81% of Americans Would Pick a Yacht Charter Over a Private Jet Flight

Apparently, a Benetti is more inviting than a Bombardier.

Over four-fifths (81 percent) of Americans would prefer to sail on a luxury yacht rather than take a flight on a private jet, according to a new survey carried out by Yacht.com. Seafaring is something very few would pass up, in fact. Nearly every one of the respondents (94 percent) said they would jump on board if cost weren’t a factor. Only one in 20 would turn down a free yacht trip if offered. 

The site surveyed 1,006 Americans of various ages and backgrounds about yachting, with the resulting data showing that ocean expeditions are highly desirable yet highly elusive—for this particular group, at least. Only 13 percent have sailed on a yacht, though the majority would choose to do that above almost anything else. Over two-thirds (69 percent) would choose a free yacht trip over a free trip to Disney World, for example. 

When picturing their perfect voyage, nearly half (40 percent) of respondents picked the Mediterranean as their top destination. The Caribbean (20 percent) and Northern Europe (8 percent) were the next two dream locations, with the Middle East (zero percent) at the bottom of the list. Most surveyees (54 percent) said they would take either a partner or a friend, while a smaller subset (39 percent) would invite other family members. Two weeks was the preferred amount of time at sea, with Gen Z participants wanting a shorter 11-night jaunt and Gen Xers desiring a longer 15-night journey. 

As for life on board, almost one-third (31 percent) said that the one perk they would pick for their dream voyage would be a private chef with tasting menus. The good news is that high-end cuisine is sweeping across the seas, with more and more chefs swapping Michelin-starred kitchens for superyacht galleys and foraging top-quality produce wherever they are in the world. The next two most popular perks were a full crew to attend to your needs (24 percent) and a panoramic underwater observation lounge (8 percent). That latter group should consider climbing aboard Feadship’s new 275-foot hybrid, then, as it has an “Aqua Lounge” with views below the water.   

Money is the main thing preventing participants from making their charter dreams a reality. More than four-fifths (83 percent) said cost is the main reason they are not planning to book a yacht trip within the next few years. Cash isn’t the only barrier, though: Over 20 percent said time and scheduling conflicts were a deterrent, another 20 percent cited safety and weather as concerns, and 17 percent said they were worried about scams and/or legal issues.

As for how much respondents were prepared to pay for their dream yacht trip, those making under $25,000 were willing to spend $2,764, while those making over $150,000 would shell out $9,311. Dare we tell them that the top three most expensive yachts on the charter market in 2025 each command roughly $3 million per week?