Classic Cool Charter Yachts

As an increasing number of new-build charter yachts flood the seasonal hot spots all across the Caribbean and Mediterranean, older vessels can have a hard time standing out in the fleet. They simply don’t have the same look and feel as newer models, and their vintage style sometimes leaves them being wrongfully overlooked when it comes time to book a vacation.

What’s so sad about that reality is that in some cases, those older charter yachts have the better charter programs. The nicest, newest, sexiest yacht in a harbor can have a terrible crew or a lousy chef, while a well-kept, older yacht can have a dialed-in team that provides top-notch service and watersports.

A good example of this phenomenon is the 142-foot Christensen Grade I. Built in 1995 and most recently refitted in 2018, Grade I is currently available for bookings in the Caribbean at a reduced weekly base rate of $120,000 for 12 guests. The yacht has six staterooms, a scuba program for certified divers, and recent client feedback that shows just how special a charter vacation on a yacht of this age can be.

“I wanted to write you a note to formally thank you for a wonderful week on Grade I,” a client wrote to the crew. “My mother and our family felt right at home and truly relaxed to the point of time slipping right by. However, I would feel remiss if I didn’t share a few thoughts of ours from the experience. From the inside to the outside, every crew member was on point and with a smile! Never a kink in the armor. We had so many laughs, experiences, water sports, crazy sport fishing and culinary delights to the point where I can’t remember them all. Growing up in a boating family, my father always made times spent on the open water super special. He picked our crew members as family members in an effort to create an endless warm experience. We felt those old times again!”

Talk about a glowing recommendation, which was shared by Grade I’s management company, Fraser Yachts. The fact that the yacht originally launched 30 years ago didn’t matter to these charter clients at all.

Like vintage yachts for charter? Check out this Feadship, too: The 151-foot Ancallia is a 1984 build that underwent a rebuild in 2015, and then a refit in 2022-23. Classic Feadship style is still very much on display in this yacht’s exterior lines, with an updated interior that includes modern technology and amenities. Ancallia recently joined the IYC charter fleet and is accepting bookings this summer in Greece and Turkey for 12 guests.

How to book a week on board: contact a charter broker at fraseryachts.com or iyc.com

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