What is the best type of sailing vacation for a family with teenagers?

A sailing vacation for a family with teenagers can be an amazing experience if it balances adventure, comfort, and activities that engage everyone. With teens, it's best to let them take the lead and find their own way of having fun while sailing. Board games, water sports, movies and music are all great options for young people on the yacht.

But if you want to get a little more creative with activities that involve both teens and sailing, Here are some great options to consider:

Crewed Yacht Charter (With Activities)

Why It's Great: A crewed yacht allows the family to relax while professionals take care of sailing, cooking, and planning the route. This frees up more time for fun activities like snorkeling, wakeboarding, paddleboarding, or beach exploration, all of which appeal to teenagers. The crew can tailor the itinerary to include things that interest teens, like exploring hidden caves or visiting lively beach bars with a fun atmosphere.

Bareboat Charter (For Adventure-Seeking Families)

Why It's Great: If your family has sailing experience, chartering a bareboat can be an adventure that gets everyone involved in the journey. Teenagers who enjoy a challenge might love taking turns at the helm or helping with navigation and anchoring. Look for lots of island-hopping opportunities, and beautiful anchorages. You can customize your adventure to explore lesser-known spots that aren’t too crowded.

Flotilla Sailing (For a Social Experience)

Why It's Great: In a flotilla, you sail as part of a group of boats, with a lead boat guiding the way. It’s perfect if you want the freedom of your own boat but like having the security of being part of a group. The flotilla provides chances for socializing, which can be especially great for teenagers who may want to meet other kids their age.

There’s usually a mix of organized activities and free time, with swimming stops, group dinners, and excursions that allow teens to interact and make new friends.

Catamaran Charter (Space and Stability)

Catamarans offer a lot of space and stability, which can make a big difference if you're traveling with teenagers who like to spread out or if anyone is concerned about seasickness. The large deck area is ideal for sunbathing or playing games, and many catamarans have kayaks or paddleboards onboard.

Adventure Sailing Tours (A Mix of Activities and Sailing)

Some companies offer adventure sailing tours designed specifically for families. These tours often include planned activities like hiking, diving, cultural excursions, and water sports, ensuring there's always something to keep teenagers entertained.

Tips for Making It Enjoyable:

Involve Teens in Planning: Let them have a say in the destinations and activities to keep them engaged and excited. Some suggested activities include:

• Learning how to sail: Sailing is an exciting activity that develops skills like navigation and team work. A learn to sail class provides an opportunity for teenagers to bond with each other and their parents in beautiful settings.

• Sailing Olympics – create a series of races that teens can compete in using items on the yacht such as life jackets or pool noodles. Award prizes like an extra scoop of ice cream at dinner!

• Fishing contests – have teenagers compete to see who can catch the most fish—either from shore or off the boat itself—and have prizes for the winners!

• Scavenger hunts – create a list of items to be found on the boat (or nearby islands), and have teens go around searching for them.

• Sightseeing trips – hop off the yacht at different ports and let your teens explore the area, taking pictures and learning about each place you stop at.

• Impromptu talent show – get everyone up on deck to showcase some of their hidden talents—from singing or dancing to personal riddles or magic tricks! This is a good option for when the weather may not be so great.

Balance Relaxation and Action: Teenagers often like a mix of relaxation (sunbathing or chilling on deck) and action (water sports, exploring islands), so balance your itinerary accordingly.

Wi-Fi Access: This is a MUST for teens! Ensure your boat is equipped with Wi-Fi or a portable hotspot. This can help teens feel more comfortable on a longer trip and stay connected with friends.

Each of these options offers something unique, but ultimately, the best type of sailing vacation depends on your family’s preferences—whether they lean toward adventure, comfort, or social activities.

A yacht sailing vacation is a great way for teens to learn, explore and create lasting memories together and with a little bit of creativity, you can make any charter vacation with teens an unforgettable one.