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Vela Yachts — Charters for 12

The largest yacht
you can charter: 12 guests,
six cabins

12 is the maximum number of guests on a Mediterranean charter yacht. The biggest boats built around that limit are six-cabin catamarans, so every guest gets a proper cabin and nobody sleeps on the saloon sofa.

See the boats → Questions answered

What is the largest yacht you can charter?

If you are a group of 12, the largest boat you can charter in the Med is a six-cabin catamaran of around 48–51ft. Charter yachts are limited to 12 guests, and six cabins is the layout that fits exactly 12 people without anyone sleeping in the saloon.

Last updated 4 November 2026. Prices and availability change week to week — ask us for live availability.

Why 12 is the limit

Why the biggest charter boats
stop at 12 guests

Under international maritime rules (SOLAS), a vessel carrying more than 12 passengers is a passenger ship, with much stricter certification, survey and crewing requirements. Charter yachts are built and licensed to stay under that line, so 12 guests is the most any bareboat or skippered charter boat will take — whatever its berth count.

That makes a six-cabin boat the natural maximum for a group. Bigger catamarans exist, but on crewed charters the extra space usually goes to crew quarters and larger cabins, not to more guests.

Berths are not the same as cabins

Listings quote berths, and that number can be misleading. A boat advertised as "sleeps 12" may have four or five cabins, with the rest of the group on a converted saloon table or in a cramped bow cabin. That works for a few nights, not for a week. When you compare boats, look at:

What matters on a boat for 12

Six-cabin boats we can book

Yachts for 12 —
a cabin for everyone

Breezer — Aura 51 6-cabin catamaran for 12 people, Preveza Main Port, Greece

Breezer 2024 Aura 51

Model2024 Aura 51 (catamaran)
BasePreveza Main Port, Greece
Length51 ft
Beam27 ft
Cabins7 (6 double + 1 crew)
Cabin layout6 double cabins
Berths12
Heads (WC/shower)7 (6 electric + 1 crew)
Fresh water tank900 l
Charter typeBareboat
Security deposit€5,000.00
Skipper (optional)€210 per night
Key equipmentA/C, Generator, Solar
From £11,536 (€13,500) per week
Split 12 ways: about £960 (€1,120) per person, before extras
Check availability →Photos & full details
High Life — Lagoon 50 6-cabin catamaran for 12 people, D-Marin Dalmacija, Sukošan, Croatia

High Life 2022 Lagoon 50

Model2022 Lagoon 50 (catamaran)
BaseD-Marin Dalmacija, Sukošan, Croatia
Length48 ft
Beam27 ft
Cabins7 (6 double + saloon + 1 skipper)
Cabin layout6 double cabins
Berths14 (12+1+1)
Heads (WC/shower)6
Fresh water tank480 l
Charter typeBareboat
Security deposit€4,000.00
Skipper (optional)€1,820 per week
Key equipmentA/C, Generator, Watermaker
From £9,400 (€11,000) per week
Split 12 ways: about £780 (€920) per person, before extras
Check availability →Photos & full details
Antigone — Bali 4.8 6-cabin catamaran for 12 people, Marina Portorosa, Sicily, Italy

Antigone 2024 Bali 4.8

Model2024 Bali 4.8 (catamaran)
BaseMarina Portorosa, Sicily, Italy
Length49 ft
Beam26 ft
Cabins6 + 1 skipper
Cabin layout4 double cabins + 2 bunk-bed cabins
Berths13 (12 + 1 skipper); CE category A: 12, B: 14
Heads (WC/shower)6 + 1 skipper
Fresh water tank1,120 l
Charter typeBareboat
Security deposit€4,000.00
Key equipmentA/C, Generator, Watermaker, Electric winches
From £8,289 (€9,700) per week
Split 12 ways: about £690 (€810) per person, before extras
Check availability →Photos & full details
Steno — Bali 4.8 6-cabin catamaran for 12 people, Punta Nuraghe, Porto Rotondo, Sardinia, Italy

