You have had the brilliant idea of chartering a yacht in Greece for your next holiday with your family or friends, but you have never done it before and are not sure whether a motor yacht or a catamaran is the better choice.
You are not alone. This scenario fits 50% of our clients when they first inquire, and we solve it every time.
To put it as simply as we can.
You should choose a motor yacht for your Greece yacht charter if your priorities are:
- speed
- covering long distances (like Athens to the Cyclades)
- ultimate privacy and luxury onboard
You should choose a catamaran for your Greece yacht charter if your priorities are:
- more space per foot
- stability
- better value for money
But it is not, of course, entirely that black and white. Other factors that will determine your best yacht type match are:
- your budget for the week
- the needs of your group
- and your ambitions for your itinerary
Watch this video to get smarter on charter quickly
What is your budget?
Money is always a good place to start. There is no point in browsing superyachts if catamarans are all you can afford. And your price bracket changes the parameters we look at a lot.
For example, if you are looking for a yacht charter in Greece for less than €30k per week, we will almost always point you towards a catamaran. Why? Because motor yachts at this price point are old and outdated, while you can get a brand-new catamaran with all-new toys.
If you have €60k for the week, you suddenly have many more options. You can either get a luxury catamaran designed like a floating villa and serviced by a crew of 3-4. Or you can get a motor yacht that will open up more of the Greek Islands to you.
Now, jump to €100k per week, and the catalogue changes completely – you are now browsing superyachts: either the biggest, most luxurious catamarans or flash motor yachts with big crews and amenities on par with a luxury resort.
Up from there, you’ve got the whole luxury yacht charter world at your feet, and you probably do not need to read this article.
How far do you want to go?
If you are set on exploring from Athens to Mykonos and Santorini and ending back in Mykonos, there is no point in considering a catamaran. Why? Because the trip involves open sea in the windiest part of Greece (the meltemi blows especially strongly in Greece’s yacht charter high season), and it covers more than 300 nautical miles. Attempting this on a catamaran will most likely result in a ruined vacation and a bad review for us.
This is the best way to look at it:
Catamarans are best for short, relaxed island-hopping, where the focus is spending time at anchor, swimming, and exploring ashore. It makes a perfect beachfront base – its shallow draft means you can get real close to shore.
The best places to go on a catamaran in Greece are the Saronic Islands, which are located just south of Athens in the Saronic Gulf, which is more protected from the Meltemi than the Cyclades. And the Ionian Islands, on the other side of the peninsula, which are much calmer in general and have tons of beautiful islands in protected water – ideal to explore with a catamaran.
Motor yachts basically give you access to all of Greece. It is the best choice for Athens to Cyclades yacht charters, full Ionian loops from Corfu to Zakynthos and back, and more remote itineraries to the stunning Dodecanese Islands closer to Turkey.
This does not mean a trip can’t be too long, or can’t get uncomfortable in certain weather. We are always transparent with our clients when it comes to the Cyclades especially – you have to stay flexible, things might change – but if you want to explore the faraway islands in Greece, a motor yacht is by far your best chance.
Fuel consumption will affect the final cost of your charter
The fuel consumption of charter yachts is something not a lot of charter companies talk about. Probably because it does not seem like an obvious concern, or because no one ever asks about it. But, in our experience, giving our clients the chance to save thousands of dollars or avoid a bad surprise at the end of their charter is never a bad idea.
Short story long, there is a big difference in how much fuel a motor yacht burns, even if they are the same size. It can be the difference of 300 liters vs 700 liters per hour. It does not take a mathematician to quickly calculate how big a difference that makes to a one-week charter with 2-4 hours cruising per day. – It is thousands of dollars. That is why most of the yachts listed on our site include fuel consumption.
