Reviewed by our gear Geeks:
The Best Cabin Cruiser Boats in 2021
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We gave our Gear lovers one job:
Find the Best Cabin Cruiser Boats and review them.
The result is 14 of the best Cabin Cruiser Boats on the market today.
Joao Paulo Carvalho
Journalist
A journalist with a passion for gear, photography, traveling and writing.
Bradley Axmith
Editor at DIVEIN.com
Vikingship building gear enthusiast and waterworld fanatic.
Comfortable, versatile, and relatively easy to operate, a cabin cruiser is a great choice for families and those who want to cruise just a little further. They offer overnight accommodation as well as all the amenities you need to spend multiple days out on the water: water, electricity, a kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping quarters.
A cabin cruiser hits the mark between an RV and a floating luxury hotel room. And although they give you many of the comforts of larger yachts, they cost much less and are easier to operate and maintain.
In this guide, we’ve rounded up the best cabin cruisers money can buy in 2021.
Notice the different sizes and pay attention to some of the really smart features. Check out some videos in the guide at the bottom.
See our quick top 14, or go further down and read our in-depth reviews.
Top 14 Best Cabin Cruiser Boats for 2021
- Chris-Craft 34 Corsair
- Four Winns Vista 255 OB
- The Grand Banks Eastbay 44
- 270 Express Cruiser
- Back Cove 34O
- Tiara 43 LE
- Juneau NC1095 Fly
- Azimut Magellano 43
- Intrepid 409 Valor
- Regal 33 Express Cruiser
- Monterey 355SY
- Sabre 38 Salon Express
- Sea Ray Sundancer 320
- Jeanneau Leader 33
Check out our buying guide to know what to look for when buying a cabin cruiser boat
When you couple clever design elements with high-quality craftsmanship, you’ve got the timeless Corsair 34 from Chris-Craft. Your “home away from home” as they call it. This is a performance-centric cruiser that just so happens to have the amenities for longer voyages. You can imagine how difficult it is to turn around and head home after only a day when it can do so much more. This top-of-the-line cabin cruiser boasts a teak-covered deck that stretches down the deep V-bottom flared bow where you’ll also find three center skylights ensuring an abundance of light to the cabin below. Teak doors with the color of your choice guard the luxurious and inviting V-shaped berth, which comes with a port side galley, a comfortable sleeping area with an integrated dining table, as well as a full head. Amidships, you’ll find comfortable and spacious seating with diamond pattern stitching along with a clamshell-style dining table great for entertaining. The retro Chris-Craft dash panel houses all instrumentation and electronics and plenty of stowage is offered underneath the seats. From the outside, you’ll get the impression that the Four Winns Vista 255 OB is very small. But every inch of this cabin cruiser boat was carefully optimized to deliver surprising space and practical functionality for both a day cruise or a long weekend. It features a versatile cockpit that offers a variety of seating configurations—from a wide rear-view seat to an L-shaped seating arrangement to even a sun pad. The cockpit is also great for entertaining as it comes with a dinette table, a hot plate, a sink, and a cooler in the underneath storage. Powered by your choice of Mercury or Yamaha outboard motors, speed and efficiency makes the Vista cabin cruiser a house boat that can fly. Down below, the private cabin is spacious and bright—thanks to the seven windows around the bow area. It boasts plenty of sleeping space, an enclosed stand up head, a galley, and a queen-sized mid-cabin berth. Impeccable craftsmanship, outstanding performance, and sumptuous amenities, welcome aboard the Eastbay 44 by Grand Banks. It features a cozy teak-clad cockpit seating/dining area with large electric windows so you can enjoy the breeze at the push of a button. Thanks to her wide beam, a variety of cabin configurations can be created—including overnight accommodation for up to six people. The main cabin comes with a full-sized bed and plenty of wardrobe space. With a capacity for longer voyages, cruise the coast of North America or sail the Great Loop. Plenty of space and tank capacity will keep you on the water longer. The traditional deep-V hull delivers a smooth and dry ride that also allows for good maneuverability too. Drawing on the Grand Banks tradition of stable sea-faring boats, this one will bring out and home again safely. Impeccable craftsmanship, outstanding performance, and sumptuous amenities, welcome aboard the Eastbay 44 by Grand Banks. It features a cozy teak-clad cockpit seating/dining area with large electric windows so you can enjoy the breeze at the push of a button. Thanks to her wide beam, a variety of cabin configurations can be created—including overnight accommodation for up to six people. The main cabin comes with a full-sized bed and plenty of wardrobe space. With a capacity for longer voyages, cruise the coast of North America or sail the Great Loop. Plenty of space and tank capacity will keep you on the water longer. The traditional deep-V hull delivers a smooth and dry ride that also allows for good maneuverability too. Drawing on the Grand Banks tradition of stable sea-faring boats, this one will bring out and home again safely. The perfectly balanced combination of performance, comfort, and