Greece has lured seafarers to its shores for millennia, and the country’s natural allure and storied legacy are distributed across over 6,000 islands in the Aegean and Ionian oceans. While the Cyclades make up the most appealing archipelago, the conventional way to cruise this sunburst coastal paradise is by monohull yachts. However, there is little question – or, at least, there should be – that chartering a catamaran offers more advantages than island cruising, levels of comfort, and overall delight.

This blog offers ten reasons why renting a catamaran should be at the top of every wish list for the perfect Greek island cruise. These include spacious living areas, colossal stability, unparalleled island access, and abundant indoor and outdoor amenities.

Maximized Interior Space

Greece has lured seafarers to its shores for millennia, and the country's natural allure and storied legacy are distributed across over 6,000 islands in the Aegean and Ionian oceans. While the Cyclades make up the most appealing archipelago, the conventional way to cruise this sunburst coastal paradise is by monohull yachts. However, there is little question – or, at least, there should be – that chartering a catamaran offers more advantages than island cruising, levels of comfort, and overall delight.

Leading brands from the top 10 catamaran charter Greece maximize living spaces with their twin hull design. Catamarans feature two hulls connected by a structural bridge deck instead of a single hull, allowing ingenious use of interior volume. Guest cabins tend to be roomier with higher ceilings, feeling more akin to hotel suites than boat berths. On a 50ft catamaran, expect 3-4 cabins with double beds plus one cabin with twin beds or bunk beds, giving families or groups of 6-8 exceptional privacy.

Quality charter companies take interior design to new levels, outfitting vessels with premium mattresses, en-suite heads with luxury fixtures, and mini-fridges. Storage is abundant versus monohulls, where every cubic inch counts. Large hull side windows and skylights allow natural light to pour in, feeling more like a floating resort than a cramped boat.

Unmatched Stability at Sea

Thanks to their unique twin-hull design, catamarans excel in motion, comfort, and stability. Unlike the typical monohull, which rolls and pitches more noticeably, catamarans maintain unwavering stability even in open seas with waves crashing over the deck edges sideways. This double-hull structure reduces lateral roll by up to 50%!

Cruising the Greek islands often means navigating more sheltered waters within island groups, but catamaran stability remains peerless when following routes between island chains or venturing further offshore. A steady, flat platform makes all the difference for those prone to seasickness or with small children.

Superior Speed Potential

Compared to monohulls of equivalent length and yet-to-girth, catamarans possess the potential for burning speed beneath sail and power. They use an extended waterline and reduce drag across twin hulls, cutting through the water like an airplane wing instead of a single, narrow keel. On a sunny day sailing in Greece between villages, sailing at 8-10 knots will be easy—the boat moves on sail alone.

Modern drive systems let you get the most out of smaller engines, and most catamarans can cruise at 6-8 knots even when the wind is weak due to diesel auxiliary power. This additional cruising speed equals more destinations and less time, as there will be no extra tedious tacks into the wind as on a traditional monohull.

Generous Cockpit Living Space

At the heart of all catamarans lies an impressively spacious cockpit stretching uninterrupted from side to side, where the centerboard/trunk would exist on a monohull. Measuring a luxurious 600-800+ square feet, this dual-level teak oasis becomes the main alfresco lounge, dining, and entertainment hub.

High-end builders like Fontaine Pajot outfit cockpits with premium features like built-in coolers, sinks, cooktops, and storage lockers. Comfy couch and lounger groups with cocktail tables entice relaxation. Flexible cockpit curtains and awnings provide a choice of open-air or shaded areas. Extras like grill stations, wet bars, and chaise lounges take entertainment to a new level.

Exceptional Exterior Sunbathing

The spacious cockpit supplies plenty of spots to sunbathe while anchored or cruising, and catamarans load up on additional exterior lounging real estate—wide foredecks with sun pads tucked forward of the navy invite taking in magnificent Grecian scenery.

Class-leading brands go even further, installing expansive flybridges on the upper deck ringed with plush recliners, sofas, and occasional wet bars under canvas hardtops. Relax with cocktails or read in the bow under the bimini shade.

Ideal Platform for Novice Sailors

While bareboat charters require you to skipper yourself, catamarans minimize the skills needed compared to tricky monohulls. Easier handling stems from user-friendly twin wheels, simple throttles, and automated sail configuration systems like in-boom furling mainsails. Trim the sails to the desired angle and kick back as the boat planes smoothly downwind under a spinnaker or upwind on a broad reach.

Their incredibly stable nature and low maintenance systems make catamarans very beginner-friendly. Novices feel comfortable anchoring, docking, and getting underway without fussing over balance or sail maneuvers. Perfect for multi-generational families, couples with mixed experience levels, or first-timers who still want sailing independence.

Exceptional Shallow Draft Access

Catamaran hulls are much shallower drafts than the deep, weighted keels on monohulls, opening accessibility to sheltered coves, tiny islets, and secluded sandy beaches where few boats venture. Explore uncrowded sandy lagoons and quiet anchorages like those on Trizonia, Hydra, or Alonissos that are inaccessible to deep-draft vessels.

Sail right up onto beaches without worry of grounding. The shallow draft also lets you navigate tight channels and marinas more confidently than a heavy displacement monohull that risks hitting bottom. A catamaran charter expands your island touring options immensely.

Optimized for Day Cruising

Wake to complimentary breakfast on your aft deck soaking in teal seas and olive groves. Then, buzz the short distance ashore under sail or power for full days roaming whitewashed footpaths between medieval hill towns.

Load the spacious tender with food, water, towels, and snorkel gear for long lunches exploring secluded coves. Return as the painted sky streaks crimson, knowing you’ve maximized your time truly experiencing each location versus monohulls, which are limited by sunset.

Premium Safety Equipment

Modern charters arrive outfitted with crucial cutting-edge amenities and gear beyond basic monohull setups—dual radars for all-horizon visibility, expansive liferafts sufficient for all on board, satellite phones, and SSB radios, chart plotters tying everything together, plus autopilots for long passages.

Emergency steering, lighting, fire suppression, and bilge pump systems ensure redundancy unmatched by typical monohull configurations reliant on single points of failure. Many qualify for offshore bluewater passages under certification standards surpassing coastal day trip boats.

10.

Dream Island Hopping

Nothing compares to the romance of idly meandering the pristine Greek Isles surrounded by nothing but rippling seas under cotton candy skies. Wake to new secret coves and harbors each sunrise without a schedule. Drop hook in scenic corners, then tend bare feet exploring on foot all afternoon. Linger wrapped in relaxation, watching the sun set fire to drowned hills before motoring off under a canopy of stars towards tomorrow’s discovery.

Conclusion

For families, friends, or seasoned sailors alike, catamarans strike the ideal balance of activity and indulgence needed to immerse fully in the Greek islands’ magic. These vessels exemplify versatile floating resort living, whether seeking active Island hopping days or serene beachside evenings under the stars. For travelers desiring the best way to tour this fabled sailing paradise, catamaran charters offer an unrivaled way to cruise Greece’s storied waters in luxury and style.