Christmas on a Yacht – 5 top spots for a luxury Christmas yacht charter in the Caribbean | Edmiston
Trade snow for white-sandy beaches and turquoise waters this festive season. Discover the five best places for a luxury Christmas yacht charter in the Caribbean with Edmiston – from glamorous parties in St Barths to beautifully secluded BVI anchorages. On a superyacht holiday this Christmas, you can look forward to bespoke celebrations, world-class cuisine and the promise of total privacy.
Why spend Christmas in the Caribbean on a superyacht?
Christmas is a season for celebration and there is no better place to celebrate than in the paradisiacal Caribbean. This year, swap the cold and snow for the ultimate Christmas under the sun – with white sand between your toes as you paddle in the warm, glittering waters of the Caribbean Sea on a holiday yacht charter.
Aside from the obvious natural allure of the isles, Christmas and New Year bring a whole host of vibrant festivities – and though it’s peak season, Edmiston’s well placed charter teams can help secure last-minute charter bookings.
With our eye for detail and deep knowledge of the region, we can take care of everything, from an on-deck Christmas tree and festooned interiors to Michelin-star style cuisine that blends local flavours with your favourite holiday dishes – even tender visits from Santa.
Top 5 best places to spend Christmas on a yacht in the Caribbean
Spending Christmas on a yacht provides a level of privacy and flexibility that resorts can only dream of. Discover a world of festive exclusivity at these five incredible Caribbean destinations, where you can spend quality time at Christmas with loved ones, and ring in the new year with a fireworks display on deck on a new year yacht charter.
1. St Barths: The iconic superyacht Christmas & New Year hotspot
The quintessential destination for guests who want to host a Christmas yacht party or a New Year’s Eve celebration to remember, the ‘St Tropez of the Caribbean’ ticks all the boxes as a festive charter destination.
Last-minute Christmas gifts can be bought from the designer boutiques in and around the superyacht hub of Gustavia Harbour or from the twinkling, artisan stalls of Gustavia’s Christmas Village.
You’ll also be in the centre of the island’s social scene, as the world’s biggest superyachts gather for the party to end all parties.
Within pontoon distance of some of the most exclusive NYE events, you’ll also have a prime view of both the annual regatta around the island and the world-famous fireworks display.
Quiet days at anchor offer the perfect balance to hedonistic nights at island hotspots such as fashionable Eden Rock and barefoot dancing at Nikki Beach.
2. British Virgin Islands (BVI) – Relaxed, family-friendly Christmas on a yacht
With calm, inviting waters, safe anchorages and lots of local customs to inspire young minds, a yacht charter in BVI is among the best tropical Christmas vacations for families.
Enjoy a relaxed, laid-back lead up to the big day with early morning visits to The Baths on Virgin Gorda (little ones will love exploring the caves and pools) and sandcastle competitions on deserted beaches, before cosying down for a festive film on board.
Your crew can arrange for a Christmas carol concert with a difference – think steel drums and a reggae twist to familiar songs. And while many New Year’s Eve celebrations overlook younger members of the family, Foxy’s legendary Old Year’s Night is a fantastic way to bring young and old together.
This world-famous party turns the harbour of Jost Van Dyke into one giant, swashbuckling pirate adventure. With a little pre-planning, your crew can source fancy dress costumes for the whole yacht, so you can celebrate the year’s end, Pirates of the Caribbean-style.
3. Antigua – Traditional nautical festive atmosphere
With a rich maritime heritage and a packed marine winter calendar that begins with the Antigua Yacht Charter Show in early December, building to the crescendo of the annual Antigua Sailing Regatta each April, the land of 365 beaches is an ideal Christmas yacht charter destination.
Moor in the historic English Harbour and explore Nelson’s Dockyard – a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and restored Georgian-era dockyard where you can learn about the island’s colonial past, plus join one of several nature trails.
The Kid’s Christmas Sailing Club run by the Antigua Yacht Sailing Club is a great way to nurture the nautical aspirations of the younger generation (and give parents a spare few hours to wander the local festive markets).
The lively parties at Shirley Heights are legendary and a great way to take in the panoramic views against a soundtrack of reggae music, fuelled by potent rum punch.
Less crowded than St. Barths, charter guests can’t help but be seduced by the relaxed pace of the island, and the short crossing to Barbuda will be richly rewarded. While a sunny, white Christmas is assured on beach-filled Antigua, on its sister isle of Barbuda, the long, pink-sand beach is simply mesmerising.
4. The Bahamas & Exumas – Crystal-clear waters and deserted beaches
With shallow, turquoise waters and sandbars which can be turned into impromptu picnic spots, a charter in the Bahamas & Exumas is perfect for a get-away-from-it-all festive escape.
A particularly great option for US-based travellers looking for shorter flight times, guests can spend relaxed days swimming with pigs at Big Major Cay, or snorkelling in Thunderball Grotto – an underwater cave system so dramatic, it starred in the James Bond film of its name.
Celebrating Christmas and New Year with your nearest and dearest at anchor somewhere off the beaten track is a calming antidote to a busy year, and there are plenty of quiet, dreamy boltholes, especially around the Exumas.
However, yacht charter guests looking for more civilisation may want to factor in a stop-off at the mega resort of Atlantis Paradise Island, near Nassau, where you can shop designer stores such as Gucci and YSL, dine on fresh sushi at Nobu, or enjoy the thrills of the enormous water park.
A highlight of a Christmas yacht charter in the Bahamas, though, is surely the chance to experience the pulsating and vibrant atmosphere of the region’s Junkanoo festivities. Held on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day in downtown Nassau – with smaller parties taking place across the other isles – it’s an unmissable colourful celebration of the cultural heritage of the Bahamas.
5. The Grenadines (Tobago Cays, Mustique & Bequia) – Exclusive and secluded Christmas yacht charter celebrations
Offering a more low-key and barefoot approach to luxury than St Barths, the Grenadines are perfect for travellers seeking superyacht holidays that feel remote and romantic.
There are plenty of private beaches in Tobago Cays on which you can host intimate lobster barbecues for friends and family – a wonderful way to round off a day swimming with local turtles – with your crew on hand, to organise all the finer points.
For more sociable gatherings, festive flotillas can often be found in Bequia’s Admiralty Bay, where it’s not unknown for guests to tender between anchored yachts on Old Year’s Night (NYE) as they enjoy the spectacular firework display.
Over on the exclusive isle of Mustique, Basil’s Bar is the place to be for end of year celebrations as a select crowd let their hair down dancing to guest DJs away from prying eyes.
The magic of a Christmas yacht charter: What to expect
A yacht charter in the Caribbean at Christmas is all about sun, sand, sea and carefree celebrations. Your friendly, experienced crew can help bring all your onboard festive ideas to life – from themed parties to magical moments that you and your guests will remember forever.
Edmiston’s unmatched fleet of superyachts provides perfect bases to make all your Christmas wishes come true. As well as assured comfort on board, with fully bespoke itineraries you can look forward to ultra-luxury experiences that blend your festive traditions with the seamless service and privacy you deserve.
Contact your Edmiston broker to start planning your tailored Christmas charter in the Caribbean, or to discuss how you can extend your festive vacation into a new year yacht charter.
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