The winter boat shows have wrapped up, the skies are slowly brightening, and boaters are starting to dream about getting back on the water… With spring just around the corner, many are planning their upcoming season and thinking about prepping their yachts for 2026 adventures. In short, it’s the perfect moment to look back at the 2025 yacht charter season and start getting excited for what’s ahead.
A Mixed 2025 Season: Caught Between Optimism and Caution
While all shipyards, large and small, confirm that it has been a difficult year for sales of new and used boats (-27% turnover for the Bénéteau group in the first half of 2025), most professional rental companies say they are fairly satisfied with their financial year. Satisfied, certainly… but without showing too much enthusiasm or optimism. Schedules were full in the Mediterranean, but often at the cost of aggressive discounts and last-minute bookings, especially in Croatia, which can sometimes be difficult to manage for technical teams and crew rotations.
Shorter rentals, more complex management
More and more customers are opting for short-term charters (3–4 days) or 10-day charters instead of the traditional weekly schedule that has been the norm in the Mediterranean until now. There is also growing demand for different departure days, deviating from the usual Saturday, for example to Sunday or Wednesday. Depending on the occupancy rates at the bases and in the sailing areas, fleet operators are increasingly open to greater flexibility in this area. This can lead to higher occupancy rates, but naturally also makes planning more complex. So far, this remains a marginal phenomenon.
The skipper, the shooting star of charters in 2025
One of the major trends this year is the continued increase in bookings for boats with skippers. This development reflects the continued rising of the new clientele of boaters who want to sail with peace of mind, learn new skills and experience the sea in a different way. The challenge now is to retain these new sailors, support them in their training and, why not, help them become owners themselves.
Focus on figures for cruises and boat hire in 2025
To illustrate these findings, GlobeSailor presents below the key figures and trends for the 2025 season, based on an analysis of thousands of bookings worldwide: the most popular destinations, the types of boats rented, and changes in the sailing habits of boaters.
Seasonal Shifts: Early Season and Winter on the Rise
Observations from previous years are confirmed: the classic high season in July and August still accounts for 38% of all bookings, while the off-season, particularly the early season in May and June, as well as October is gaining popularity among charter clients. Demand for these periods is increasing especially in English-speaking markets, not least due to attractive pricing. September, long a hidden gem for relaxed cruises without the high-season crowds, remains stable but shows no further growth compared to 2024. This is likely due to gradually adjusted prices reflecting the increased demand of recent years.
At the same time, winter destinations continue to gain momentum: exotic regions such as French Polynesia or Thailand have steadily recovered after the COVID slump and are attracting more charter guests looking to escape the winter on the northern hemisphere. The Seychelles stand out in particular with their wide range of cabin charters, making them to one of the highest-revenue non-European cruising areas, just after the French Caribbean islands Martinique and Guadeloupe.
The most sought-after charter destinations in 2025
Greece remains at the top of the ranking, followed by Croatia and then Italy. These three sailing areas account for just over 50% of the most sought-after destinations for charters in 2025.
With 25% of departures recorded in 2025, Greece remains the favourite destination for GlobeSailor customers. Its 2,700 available sailboats spread across more than 25 rental bases offer a huge choice, whether for a first cruise in the Ionian Sea, ideal for novice sailors, or a more athletic adventure across the Aegean Sea, from the Sporades to the Cyclades. With its secluded coves, picturesque taverns and sunny sailing conditions, boat rental in Greece remains a safe bet for sailors of all backgrounds.
In second place is Croatia, which accounts for 16% of departures in 2025. Despite its highly developed port infrastructure and wide range of services, the country has seen a significant decline compared to 2019, when it accounted for 26.5% of departures. This change can be explained in part by higher prices and the switch to the euro, which have impacted costs in ports and restaurants as well as boat rentals. The Dalmatian islands have lost none of their charm, but sailors are now more attentive to value for money.
Increase in cruise fares: inflation… but that’s not all!
It is interesting to note that between 2019 and 2025, the average price of a yacht charter increased by 36%, from €3,362 per week in 2019 to €4,556 in 2025! This increase seems to have stabilised since 2023.
This sharp rise in prices can be explained by the purchase prices of boats, which increased by 25% to 35% after Covid, but also by general inflation, the rise in the cost of energy, raw materials, port fees, insurance and the salaries of staff employed at rental bases. This increase can also be explained by the size and type of vessels rented with more and more recent catamarans and ever-increasing comfort equipment on board.
Like yacht charter, cabin cruises with crew have also increased significantly. The average price of a cabin for two in 2019 was €3,027 per week, compared to €3,747 in 2025, an increase of +24%. Similarly, increases in crew salaries, vessel purchase and maintenance costs, and supplies are contributing to this rise. However, we hope that this will stabilise or even decrease in the coming years.