downeast seaworthiness make the Back Cove 34O a cruising couple’s dream. Her entirely new hull features Trailing Edge Lifting Surface (TRELIS) *D* design technology and is fitted with a standard bow thruster. The 34O delivers cruise and top-end speeds approximately 10 knots faster than the traditional single diesel Back Cove. Built with entertaining in mind, the cockpit boasts an elegant salon with a versatile and comfortable settee along with a fully equipped galley. The aft-facing seat converts into a helm deck U-shaped dinette or second berth. We’ve been seeing the double outboard motor solution on bigger boats in the last few years, and the Back Cove 340 does it pretty well. With twin 300hp Yamahas (or upgrade to 350hp with optional Suzuki), the performance of this cabin cruiser seems like a ski boat when it gets the chance to stretch its legs. A couple of highlights of this cabin cruiser is the inventive helm step that provides excellent visibility as well as loads of storage space below the helm deck—large enough to fit all your water toys and fishing gear. When dusk turns to dark, head over to the spacious master cabin where you’ll find a large and comfortable bed as well as a separate head and shower. With a focus on sport-styling and yachting amenities, the Tiara 43 LE offers a blend of smart functionality and thrilling performance, providing guests the ultimate enjoyment and relaxation on the water. This cabin cruiser speaks to the future of a mechanized frame that can expand its patio surface when anchored. From the bow to the stern to the cabin below, the 43 LE boasts some of the best on-deck features you’ll see anywhere, including overnight capabilities for up to five people and a chaise lounge sun pad in the bow. But the aft deck is where she truly comes to life. It features a rotating lounge with multiple locking positions along with a built-in footrest and a table. Plus, a fold-down terrace that expands the cockpit and brings you even closer to the water. The icing on the cake is the electric grill located behind the seat. The 43 LE combines performance with modular mechanization that is obviously inspired by the Transformers universe! Pretty impressive, indeed. The NC1095 Fly is the culmination of a practical approach to a cabin cruiser with intelligent design spawned by a modern interpretation of what cruising is all about. This is an amazing 3 stateroom, 35-foot boat that can so easily be called a home away from home. This is a plus model option to Juneau’s 35 foot flagship NC1095 that adds the flybridge for those lovely sunny days when you can lavish in getting closer to the sun. It has ample space in the aft section of the cockpit with a movable sofa seat when tilting the two outboard motors. The salon itself is full of storage cubbies, a long galley table with sink and stove and a modular table that doubles as an additional berth. With the cockpit enclosure around the aft seating area, the living space becomes that much more impressive in a 35 footer. The Fly is easily big enough for a family or a small party to while away a weekend or a summer playing cards, reading, while cruising to another horizon. As a performance vessel, the NC1095 Fly handles like a bowrider. It’s twin Yamaha outboards are quiet but insistent and the controls–including bow thruster–make turning, docking, navigating intuitive and responsive. Powered by Garmin instruments with optional auto-pilot solutions, even less-experienced mariners will feel more at ease behind the wheel. Speaking of space again, the recessed starboard side deck makes for quick access for laying out fenders and moorings, while access to the boat’s mechanical, power and fuel systems makes visual inspection and maintenance that much easier. The V-berth stateroom has a lot of natural light and smart storage. The second berth has plenty of space with standing room too, while the third stateroom–a little smaller–still has a double bunk and an optional second fridge. Built in the Cadillac, Michigan factory the venerable Juneau Yacht company has joined its artisan past with its desire to adapt and improve. The flydeck variant of their motor boat flagship is testament to Juneau’s history of understanding what works and doing it even better. The Azimut Magellano 43 deserves a place in our list for her unparalleled mix of solid-performance with uber-luxurious surroundings. It’s a cabin cruiser built for long-range yachting. You’ll want to just keep sailing on. It features three decks of pure sophistication and attention to detail. It comes with Designed for luxury cruising, this trawler-inspired vessel comes with the unique Dual Mode hull, which ensures comfortable navigation and excellent seafaring even in choppy, deep-sea conditions. This cabin cruiser, like the Grand Banks in this list, challenges the category and will likely be referred to by their owners and spectators as a beautiful yacht. That’s where this model fits on this list: a cabin cruiser boat that’s bigger in every way, including style and price. It’s designed for extended voyages on bigger seas, but it’ll generate attention in the marina. The Magellano’s size will, however, make finding a slip difficult, so bear this in mind. One of the most recent additions to the Intrepid Powerboats line-up is the Intrepid 409 Valor, a cabin cruiser designed for performance. Despite the temptation of doing the next Key West Poker Run, it features a clean and crisp design and offers you and