How to charter a Below Deck superyacht

The star yacht of Below Deck Down Under season two, the 50.8-metre Northern Sun (originally delivered as Hokko Maru) has lived a full and fascinating life. She was the largest yacht built by Narasaki Shipbuilding at the time and worked as an ice-class research vessel, analysing marine life and ocean currents in the North Japan Sea. As a result, she has the hardy constitution of an explorer, transformed from ship to superyacht under the stewardship of her new owners.

Northern Sun’s main deck is now dedicated entirely to entertainment, from the al fresco dining area to the main saloon with its piano and games table. Other leisure highlights include gym equipment, a dedicated library on the lower deck and an outdoor Jacuzzi, surrounded by sun pads and lounge beds. The owners’ addition of a forward seating area during her refit allows for versatile recreation, whether the mood calls for cocktail parties or quiet, waterside contemplation. 

Accommodation is for up to 12 guests across six cabins, with rich, warm interiors that feature natural materials such as narra and makore wood (commonly known as cherry mahogany). The ex-explorer also – naturally – has impressive stowing capacity. She's able to carry two Laser sailboats, scuba-diving equipment, a waterski and a two-deck-high inflatable water slide, with the broker describing her as a "family-orientated" vessel. 

Charter cost: Northern Sun is managed for charter by Ocean Independence with a weekly charter rate starting from $161,700.

60 metre Benetti motor yacht St David is the star of the tenth season of Below Deck, returning to the Caribbean with beloved Captain Lee. A finalist at the 2009 World Superyacht Awards, St David is a full-custom yacht with both interior and exterior design by British studio Winch Design.

She has made appearances at a number of high-profile events such as the Cannes Film Festival and has been spotted at various locations around the world including the Seychelles, Red Sea and Abu Dhabi. Accommodation is for 12 guests in six cabins, with a split-level master suite that lets in plenty of light.

A palatial theme characterises St David’s social spaces, with features including a generous skylounge and a spiral staircase that leads through all three decks and is lit by a skylight in the spa pool of the sun deck. Elsewhere, St David has expansive water toy facilities and storage, including scuba dive gear, a new 7.2m tender, new Waverunners, and an electric foiling surfboard.

Charter cost: St David is managed by Morley Yachts with a weekly charter rate starting from €325,000.

The star of Below Deck Mediterranean season seven, 49.8 metre Home is the first “green” superyacht to appear on the show. Featuring a ground-breaking combination of a super-efficient Fast Displacement Hull Form by Van Oossanen Naval Architects with power provided by a hybrid propulsion system, Home boasts reduced emissions and fuel costs for the eco-conscious charter guest.

Defined by a distinctive vertical bow and large expanses of glass, Home was penned by Omega Architects and launched by Heesen in 2017. Her interiors, designed by Cristiano Gatto in a modern “Ibiza style”, can accommodate up to 12 guests in six cabins including a full-beam master cabin with a dedicated dressing room and a private office. There is also room for nine members of Below Deck crew on board, including Captain Sandy who has returned to the helm for the seventh season while Home is cruising the coasts of Malta.

The main socialising spot is up on the sundeck, complete with a Jacuzzi and sit-up bar, a shaded lounge and protection from the elements provided by glass screens. Closer to the water, a beach club with an air-conditioned gym is situated next to the swimming platform from which guests can launch the water toys including SeaBobs, Hoverboards, E-foils, Jet Skis and a Flyboard. Home also carries gear for scuba diving, waterskiing and wakesurfing for guests to make the most of their time on board.

Charter cost: Home is managed for charter by Burgess with a weekly charter rate starting from $245,000.

Sailing under her own name around the South Pacific islands of French Polynesia on Below Deck’s sixth series, the 56.4 metre My Seanna (now Starship) was built by Delta Marine in 2000 and refitted in 2014. The Glade-Johnson designed superyacht reappeared again for season eight, where she was filmed cruising in Antigua. She is now starring in the latest season of the show, season nine, following her recent sale.

Key features include an open air Jacuzzi surrounded by an al fresco drinks bar, a gym, a sauna room, a helipad and a spacious beach club complete with a lounge, flatscreen TV and a small galley for preparing snacks or drinks. Her opulent interiors can accommodate up to 12 guests and 11 crew and even offer a home cinema and piano for entertaining in the main saloon. There are multiple toys carried on board as well, including gear for diving and spearfishing, Seabobs and equipment for underwater filming.

“The thing that I really love about My Seanna is the spacious cabins” says Worth Avenue retail charter broker, Shannon McCoy, who has appeared on episodes of Below Deck. She describes My Seanna as a “well-appointed yacht with a good collection of toys for the guests to enjoy,” offering an excellent layout with a variety of spaces that allows charterers “to have breakfast in a different place every morning or enjoy dinner whether it's outside under the sun or in the formal dining area.”

Charter cost: Starship is managed for charter by Worldwide Boat with a weekly charter rate starting from $275,000.

Sailing under her real name, Lady Michelle was the star of the sixth series of Below Deck Mediterranean, which was the latest series from the Med spin off. The 54.8 metre Benetti superyacht is the second biggest yacht ever to feature on the show, following just behind the 56.2 metre motor yacht The Wellington from season five. During season six Lady Michelle hosted charter guests in Ibenik, Croatia with Captain Sandy behind the helm.