Steno 2024 Bali 4.8

Model2024 Bali 4.8 (catamaran)
BasePunta Nuraghe, Porto Rotondo, Sardinia, Italy
Length49 ft
Beam26 ft
Cabins7 (6 + 1 skipper's cabin)
Cabin layout4 double cabins + 2 bunk-bed cabins
Berths13 (12+1)
Heads (WC/shower)6
Fresh water tank1,000 l
Charter typeBareboat
Security deposit€4,500.00
Key equipmentElectric winches, Hydraulic gangway, Solar
From £8,118 (€9,500) per week
Split 12 ways: about £680 (€790) per person, before extras
Check availability →Photos & full details

Prices are indicative "from" weekly rates in euros, with sterling at around €1 = £0.85. Extras such as the security deposit, end-of-charter pack, tourist tax, fuel and marina fees are paid on top — we give you a full breakdown before you book. This is a selection: we can search the wider charter fleet for six-cabin boats in Greece, Croatia, Turkey, Spain and Italy.

Common questions

Chartering for 12 —
your questions answered

12. Bareboat and skippered charter yachts in the Mediterranean take a maximum of 12 guests, plus a skipper or crew if you have them. Under international rules (SOLAS) any vessel carrying more than 12 passengers is a passenger ship, so charter yachts are licensed up to that limit and no further.
For a standard bareboat or skippered charter, the practical maximum is a catamaran of around 48–51ft with six cabins. Charter yachts are limited to 12 guests, so the fleet tops out there; above 12 passengers a vessel is classed as a passenger ship under international rules (SOLAS) and needs much heavier certification. A six-cabin catamaran is the biggest boat built around exactly that limit, with a proper cabin for every two guests.
Only on a six-cabin boat. Many yachts advertised as sleeping 12 have four or five cabins and make up the extra beds in the saloon or a small bow cabin. On a six-cabin catamaran such as High Life, all 12 guests sleep in double cabins, each with its own heads (toilet and shower), and there is a separate skipper berth if you take a skipper.
It depends on the boat. High Life (Lagoon 50) and Breezer (Aura 51) have six double cabins, which suits couples or friends happy to share a bed. The Bali 4.8s, Antigone and Steno, have four double cabins and two bunk-bed cabins, which works well for groups with children or friends who would rather have their own bed. Tell us how your group splits up and we will match the layout.
Yes, if someone in the group holds a suitable qualification, typically an ICC or RYA Day Skipper plus a VHF radio licence, and has enough experience to handle a 48–51ft catamaran. You also need a competent second crew member. If nobody has that, add a skipper. Every boat on this page has a separate skipper or crew cabin, so you don't give up a guest cabin.
The six-cabin catamarans we list start from about €9,500 a week (around £8,118). Split between 12 that is roughly £680–£960 each for the boat, depending on the yacht, before extras such as the end-of-charter pack, tourist tax, fuel, marina fees, food and an optional skipper. Prices vary by week; peak summer weeks cost more.
For 12, a catamaran in almost every case. Six double cabins are rarely found on charter monohulls, which usually top out at four or five cabins. A catamaran also gives 12 people far more deck, saloon and cockpit space, and it sails flat, which matters when not everyone is an experienced sailor.
The berth count includes the saloon and skipper berths. The guest limit for a charter yacht is 12, so even when a boat lists 14 berths, 12 is the maximum number of guests. The extra berths are there for a skipper or hostess.
Book two yachts and sail together. Two boats from the same base can follow the same route and meet at the same anchorages and harbours each evening. Tell us your group size and we will look for two suitable boats.
Early. There are far fewer six-cabin catamarans than four-cabin ones, and large groups book them first. For July and August, enquire 6–9 months ahead. June and September usually have better availability and lower prices.

Sailing as a group
of 12?

Tell us your dates, where you'd like to sail and whether you need a skipper. We'll check which six-cabin boats are free and send you the options.

Find a boat for 12 → Catamaran guide