Crewed sailing yacht with captain at the helm passing a turquoise Mediterranean cove, the chef preparing lunch on the aft deck, Borrow A Boat captained yacht charter

Mediterranean yacht charter with crew

Charter a yacht in the Mediterranean and the crew comes with it. The captain runs the boat, the chef and hostess handle meals and provisioning, and your group does the islands, the swimming and the long lunches. Sailboats, catamarans and motor yachts in Croatia, Greece, Italy, France, Spain and Turkey.

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Frequently asked questions about Mediterranean yacht charter with crew

How does a Mediterranean yacht charter with crew work for a US-based group?
You book the yacht and the crew together for a Saturday-to-Saturday week. You fly into the home port (Athens for Greece, Split or Dubrovnik for Croatia, Olbia for Sardinia, Palma for the Balearics, Nice for the Côte d'Azur, Bodrum for Turkey), meet the captain at the marina on Saturday afternoon, agree a rough route, and sail. The captain runs the boat, the chef cooks breakfast and lunch on board, the hostess handles provisioning, service and dinner reservations ashore. You handle the swimming, the islands and the dinner choices.
How much does a Mediterranean yacht charter with crew cost in USD?
A crewed sailing yacht or catamaran for 4 to 6 guests starts around USD 9,000 to 16,000 per week. A 60 to 80ft motor yacht runs USD 35,000 plus per week. On top of the boat fee, the APA (advance provisioning allowance) is 25 to 35 percent of the boat price and covers fuel, food, drinks and marina fees during the week. A captain and crew tip of 5 to 10 percent at the end of the charter is customary. Most country specialists can quote in USD on request.
Do guests need a US sailing license or any sailing certification for a Mediterranean crewed charter?
No, guests do not need any sailing license, US Coast Guard endorsement, state boater card, ICC or local equivalent. The captain is the licensed master of the vessel for the entire charter and carries every certificate the local harbor authority requires.
How is a Mediterranean crewed yacht charter different from a bareboat in the Caribbean?
The boats are usually bigger (Med crewed yachts skew 50ft and up, vs Caribbean bareboats around 38 to 50ft), the crew handles everything (no provisioning trips, no docking learning curve), the cuisine is Mediterranean instead of Caribbean, the home ports are city marinas (Athens, Split, Naples) rather than charter bases, and the cultural and historical density is much higher per nautical mile.
Which Mediterranean country is the best fit for a first US charter group?
Greece (Ionian, departing from Lefkas) and Croatia (Dalmatia, departing from Split) are the two most US-friendly first-time choices: short hops between islands, sheltered cruising most of the season, lots of restaurants ashore, English widely spoken, and easy direct or one-stop flights from major US gateways. Italy and France are stronger picks for groups looking for the motor-yacht and luxury-marina experience. Turkey is the best-value option once you are willing to add a longer flight.
When should a US group book a Mediterranean crewed yacht charter for the best summer week?
For July and August dates, book the prior fall (October to December). For June and September dates, the prior winter is fine. The most popular yachts (newer crewed catamarans, well-known motor yachts on the Côte d'Azur) sell out 6 to 12 months ahead in peak season. June and September are easier to book and give better weather across most of the Med.
How big a group can a Mediterranean crewed yacht charter take?
Crewed sailing yachts and catamarans take 4 to 10 guests. Motor yachts in the 60 to 80ft range take 8 to 12 guests. Larger motor yachts (90ft plus) take more, with additional crew. For groups of 12 or more, a fully crewed gulet (Turkey, Croatia or Greece) is usually the right answer.
What is the APA and how is it different from the way US charters work?
APA stands for advance provisioning allowance. It is a Mediterranean-standard practice: you pay 25 to 35 percent of the boat price up front, the captain spends it during the week on fuel, food, drinks, marina fees and park entry, and you settle the difference (back to you or owed) on the last day. It works well in practice and gives the captain flexibility to adjust the route without prepaying every line item. US charter groups occasionally find it unfamiliar; the country specialist will walk through the math with you before booking.

Mediterranean yacht charter with crew: a private boat, a captain and a chef, six countries on one coastline

American visitors who have done the Caribbean tend to assume the Mediterranean is the same product with a different backdrop. It is not. A Mediterranean yacht charter with crew is closer to a small cruise of one: a private boat with a captain, a chef and a hostess on board for the week, sailing out of Greece, Croatia, Italy, France, Spain or Turkey. The captain runs the boat and the route. The chef cooks breakfast and lunch on board, books the dinners ashore, and works around your group's preferences. The hostess handles provisioning, service and housekeeping. You pick the country and the boat; the rest is delivered.