your guests loads of comfort and space for a memorable day of cruising or a pleasant overnight stay. The large wraparound cockpit lounge is great for entertaining. Add the optional wet bar and the party is complete. The private retreat below the cockpit includes a large queen-size berth in the aft, a galley on the starboard side, a private head with shower stall on the port side along with a V-shaped settee that can also be converted into a berth with the optional Hi-Lo table and filler cushion. As with all Intrepids, it also features the company’s signature stepped hull, which delivers a smooth, dry ride with unmatched performance. With 3 outboard motors to choose from–including Evinrude 200 up to Mercury 450R–the Poker Run is calling! With clever surprises and practical functionality everywhere you look, the Regal 33 Express Cruiser is your have-it-all cabin cruiser whether it’s a day at the beach or a weekend on the water. This is an extremely easy boat to handle, maintain and cruise in. The twin Yamaha outboards will power your escape to tranquility in haste. This cruiser handles phenomenally with the Yamaha electronics and instruments that almost do the driving for you, including joystick and bow thruster for easy docking. Designed with versatility in mind, the single level cockpit sole is roomy and offers plenty of space to stretch out, relax, and socialize. Elevate your entertaining game by adding a grill and a refrigerator to the refreshment center. And enjoy the comforts and customization of the UltraLounge—a multi-position seat that lets you face forward while cruising, then face aft to enjoy the view, or lay flat to soak up the sun. The cabin below features luxurious and accommodating amenities that are sure to please the whole crew. Thanks to the large hull-side windows, an abundance of natural light floods the cabin during the day. You’ll also find a salon with a settee and a galley as well as a full head with shower. Once the fun in the sun is over, you can convert the settee into a queen-sized berth or enjoy a good night’s sleep from the king-sized berth—the only boat in its class to feature one. You can also convert the king-sized berth into two full twin beds for versatility. Make small moments into lifetime memories aboard the Monterey 355 Sports Yacht. This cabin cruiser is not too big, not too small. It’s got everything you need for a self-sustained weekend with friends or the family in comfort. This sport yacht packs in everything a family would require for a day of cruising or a comfortable overnight stay, including spacious cockpit seating arrangements, a wet bar, a bow sun pad, and the perfect evening retreat. The 355SY is a boat well-suited for both the Great Loop and cruising the Keys. It’s got amenities that provide for extended trips and the sheer intelligence in design means you can adapt the furniture and the rooms themselves to function. Whether it’s a family weekend getaway or a trip to a restaurant at another marina, driving and docking is made easy by the smart electronics powered by Raymarine. The digital throttle and the joystick with LED lighting behind all the switches also makes driving the 335 quite safe. Classic Downeast lines paired with all the right features make the Sabre 38 Salon Express “a boat that boaters recognize.” This pocket cruising yacht—ideal for a couple or a small family—boasts an open, elegant, and inviting salon which opens up to an equally spacious and comfortable cockpit, great for entertaining and al fresco dining. The cabin below comes with a fully equipped galley, a lounge, a master berth, as well as a full head. Add plenty of stowage to this cruiser and summer voyage is both realistic and uncompromising. The classic profile, thrilling performance, and low sound levels make the Sabre 38 Salon Express an icon of nautically sensible design. Reimagining the balance of indoor and outdoor space, the Sundancer 320 is a perfect example of the innovative spirit, unparalleled quality, and versatility one has come to expect from Sea Ray. This is smaller than most cabin cruisers on this list–it’s considered something of a bowrider cross-over–but it still provides a stateroom and kitchen and head plus an additional berth that you also see in the bigger models. The star of this cabin cruiser is, without a doubt, the spacious bow sun lounge, which offers enough room for 3 people complete with cup holders and a stereo remote so you can enjoy your favorite tunes without having to leave the comforts of your sun pad. The moveable lounge just behind the captain’s sofa will easily and comfortably host 8 guests. Add 3 in the front plus a few in the salon and this yacht certified, compact cruiser is an entertaining powerhouse. Plus, a wet bar with optional grill and refrigerator in the deck lounge allows for effortless entertaining while the cabin below provides comfortable sleeping for 4. Cruise in style and experience a whole new level of refinement and convenience aboard the Leader 33. Available in two versions: an Open version with an arch and a Sport Top version with an electrically opening hard top, the Leader 33 boasts a spacious and functional layout which makes relaxing and entertaining a breeze. Long windows in the hull offer beautiful sea views along with plenty of natural light in the cabin below. Also, two galleys, two sleeping berths, and an expansive head with a separate shower stall make the Leader 33 the ideal boat for a weekend getaway.
