A catamaran in Sicily is a more finely balanced decision than in Croatia or the Bahamas, and the reason is depth. The Aeolian islands are volcanic cones that fall away steeply, so the shoal-draught advantage that makes a catamaran obvious elsewhere buys much less here, while the extra berthing cost in small harbours is just as real.
Ask several charter companies what your week costs
Where the catamaran case is weaker
The Aeolians offer few shallow sand anchorages. Boats use buoys, small harbours or anchor deep with plenty of chain, and a catamaran's metre of draught is not the advantage it is over a Bahamian bank. Berthing at Lipari, Salina or Panarea is limited and priced by space occupied, which is where the second hull costs you rather than saves you.
Where it is still strong
Comfort at anchor in a swell, which the Aeolians get, and space for a group. If the party is six or eight and the plan is to swim and eat rather than to sail hard, a catamaran remains the better boat and the argument is the same as anywhere. It is simply less one-sided than in shallow cruising grounds.
What it costs
No Sicilian rate is published in this record. Nautilus Yachting publishes an Italian low-season bareboat from around 1200 pounds a week, which is the country floor, and Boataround publishes a from-price per day that renders in the visitor's own currency, from 706 USD or 592 EUR read on 11 September 2026, for a 16.7m skippered Solaris in Sardinia. Sunsail's Caribbean pair is the clearest published statement of the catamaran premium anywhere: about $5,700 against about $3,500 for a monohull in low season.
Questions people ask about catamaran charter sicily
Is a catamaran good for the Aeolians?
Less obviously than in shallow cruising grounds. The islands fall away steeply, so shoal draught buys little, while the berthing premium is unchanged.
How much is a Sicilian charter?
No Sicilian rate is published in this record. Nautilus Yachting publishes an Italian low-season bareboat from around 1200 pounds a week.
Where do Sicilian charters go?
North to the Aeolians from Milazzo or Portorosa: Vulcano, Lipari, Salina, Panarea and Stromboli.