Mediterranean yacht charter with crew, key facts

Detail What to expect
Crew on board Captain, chef and hostess on most yachts; deckhands and engineers on larger motor yachts
US sailing license required? No, the captain holds every certificate the local harbor authority requires
Top home ports Athens, Lefkas, Split, Dubrovnik, Olbia, Naples, Palma, Cannes, Bodrum
Charter length Saturday to Saturday, with longer charters available on larger yachts
Boat options Sailboats, catamarans and motor yachts (gulets handled separately, see below)
Best season Late April through late October; June and September are the local sweet spots
Group size 4 to 12 guests on most yachts; bigger motor yachts take more

Why book a crewed Mediterranean yacht charter, especially as a first-time Med charter guest

  • You arrive, the boat is ready, the week is yours: the captain has already provisioned the basics, briefed the route and checked the forecast. You step on board and start the holiday.
  • The chef earns the price tag: Mediterranean produce is the entire reason to charter here, and a good charter chef builds the menu around the markets at every port.
  • No US license needed: the captain is the legal master of the vessel for the week. None of your guests need any sailing certificate, US Coast Guard endorsement, ICC, or local equivalent.
  • The yacht is bigger and better than a bareboat: crewed inventory in the Med is mostly 50ft and up, with full A/C, watermakers, generators and dedicated crew quarters so the cabins stay private.
  • Daily routing is a conversation, not a delivered itinerary: the captain proposes; you decide. If the wind shifts the chef adjusts the menu; if you fall in love with one anchorage you stay another night.
Captain's Insider Tip: "Pick your country to match the month. The meltemi is a hot dry wind that builds across the Aegean for five to seven days at a stretch every July and August: in those months Croatia and Turkey ride better than Greece. The mistral funnels down France's Rhône valley and shuts the Côte d'Azur to small craft for a few days at a time. The bura comes off Croatia's mountains and goes from glassy calm to 40 knots in half an hour, but it usually warns first. June and September are the local sweet spots for Greece, France and Italy: warmer water than May, fewer boats than August, settled winds. American guests who have done the Caribbean tend to be surprised at how much the weather varies country to country here."

Mediterranean countries we cover for crewed yacht charter

  • Greece, Cyclades to Dodecanese: the largest crewed fleet in the Med. Athens for the Cyclades (Mykonos, Santorini, Paros), Lefkas for the Ionian (Skopelos is the Mamma Mia island), Kos and Rhodes for the Dodecanese. See our Greece yacht charter page.
  • Croatia, Dalmatia and Istria: Split, Trogir, Šibenik and Dubrovnik. The Hvar / Vis / Kor?ula loop is where most weeks end up. Strong crewed catamaran inventory. See Croatia yacht charter.
  • Italy, Sardinia and the Tyrrhenian: Olbia and Portisco for the Costa Smeralda; Naples for the Aeolian islands and the Amalfi coast; Palermo for Sicily. The motor-yacht country. See Italy yacht charter.
  • Spain, Balearic Islands and Costa Brava: Palma for Mallorca and Ibiza, Mahón for Menorca, Barcelona for the Costa Brava. Closest of the Med countries to a US-style coastal cruise (lots of beach clubs, plenty of dining ashore). See Spain yacht charter.
  • France, Côte d'Azur and Corsica: Cannes, Saint-Tropez, Antibes; Ajaccio and Bonifacio for Corsica. The motor-yacht heartland. See France yacht charter.
  • Turkey, Lycian and Carian coasts: Bodrum, Marmaris, Göcek, Fethiye. The best-value country in the Med and the home of the gulet (a traditional wooden crewed yacht). See gulets in Turkey.

How to book a Mediterranean yacht charter with crew

  1. Pick country, dates and group size above.
  2. We confirm a boat plus the full crew for the week.
  3. Pay the deposit; you receive the captain's contact information and a draft itinerary.
  4. Meet the crew at the marina on Saturday afternoon for the safety brief and route confirmation.
  5. Sail Saturday to Saturday (longer charters possible on larger yachts).

What is included, what is extra (USD pricing on request)

Included: the yacht, the crew (captain, chef, hostess on most yachts), full third-party insurance and basic kit (linens, towels, water-sports gear on most yachts). Charged separately and bundled into the APA: an advance provisioning allowance of 25 to 35 percent of the boat price, paid up front, that covers fuel, food, drinks, marina fees outside the home port, and any national-park entry fees. A captain and crew tip of 5 to 10 percent at the end of the charter is customary. USD pricing available on request from any of our country specialists. Looking for a fully crewed gulet for a group of 12 or more? See our gulets in Turkey, gulets in Croatia or gulets in Greece. Looking for a smaller boat with just a captain and no full crew? See our Croatia, Greece and Mallorca captained yacht charter pages. Looking for the December-to-April Caribbean season instead? See our Caribbean yacht charter with crew page.