Northrop & Johnson is 75 years old this year, and to celebrate more than seven decades of incredible yachting moments, Northrop & Johnson charter experts present 10 reasons to charter a superyacht this holiday season.

01 Downtime

The coastlines of the more popular Caribbean islands are beautiful but they can also be crowded in high season. Knowing where to escape the crowds during the holiday season can be the key to enjoying your vacation. From tiny cays in The Bahamas to coastal hideaways in the Leewards, a superyacht allows access to coves and beaches that are only accessible by boat and that can also provide peaceful overnight anchorages. Promising more scenic anchorages than any yachtsman could wish for, the Virgin Islands offer plenty of quiet spots for those who know where to venture.

02 Dinner Time

Tailor-made gourmet cuisine is an intrinsic part of any charter vacation – on board any of the charter fleet you will be met with an enlightened chef and a neverending stream of innovative menu choices. Most cruising grounds are famed for their fresh market produce, with sumptuous displays of fresh fish, fruit, and regional delicacies available for chefs to incorporate into their cuisine. The best gourmet superyacht experience usually combines a little dining both aboard and ashore, and the majority of cruising grounds offer a wide choice of gastronomic – even Michelin-starred – restaurants, which are an integral part of any superyacht charter.

03 Family Time

A superyacht provides the perfect setting for a family holiday; it’s small enough to bring everyone together, but still big enough to give everyone their personal space. Spacious superyacht decks can also be multi-purpose; while you are on the bridge deck enjoying lunch, your children can be sheltering from the strong afternoon sun watching a movie (many of the larger superyachts even have dedicated cinema rooms). While you relax on the beach club, they can be splashing about in the Jacuzzi on the sundeck (supervised). Evenings on board can be equally flexible, with adults socializing in the main salon and the skylounge becoming the “kids’ zone” (or vice-versa). By its very nature, a superyacht is also mobile, so there is something new for the children to see every day, along with plenty of water toys on board to entertain them. Boredom is very rarely a factor on a superyacht charter.

One perfect yacht for a family charter is the 121’8” (37.08m) OPTIMISM. Her communal areas on the main and upper decks are vast, while her friendly crew are renowned for going above and beyond – organizing treasure hunts, sports days ashore, and activities galore – to keep the children entertained and ensure that everyone has a fun-filled vacation.

04 Active Time

There was once a time when a superyacht was a place of indolence, where exercise meant a languid swim around the boat at anchor, but today’s health-conscious yacht owners and charterers prefer to maintain their fitness regime on vacation rather than letting it all go. Gyms are, therefore, no longer just the preserve of sports stars and fitness fanatics and have become an essential amenity on board larger superyachts. The 203’5” (62m) SEA OWL, for example, has a spacious gym with an adjoining massage room where guests can stay active and relaxed. Some yachts even have personal trainers within the crew, such as the 180’6” (55m) REVELRY. Equally, for those looking to ditch the gym and take to the water, there are plenty of alternative ways to exercise on board a superyacht with watersports equipment that can be used for fitness as well.

05 Party Time

Should you ever feel like a change of scenery for the day, the Caribbean islands play host to some of the hottest beach clubs in the world. Drop anchor and step ashore to discover the superyacht crowd’s favorite hangouts. On the island of St. Barts, Eden Rock and nearby Nikki Beach remain the hip institutions that they have always been, welcoming a steady flow of yacht tenders throughout the holiday season, while Basil’s Bar on Mustique is always a welcome sight while cruising the Grenadines. The party vibe also remains strong on the island of Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands, with the Soggy Dollar Bar attracting the superyacht set aiming to combine some high-energy partying with some chillout time.

06 Play Time

No matter how you like to spend your time on board your yacht, the Northrop & Johnson charter fleet has a fun activity for everyone to enjoy. From mini-golf driving ranges to inflatable slides and just about every conceivable water toy imaginable, active life simply doesn’t get any better this holiday season while cruising on a superyacht.

When it comes to water toys, a yacht that rates up there with the best in class is the perennial charter favorite RoMa. Renowned for having a fantastic crew, this 203’5” (62m) yacht goes all out for fun in the sun. From stand-up paddleboards to kayaks, snorkeling and scuba diving equipment, and inflatable toys galore, RoMa will please both the young and the young at heart. She is also certified as an approved RYA training center, so guests looking to improve their watersports skills or maybe even learn an entirely new watersport can rest assured that they have the best instructors at hand.

For those looking to channel their inner child, inflatables are always popular. Most of the charter fleet carry some sort of inflatable on board, and some even have extensive inflatable water parks. The 153’3” (46.7m) BALISTA, for example, offers an extensive inflatable park where adults are just as welcome as children.

07 Movie Time

How about watching the latest Disney animation with the children on the big screen? Dedicated cinema rooms have become one of the most popular features onboard charter yachts. The 203’5” (62m) RoMa, for example, has a dedicated cinema room that incorporates a twinkling fiber optic starscape on the wall that mimics the night sky above.

Alfresco movie nights under the stars are also popular on warm summer evenings. To meet demand, several yachts now feature cinema setups on their exterior decks for screenings. The 164’1″ (50m) VICTORIA DEL MAR’s sundeck offers a large Jacuzzi, sunpads, and alfresco dining. There is also a bar, making this space a favorite for guests by day and by night, especially when the space is converted to an outdoor theater with a 100” screen.

08 Chilled Time

To enhance your superyacht experience, many yachts have their own dedicated spa areas. Some are in the form of cabins that can be transformed into a treatment area, while others have entire purpose-built spa decks with everything you would expect to find in a top spa ashore. If you are looking for the ultimate onboard pampering experience, opt for a superyacht with a masseuse on board, such as the 203’5” (62m) SEALION. A few yachts have crew members who are also trained as beauty therapists, and if not, your Northrop & Johnson charter expert can arrange for local specialists to come on board.

09 Cultural Time

Getting a dose of culture doesn’t have to involve remote, off-the-beaten-path destinations thousands of miles from home. While cruising in the Caribbean, for example, why not spend some time on the exotic island of Grenada? Ideal for a fun-packed family adventure, explore the spice plantations and learn where all those magical spices that end up in the kitchen come from, or even take a chocolate tour at the historic Belmont Estate. The kids will never look at their favorite sweet treat in quite the same way after dancing barefoot on trays of cocoa beans. Alternatively, the Leeward island of Antigua is steeped in maritime history. Once home to the Royal Navy’s West Indies fleet and for a time under Admiral Nelson’s direct command, English Harbour and in particular Nelson’s Dockyard, remains a visible symbol of England’s powerful navy past, with many Colonial naval buildings remaining completely intact. Overlooking this is Shirley Heights. Formerly a military lookout point for Nelson, you can still see cannons and the remnants of the barracks and fortifications.

10 Alfresco Time

The superyacht lifestyle is all about alfresco living and the perennially favored charter yachts are those that blend interior and outdoor areas and provide spacious living environments in both. From fold-down balconies to beach clubs and multi-use spaces, any superyacht that allows guests to enjoy a complete on-the-water experience is always going to be a favorite. A beach club, for example, not only allows for plenty of exterior space to sunbathe at sea level in privacy, but it also provides easy access to the water and water toys. The beach club found on board the 254’11” (77.7m) MALIA is a haven of relaxation. Opening to 180-degree views with drop-down terraces and an open stern, the large area includes a health bar and seating areas. Alternatively, some yachts have private terraces in the master cabin, which can be used as a private retreat while also making the cabin feel much bigger when deployed.