Azimut Benetti motor yachts now anchor the high end of nearly every Caribbean and Bahamas charter list, from 80-foot flybridges in Nassau to 132-foot superyachts cruising the Virgin Islands. The two brands sit under one Italian parent — the Azimut|Benetti Group — and together they ship more luxury motor yachts than any other builder on earth. If you’re shopping a crewed charter and you’ve already read our breakdown of the five charter yacht brands that dominate the Caribbean, this is the deep dive on the Italian half of that lineup.

Last updated: May 2026. We review and refresh this page quarterly.

This guide answers the questions charter clients ask us most often, organized into five sections:

1. The Azimut|Benetti Story — One Italian holding company, two brands, six shipyards
2. Azimut Yachts — Models, charter footprint, and where the 80–120 ft flybridges shine
3. Benetti Yachts — From 1873 fishing-boat builder to 100 m superyacht yard
4. Chartering an Azimut or Benetti in the Caribbean & Bahamas — Real boats, real rates
5. Choosing Between Them (and Choosing Against a Catamaran)

The Azimut|Benetti Story

Who owns Azimut and Benetti, and why are they grouped together?

Azimut and Benetti are both owned by the Azimut|Benetti Group, the largest private builder of motor yachts and superyachts in the world (Azimut|Benetti, 2026). Paolo Vitelli founded Azimut in 1969 as a small sailboat charter company outside Turin, then acquired the historic Benetti shipyard in Viareggio in 1985. That 40-year-old combination is why a charter list pitching “Italian luxury motor yachts” almost always means one of these two brands.

The group now operates six shipyards: Avigliana (Piedmont), Savona (Liguria), Viareggio and Livorno (Tuscany), Fano (Marche), and Itajaí (Brazil). Combined, they produce vessels from 9 to 110 meters under the two brands. Vitelli passed away in December 2024, and his daughter Giovanna has run the group since 2023 (Boat International, 2024).

The Azimut|Benetti Group has been the world’s largest private builder of motor yachts and superyachts for over 24 consecutive years, producing vessels from 9 to 110 meters across six Italian shipyards plus a Brazilian yard in Itajaí (Azimut|Benetti, 2026). Azimut focuses on the 39–120 ft flybridge and sport-yacht segment; Benetti builds 25–100 m semi-custom and full-custom superyachts.

How is the brand split between Azimut and Benetti?

Azimut owns the smaller end — roughly 39 to 120 feet — and Benetti runs everything from 25 meters (about 82 ft) up to fully custom 100 m flagships. There is some overlap in the 80–120 ft range, but Azimut targets owners who run their own yacht with a small crew, while Benetti targets full-time crewed and chartered superyachts. Most Caribbean charter clients will encounter Azimut at the entry level of crewed motor yachting and Benetti at the genuine superyacht tier.

How did Benetti go from 1873 fishing boats to charter superyachts?

Benetti was founded in 1873 when Lorenzo Benetti bought the Darsena Lucca shipyard in Viareggio and started building wooden commercial vessels — fishing boats and Mediterranean trading ships (Benetti Yachts, 2026). His sons Gino and Emilio took over in 1914 and renamed it Fratelli Benetti. The yard pivoted to luxury yachts in the 1960s, and Vitelli’s 1985 acquisition gave Benetti the industrial backing it needed without losing the artisanal Viareggio identity.

That’s why the charter market still treats Benetti as the soul of Italian yacht-building: the Viareggio yard has been turning out hulls in the same canal basin since the 19th century.

Azimut Yachts

What is the Azimut model range, and which Azimut yachts are chartered most?

Azimut builds motor yachts from 39 to over 120 feet across four model lines: Flybridge, S Collection (sport coupes), Magellano (long-range crossover), and Grande (the 80–120 ft flagship range that overlaps with smaller Benettis). For charter purposes, the 75–115 ft Flybridge models and the Grande series are what you’ll see most in the Caribbean and Bahamas.

The Azimut 80 and the Azimut Grande 32m (about 105 ft) account for most of the brand’s Caribbean charter presence. The 32m alone has at least four hulls in the Caribbean charter fleet — CARPE DIEM, NEMESIS, FREEDOM, and a fourth that joined Bahamas charters in 2024 (YachtCharterFleet, 2024).

What’s new at Azimut for 2026?

The two stories worth knowing: the Seadeck 6 hybrid and the Fly 72. The Seadeck range is Azimut’s first serious push into low-emissions hybrid propulsion, with the company claiming up to 40% lower emissions versus comparable diesel-only sisterships. The Fly 72 won the NMMA Innovation Award at the 2025 Miami International Boat Show — a signal that Azimut still wins design awards in its core flybridge segment (Azimut Yachts, 2025).

For charter clients, the relevant point is that hybrid Azimuts are starting to enter day-charter fleets in the Bahamas. If quiet anchoring matters to you, ask brokers specifically about Seadeck-series availability.

What does an Azimut charter cost in the Caribbean?

