The Journal · Vessels
Choosing between a Galeon and a Prestige.
2026-05-07 · 5 min read
We have two of each. Two Prestige and two Galeon. The split is deliberate — both are exceptional motor yachts, but they make different choices, and those choices show up on the day. This piece exists because almost every guest asks, in some form, "Galeon or Prestige?" and the honest answer takes longer than a paragraph.
The shorter version
Prestige is French. Designed by Garroni, built by Bénéteau Group. The character is balanced, classical, executive. Layout favors the salon and the master cabin. Best for: anniversaries, proposals, intimate dinners, executive entertaining, sunset charters.
Galeon is Polish. Designed by Tony Castro, built in Gdańsk. The character is contemporary, expansive, social. Layout favors the cockpit and the flybridge. Best for: bachelorette parties, larger groups, multi-generation family days, bay days that are about being outside.
If you must pick in one sentence: Prestige is a yacht built around the salon. Galeon is a yacht built around the deck.
By occasion
A proposal or anniversary — Prestige 630. The salon is the right size for two, the master cabin is set up for an overnight, and the flybridge has a sunset deck without feeling like a party platform.
A bachelorette or birthday for ten or more — Galeon 640 Fly. The flybridge is wider than any other yacht in our fleet, the cockpit has more seating, and the boat is built to be lived on outside.
An intimate sunset for four or six — Galeon 550 Fly. Tony Castro's smallest design in our fleet, and the most discreet. Hardwood interior, lower freeboard, the most "boat-feel" of the four.
A corporate evening or VIP guest — Prestige 680 Fly. The most spacious yacht in the house, three cabins, executive interior. The flybridge is large enough to host a presentation; the salon, large enough for a dinner of ten.
By party size
The capacities, by U.S. Coast Guard certification, are: Galeon 550 Fly — six guests; Prestige 630 — eight; Prestige 680 Fly — ten; Galeon 640 Fly — twelve. We do not exceed those numbers. A party of seven goes on the Prestige 630, not the Galeon 550. A party of eleven goes on the Galeon 640, not the Prestige 680.
Below capacity, the experience changes. Eight guests on the Prestige 680 Fly is roomier than eight on the Prestige 630, but more anonymous — the boat is too big for the party to feel central. We tend to recommend the smaller boat below capacity, not the larger.
By bay style
Galeon hulls run higher in the water. The flybridge sightlines are excellent. They are loved by guests who want to be outside the entire charter and who want to see Miami from above the line of the bay. They are less suited to guests who want to read in a cool salon or settle in for a long dinner indoors.
Prestige hulls are designed around the salon. The interior is genuinely nice to spend time in — air-conditioned, well-lit, considered fabrics. They are the right choice for guests who want the boat to feel like a small floating apartment as much as a deck.
By weather
If the forecast is rain or unstable, Prestige. The salon is genuinely habitable — guests can be inside without feeling cramped. If the forecast is hot, sunny, and breezy, Galeon. The flybridge and cockpit are where you want to be.
Which we charter most
Across the year, our most-chartered yacht is the Prestige 630. It is the most popular vessel for sunset charters, anniversaries, and proposals — the bulk of our calendar. The Galeon 640 Fly is the most-chartered for the eight-to-twelve-guest party. The Prestige 680 Fly sees the most corporate days. The Galeon 550 Fly is our quietest yacht and is most often booked for repeat clients with a party of four to six.
If you are uncertain, tell us the occasion and the size of the party. The recommendation that comes back is, almost always, decisive. The four boats are different on purpose.