Every charter listing gives two numbers: cabins and berths. A 45-foot yacht might read “4 cabins, 8+2 berths”, and the temptation is to read that as ten people. It is not. Understanding what the numbers mean, and what they leave out, is the difference between a comfortable week and one where somebody sleeps on the saloon table.
Cabins versus berths
A cabin is a room with a door. On a charter yacht that means a double berth, sometimes convertible to twins, with a small amount of storage and, on larger boats, its own bathroom.
A berth is a place to sleep. Cabins hold two each. The “+2” is the saloon: the dining table drops down and the cushions form a double bed in the main living space. It works, and it is where a couple’s children or a single guest often end up, but whoever sleeps there has no privacy, goes to bed last and wakes when the first person makes coffee.
Some boats add a forepeak berth in the bow, or a single berth in a small aft cabin. On catamarans, the bow lockers on each hull are often skipper berths: a bunk behind a hatch, fine for a professional, not for a guest.
The skipper changes the count
If you hire a skipper on a monohull, they take a cabin. A four-cabin boat becomes a three-cabin boat for guests. On a catamaran with proper skipper berths in the bows, the guest cabins are untouched, which is one reason catamarans dominate the skippered market. Always ask where the skipper sleeps before assuming the cabin count.
Heads
The number of bathrooms matters as much as the number of cabins. A 45-foot monohull with four cabins may have two heads; a catamaran of the same length usually has one per cabin. For a group of couples who do not know each other well, an en-suite head each is worth more than an extra metre of boat.
What size for what group
Two people. Almost any boat works, and the choice is about handling and budget. A monohull of 32 to 38 feet is easy for a couple to sail; a small catamaran gives space and stability at a higher price.
Four people, two couples. A three-cabin monohull of 38 to 42 feet, using two cabins and leaving one for luggage, or a three-cabin catamaran. Two heads is the minimum.
Six people. A three-cabin boat filled, which is fine for friends and tight for strangers, or a four-cabin boat of 45 to 50 feet with one cabin spare. On a catamaran, four cabins with four heads is the comfortable answer.
Eight people. A four-cabin catamaran of 42 to 46 feet, or a four-cabin monohull of 50 feet or more. Eight on a monohull means the saloon is the only shared space; on a catamaran there is the saloon, the cockpit and the foredeck. This is where catamarans earn their price.
Ten or more. A five- or six-cabin catamaran, a large monohull with a professional crew, or a gulet. At this size, a crewed boat is usually cheaper per person than a bareboat once the practicalities are counted.
The comfort rule
Experienced charterers use a simple rule: book a boat with one more cabin than the number of couples. The spare cabin takes luggage, becomes a retreat for whoever needs one, and turns a full boat into a comfortable one. On a week with children, the spare cabin is where they go.
Filling every berth, including the saloon, is for delivery crews and stag weeks. It is not a holiday.
Other things the numbers hide
- Cabin size. Aft cabins on monohulls are wider; forward cabins narrow to the bow. Two tall adults in a forepeak cabin will notice.
- Cockpit seating. A boat that sleeps eight should seat eight for dinner in the cockpit. Some do not.
- Water and power. More people means more showers and more charging; check tank size and whether there is a generator or watermaker on larger boats.
- The tender. An eight-person crew and a four-person dinghy means two trips ashore every evening.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “8+2 berths” mean on a yacht listing?
Eight berths in four cabins, plus two more in the saloon where the table converts to a bed. The saloon berth has no privacy.
How many people can sleep comfortably on a 45-foot yacht?
Six, in three of four cabins, with one cabin spare. Eight is possible but tight on a monohull.
Does the skipper take a guest cabin?
On most monohulls, yes. Catamarans usually have separate skipper berths in the bows.
Is a catamaran better for a large group?
Yes. Equal-sized cabins, a head per cabin and three separate living areas make eight or more people comfortable in a way a monohull cannot.