Crewed Azimut charters in the Bahamas and Caribbean run roughly $50,000–$95,000 per week for an Azimut 80 with full crew, and $130,000–$200,000+ per week for a Grande 32m (Azimut Grande 105 ft) in peak winter. Day-charter rates on smaller Azimut models in places like Nassau, Punta Cana, or Cancun start around $5,000–$15,000 per day depending on size and season.

These rates exclude the Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA) — typically 25–35% of the base rate, paid up front for fuel, dockage, food, and drinks. Our yacht charter costs guide breaks down APA and what’s actually included.

Benetti Yachts

What’s the Benetti model range?

Benetti splits production across two lines: a “Class” range of semi-custom production yachts from 28 to 50 meters, and a “Custom” range of fully bespoke superyachts from 50 to 100+ meters. The Class range — Motopanfilo 37M, Oasis 34M, Oasis 40M, B.Yond, and the Diamond series — is where most of the brand’s charter fleet lives. Custom Benettis are usually owner-only vessels, occasionally placed on the charter market by their owners to offset operating costs.

The Oasis 40M is the most-chartered Benetti model currently active. It carries up to 12 guests across six cabins and was specifically engineered for “beach-club” living — a wide aft platform, fold-down bulwarks, and direct access to the water from the main deck. CONTIGO, launched June 2024, is one of the newest Oasis 40M hulls now on the Caribbean & Bahamas charter market (Boat International, 2024).

How much does a Benetti charter cost?

Crewed Benetti charters start around $150,000 per week for a 28–34 m model in shoulder season and climb to $650,000+ per week for a 60 m+ Custom in peak winter. The 37 m NAMASTE — a Benetti Motopanfilo built in 2013 and refitted in 2024 — lists at roughly $22,500 per day, or about $157,500 per week, for Caribbean charters (Boatbookings, 2026). The 65 m Custom TRIUMPH lists at €650,000–€690,000 per week plus VAT in the Mediterranean (Excellence Riviera, 2026); Caribbean rates for comparable boats land in the same band when adjusted for season.

Add the standard 25–35% APA on top, plus crew gratuity (typically 10–15% of the base rate) and any taxes specific to the cruising area. For the full math on what gets billed at the start, middle, and end of a crewed week, see our breakdown of yacht charter costs by size.

Chartering an Azimut or Benetti in the Caribbean & Bahamas

Which Azimut and Benetti yachts are actually available for Caribbean & Bahamas charter in 2026?

These are the Italian motor yachts in the active 2026 charter fleet that we get asked about most. Availability changes monthly — confirm before booking.

WABASH is the freshest Italian metal in the Caribbean fleet — a 132-ft Benetti built in 2018, refitted in 2025, and newly available for 2026 charters in the Bahamas, Virgin Islands, and broader Caribbean (YachtCharterFleet, 2025). Six cabins, 12 guests, eight crew, a 100 m² sundeck, a Texan-warmth interior by Zuretti, and a 2.23 m draft that lets her slip into Bahamian shallows most superyachts can’t reach.

What’s the 12-guest rule, and how does it affect Azimut & Benetti charters?

International maritime law (SOLAS) caps non-commercial yacht passenger capacity at 12 guests. Anything more and the vessel gets reclassified as a “passenger ship” and triggers commercial-grade safety, crewing, and inspection requirements that effectively end its life as a private charter yacht (IMO SOLAS, 2023). That’s why almost every charter Benetti — including 60 m+ vessels with room for 20 in the layout — sleeps a maximum of 12 guests. We unpack the loophole, the day-charter exception, and why bigger doesn’t always mean more guests in our 12-person yacht rule explainer.

Are Azimut and Benetti yachts good for Bahamas charter?

Both brands are well-suited to Bahamas charter, which is part of why so many of them position there. The Bahamas needs three things from a charter motor yacht: shallow draft (to reach the Exuma cays and Berry Islands), strong air conditioning (Caribbean summers are brutal), and ample tender/water-toy storage (because the Bahamas is fundamentally about beaches and reefs). Azimut Grande and Benetti Oasis hulls all hit those marks. Benetti WABASH, with her 2.23 m draft, can navigate cuts that 5 m-draft superyachts must avoid entirely.

For full Bahamas planning — best islands, best months, what to pack — start with our complete Bahamas yacht charter guide.

Choosing Between Them (and Choosing Against a Catamaran)

When does an Azimut make more sense than a Benetti?

Pick an Azimut over a Benetti when budget caps below $200K/week, when the group is eight or fewer guests, when the cruising area is the Bahamas or near-shore Caribbean, and when speed matters more than glass-of-wine-on-deck stability. Azimut’s planing hulls cruise at 22–28 knots versus Benetti’s typical 11–14 knots. That speed lets an Azimut Grande 32m bounce between Nassau, the Exumas, and the Abacos in a week without burning the whole charter on transits.

Pick a Benetti when you want the genuine superyacht experience: more interior volume, larger crew, real beach club, glass elevators on bigger custom builds, and a stability profile that makes overnight passages feel like a hotel sleeping in. Pick a Benetti when guest count pushes 10–12 and when the trip is two weeks rather than one — superyachts amortize better over longer charters.

How do Azimut & Benetti motor yachts compare to a luxury crewed catamaran?

