Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions we hear most.
All topics
Do we have to berth the boat ourselves?
No. Whitsunday Escape staff take your boat out of Coral Sea Marina at the start of your charter and re-berth it when you return.
The one exception is Hamilton Island. If you plan to stay in the marina there, you’ll berth the boat yourself and demonstrate that at your briefing.
What is a bareboat charter, and how is it different from a crewed charter?
A bareboat charter means you hire the boat and skipper it yourself, with no captain or crew on board. You decide where to go, where to anchor and how long to stay.
You get the freedom to cruise the Whitsunday Islands at your own pace and choose your own adventure each day!
What is the difference between the boat brands in the fleet?
The fleet includes Leopard, Lagoon, Aquila, Seawind and Nautitech catamarans, and each has a distinct character.
Leopards dominate both the power and sailing fleet. Modern models (except the Leopard 47’s) have a forward walk-through design giving direct access to the foredeck and good ventilation at anchor, with three, four or five cabin layouts available.
Aquila boats have an open-plan layout with a luxury finish. The owner’s version puts the master suite across the forward deck, and a roomy flybridge more than doubles the social area, which gives two parties a degree of separation.
Lagoon sailing catamarans have generous headroom and sizeable cabins, so standards stay consistent for everyone aboard. They have a bigger look than the other brands and their sailing performance is on par with any other sailing catamaran.
Seawind and Nautitech models are lighter and easier to handle, and tend to suit guests who value responsive sailing performance.
How does Whitsunday Escape compare to other bareboat operators in the Whitsundays?
Whitsunday Escape has the largest catamaran fleet and a large cruising area in the Whitsundays, which means more choice of layout and more flexibility on dates.
The fleet is made up entirely of catamarans, both power and sailing, from 39ft to 50ft. There are no monohulls, so every boat sits flat at anchor with wide living space, which suits families and mixed groups.
The base is Coral Sea Marina in Airlie Beach. Staff take the boat out of the marina at the start of the charter and help re-berth it on return, so no marina handling skills are needed.
The reservations team will say plainly if a different boat or a different time of year would suit a group better.
How much does a bareboat charter in the Whitsundays cost?
Charter rates vary by boat, season and length, with sailing catamarans starting from $910 per night and power catamarans from $1,392 under the current 7 nights for the price of 5 promotion.
The lowest rates are through the wet season from January to March, and the highest through September and October.
That price is for the whole boat, not per person.
The charter fee covers the boat hire, the pre-charter briefing and everything on board. Fuel, provisions, an environmental management charge and a sundries fee are additional.