Sailing Holidays with a Crew Onboard
The first thing to know about a crewed charter holiday is that no experience is necessary.
You may have already enjoyed a holiday afloat on a river barge or large cruise ship and now desire a more intimate vacation experience with your closest family and friends aboard your own private yacht.
The sizes and styles of vessels can vary enormously, so it’s helpful to group them into three categories:
1. Bareboat Yacht or Catamaran Charter with a Skipper
2. Gulet Charter with a Skipper and Small Crew
3. Fully Crewed Luxury Yacht or Motor Yacht
1. Bareboat Charter with a Skipper
This type of holiday is extremely popular with small groups who like freedom and flexibility.
A local skipper is aboard to move your floating apartment from one beautiful anchorage to the next. Cruise between islands during the day and step ashore in the evening to enjoy a wonderful meal at a harbour-side restaurant.
Your accommodation is berthed in the best part of town – no carrying bags or lining up for transportation!
You can be involved in the running of the vessel, or relax and leave it to the skipper. Many clients enjoy learning and picking up new skills, but equally many are happy to sit back and enjoy the service.
The emphasis is on total relaxation and total freedom.
2. Gulet Charter with a Crew Onboard
A gulet is a timber handcrafted motor sailing yacht equipped with 1 or 2 masts, built for cruising the Mediterranean Coast.
Gulets were originally used by fishermen and sponge divers to transport their catch. Today they have been luxuriously re-designed especially for yachting holidays.
A Gulet charter holiday is unique to the Mediterranean where these magnificent vessels have evolved into floating hotels to offering high levels of service and comfort.
Large, air-conditioned state rooms with marble ensuites offer exceptional comfort to guests.
In Greece, Turkey, Croatia and Italy, Gulets are usually crewed by locals and we believe offer the best value quality holiday afloat.
3. Fully Crewed Catamaran or Motor Yacht
Fully crewed vessels begin at around 60 ft for yachts through to big white super yachts that are arguably the world’s most exclusive holiday platform.
Most fully crewed vessels around the world are privately owned with professional and caring crew who are fully trained in the hospitality industry. Unlike a skippered charter, it is more likely that meals will be served by a competent chef on fine china with crystal glasses.
As the crew live aboard in separate quarters, your yacht is more like a home with high quality furnishings. Usually operating at a ratio of one crew to 2-3 guests, the level of service vastly surpasses that of a luxury cruise ship – yet costings can often be substantially less.
At Charter World we believe that sailing is just part of a yachting holiday. The freedom, flexibility, comfort, peace and tranquillity offered are unmatched by any other holiday style.