First delivered in 2003, Lady Michelle features accommodation for up to 14 guests including a split-level master suite with its own panoramic observation lounge. Her Stefano Natucci interiors offer indoor and al fresco dining spaces, an expansive sundeck with a hot tub and dedicated gym. There’s also a range of toys at the guests’ disposal, from Jet Skis and Seabobs to fishing gear and a waterslide.

Charter cost: Lady Michelle is managed by Burgess with a weekly charter rate starting from $325,000.

The 47 metre Heesen-built superyacht Sirocco took centre stage in both the second and fourth series of Below Deck Mediterranean and introduced captain Sandy Yawn, who has become a returning cast member on the show. Launched in 2006 with a refit in 2013, Sirocco features a dark blue hull and was designed inside and out by Omega Architects. She accommodates up to 12 guests and nine crew and offers charterers an eight person Jacuzzi, a gym, plenty of al fresco entertainment areas and a well-stocked toy box comprising Jet Skis, a waterslide and gear for wakeboarding or waterskiing. Worth Avenue retail charter broker Shannon McCoy describes Sirocco as a “very, very popular charter yacht” and with her fleet of water toys and pedigree Heesen design, provides “an excellent platform for a great time at sea.”

Charter cost: Sirocco is managed for charter by Worth Avenue with a weekly charter rate starting from €195,000.

Appropriately named for the first season of Below Deck Mediterranean, which was set in Greece, the 45.7 metre Christensen-built yacht was captained by Mark Howard during filming. Launched in 2005 and last refitted in 2016, Ionian Princess features a luxurious Greek-style inspired interior finished with high-gloss sapelle mahogany joinery and custom in-laid stonework throughout. Ionian Princess can host up to 12 guests in six cabins, including two master cabins, and also boasts plentiful dining options and a sundeck equipped with a hot tub and sunpads. She also comes with a fleet of water toys from waterskiing and wakeboarding kit to Jet Skis and kayaks. Thanks to her shallow draft, she can also access hard-to-reach hidden gems in the Mediterranean Sea that other larger yachts aren’t able to. “Ionian Princess is ideally suited for cruising the Mediterranean, which is the most sought-after region for summer yacht charters,” says her management team at charter brokers Northrop & Johnson.

Charter cost: Ionian Princess is managed by Northrop & Johnson with a weekly charter rate starting from $175,000.

Parsifal III has been the star of the sailing yacht spin off of Below Deck, captained by Glenn Shephard during filming. The 54 metre Perini Navi was launched in 2005 and was designed by Rémi Tessier. She was most recently refitted in 2020, and offers accommodation for a total of 12 guests and nine crew. Her design has seen her scoop a number of World Superyacht Awards and provides her with excellent performance capabilities at sea; when the weather is on your side, Parsifal III can hit speeds of up to 18 knots under sail. While at anchor, there is still plenty to keep guests entertained with a variety of al fresco and indoor dining spaces, a flybridge hot tub, gym equipment, a swimming platform and a fully-stocked toybox.

Charter cost: Parsifal III is managed for charter by Camper & Nicholsons with a weekly charter rate starting from €195,000.

Appearing on the second season of the show in 2014 under her own name, Ohana has since been sold and renamed Star Diamond The yacht was originally launched as Roxana by Admiral Marine in 1998 and last refitted in 2018. Designed by Donald Starkey, her interiors have a classic feel with glossy wood finishes and a colour palette blending nautical colours like creamy whites and marine blues. Key features on board this 46.94 metre yacht include accommodation for 10 guests and 10 crew, a six person Jacuzzi on the sun deck alongside a barbecue grill and plenty of spaces for al alfresco dining and drinking.

For a fun entrance into the water, Star Diamond also has an inflatable slide which guests can slip down on from the top deck plus there are a number of other water toys stored on board from Jet Skis to to fishing gear. During the summer, Star Diamond can be found cruising the coasts of New England while in winter she chases the sunshine by heading south to Florida and The Bahamas.

Charter cost: Star Diamond is managed by Ahoy Club and Northrop & Johnson with a weekly charter rate starting from $160,000.

This 50 metre Benetti superyacht kicked off the yachting TV show in style in July 2013. Captained by Lee Rosbach, she was based in the Caribbean isles during the filming of the first season. On Below Deck she was called Honor but in reality, her name is actually Barents. Delivered in 1999 to a design by Stefano Natucci, Barents just underwent an extensive full refit earlier in 2021 and can host up to 12 guests on board in six staterooms. Features viewers may have seen on the show include the stunning sun deck equipped with a hot tub, drinks bar and outdoor cinema, the additional indoor cinema, the beach club and the gym, as well as the extensive fleet of water toys such as Jet Skis and gear for wakeboarding, waterskiing, fishing and snorkelling.

Charter cost: Barents is not currently available for charter, though she was sold in 2020 for $9,900,000 by IYC and Worth Avenue Yachts to a buyer represented by Parsifal Yachting.