Choosing a catamaran in Phuket is not really about which one looks better in photos. Both of these are beautiful. The question is what kind of day you want - and, just as much, which side of the island you want to start from.
Two of our most popular sailing catamarans give genuinely different days on the water. Lagoon 42 Silver Moon is based in Chalong. Bali Catspace Siva is based in Ao Po. Both are comfortable private yachts with a professional crew, generous social space and everything you need for a good day at sea. Where they differ is location, layout and the cruising ground each one opens up.
The short answer
Choose Silver Moon if you want clear water and tropical beaches - Racha Yai, Coral Island, Maiton. It is the classic island-hopping day: swim, snorkel, repeat.
Choose Siva if you want the scenery of Phang Nga Bay - limestone cliffs, hidden lagoons, sea caves, Hong and Panak and James Bond Island. Her open, sociable layout suits groups who plan to spend the day together, eating and talking, with an extraordinary backdrop.
Lagoon 42 Silver Moon: beaches, clear water, island days
The Lagoon 42 is one of the most recognisable modern sailing catamarans in the world, and for good reason. She is stable underway and comfortable at anchor, with well-connected indoor and outdoor space. Families, couples and groups of friends all settle onto her easily.
She leaves from Chalong Pier on the south coast. That is the practical part of the decision: from Chalong, the islands south and southeast of Phuket are a straightforward run, and those are the ones known for clear water, good beaches and reliable snorkelling.
Where she goes
Depending on wind and sea conditions, the usual choices are:
- Racha Yai - turquoise water, sheltered bays, the best snorkelling of the three;
- Coral Island and Banana Beach - the easy tropical beach day;
- Maiton - quieter, more open sea, chosen when you want fewer boats around.
If your picture of a Phuket yacht day involves jumping into blue water, drying off in the sun and pulling up near a sandy beach, this is the boat.
Life on board
The Lagoon 42 has a balanced layout: separate spaces that still feel connected. There is the shaded cockpit, the forward deck, the saloon inside, and a quieter corner away from the main group if someone wants one.
That matters more than it sounds for a mixed group. Some people can be in the water with the SUP boards while others stay in the shade with music and lunch, and nobody feels stuck in the wrong place.
Silver Moon takes up to 12 guests for a day charter. On board: SUP boards, kayaks, snorkelling sets, fishing rods, towels, an inflatable pool, a tender, Wi-Fi, a sound system and entertainment.
Bali Catspace Siva: Phang Nga Bay and the sociable day
The Bali Catspace is a different kind of catamaran. Bali build them open-plan, so the saloon and the cockpit read as one large space rather than two. The result is bright, airy and unusually social.
Siva is based at Ao Po Marina on Phuket's northeast coast - the closest practical departure point to Phang Nga Bay. That hour you would otherwise spend sailing around the island is instead spent inside the bay itself.
Where she goes
- Panak Island - caves and hidden lagoons you enter by kayak;
- Hong Island - towering limestone walls around still, sheltered water;
- James Bond Island - the bay's most photographed landmark;
- quiet anchorages and kayaking spots scattered across the bay.
Be clear-eyed about one thing: the water in Phang Nga Bay is greener than in the south. This is not a reef-snorkelling route. What you get instead is scenery - caves, lagoons and the feeling of sailing through a landscape that exists nowhere else in Thailand.
Life on board
The Catspace feels open and bright, and it keeps everyone together. If your group is the kind that wants to share the whole day - long lunch, drinks, conversation, nobody drifting off to a separate corner - this layout does that naturally.
Siva has four guest cabins, which makes her suitable well beyond day charters. She works for overnight trips, family holidays, celebrations and groups who value one big communal space over several small ones.
Side by side
| Lagoon 42 Silver Moon | Bali Catspace Siva | |
|---|---|---|
| Departure | Chalong Pier | Ao Po Marina |
| Best cruising area | South of Phuket | Phang Nga Bay |
| The day is about | Clear water, beaches, swimming, snorkelling | Limestone cliffs, caves, lagoons, kayaking |
| Suits | Active island days and mixed groups | Sociable cruising and scenery |
| Day charter capacity | Up to 12 guests | Confirm with us for your group size |
| Overnight | Available | Available, four guest cabins |
| Feeling on board | Several distinct areas, classic catamaran layout | Open-plan, connected, sociable |
Which one for a family?
Both work beautifully. It comes down to the children's ages and what they actually enjoy.
If they want to swim, snorkel, get onto a beach and stay in the water all day, Silver Moon is the natural choice. The southern route delivers the tropical island day most families picture when they plan a Phuket holiday.
If your family prefers calm sightseeing - kayaking into caves, drifting through lagoons, looking at something genuinely unusual - Siva and Phang Nga Bay suit better. The open layout also makes it easy for everyone to stay together.
Which one for a celebration?
Birthdays, anniversaries, proposals - both are an elegant private setting, and again the difference is mood.
Take Silver Moon if the celebration is built around swimming, beach stops and a lively itinerary. Take Siva if it is built around a long table, a big shared space and a backdrop that photographs beautifully.
Whichever you pick, tell us the occasion when you book. We will help with timing, route and the small details that make the day land properly.
What is included
Your exact package is confirmed before booking. Depending on the charter, it can cover the yacht, professional crew, lunch, fruit, snacks, soft drinks, drinking water, ice, towels, snorkelling equipment, fishing equipment, SUP boards and inflatables.
National park fees, alcoholic drinks, transfers and optional extras are normally charged separately unless your offer says otherwise. For overnight charters, we explain food arrangements and any additional generator or air-conditioning use in advance, so nothing is a surprise. There is a fuller breakdown in what's included and what costs extra.
The route matters as much as the yacht
This is the part people miss. Chalong opens the southern islands; Ao Po opens Phang Nga Bay. Picking a yacht without thinking about where she starts is how you end up spending half the charter in transit.
So we recommend the yacht and the itinerary together, based on current sea and weather conditions as well as what you actually want from the day.
Our recommendation
There is no winner here.
- Clear water, swimming, snorkelling, tropical beaches - Lagoon 42 Silver Moon.
- Phang Nga Bay, caves, limestone, one big social space - Bali Catspace Siva.
- Multi-day trip - tell us which islands you hope to see and how many people are sleeping aboard, and we will point you at the more comfortable option.
The best yacht is the one that matches the day you have in mind - not the largest one, and not the most familiar name.
Book your catamaran
Still deciding? Send us your dates, your group size and the kind of day you are imagining. We will recommend the yacht and the route together and put a clear private charter offer in front of you. You can also browse the full fleet first.
