If you're chartering with a family or a group and you're choosing between a monohull and a catamaran, the catamaran usually wins — and for reasons that have little to do with looks.
A catamaran sits flat on the water. It doesn't heel under sail the way a monohull does. It offers roughly twice the deck and living space for a given length. And its shallow draft opens up anchorages a deeper keel can't reach. For most charter guests — particularly families with children — those four things matter more than the purist's pleasure of sailing on a lean.
I'm Anestis Tsamouridis, a yacht broker active in Cyprus since 2000. I arrange catamaran charters from Larnaca and the other Cyprus marinas — matching the vessel to the group, the route, and the kind of week you have in mind.
Why a Catamaran
Four genuine advantages, not marketing points.
- Stability. A catamaran's two hulls keep it level. It doesn't heel under sail, and it moves far less at anchor than a monohull. For anyone prone to seasickness, for children, and for guests who simply want to walk around the deck with a drink in hand without bracing — this is the single biggest difference.
- Space. A catamaran offers dramatically more room than a monohull of the same length. The cabins sit in the hulls, separated for privacy; the saloon and galley spread across the bridgedeck; the cockpit and foredeck give large social and sunbathing areas. A 45-foot catamaran lives like a 60-foot monohull.
- Shallow draft. With less depth below the waterline, a catamaran can anchor closer to shore and reach bays a deep-keeled monohull has to skip. For exploring the Cyprus coastline — the coves around Cape Greco, the shallows off the Akamas — that access is part of the appeal.
- Two engines, two hulls. Redundancy in propulsion and easier handling at low speed in a marina. A practical reassurance, particularly on charter.
Catamaran vs Monohull — An Honest Comparison
Both have their place. The right choice depends on what you want from the week.
Choose a catamaran if:
You're traveling with family or a group, you value space and stability over sailing performance, you want to anchor in shallow bays, or anyone aboard is prone to seasickness. For the great majority of holiday charters, this describes the priority.
Choose a monohull if:
Sailing itself is the point — the feel of the boat heeling, responding, cutting upwind. Experienced sailors who charter for the sailing, not just the destination, often prefer a monohull. They're also typically less expensive to charter for a given length.
The honest summary:
A catamaran is a better holiday platform; a monohull is a better sailing boat. Most charter guests want the holiday. Sailors want the sail. Neither is wrong — they're different priorities.
How Many People
A common question, and the answer shapes everything else.
Vessel Length (LOA)
Ideal Guest Count
Typical Cabin Layout
Operational Experience
40–42 Feet
6–8 Guests
3–4 Cabins
Perfect for independent family bareboats
44–48 Feet
8–10 Guests
4 Cabins + Crew Bow
The charter sweet spot; ideal for adding a chef
50+ Feet
10–12 Guests
5–6 Custom Cabins
Premium layout; full crew separation
The cabin count and the guest count aren't the same thing. A four-cabin catamaran sleeps eight comfortably in beds, but ten for dinner and a day on the water is a different calculation from ten sleeping aboard for a week. I work this through with every client, because the comfort of the week depends on getting it right. Eight guests on a 46-foot catamaran is a holiday; twelve on the same boat is a compromise.
Catamarans for Families
This is where catamarans genuinely shine, and it's worth being specific about why.
The stability means children move around safely without the boat lurching. The space means parents and children aren't on top of each other for a week. The shallow draft means anchoring in calm, swimmable bays close to shore. The wide transom steps make getting in and out of the water — endlessly, as children do — easy and safe.
A crewed catamaran adds another layer: a captain watching safety, a chef handling meals, and parents who actually get to relax rather than run the boat and feed everyone. For a family holiday on the water, it's one of the best formats there is.
Chartering a Catamaran from Larnaca
Larnaca is a practical departure point for a catamaran charter — close to the airport, central on the south coast, with access to cruising in both directions.
A week from Larnaca might run along the south coast, with options to head east toward Cape Greco and the Ayia Napa coastline, or to use Larnaca as a starting point for a longer Mediterranean route. The itinerary is shaped around your group — pace, stops, and how much you want to move versus settle.
Catamarans are also chartered from Paphos (excellent for the west coast and the Akamas) and Limassol. I arrange from whichever marina suits your route best.
Bareboat or Crewed
Two ways to charter, depending on your experience and what you want.
- Bareboat: you charter the catamaran and skipper it yourself. Requires appropriate qualifications and experience. Gives you full independence and a lower cost, since there's no crew.
- Crewed: a captain, and on larger vessels, a chef, handle the sailing and the cooking. You relax. The right choice for those without sailing qualifications, for families who want a genuine holiday, or for anyone who simply prefers to be a guest aboard their own charter.
For most family and group charters, crewed is the format that delivers the holiday people are imagining. For experienced sailors, bareboat offers freedom and value.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the advantages of chartering a catamaran?
Stability (it doesn't heel and moves less at anchor), space (roughly twice that of a monohull of the same length), shallow draft (access to bays a monohull can't reach), and the comfort that comes from all three. For families and groups, these advantages usually outweigh the sailing feel of a monohull.
How many people can a charter catamaran accommodate?
Depending on size: a 40–42 ft catamaran suits up to six to eight; a 44–48 ft up to eight to ten; a 50+ ft up to ten to twelve. Sleeping comfortably and day-cruising comfortably are different calculations — I help match the vessel to your group.
Are catamarans better for families with children?
Generally, yes. The stability, space, shallow-draft anchoring, and easy water access make them well-suited to families. A crewed catamaran, with a captain for safety and a chef for meals, lets parents actually relax.
Can I charter a catamaran for a week from Larnaca?
Yes. Larnaca is a practical base — airport close and central. I arrange weekly catamaran charters from Larnaca, as well as from Paphos and Limassol, with the route shaped around your group.
Is a catamaran more expensive than a monohull?
For a given length, usually yes — a catamaran offers more space and typically charters at a higher rate than a comparable monohull. But it also accommodates more people comfortably, so per guest, the gap narrows. The right comparison is value for your specific group, not length for length.
Get in Touch
If you're considering a catamaran charter in Cyprus — for a family holiday, a group week, or simply the space and stability a multi-hull offers — I'm happy to discuss the options and match a vessel to your week.
I work in English and Russian, and arrange charters from Larnaca, Paphos, and Limassol.
— Anestis Tsamouridis
