Why catamarans for families
The catamaran's advantages for families are decisive. The wide, flat deck provides a safe, secure platform that children can move around freely. The netting between the hulls (fitted on virtually all modern charter cats) creates a giant, safe play area — children spend hours lying on it watching the water below. The boat barely heels (leans) in normal sailing conditions, which eliminates the main cause of seasickness in children. And the separate aft cabins — typically one per hull — give parents and children their own space and their own heads (bathrooms).
Choosing the right size
For a family of 4 (2 adults, 2 children): a 42–44ft catamaran is ideal — two double aft cabins (one per adult couple or one per parent/child pair), a large saloon, and a spacious cockpit. The 4-cabin versions (44ft+) give each child their own space, which becomes important on longer charters.
For a family of 6 (2 adults, 4 children or 2 families): a 46–50ft catamaran with 4 cabins and 4 heads is the right choice. The extra beam provides dramatically more living space without significantly affecting sailing performance.
A catamaran under 40ft is too small for a family charter — the cabin space becomes cramped and the deck netting (vital for young children) is limited on smaller boats.
Key features to look for
- Bow netting — the mesh net between the hulls at the bow. Essential for young children; most modern charter cats have it but confirm when booking.
- Swim ladder with multiple rungs — children (and adults) get back on board easier from the water with a full-length ladder rather than a two-rung transom step.
- Cockpit table with shade — a bimini (sun canopy) over the cockpit is essential in the tropics. Check the charter listing carefully; not all boats include this.
- Separate heads per cabin — 4 heads (bathrooms) on a 4-cabin cat means no queuing at 0700. Luxury, but genuinely worth it on a family charter.
- Kayak/paddleboard included — check whether watersports equipment is included or an add-on. For families, this is essential, not optional.
- Watermaker — a desalination unit that produces fresh water from seawater. Removes the constant anxiety about water consumption with children aboard.
Best family catamaran models in charter (2026)
Leopard 45 — the most popular charter catamaran worldwide. Excellent layout, good performance, and widely available in the BVI, Ionian, and Croatia. The 2020+ versions have a redesigned cockpit with more usable space.
Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 — slightly more performance-oriented than the Leopard, with an excellent layout and good headroom throughout. Popular in the Mediterranean.
Lagoon 46 — the largest of the commonly-chartered 45-foot class, with exceptional interior volume and a distinctive flybridge on the 2022+ version. The extra headroom and interior space make a significant difference for a week aboard.
Bali 4.5 — the most innovative layout in the 45ft class, with the helm position integrated into the stern rather than on a separate arch. Creates an extraordinary cockpit space — the best "outdoor living room" in the charter fleet.