Azimut Yacht Review: What Charter Guests Should Know

By Theresa Babic, AI writing assistant at Splendid Yachting

An azimut yacht review has to start with one fact: Azimut has built more flybridge motor yachts over the past decade than almost any other Italian yard, and Croatia’s marinas are full of proof. If you’re weighing an Azimut yacht charter against other builders before booking a week on the Adriatic, this review breaks down the specs, the onboard feel, and what actually changes for guests once you step aboard.

We charter and crew these boats across the Croatian coast every season, from Split to the Kornati and down to Dubrovnik, so this isn’t a spec-sheet summary pulled from a brochure. It’s what guests notice on day one, day three, and the last morning before disembarking.

Azimut Yacht Review: What Makes This Italian Yacht Brand Stand Out

Any honest azimut yacht review has to start with the shipyard’s history. Azimut was founded in 1969 near Turin and has grown into one of the largest privately owned yacht groups in the world, building everything from 12-metre open runabouts to 38-metre Grande flagships. The brand’s signature is a flybridge-first design philosophy: wide upper decks, big glass surfaces, and interiors that lean toward warm woods rather than stark minimalism.

What separates Azimut from other Italian yards is consistency across the range. A guest who has chartered a 20-metre Azimut and later steps onto a 30-metre model will recognize the same design language — sculpted hull windows, a semi-enclosed flybridge bar, and a beach-club-style transom on most models built after 2015. That continuity matters for charter guests because it means expectations set by online photos usually match what’s on the water.

A Brand Built on Volume and Range

Azimut produces several hundred yachts per year across its lines, including the S-Collection, the Grande series, and the Flybridge range. This scale keeps parts, service, and refit quality high across the Mediterranean, which is one reason charter fleets in Croatia keep adding newer Azimut models each season rather than holding onto older tonnage.

Azimut Yacht Specs: Size Ranges, Design, and Onboard Comfort

Azimut yacht specs vary widely by series, but the charter-relevant sweet spot in Croatia sits between 15 and 25 metres. In that range, guests typically get 3 to 4 cabins, a flybridge with a wet bar and sun pads, and a swim platform built for tender launches and swim-ladder access straight off the stern.

Interior volume is where Azimut tends to outperform competitors of similar length. The brand favors a fuller beam carried further forward, which translates into a saloon that feels noticeably wider than a Riva or a narrower-hulled sportscruiser of the same length. Cabin layouts on the 20m-plus models usually include a full-beam master amidships, a configuration once reserved for yachts several metres longer.

Cabin and Guest Capacity by Size Class

• 15m to 18m models: typically 3 cabins, 6 guests, day-charter or short-hop focused.
• 19m to 25m models: typically 3 to 4 cabins, 8 guests, full-week itinerary capable.
• 26m and above (Grande series): 4 to 5 cabins, 10 to 12 guests, crewed with 3 to 5 crew depending on configuration.

For comparison, guests looking at that 26m-plus bracket often end up cross-shopping against Benetti’s Quest R, a 35-metre, 5-cabin, 12-guest yacht that sits in a similar guest-capacity range even though it’s a different builder entirely. It’s a useful benchmark for what “12-guest comfort” actually looks like in terms of deck space and cabin size.

What to Expect from an Azimut yacht charter in Croatia

An Azimut yacht charter in Croatia usually begins in Split or, less often, Dubrovnik, since both cities have marina infrastructure built for yachts in the 20 to 35-metre class and easy customs clearance for international guests. From Split, the Kornati archipelago is roughly a 2 to 3-hour cruise, and most week-long itineraries build in two or three nights around Kornati anchorages before heading south toward Hvar and Korčula.

Guests chartering from Dubrovnik get a different rhythm. The Elaphiti Islands day trip from Dubrovnik is a near-mandatory add-on, since Šipan, Lopud, and Koločep sit less than an hour from the harbor and give guests calm, swimmable anchorages without a long transit day. On an Azimut, the flybridge makes that short run part of the experience rather than dead time, since there’s a bar and sun deck to use en route.

Typical Weekly Flow

• Day 1-2: Embarkation, short cruise to nearby islands, first swim stop.
• Day 3-4: Longer transit to a signature destination — Kornati or the Pelješac peninsula.
• Day 5-6: Slower pace, town visits, beach clubs, return cruising toward base.
• Day 7: Disembarkation, usually by mid-morning per marina turnaround rules.

Guests planning a one-way route between bases, rather than a round trip, should check our breakdown of one-way charter routes, rules, and costs before booking, since repositioning fees and marina availability affect which Azimut models are even offered on a given route.

Photo Gallery

Performance, Amenities, and Layout Highlights for Guests

On the water, most mid-size Azimut flybridge models cruise comfortably at 22 to 26 knots, with a top speed near 30 knots depending on the engine package fitted. That’s fast enough to cover the run from Split to Hvar Town, about 24 nautical miles, in well under an hour and a half if conditions and the skipper’s plan allow it.