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three cabins, two full heads, a fully equipped galley, and loads of room to walk around, entertain, and relax.
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The UltraLounge also provides you with extra legroom (11”) with simply the push of a button.
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A Quick Guide to Cabin Cruisers
They need a little more than just a cabin under the deck to be called a cabin cruiser. Think bowrider or runabout and expand outwards with a mind toward extending your daytrip so it potentially never ends. That entails more space and comfort like you get with your typical luxury yacht combined with performance associated with the bowriders.
The cabin cruisers we have on the list are designed with a maritime intelligence that incorporates deep and fundamental logic required to make recreational sailing as a lifestyle both safe and enjoyable. A model like the NC1095 Fly is a great example of a modern interpretation of a cabin cruiser that really embodies the maritime equivalent of a newer RV.
When deciding what vessel is right for you, figure out how much space you need, how long you’re going to be cruising and pay particular attention to how comfortable you feel navigating tighter waterways and docking. Smaller craft like the Chris-Craft 34 are easier to wrap your head around and if your needs and horizons are closer to home than this is a good vessel for cruising shorter overnight excursions and even navigating smaller waterways like river systems.
The bigger boats, like the Grand Banks 44, will appeal to longer voyages further out at sea. These are vessels that could even traverse the Atlantic–for the intrepid mariner–and have a great go of the Mediterranean.
While size will increase the challenges when navigating and docking, these modern cabin cruisers have been designed so well in order to make the pilot seem a steady, old hand at the helm.
Consider the need for bow thrusters, whether you want inboard motors or outboard motors (the latter tend to be cheaper and easier to maintain), air conditioning/heating, where you can get a boat slip and how readily available guest slips are for boats with the different beams (width).
These boats are still relatively easy to operate but they can go quite fast on the water. Remember to observe the customs and rules on the waves. Most importantly: enjoy.
Take a look at these videos that demonstrate some of the models on our list:
FAQ – Frequently asked questions about Cabin Cruiser Boats
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🙋♂️What is a Cabin Cruiser?
A cabin cruiser is a type of powerboat that typically ranges from 25 to 45 feet in length. Because they come with sleeping, cooking, and bathroom facilities they are a top choice for weekend trips but also manageable enough for quick day trips.
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🤨What are the best cabin cruiser brands?
These are some of the best cabin cruiser brands on the market today:
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🧐How much is a cabin cruiser boat?
Prices will vary depending on the size as well as the included amenities.
A cabin cruiser usually costs between U$100,000 to U$700,000. However, more sophisticated models, like the East Bay 44 can go for as much as U$1 million.
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🤔What is the difference between a cabin cruiser and a yacht?
Cabin cruisers are very similar to larger yachts. They can cruise long distances and they offer many facilities that help keep passengers comfortable during long haul trips, but unlike a large yacht, a cabin cruiser boat does not require a professional crew aboard.
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Is there a disabled veteran discount?
Hey Keith. Thank you for your service. Some of the boat makers have military discounts like Crestliner (for fishing boats mainly: https://www.crestliner.com/specials/military-discount/), but talk to the guys at your local marina. I’ve found that they do reward service with a price cut sometimes. Check out these guys too: https://www.harborsidemarinesales.com/