Catamaran vs Motor Yacht in the Grenadines: Which Should You Charter?

Choosing between a catamaran and a motor yacht can completely change the character of a Grenadines yacht charter.

A catamaran is the natural choice for guests who want relaxed sailing, stability, generous deck space and easy access to shallow anchorages. The Grenadines' steady trade winds and short passages between islands make the region particularly rewarding aboard a sailing catamaran.

A motor yacht is better for speed, luxury and covering more distance. If you want to combine St Lucia, St Vincent, the Grenadines and Grenada, or simply spend less time travelling between islands, the additional speed can be a major advantage.

For most traditional seven-day Grenadines itineraries, we would choose a catamaran.

But there are situations where a motor yacht is clearly the better option.

The Grenadines are one of those destinations where the cruising ground naturally suits a catamaran.

Reliable easterly trade winds make sailing between islands enjoyable, particularly when travelling south from St Vincent through Bequia, Mustique, Canouan and the Tobago Cays. Many passages between the main anchorages are relatively short, so there is rarely any need to rush.

A catamaran also gives you an enormous amount of usable space for its length.

The wide beam creates large aft decks, forward lounging areas and spacious saloons, while the separation between the two hulls allows several cabins to maintain good privacy. This makes catamarans especially attractive for families or groups of couples sharing the yacht.

Stability is another advantage. A catamaran does not heel in the same way as a sailing monohull and generally provides a stable platform both underway and at anchor. This can be particularly valuable when crossing some of the more exposed channels between Grenadine islands.

Then there is draft.

Many luxury catamarans draw around 1.2 to 1.8 metres, giving them excellent access around shallow anchorages and reef areas such as the Tobago Cays and Palm Island.

If your ideal Grenadines charter means sailing for a few hours, anchoring close to a beach, swimming from the stern and enjoying dinner outside, a catamaran is difficult to beat.

The strongest argument for a motor yacht is simple: speed.

A sailing catamaran might cruise at around 7 to 10 knots, while many motor yachts comfortably travel at 15 to 25 knots or more. That difference becomes important when your itinerary extends beyond the central Grenadines.

For example, if you want to start in St Lucia, cruise through St Vincent and the Grenadines and finish in Grenada, a motor yacht can make the longer passages significantly easier.

It also gives the captain more flexibility.

If the weather changes or you decide you would rather spend another afternoon in Mustique, the yacht can often recover the lost distance much more quickly.

Motor yachts also tend to offer a higher concentration of luxury amenities. Depending on size, you may find features such as:

Jacuzzis

Large beach clubs

Stabilizers

Jet Skis

Seabobs

Waterslides

Gyms

Larger tenders

Multiple dining and lounging decks

For guests who see the yacht itself as a major part of the holiday, rather than simply the best way to explore the islands, this can make a motor yacht extremely attractive.

The trade-off is that the Grenadines do not necessarily require high-speed cruising. Most of the classic island hops are relatively short, which means a fast motor yacht may simply arrive earlier and spend more time sitting at anchor.

For families, I would generally choose a catamaran.

The wide, stable platform creates plenty of communal space, children can move easily between indoor and outdoor areas, and the swim platforms provide convenient access to the water. Crewed catamarans are also among the most commonly booked yacht types in the Grenadines for groups of six to ten.

For groups of couples, catamarans are equally attractive because many models have four similarly sized ensuite cabins. That can prevent the awkward situation where one couple gets an enormous master suite while another ends up in a significantly smaller cabin.

For honeymooners or couples prioritizing luxury, however, a motor yacht may have the edge.

A large master suite, professional crew, Jacuzzi, stabilizers and multiple private deck areas can create a more polished superyacht-style experience.

For larger groups, either yacht type can work. Luxury catamarans can often accommodate 8 to 10 guests very comfortably, while larger motor yachts and superyachts provide more crew, more amenities and potentially accommodation for 10 to 12 guests or more.

Catamarans generally offer considerably more space for the money.

Current Grenadines charter pricing places many fully crewed catamarans from roughly the mid-teens into the $40,000+ per week range, while crewed motor yachts generally begin around $50,000 per week and rise quickly with yacht size and specification.

Running costs can also differ significantly.

A sailing catamaran can cover much of the itinerary using wind power, while a motor yacht consumes substantially more fuel when travelling at cruising speed. On a plus-expenses charter, that fuel is normally paid separately through the yacht's APA.

This does not mean a motor yacht offers poor value.

You are paying for speed, crew, engineering, amenities and a different level of luxury.

But if your priority is simply having as much comfortable living space as possible for your charter budget, a catamaran usually wins.

Choose a catamaran if you want:

Genuine Caribbean sailing

More space for the price

A stable platform

Shallow-draft access

Relaxed island hopping

Lower fuel consumption

A family-friendly yacht

Easy swimming and snorkeling

A classic seven-day Grenadines itinerary

Choose a motor yacht if you want:

Faster cruising

More luxury amenities

Jet Skis and extensive water toys

A Jacuzzi or beach club

Larger professional crews

To cover more islands in less time

A longer St Lucia to Grenada itinerary

A full superyacht experience

For a typical seven-day Grenadines yacht charter, I would choose a catamaran.

The islands are close enough that extreme speed is rarely necessary, the trade winds make sailing genuinely enjoyable and the wide, shallow platform suits the Tobago Cays and relaxed anchor-to-anchor lifestyle perfectly.

For a longer itinerary, or if the yacht itself is as important as the destination, a motor yacht becomes much more compelling.

In simple terms:

Charter a catamaran to experience the Grenadines.

Charter a motor yacht to experience the Grenadines faster and in greater luxury.