We don’t judge a great crewed charter catamaran by the brand name alone. Layout, refit quality, and the crew matter just as much. That said, brands do give a clear signal of design philosophy and help us match the right yacht to the right group.
Some catamarans are built around luxury living and space, others put real emphasis on sailing performance, and some focus on smart layouts that deliver excellent value for the money. Below is how we see the main catamaran brands used in crewed BVI charters, based on what actually makes a difference once you’re onboard.
Sunreef
The Most Superyacht-Like Charter Catamaran
Sunreef is built in Gdańsk, Poland, and it’s one of the few catamaran builders that consistently feels like “superyacht tier” rather than “premium charter boat.” In our experience, people choose Sunreef when they want the most space, finish, and wow-factor you can get in a catamaran—without moving into a traditional monohull superyacht.
Where we’re careful is expectations around sailing. Sunreef is luxury-first, so if someone’s priority is performance and “we really want to sail,” we’ll often guide them toward a different style of cat. But if the goal is a floating villa with a top-level crew experience—especially with big lounging areas and strong toy setups—Sunreef is usually the top of the list.
Best Sunreef Model for Charter: the Sunreef 80 (Sail or Power)
What we like:
☑ Much wider than typical charter cats (around 38–39 ft beam at 80 ft)
☑ Noticeably more interior volume than production brands
☑ Beach-club style stern with real toy storage
☑ Flybridge feels like a main living area, not an afterthought
☑ Built and finished to superyacht standards
What we don’t like:
☒ Designed for comfort, not sailing performance
☒ Wide beam can limit marina options
☒ Higher charter cost than most production cats
Our Favorite Sunreef Catamarans for Charter in the BVI
NAUTI NICKEL
ENDLESS HORIZON
MARIA THERESE
Lagoon
The Most Proven All-Round Crewed Charter Catamaran
Lagoon is one of the most established catamaran builders in the charter world, and in our experience it’s the safest, most predictable choice for a wide range of crews and guest types. Lagoon doesn’t try to be extreme in any one direction — instead, they focus on space, comfort, and layouts that work well week after week in charter service.
They’re rarely the most exciting brand on paper, but they’re often the one that causes the fewest surprises once everyone is onboard.
Best Sunreef Model for Charter: the Sunreef 80 (Sail or Power)
What we like:
☑ Balanced beam and volume (big, but not oversized)
☑ Very comfortable salon–cockpit–flybridge flow
☑ Layouts that suit families and mixed groups
☑ Huge charter track record = fewer design quirks
☑ Available across many sizes and budget tiers
What we don’t like:
☒ Not a standout in performance sailing
☒ Interiors can feel conservative compared to newer brands
☒ Less “wow” factor than Sunreef at the top end
☒ Many similar models — the right layout matters a lot
Our Favorite Lagoon Catamarans for Charter in the BVI
AEOLUS 77
SIETE MARES
XANDROS
Fontaine Pajot
French Sailing Tradition, Adapted for Crewed Comfort
Fountaine Pajot is a French catamaran builder, and the emphasis on sailing performance is very much part of that heritage. France has a long tradition of performance multihulls, and in our experience FP carries that mindset into their charter models — with designs that put more weight on balance, efficiency, and how the boat feels under sail, not just how much space it offers at anchor.
They’re still comfort-focused enough for crewed charter use, but compared to volume-first brands, Fountaine Pajot tends to reflect a French pride in sailing ability rather than treating sailing as an afterthought.
Best Fountaine Pajot model for charter: Fountaine Pajot 67
What we like:
☑ French-built with a performance-first mindset
☑ Design heritage rooted in multihull sailing
☑ More responsive feel under sail than comfort-only cats
☑ Balanced layouts that don’t chase volume at all costs
What we don’t like:
☒ Not as available in the Caribbean (more popular in Europe)
☒ Less interior volume than Lagoon or Sunreef
☒ Flybridges are more functional than expansive
☒ Still not a true performance racing cat
Our Favorite Fontaine Pajot Catamarans for Charter in the BVI
JEWEL (67)
Semper Fidelis
TRU NORTH
Bali
The Floating Villa Built for Charter Living
Bali Catamarans are designed first and foremost around living aboard, and that’s immediately obvious once you step on deck. In our experience, Bali appeals to guests who care less about how a boat sails and much more about space, light, and seamless indoor–outdoor flow. These are catamarans built to feel like a modern waterfront apartment.
They’re especially popular in the lower-to-mid luxury tiers of crewed charters, where guests want the biggest possible living areas for the budget and plan to spend most of their time anchored, swimming, eating, and relaxing.
Best Bali model for charter: Bali 5.4
What we like:
☑ Open-plan salon with the signature “garage door” opening aft
☑ Excellent indoor–outdoor flow for social groups
☑ Very generous interior volume for the length
☑ Bright, modern feel with lots of light
☑ Good value for space compared to other brands
What we don’t like:
☒ Sailing performance is not the priority
☒ Open aft design can feel exposed in rain or wind
☒ Less traditional “yacht feel” than other brands
☒ Not aimed at guests who enjoy sailing underway
Our Favorite Bali Catamarans for Charter in the BVI
Endeavour
NO INHERITANCE
BIG NAUTI
Moon Yachts
Modern Luxury With a Boutique, Design-Forward Feel
Moon Yacht is a newer European catamaran builder, and in our experience they attract guests who want something that feels more modern and design-led than the classic production brands. Moon yachts are about clean lines, contemporary interiors, and generous living space, without going all the way into full superyacht territory.
They tend to appeal to guests who want a “new-generation” luxury catamaran — visually striking, comfortable, and less familiar than the brands you see everywhere.
Best Moon model for charter: Moon 60
What we like:
☑ Very modern, high-end interior design
☑ Spacious salon and cockpit with strong social flow
☑ Feels more boutique than mass-produced brands
☑ Good balance between luxury and practicality
☑ Stands out from the “usual charter cats”
What we don’t like:
☒ Less long-term charter track record than Lagoon or FP
☒ Smaller fleet presence, so availability can be limited
☒ Not aimed at performance sailing
☒ Layout differences matter a lot between models
Our Favorite Moon Catamarans for Charter in the BVI
Perfect Moon
Tryst
