The Complete Yacht Charter Guide
Crewed Charters Across the Mediterranean & Beyond
A private crewed yacht charter is one of the most memorable ways to travel — your floating hotel, your chef, and a new anchorage most mornings. This guide covers the essentials for any yacht type: choosing between a gulet, motor yacht, catamaran or sailing yacht, where you can sail, what a charter includes, what it costs, and how booking works. When you are ready to go deeper on the traditional wooden yacht that started it all, our complete gulet charter guide takes you through that world in detail.
Choosing Your Yacht Type
The right yacht depends on your group, your style and your priorities. All four types below come fully crewed with a captain, chef and stewards.
- Gulet — Traditional wooden motorsailer; spacious decks and cabins, ideal for families and groups who want relaxed cruising with authentic character
- Motor Yacht — Speed, range and glamour for covering longer distances in comfort; typically the highest weekly rate band
- Catamaran — Stability, wide decks and easy access to water; a strong pick for swimmers, diversions at anchor and first-time charterers
- Sailing Yacht — The classic experience; quieter passages under sail and a purist connection to the sea
Where You Can Sail
The Mediterranean is the heart of crewed chartering: Greece for island-hopping diversity, Croatia for medieval towns and clear water, Turkey for the original Blue Cruise and exceptional value, and Italy for drama and cuisine. Beyond Europe, the Caribbean offers steady winter trade winds, while Southeast Asia opens a different world from November to March.
Not sure which suits you? Our destination guides compare coastlines, airports, routes and season length side by side.
What a Crewed Charter Includes
The base charter fee generally covers the yacht and its professional crew, plus use of the yacht's water sports equipment. Food, beverages, fuel, port and marina fees, taxes and other operating costs vary by yacht and charter agreement — some yachts include meals or a provisioning package in the rate, while others run an Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA) or charge provisioning separately. Crew gratuities are additional in every case.
Exactly what is included varies by yacht and agreement — the charter agreement you receive before booking lists every inclusion and exclusion for your specific vessel.
Understanding Charter Costs
Charter rates are quoted per week and vary widely by yacht type, size, age and season. As a broad frame: crewed charters across our fleet start from around €10,000 per week, with most guests sailing in the €15,000–€60,000 band and ultra-luxury vessels above that.
For worked examples by yacht type and cabin count, see our yacht charter cost guide — it breaks down what changes the price and where extras apply.
When to Go
The Mediterranean season generally runs May to October, with July and August the busiest and warmest months and June and September offering the best balance of weather, water temperature and quieter anchorages. The Caribbean season mirrors European winter, and Southeast Asia favours November to March.
How Booking Works
Enquire with your dates, group size and preferred region; you will receive a curated shortlist within 24 hours. Once you choose a yacht, a deposit (typically 50%) secures her, with the balance usually due 6–8 weeks before embarkation. Deposit amounts, balance schedules and cancellation terms vary by yacht, owner and charter agreement — the applicable terms are confirmed in your charter agreement before booking.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need sailing experience?
How many people can a charter yacht take?
Can dietary requirements be catered for?
Gulet or motor yacht — how do I choose?
Start Planning
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