Maldives hotels with yachts: 10 resorts for private cruises

Many Maldivian resorts offer activities such as sailing by yacht to an uninhabited island, watching the sunset in the open ocean or staying overnight at sea. At some hotels, this is not an ordinary group excursion for a couple of hours, but a private yacht with cabins, crew and a personal chef. You can choose an evening cruise, spend a whole day on board or sail between atolls.

Four Seasons Private Island at Voavah

What you need to know when booking a yacht in the Maldives

• A private yacht cruise is usually not included in the accommodation price and is booked separately. The price depends on the vessel, duration of the trip, route and additional services - for example, dinner with a chef, diving or an overnight stay on board.
• If a yacht is one of the main reasons for choosing a particular resort, it is better to check its availability before the trip. This is especially important for multi-day cruises and popular dates.
• The final route always depends on the weather and ocean conditions. Even a trip planned in advance to a particular reef or atoll may be changed by the crew for safety reasons.
• Different formats are available: you can choose a couple of hours at sunset, a full day among reefs and uninhabited islands or several nights at sea. All three options are available in the Maldives.

Yachting in the Maldives - an opportunity to see the islands from the water, encounter extraordinary marine life and enjoy the scenery of the emerald Indian Ocean. Let's look at 10 resorts where you can rent a yacht and organise a private cruise.

The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort

Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani - a journey on Soneva in Aqua

Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani have their own 23-metre yacht with two guest cabins. You can take it out for a few hours or a whole day, stay overnight or spend several days at sea. There is no fixed route - it is created individually.

The yacht departs from Soneva Fushi, Soneva Jani and Soneva Secret. You can travel between Soneva resorts, stop at uninhabited islands and sandbanks, go snorkeling and diving or anchor in a quiet lagoon.

Soneva in Aqua is essentially a small floating hotel. On board, guests are accompanied by a captain, local skipper, butler and personal chef, while a dive master, surfing instructor or even an astronomer can join the team if needed. There is a jacuzzi and a glass spa bathtub through whose bottom you can watch the ocean.

Soneva Fushi

W Maldives - sunset and dinner on HORIZON

W Maldives has its own 21-metre HORIZON yacht with two cabins, bathrooms and a large open deck. The format here is somewhat different: you do not need to spend several days at sea for the yacht to become a separate highlight of the trip.

For example, you can take a daytime cruise around Ari Atoll with a stop at a sandbank or snorkeling in an area inhabited by nurse sharks. A more relaxed option is to watch the sunset with a glass of champagne and snacks. Or you can take your time and head out into the ocean for dinner. A personal chef works on board, wines are paired with the dishes, and instead of a restaurant terrace there is the open sea and a starry sky.

W Maldives

The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort - its own Norma

The luxury resort has its own yacht with four cabins and spacious decks. Up to eight guests can be on board, and the hotel's service effectively travels with them to sea: the journey is accompanied by a butler, personal chef and crew.

The scenario can be chosen to suit your mood. Norma is used for daytime cruises, snorkeling, diving, dolphin and whale shark watching, sunset trips and journeys between islands. Overnight trips are also available, so after sunset you do not have to return to the pier but can dine on the yacht and greet the next morning. Norma also has a more practical function - it can be booked for a private transfer to the resort.

The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort

JOALI BEING - yachts for any route

At JOALI BEING they did not limit themselves to one yacht - the resort has several vessels for private sea trips. These include a 64-foot Dominator, a 56-foot Aicon, a 36-foot Silver Craft and a traditional Maldivian dhoni. So here you can first decide how you want to spend the day at sea and then choose the right vessel.

Guests take the yachts out for snorkeling, fishing or simply to watch the sunset away from the island. For those for whom one or two hours is not enough, private half-day and full-day charters are available. The route does not have to be built around a specific excursion - the team can organise an individual trip with a picnic and stops wherever you want to spend more time.

JOALI BEING

COMO Cocoa Island - by yacht to the sharks and reefs of Vaavu Atoll

COMO Cocoa Island has its own luxury yacht with three cabins, upper and lower sun decks, and enclosed and open dining areas. At the stern there is a platform at water level - convenient for going straight into the ocean for snorkeling or diving.

The programmes here are quite specific. For two hours, you can go on a sunrise or sunset cruise, fishing trip or snorkeling. Half Day Adventure lasts four hours, while Full Day Adventure lasts eight.

The most interesting routes go farther from the island. For example, by yacht you can reach the reefs of Vaavu Atoll to swim with nurse sharks, see a coral garden or explore a shipwreck.

COMO Cocoa Island

One&Only Reethi Rah - a route without a script

At One&Only Reethi Rah, a sea trip can be organised on a private yacht, catamaran or dhoni boat. Instead of one standard route, the resort offers to choose a vessel and programme for a particular day - from an early departure at sea to a sunset cruise.

One option is a private sunset cruise with champagne and a chance to see dolphins. You can explore the islands and reefs of North Malé or combine a sea trip with snorkeling. For sport fishing, the resort has a separate Sportfisherman 47 vessel.

One&Only Reethi Rah

Anantara Dhigu and Anantara Veli - day or night on the Raaya yacht

Neighbouring Anantara Dhigu and Anantara Veli offer an interesting option for spending more than a couple of hours at sea. The private Raaya yacht accommodates up to six guests and is suitable both for daytime trips and overnight journeys. The cabins on board have private bathrooms.

The route depends on how you imagine a day in the ocean. You can look for beautiful reefs and snorkel, go fishing or simply spend a few hours on deck. Or you can stay overnight on the yacht and continue the journey in the morning.

Raaya also offers a more romantic option: dinner at sea with a personal chef. The yacht heads out closer to sunset, dinner is served on board, and afterwards guests are invited to settle on deck and watch the stars.

Anantara Veli

Cheval Blanc Randheli - private ocean trips on Nava

This resort also has its own 16-metre Nava yacht, used for individual trips into the ocean. A packed full-day route is not necessary at all. The yacht is also suitable for special events when the location itself is the main point.

For example, one Cheval Blanc programme involves taking Nava to a secluded spot away from Randheli for a ceremony in the middle of the ocean. At first glance, the scenario is very simple - sea and yacht. But there is another advantage - privacy and the opportunity to see several islands from the water.

Cheval Blanc Randheli

Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi - yachts, cruises and fishing

At Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, sea trips can be adapted to the plans for a particular day. The programme includes private cruises, trips to sandbanks and sunset cruises, while a private group can rent one of the resort's vessels.

The most adventurous trip is to head out early in the morning on a 56-foot yacht for big-game fishing. If fishing does not appeal at all, the scenario can easily be changed: take a private cruise or spend the evening at sea. Waldorf also organises romantic dinners during sunset cruises.

A separate story is the private Ithaafushi island. Guests are brought there on the resort's yachts, and the holiday programme can include yacht excursions and trips to secluded sandbanks.

Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi

Four Seasons Private Island at Voavah - a private island together with a yacht

Four Seasons Private Island Maldives at Voavah stands apart. Here you book not a villa but the entire island - for a maximum of 21 guests. Along with the island, the group has its own 19-metre Voavah Summer yacht.

It is a Horizon E62 with two cabins that can be used day and night. Guests take it fishing, search for dolphins, go snorkeling, explore the islands of the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve or simply head out to sea with champagne at sunset.

It is worth heading towards Hanifaru Bay, known for seasonal gatherings of manta rays. There is no fixed yacht programme - you can sail wherever you wish.

Four Seasons Private Island at Voavah