level doghouse/coachroof arrangement for added protection in all weathers. The cockpit is clean and uncluttered, thanks to the mainsheet position on top of the doghouse, although for visibility in close manoeuvring the helmsman will want to step up onto the aft deck.

Twin daggerboards, a lifting centreboard and long skeg on which she can settle make this a true go-anywhere expedition yacht. The metres of chain required for adventurous anchoring is stowed in a special locker by the mast to keep the weight central. Down below has been thought through with equally practical touches, including plenty of bracing points and lighting that switches on to red light first to protect your night vision.

Photo: Morris Adant / Garcia Yachts

Garcia Exploration 45

The Garcia Exploration 45 comes with real experience behind her – she was created in association with Jimmy Cornell, based on his many hundreds of thousands of miles of bluewater cruising, to go anywhere from high latitudes to the tropics.

Arguably less of a looker than the Bestevaer, the Garcia Exploration 45 features a rounded aluminium hull, centreboard with deep skeg and twin daggerboards. The considerable anchor chain weight has again been brought aft, this time via a special conduit to a watertight locker in front of the centreboard.

This is a yacht designed to be lived on for extended periods with ample storage, and panoramic portlights to give a near 360° view of whichever extraordinary landscape you are exploring. Safety features include a watertight companionway door to keep extreme weather out and through-hull fittings placed above the waterline. When former Vendée Globe skipper Pete Goss went cruising , this was the boat he chose to do it in.

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Photo: svnaima.com

A truly well-proven expedition design, some 1,500 Ovnis have been built and many sailed to some of the most far-flung corners of the world. (Jimmy Cornell sailed his Aventura some 30,000 miles, including two Drake Passage crossings, one in 50 knots of wind).

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Futuna Exploration 54

Another aluminium design with a swinging centreboard and a solid enclosed pilothouse with protected cockpit area. There’s a chunky bowsprit and substantial transom arch to house all manner of electronics and power generation.

Previous boats have been spec’d for North West Passage crossings with additional heating and engine power, although there’s a carbon rig option for those that want a touch of the black stuff. The tanks are capacious, with 1,000lt capability for both fresh water and fuel.

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Floating resorts vs yacht-like vessels: How to pick between big and small cruise ships

I took two cruises in July, and they couldn’t have been more different.

After spending 10 days on Seabourn Pursuit, the cruise line’s 264-guest expedition vessel, I returned home for a few days before boarding Royal Caribbean International’s Utopia of the Seas , which can accommodate over 20 times that.

Cruise ships range in size from yacht-like vessels to mega-ships that are more like floating resorts. And as much as cruises may be about the ports they visit, the ship you pick can shape the destination you can access and ultimately, the kind of trip you have. Here’s how they differ and how to know which is right for you.

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What are small-ship cruises like?

If mega-ships can feel like cities at sea, small ships are perhaps more like quaint towns. It’s easier to find your way around, faces become familiar quickly and the server at the nearby eatery knows how you like your eggs.

“The service is just 100% going to be much more intense than any other type of sailing,” said Joanna Kuther, a New York City-based travel agent and owner of Port Side Travel Consultants. The majority of cruise lines sailing ships with capacities in the 200 to 700 range are luxury brands that already put a premium on service – though that can vary by operator – but there are practical reasons too.

Many of those ships have higher crew-to-guest ratios, making it easier to give customers a personalized experience. “We want people to feel that it’s (a) yacht-like atmosphere,” Natalya Leahy, president of Seabourn, told USA TODAY on board.

Small-ship cruises generally bundle more in their fares than those on larger vessels, from food to drinks like wine and spirits, select excursions and more. Some inclusions can be particularly extravagant.

On Seabourn, for example, guests can order caviar for delivery any time of day at no additional cost (I had to try it out for research purposes during an expedition through Western Australia’s Kimberley region ).

That doesn’t necessarily mean the price tags will be higher, though. While the upfront fare may cost more, by the time guests add up drink packages , specialty dining, Wi-Fi and other extras that are typically charged separately on large mainstream ships, their expenses may not be so different.

“Don't worry about what you're paying when you go on,” Kuther said. “It's what you pay when you come off.”

If the prospect of thousands of cabins and fellow guests seems overwhelming, a small ship can also offer a more manageable experience. Lines and crowds are a relative rarity and there’s less chance of getting lost trying to find your room (a situation I’ve encountered more than once on large ships).

Getting on and off is easier, Kuther added, with the vessels often docking closer to the city center or in ports that can’t accommodate larger vessels. They also stay overnight more frequently, relieving the pressure of packing sightseeing into a shorter window.

“That is amazing because if you've ever gotten off of a mega-ship tendering into Santorini, it's like the most insane thing,” she said. “Like, you're fighting for your life to get into the funicular. So, it’s definitely an elevated experience.”

While many are well-appointed, they do have a more limited number of amenities and dining options. On an Aurora Expeditions Antarctica cruise in December, the Sylvia Earle ship had only two restaurants. I enjoyed the food and some offerings rotated, but by the end of the 11-day trip I was ready to change it up.

Travelers with children may find the ships lacking in kid-friendly activities, too.

What are big-ship cruises like?

By contrast, guests on big ships are spoiled for choice. “You can't beat the variety if that's what you're looking for,” said Kuther.

Larger ships offer a wide range of eateries, bars and entertainment. Carnival Cruise Line’s Jubilee ship, for example, has more than 20 dining options, from Guy’s Burger Joint to tacos and burritos at BlueIguana Cantina and Coastal Slice pizza – not to mention the BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster , a water park, and Loft 19, a quieter retreat at the top of the vessel.

Those kinds of ships can be particularly well-suited to families or large groups who want options. Royal Caribbean divided its Oasis Class – and later Icon Class – into neighborhoods with that in mind.

“Everyone has got something to do and are excited to do during the day … And then in the evening, everybody can come together in one of I don’t know how many restaurants and have a great family meal or a date night or just a burger, and then they have a fantastic show,” president and CEO Michael Bayley said in a media briefing on board Utopia.

Large ships have more to offer passengers “who really want to party” as well, Kuther noted.

The scale also allows cruise lines to create more immersive experiences. On Utopia, the second-largest cruise ship in the world , I had dinner outside one night at the Chops Grille steakhouse in the vessel’s Central Park neighborhood. With a breeze blowing through the open-air walkway and the sound of crickets in the background – which the cruise line pipes in – I could’ve been convinced I wasn’t on a ship.

Guests are less likely to feel the movement of the waves at that size, which also can be helpful for passengers who are fearful of water or prone to seasickness , Kuther said.

A number of cruise lines have ship-within-a-ship concepts , too, that allow guests to escape the crowds in exclusive accommodations, restaurants and sun decks, while still having access to the wider range of onboard offerings (though some offer a greater degree of separation than others).

It’s worth noting, however, that “small” and “big” are relative terms, and many mainstream cruise lines operate ships in the 1,500-to-2,500-passenger range. Those can offer a kind of middle ground, with a more intimate experience often at a lower price point (though Kuther noted that’s partly because those ships tend to be older).

Still, the overall experience of a bigger ship may cause sensory overload for some travelers.

Which is right for me?

The right ship comes down to the type of vacation experience you want.

If you’re looking for adventure on an expedition or want to be pampered on a quiet, lower-key vessel, small ships are the way to go.
If you want lots of things to do, places to eat and ways to party, consider a bigger ship . But there’s sure to be one that suits you.

As Kuther put it, “(If) people say they don't like cruising, I will always 100% say, ‘You just weren't on the right cruise.’”

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Floating resorts vs yacht-like vessels: How to pick between big and small cruise ships

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