Between 2000 and 2008 there was a huge growth in the number, size and popularity of large private or super luxury yachts. Luxury, large or super yachts typically have no real home port, they are particularly bountiful in the Mediterranean in summer and the Caribbean Sea in winter. Many of them are available for charter. Typical charter destinations in Spain and the French and Italian Riviera's include Cannes, Antibes, St. Tropez, Monte Carlo, Portofino, Porto Cervo, Puerto Banus, Puerto Portals and Palma Majorca, although increasingly luxury yachts are cruising in more remote areas of the world.

Some yachts are used exclusively by their private owners, others are operated all year round for charter businesses, and a large number are privately owned but available for charter part time. The weekly charter rate of luxury yachts around the world ranges from a high of 700.000 EUR per week to the law 20,000 EURO/week. Expenses of approximately 25-30%, such as food, fuel, and berth age are charged as an extra, as well as a customary crew gratuity for good service. Large and super luxury yachts require a crew complement to operate and run the yachts. The crew can number from 8 members for a 120ft yacht, to a complement of 70 crew members for a yacht the size of M/Y Eclipse.