Catamarans deliver more deck space per dollar; motor yachts deliver more interior space and speed per dollar. The decision usually comes down to whether your group spends more time outside (deck) or inside (saloon, cabins, AC), and whether you want to cover ground fast or move at displacement-cruise speed. We have a full breakdown in Catamaran or Motor Yacht in the Caribbean — which makes more sense?.

The short version: a 60–70 ft crewed catamaran like a Lagoon Sixty 7 or a Sunreef 60 typically costs $40,000–$80,000/week in the Caribbean. An equivalent-guest Azimut 80 motor yacht runs $50,000–$95,000/week. The catamaran wins on price-per-square-foot of usable deck space; the Azimut wins on AC, sound insulation, and getting from St. Thomas to Anegada in three hours instead of seven.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Azimut and Benetti the same company?

Yes. Azimut and Benetti are sister brands inside the Azimut|Benetti Group, the privately held Italian holding company founded by Paolo Vitelli. Azimut launched in 1969; Benetti was acquired by the group in 1985. They share factories, engineering R&D, and corporate leadership but operate as separate brands targeting different yacht-size segments.

Where are Azimut and Benetti yachts built?

Across six shipyards: Avigliana (Piedmont), Savona (Liguria), Viareggio and Livorno (Tuscany), Fano (Marche), and Itajaí (Brazil). Benetti’s flagship Custom builds happen in Viareggio and Livorno. Smaller Azimut hulls — Atlantis, S, Magellano — come from Avigliana and Savona. The Brazilian yard in Itajaí builds Azimuts for the Americas market.

What’s the difference between a Benetti Class yacht and a Benetti Custom yacht?

Class yachts (Oasis, Motopanfilo, Diamond, B.Yond) are semi-custom production lines with shared hulls and engineering — multiple sisterships built from the same molds. Custom yachts are fully bespoke, designed and engineered for a single owner, usually 50 m or larger. For charter clients, Class yachts are generally newer, more available, and roughly half the price of similar-length Custom builds.

Can I charter an Azimut or Benetti for a wedding or corporate event?

Yes, but the 12-guest passenger cap matters. For weddings or corporate events of 13–20 guests, the standard solution is either a tandem charter (two yachts side-by-side) or a single yacht with day passes — guests sleep onshore and join the yacht for daytime cruises. Our BVI tandem charter guide covers the multi-yacht approach in detail.

How far ahead should I book a Caribbean Benetti charter?

Six to twelve months for peak weeks (Christmas, New Year’s, Presidents’ Week). Three to six months is workable for January, February, March, and April outside the holiday windows. Last-minute bookings (under 60 days) are possible in shoulder seasons but increasingly rare for the most desirable Italian motor yachts because the charter fleet is small relative to demand.

Do Azimut and Benetti charters include all food and drinks?

Most are MYBA-contract crewed charters, which means the base rate covers the yacht and crew but not consumables — those are billed against the APA. A handful of smaller Bahamas-based motor yachts run on all-inclusive contracts where food, fuel, and dockage are bundled. Our explainer on what’s included in a yacht charter fee walks through both contract types.

Are Azimut and Benetti motor yachts environmentally friendly?

The newer hybrid models (Azimut Seadeck, Benetti B.Yond) target up to 40% emissions reductions versus comparable diesel-only platforms (Azimut Yachts, 2025). Older Custom Benettis and conventional Azimuts run twin diesel engines with no hybrid system — efficient by superyacht standards but not particularly green. If low-emissions cruising matters, ask your charter advisor specifically about hybrid availability before signing.

Bottom Line

The Italian motor yacht charter scene in the Caribbean and Bahamas is essentially the Azimut|Benetti story. One Italian holding company, 100+ shipyard years of combined heritage, six factories, and a fleet that ranges from 80-ft flybridges to 154-ft Custom superyachts — all with the same engineering DNA. If you’ve narrowed your charter shortlist to “luxury motor yacht in the Caribbean,” the odds are extremely high that the boat you end up on rolled out of an Italian yard with one of these two badges on it.

Start a yacht search at Vital Charters and we’ll send back live availability, real rates, and the trade-offs nobody else explains — including which Class-range Benetti will get you 90% of the experience for half the cost.

Jason Acosta is the co-founder and principal broker of Vital Charters. He is an avid sailor and yacht charterer. Jason is also a Master Diver and certified ASA 104 sailor.

Jason Acosta Co-Founder & Principal Charter Broker

Jason Acosta is the founder of Vital Charters, an independent crewed yacht charter brokerage based in Orlando, Florida. He specializes in luxury crewed charters across the Caribbean and Bahamas — the British Virgin Islands, US Virgin Islands, Grenadines, St. Martin and St. Barts, the Exumas and Abacos, and Belize. As an independent broker with no fleet ownership, Jason's recommendations are matched only to each group's itinerary, guest count, and vessel preferences. Through Vital Charters, Jason publishes detailed planning guides on BVI itineraries, MYBA contract terms, and the true all-in cost of a crewed yacht week — the same questions he walks every client through before they book.

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