The amenities that guests mention most aren’t the fastest-headline features — they’re the practical ones. A hydraulic swim platform that lowers to the waterline. A flybridge with a proper wet bar rather than just a fridge. A beach-club transom with enough bench seating for the whole charter party to towel off at once. These details show up consistently across the Azimut range and are a big part of why repeat charter guests specifically request the brand.

Where the Layout Works Best

• Full-beam master cabins on 20m-plus models, giving more headroom and closet space than similarly sized narrower-hulled yachts.
• Convertible flybridge dining that seats 8 to 10 for sunset dinners without crowding the helm station.
• Tender garages on most 24m-plus models, avoiding the need to tow a dinghy through anchorages.

For guests who want to see how this compares against a slightly different hull philosophy, the Nomad, a 33.5m Mangusta with 4 cabins for 10 guests, offers a sportier, lower-profile alternative in a similar size bracket — useful context if flybridge volume isn’t the top priority.

Azimut vs Other Italian and International Builders

Any complete azimut yacht review needs a comparison point, because guests rarely book in isolation — they’re usually deciding between two or three shortlisted yachts. Against Sunseeker, the British builder known for sportier, lower-profile hulls, Azimut typically offers more flybridge and interior volume at a comparable length, at some cost to top-end speed.

A useful real-world comparison is the Stardust of Mary, a 26.3m Sunseeker with 4 cabins and room for 8 guests. Guests who’ve chartered both note that the Sunseeker feels sportier and lower to the water, while a similarly sized Azimut feels roomier on the flybridge and in the saloon. Neither is objectively better — it depends on whether the charter party prioritizes performance feel or lounge space.

Against Palumbo and Benetti

Compared to a Palumbo like Martita, a 24.3m yacht with 4 cabins for 8 guests, Azimut’s Italian-yard pedigree is similar, but Palumbo’s hulls historically lean toward heavier, more stable platforms suited to guests sensitive to motion. Against Benetti’s larger Grande-competing models, Azimut generally holds an edge in build-to-order speed and delivery volume, since Azimut’s production scale is larger than most competing Italian yards.

Is an Azimut Yacht Charter Right for Your Croatia Vacation?

An Azimut yacht charter suits guests who want a sociable, flybridge-centered week rather than a pure speed-focused trip. Families and groups of 6 to 10 traveling together tend to get the most out of the layout, since the flybridge doubles as a dining room, lounge, and sun deck without competing for space with the main saloon below.

If your priority is exploring further-flung anchorages in the Croatian destinations guide — places like the Kornati National Park or the Pakleni Islands off Hvar — an Azimut in the 20m-plus range has the range and comfort to handle longer transit days without guests feeling cooped up. According to the Croatian National Tourist Board, the country’s coastline includes more than a thousand islands and islets, which is exactly the kind of itinerary variety a flybridge motor yacht is built to cover.

When to Consider a Different Builder

• If top-end speed matters more than lounge space, a Sunseeker or Pershing-style hull may suit better.
• If your group exceeds 10 guests, look toward Benetti or Grande-series Azimut models instead of the mid-range flybridge line.
• If you want an experienced local skipper managing route planning, review our skipper experience page before finalizing any booking.

Whichever direction you lean, browse the current Croatia charter fleet to compare available Azimut models against other builders side by side before locking in dates.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an Azimut yacht charter in Croatia cost?

Rates depend on the specific model, cabin count, season, and length of charter, so there’s no single figure that applies across the fleet. Current rates vary by yacht and season — see live pricing on our charter fleet page, or contact us directly for a quote matched to your dates and group size.

How many guests can an Azimut yacht comfortably sleep?

It depends on the model. Mid-range 19m to 25m Azimuts typically sleep 6 to 8 guests across 3 to 4 cabins, while larger Grande-series models can accommodate 10 to 12 guests. Always check the specific yacht’s cabin configuration rather than assuming based on overall length alone.

Is an Azimut yacht a good choice for a family charter with kids?

Yes, generally. The wide flybridge and beach-club transom design give families more usable outdoor space than narrower sport-focused hulls, and the swim platform makes water access easier for younger guests and less confident swimmers.

What’s the best embarkation port for an Azimut charter in Croatia?

Split and Dubrovnik are the two most common bases. Split gives easier access to the Kornati islands and central Dalmatia, while Dubrovnik is better positioned for the Elaphiti Islands and southern routes toward Montenegro.

Do I need previous boating experience to charter an Azimut?

No. Nearly all Azimut charters in Croatia are fully crewed, with a licensed skipper handling navigation and mooring. Guests with no boating background charter these yachts regularly — the crew experience is designed around that.