Martina AsmusYacht charter broker, DMA Yachting
Pack light, and pack it in soft-sided bags: yacht cabins have clever but limited storage, and a hard suitcase has nowhere to live once emptied. Daily life aboard is swimwear, cover-ups, shorts, and sunglasses; add one smarter outfit for dinners ashore and a light layer for breezy evenings, especially December through February when winter fronts pass.
Leave the hard-soled shoes at home; decks are barefoot or boat-shoe territory, and the crew will say so on boarding. Bring reef-safe sunscreen (you will swim more than you think), a hat, any medications, and seasickness tablets if anyone is unsure, even though Bahamas waters are calm.
You need less than you think: towels, snorkeling gear, water toys, and usually laundry are on the boat, and the crew handles the rest. If you are missing something, Nassau has it before departure; the Exumas will not.