BY MISTY MILIOTO
A journalist by trade, Loïc Bonnet, CEO of Dream Yacht Worldwide, found himself in the world of cruise ship financing in the early 1990s. It was a job he found to be tedious, and, after first turning around a distressed charter company called Stardust Marine, he decided in 2000 to start his own charter company in the Seychelles — one of the most beautiful places that he had visited up until that time.
“It was another world for me and quite a challenge to build up a well-functioning business and charter operation on a rather underdeveloped and very laid back island back then,” he says. “But I succeeded and eventually expanded my business to the Caribbean and later to the Mediterranean and other more exotic destinations, like French Polynesia, New Caledonia, and Australia.”
Today, the company has nearly 800 yachts in its fleet, ranging in length from approximately 30 to 62 feet and from two to six cabins on board. Nearly 60% of the yachts are catamarans, while the remaining 40 percent are monohulls. A sailor at heart, Bonnet enjoys the environmentally friendly aspect of sailing and being close to nature. Thus his decision to offer mostly sailing monohulls and catamarans rather than expanding the company’s power boat fleets.
“The demand for catamarans has grown exponentially in the last five to seven years,” he says. “People appreciate the added space and stability those sailing vessels offer compared to the traditional monohull sailboats. And with more space, there’s also the opportunity to add more amenities.” For example, traditional monohull sailboats typically offer fewer bathrooms than cabins on board, while most modern catamarans (especially in the charter industry) feature en-suite bathrooms. Meanwhile, the galleys (boat kitchens) on catamarans have more features — such as ovens, microwaves, and blenders — than do the monohull sailboats.
“All of our cabin charters take place on spacious catamarans,” Bonnet says. “Most of them feature six private cabins for our guests and two [cabins] for the crew.” Since beginning Dream Yacht Worldwide, Bonnet has expanded the company’s number of bases from one in the Seychelles to now more than 35 locations around the globe. The company also has grown to having more than 800 team members in 30 countries.
In addition to offering a diverse yacht fleet and a wide choice of destinations — in the Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico, Mediterranean, Scandinavia, Asia, the Indian Ocean, and
Australia — the company also offers sailing vacations for non-sailors, thereby making experiences at sea accessible to all.
“Whether you’re seeking tropical beaches, historic coastal towns, or secluded coves, there’s a destination for every traveler,” Bonnet says. Dream Yacht Worldwide offers four types of yacht rentals, each with different services available. And while all services are not available in all destinations, an overall summary includes bareboat yacht rentals (for someone who has experience and, depending on the destination requirements, a license to operate the yacht); skippered charters (a private sailboat that a skipper sails); fully crewed charters (including a captain and hostess with food and drinks); and cabin cruises (where guests can rent a cabin with a private bathroom on a yacht that includes a captain, a hostess, and all meals on board).
“Cabin charters follow a set itinerary to see the highlights of a region, while, for all private charters, the guests decide on their own itinerary and schedule,” Bonnet says.
“Bareboat and skippered charters do not include any food or beverages, but, in most destinations, we offer the possibility to order these ahead of time and have them delivered to the boat.”
In terms of future plans, rather than adding additional destinations, Dream Yacht Worldwide is currently focusing on building out the itineraries in its existing destinations.
“For 2025, we have added new cabin charter options in Thailand, French Polynesia, and Greece, and [we have] our Special Edition cabin charters in the Abacos (Bahamas) and Dubrovnik (Croatia), which we do not offer year-round.”
The company also updates its fleet with new vessels on an ongoing basis. This year, nearly 80 yachts joined the fleet. Dream Yacht Worldwide also has added seven hybrid electric yachts. “Our electric yachts are equipped with powerful, highly efficient, and quiet electric motors, and lithium technology battery banks are used for energy storage,” Bonnet says. “When under sail, the speed of the boat, along with the motors in reverse flow, produces clean, stored energy. This hydroelectric energy generation can fully recharge the batteries
in 48 hours. In turn, the charged battery banks can provide power for hours of motor cruising, or as much as a week at anchor without any emissions. Furthermore, the solar panels positioned on the boat’s roof can provide enough electricity to support the daily needs of life onboard.”
As of now, these hybrid electric yachts are based in the Mediterranean, as there has been a strong demand in Europe for these options. However, in cooperation with the Beneteau Group, Dream Yacht Worldwide recently introduced the new electric Island Cruising Concept boat to its fleet in the British Virgin Islands. This boat is engineered to operate for extended periods under full electric, emissions-free power.
“Around 30 to 50% of the boat’s energy requirement is achieved through the power of the sun, with large roof-mounted solar panels,” Bonnet says. “The Island Cruising Concept recently won an award as the Eco-Focused Launch of the Year (Over 10m Length Overall category), at the IBI METS Trade/Boat Builder Awards 2024.”
With the support of the company’s shareholders, Dream Yacht Worldwide has been working with a specialized consultant company to analyze its carbon footprint and the main pillars of improvement in terms of sustainability. “We are now in the process of understanding the output of that analysis and starting to design internal processes to monitor, control, and improve our footprint,” Bonnet says.
While there are many reasons to consider a sailing adventure on a private yacht — among them being able to choose an itinerary, deciding where to anchor, and enjoying the freedom to explore off-the-beaten-path locations that are often inaccessible by land — Dream Yacht Worldwide also offers knowledgeable staff members who can assist with planning, provisioning, and any challenges that arise along the way.
“A Dream Yacht Worldwide vacation combines the thrill of adventure, the beauty of nature, and the luxury of modern sailing,” Bonnet says. “Sailing vacations may seem exclusive, but they can be surprisingly affordable, especially when shared with family or friends. A yacht can double as your transportation and accommodation, combining value with adventure.”
Dream Yacht cabin charter vacations start at around $1,300 per person for a week on the water, with professional crew and all meals included. www.dreamyachtcharter.com
