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Luxury yacht charter with professional crew

Charter a luxury yacht of 30 m or more, complete with captain, chef, and full hospitality crew. Compare yachts across the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and further afield, and book the charter that matches your vision.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Luxury Yacht Charters

What is the difference between a crewed luxury yacht charter and a bareboat charter?
A crewed luxury yacht charter includes a professional captain plus a full hospitality crew (chef, steward, deckhands). You need no boat licence and no navigation experience. A bareboat charter means you operate the yacht yourself and must hold a valid sailing licence plus logged nautical-mile experience.
What is included in a luxury yacht charter price?
The base fee covers the yacht, the full crew wages, and standard insurance. Food, beverages, fuel, dockage, and often water-sport equipment are billed through the APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance, typically 25-30% of the base). Crew gratuity (10-20% of the base fee) is separate, paid at the end of the charter.
How far in advance should I book a luxury yacht charter?
For prime Mediterranean weeks (July and August) and prime Caribbean weeks (Christmas and New Year), book 9 to 12 months ahead. These yachts sell out a year in advance. For shoulder-season weeks (May, June, September, October in the Med), 3 to 6 months is usually enough lead time.
How many guests can a luxury yacht charter typically accommodate?
Luxury yachts of 30 m or more typically accommodate 6 to 12 guests in 3 to 6 cabins, usually each with an ensuite bathroom. Yachts of 50 m and up can host the maximum 12 guests permitted by international charter regulations, plus additional children in some configurations.
What is the minimum charter length for a luxury yacht?
The standard charter length is 7 nights, usually starting on a Saturday. Shoulder-season charters on certain yachts allow 5-night options. For high-demand events (Monaco Grand Prix, Cannes Film Festival, Saint-Tropez Regatta), minimum charter lengths and fixed-week pricing may apply.
What are the best destinations for a luxury yacht charter?
In the Mediterranean, the classic destinations are the French Riviera, the Amalfi Coast, the Balearics, and the Greek islands (season May to October). In the Caribbean, the most popular destinations are the British Virgin Islands, St. Barts, and the Bahamas (season December to April). For less-crowded alternatives, consider Croatia, Montenegro, or the Seychelles.
What happens if the weather is bad during a luxury yacht charter?
Your captain adjusts the route daily based on the forecast. This is one of the advantages of a yacht over a fixed resort. In heavy storms the yacht will dock in a sheltered harbour. For persistent bad weather, the captain will propose alternatives with you; a completely cancelled charter is extremely rare.
Can I bring my own chef or crew on a luxury yacht charter?
No. The professional crew of each charter yacht is permanently assigned and bears full responsibility for the vessel. Your own chef or personal staff can travel as guests but may not operate onboard. For specific culinary requests, discuss them with the yacht's chef through the preference sheet.

Luxury yacht charter with crew

A luxury yacht charter with crew means you don't run the boat. Captain, chief stewardess, chef, and deckhands handle navigation, cuisine, service, and logistics; you and your guests focus on the holiday. Every yacht in this selection is 30 m (around 100 ft) or longer and comes with a full professional crew.

Luxury yacht charter: fast facts

Feature Details
Minimum length 30 m (around 100 ft) and up
Charter type Fully crewed (captain plus hospitality team)
Typical group size 6 to 12 guests
Crew roles Captain, chief stewardess, chef, deckhands, sometimes engineer
Typical charter length 7 nights (5-night options in shoulder season)
Popular regions Mediterranean, Caribbean, Bahamas, Indian Ocean
Best for Milestone celebrations, multi-family trips, corporate retreats

Why charter a luxury yacht with crew?

  • The trip is built around you. The chef cooks to your preferences, the captain plans the route at your pace, and the crew adapts to your group.
  • No licence, no navigation, no checklists. You don't have to sail the boat, pilot the tender, or plan the anchorage.
  • Access to anchorages unreachable from land. The best bays of the Mediterranean and Caribbean can only be reached by sea.
  • Logistics handled for you. Transfers, provisioning, dockage, and water-sport equipment are arranged by your crew.
  • Time with the people who matter. Multiple families or groups of friends under one roof, without the hotel shuffle.
Captain's top 3 tips for first-time luxury charterers:

1. Budget for APA and gratuities. The charter price is the base fee. Add roughly 25-30% as APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance) that your captain draws on for food, fuel, dockage, and guest beverages, plus 10-20% gratuity at the end of a good charter. These two line items trip up almost every first-time charterer.

2. Book the prime weeks 9 to 12 months ahead. Mediterranean season runs May through October; Caribbean season runs December through April. Prime weeks (July and August in the Med, Christmas and New Year in the Caribbean) command 2-3x premium and sell out a year in advance. For calmer seas and better rates, target early June or late September in the Med.

3. Take the preference sheet seriously. Before your charter, the broker sends a detailed preference sheet: diet, sleep schedule, activities, favourite drinks. Fill it out properly. The chef and crew tailor every meal, every anchorage, and every toy to your answers. Ten minutes here is the difference between a good trip and an unforgettable one.

Top regions for a luxury yacht charter

  • Mediterranean: French Riviera, Italian Riviera, Amalfi Coast, Balearics, Greek islands, Turkish Aegean. Season May to October.
  • Caribbean: British Virgin Islands, St. Barts, Bahamas, St. Martin. Season December to April.
  • Less-crowded picks: Croatia (Dalmatia), Montenegro, Sardinia in shoulder season, Seychelles, Indonesia (Raja Ampat).

What is included in a luxury yacht charter?

Included in the base fee: the yacht, the full crew's wages, insurance, and standard consumables. Not included (billed through the APA): food, beverages, fuel, dockage, landing taxes, and often water-sport equipment. Crew gratuity (10-20% of the base fee) is separate and paid at the end of a successful charter.

How to book your luxury yacht charter

  1. Select your region, dates, and group size above.
  2. Browse yachts 30 m or longer with a full crew matching your criteria.
  3. Request availability. Our team sends you itinerary proposals.
  4. Complete the preference sheet (see Captain's tip 3).
  5. Travel, board, and enjoy the charter.