A catamaran day excursion is the perfect upgrade of a beach holiday. The whole family on deck, swim stops at otherwise inaccessible coves, snorkeling off the back of the boat, lunch served on the water. It's the kind of day that feels like the highlight of the trip even before the sun sets.

The hotels in this collection partner with proper catamaran operators. Think well-maintained vessels with stable decks (much friendlier for queasy passengers than a monohull), qualified crew, swim and snorkel time built into the itinerary, and lunch or refreshments included. Greek island, Caribbean, and Mediterranean properties lead here.

Below are the top family hotels with catamaran excursions, sorted by overall score.