Yacht Hire in Cape Town: Prices and Packages for Every Occasion

Yacht Hire in Cape Town: Prices and Packages for Every Occasion

Table Mountain behind you, Clifton's beaches sliding past, seals popping up off the bow. Cape Town is one of the best places in the world to be on a boat, and we get asked the same first question every day: how much does it actually cost? Below you'll find the real 2026 rates for boats we charter out of the V&A Waterfront and Granger Bay, plus what pushes a quote up or down. If you'd like to see every boat side by side, our yacht hire in Cape Town fleet list is a good place to start.

What Goes Into the Price

No two quotes look the same, because a few things move the number quite a bit:

1. Yacht size and type: A 12-guest sailing boat costs far less per hour than a 65-guest power catamaran with a bar and a full crew.
2. How long you go out: Most boats charge by the hour, and many have a minimum of two or three hours. Half-day and full-day charters are quoted separately and often work out cheaper per hour.
3. Season and time of day: Several boats have a lower winter rate and a higher summer rate. Sunset slots are the most popular, and some boats charge a sunset premium.
4. Extras: Catering, drinks, a DJ, a photographer or jet skis all sit on top of the charter rate.

2026 Rates by Boat

These are the rates currently listed on each boat's page. They're per boat, not per person, and include the skipper, crew and fuel.

Small Boats (6 to 12 guests)

• Le Cat Catamaran (12 guests): R7,000 per hour. Sunset trips add R1,500, so a 1-hour sunset is about R8,500.
• Moonshadow Sailing Adventure (6 guests) and Isabella Sailing Adventure (8 guests): R9,000 for a 2-hour sail.
• Ice Blue Bayliner (12 guests): R12,000 per hour.
• Inala Antares Yacht (12 guests): R15,000 per hour, 2-hour minimum.

Catamarans for Groups (30 to 50 guests)

• Serenity One Catamaran (40 guests): R12,100 per hour for up to 20 guests. Sunset or 20 to 40 guests is R32,400 for 2 hours.
• Enigma Power Catamaran (50 guests): R12,400 per hour for up to 30 guests. Sunset or 31 to 50 guests is R33,000 for 2 hours.
• Ameera Catamaran (38 guests): R13,800 per hour.
• Escape Cat Catamaran (36 guests): R15,500 per hour.
• IQ Catamaran (33 guests): R16,500 per hour in summer, 2-hour minimum (about R33,000).
• Explore Catamaran (30 guests): R17,500 per hour in summer, 2-hour minimum.

Luxury Motor Yachts (8 to 12 guests)

• Motor Yacht Topaz (12 guests): R15,829 per hour, 2-hour minimum. The festive rate from 1 December to 31 January is R17,047 per hour.
• Luna Motor Yacht (12 guests): R16,000 per hour, 2-hour minimum over sunset.
• Princess Emma (12 guests): R20,867 per hour in summer, 3-hour minimum (about R62,600).
• Princess Eve (8 guests): R22,000 per hour, 3-hour minimum.
• Only One Yacht (12 guests): R32,000 for 2 hours.

Big Party Boats (60 guests and up)

• Tigger 2 Royale Power Catamaran (65 guests): R21,600 per hour for up to 20 guests, R29,425 per hour for 41 to 65 guests, 2-hour minimum.
• Tigresse Catamaran (60 guests): R21,800 per hour.
• Skyfall Motor Catamaran (120 guests): R32,000 per hour, 2-hour minimum.

If you'd rather not hire a whole boat, the shared Sunset Champagne Cruise is R720 per adult. For more ways to keep the spend down, have a look at our guide to budget boat charters in Cape Town.

Half-Day, Full-Day and Overnight

A few boats publish longer packages. On Isabella and Moonshadow, a half-day sail of around 4 hours starts at R15,000 and a full day of about 7 hours is R20,000, both with food and wine included. Only One Yacht does overnight stays at R72,730 per night. For a half or full day on the bigger catamarans and motor yachts, get in touch and we'll quote your date. Longer charters are often priced below the straight hourly rate.

Making the Package Your Own

The charter rate gets you the boat and crew. Everything else is up to you:

• Food: We can arrange catering delivered to the boat, from snack and sushi platters to full meals. It's quoted on your menu and group size, with at least two weeks' notice.
• Entertainment: A DJ, a saxophonist or an electric violinist can turn a cruise into a proper party.
• Water toys: Some boats carry SUP boards, and jet skis can be added on many charters.
• Occasions: Decor, cakes and flowers for birthdays, proposals, weddings and work functions. Our birthday yacht party prices guide breaks down what a celebration typically costs, and there's a separate guide for a year-end function on a boat.

Seasonal Rates and Specials

Winter is the cheapest time to go out. IQ Catamaran, for example, drops from R16,500 to R12,375 per hour between April and August. We also run specials through the year, such as a 2-hour Year End Package on a private catamaran for R35,000. Booking early is the simplest way to get the boat and time slot you want, especially for December sunsets.

Booking Your Yacht Hire

Booking a Cape Town yacht hire is easy. Tell us your date, group size and rough budget, and one of our Cape Town team will suggest boats that fit. A few tips for a smooth booking:

1. Shortlist a few boats: Compare guest numbers, deck space and rates across the fleet.
2. Ask us anything: Special requests, dietary needs or a surprise you're planning. The more we know, the better the quote.
3. Book ahead for peak dates: Summer weekends and December sunsets fill up weeks in advance.
4. Read the terms: Check the cancellation and weather policy and any corkage or extra fees.

Choosing the Right Boat for Your Budget

For a small group on a tight budget, Le Cat at R7,000 an hour or a 2-hour sail on Moonshadow is hard to beat. Groups of 20 to 50 get the best value from the catamarans, where R12,000 to R17,500 an hour is shared across a lot of people. If the occasion calls for something special, Princess Emma and Only One Yacht are as plush as it gets in Table Bay. Whatever you pick, you'll be seeing Cape Town from the best seat in the city.