How Water Toys Are Redefining the Charter Experience

The traditional demand for toys onboard yachts typically meant requests for the odd Jet ski and a few snorkels here and there, but today, water toys aren’t just expected; they are at the heart of the charter experience.

With more high-quality experiences being demanded in a shorter period of time, coupled with a market driven by an increasingly active and younger generation, the charter industry is in an arms race to offer the best, biggest and most exciting toys. This shift isn’t just a matter of piling the toy box high but also influencing the yacht’s layout, crew profiles and the charter offering.

Levelling Up Playtime

“Toys aren’t just add-ons anymore; they are a key part of the value and appeal of the yacht,” explains Poppy Kaia, charter director of Fraser Yachts, Greece. It wasn’t long ago that charter toy inventories were modest, as Debra Blackburn, charter broker at Fraser, comments: “Most yachts only had snorkel and fishing gear, maybe some towables. Then came the wave runners and underwater sea scooters; now, it is all about e-foils and huge inflatable water parks.”

One brand driving the development of the toy scene onboard is FunAir, which provides a wide range of superyacht inflatables. “Guests expect a wealth of options which they can configure how they wish,” says managing director John Courtney. The company’s modular Water Park system is a prime example. “The ability to adapt and evolve in a way that not only delivers an experience, but one that is constantly changing, creative and engaging, is key.”

Many charter yachts have adapted to these changing expectations. The compact 37-metre Koju, available for charter with IYC, boasts a vast and varied toy inventory despite its size. On the larger end of the superyacht scale, the 97.2-metre Carinthia VII (above), available for charter with Fraser, is not only a RYA-certified watersport centre full of a range of toys, with the ability to license guests, but also features a golf driving range on the helideck.

Then there are the yachts committed to active and specialist pursuits. Galileo, a 55.7-metre explorer yacht available for charter with IYC, features full scuba diving operations with dive masters onboard and 12 sets of dive equipment. Additionally, the yacht offers surfboards and instructors onboard, alongside a toy locker packed with hydrofoils, wakeboards and more.

Toys that Seal the Deal

In an increasingly competitive charter scene, having a standout toy collection can be the difference between losing and securing a booking. “It’s about providing something for everyone on board, and the right toys often tip the scales,” explains Kaia.

Alice Newnham, charter consultant at IYC, agrees: “The toy collection can be the deal breaker, especially for families or groups looking for high-energy experiences.” Courtney notes a similar pattern with their inflatables: “When FunAir Slides and Sea Pools are on offer, those yachts get booked because clients want that level of fun and activity. We have had brokers tell us, ‘My client wants a FunAir Slide, or they won’t book.'”

Such a shift has not only been influenced by the changing requests and guests demanding more toys, but also accelerated by social media. The rise of charter yachts promoting their offerings through Instagram has increased their visibility. “Guests see certain toys on certain yachts via Instagram and request them,” Newnham adds. Some yachts are purely known for the number of toys they have onboard, playing into the yacht’s identity and creating a new ‘standard’ and expectations in the industry.

Yachts aren’t just including more toys; entire itineraries now revolve around them, and the list of toys, experiences and activities onboard is more important than ever to deliver a next-level charter experience. “Clients want versatility and a yacht that promises both thrills and relaxation through its toys, positioning the yacht as a floating destination, not just a vessel,” notes Kaia.

Charter planning now typically revolves around group watersport experiences and toy-friendly conditions, from pristine waters for scuba diving and snorkelling to calmer bays suited for family fun for all ages.

Supporting the Toys

With toy inventories growing more elaborate, space has become a sticking point. Enter the support yacht: a platform dedicated to carrying tenders, helicopters, equipment and toys. Not only does a support yacht leave clients with an uncluttered mothership, but it also enhances and extends the experiences and capabilities on offer at a moment’s notice when it comes to playtime.

“You’d be hard-pressed to find a marine operation that wouldn’t benefit from adding a support vessel to its fleet,” explains Jennifer Johnston Smith, director of Business Development at Shadowcat, a shipyard known for its versatile catamaran-based support vessels. “It’s akin to adding a garage, shed or guest house to a primary residence,” she explains. Enrique Tintore, product manager of Xplorer & Yacht Support at Damen Yachting, adds: “Support yachts are becoming more and more popular, and they give a new world of possibilities.”

Support vessels like Hodor, the 66-metre catamaran shadow yacht, have demonstrated the game-changing potential of shadow yachts. Dubbed the ‘world’s largest toy box’ according to Johnston Smith, the remit was “to provide the most varied and highest quality activities, extreme water sports, exotic diving and larger superfast tenders were all on request.” Helicopter operations, three-person submersibles, all-terrain vehicles and bikes were also big priorities. “She can carry almost anything,” she adds. 

These support yachts enhance a charter yacht’s amenities and make operations smoother, with the support yacht deploying the toys for when the mothership arrives. When it comes to charter, Tintore predicts: “We will see a growth in ‘small fleets,’ such as motor yachts and support vessels going for charter as a pair for sure.”

Toy-Centric Designs

This appetite for toys, in turn, influences the build process. “As a shipyard, you never know what kind of toys and storage a client might expect to store, so we have to be ready for that,” explains Tintore. “Clients now think about toys from the start,” adds Courtney. FunAir, involved in many new build projects, has seen dedicated doorways designed for toy deployment. From day one, the connectivity and guest movement onboard have been designed to cater to the specific FunAir products.

The modern beach club onboard has also evolved into a multifunctional launch zone with hydraulic swim platforms and dedicated toy garages. Storage plays a significant role in this new realm of toys. As an example, FunAir collaborates with shipyards to ensure the availability of dedicated and dehumidified lockers with the correct layouts for storing inflatables onboard.

What’s Next?

While the toy world has evolved significantly, this trend is likely to continue as experiences shift and demographics change. Kaia notes: “Clients are asking for eco-friendly, electric-powered gear, quiet underwater toys and more fitness-forward options.”

Newnham also suggests the shift towards sustainability and technology-forward experiences, as well as “an increase in toys that offer unique perspectives.” But, as Courtney concludes: “It’s not just about having more toys; it’s about having smart, space-saving options that can be used to create different kinds of experiences.”

As charter expectations continue to push boundaries, one thing is clear: the toys are no longer an extra; they are the main event.

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