Booking a Crewed Yacht Charter in Greece: Enquiry to Disembarkation

1. Start with a clear enquiry

A weak enquiry gets you a weak shortlist.

A good enquiry saves time.

When you send an enquiry, it first goes to our team, who will quickly match you with the broker best suited to your specific request. That broker will review your requirements, build a shortlist of yachts that fit, and send the most relevant options back to you.

Your final yacht choice is not always in the first shortlist. That first selection is there to point you in the right direction. The clearer your enquiry is, the better that first shortlist is likely to be.

A few extra details are also very helpful from the start:

• Is this a family trip, a couples trip, or an adult group?
• Are you leaning towards a catamaran or a motor yacht?
• Do you need equal cabins?
• Are water toys important?
• Is food a big part of the experience?

2. We sent you a shortlist of yachts that match your requirements

Once the brief was clear, we built the first shortlist.

Not the biggest shortlist.

The right shortlist.

Every yacht we send should already match the core requirements.
Budget. Type. Destination. Group. Priorities.

If a client is travelling with children, we look for family-friendly layouts.

If the group includes older guests, we look for easier access, fewer stairs, and better overall practicality.

If the trip is wellness-focused, we look for the features and setup that support that experience.

This is where a broker adds real value.

We look at things like:

• cabin layout
• crew setup
• yacht condition and refit history
• base location
• water toys
• dining and deck setup
• value at that price point

And it is only the first step. If needed, we refine from there.

3. We review the contract and secure the booking

Once the right yacht is selected and availability is confirmed, we move to the agreement.

This is where the booking becomes real.

We guide clients through the practical points that matter, including:

• payment schedule
• what is included
• what is excluded
• cancellation terms
• embarkation and disembarkation details
• any yacht-specific conditions worth noting

This is also where we explain the cost properly. The charter fee is usually not the full trip cost, so clients need clarity before they commit.

Depending on the yacht and setup, the budget may also include:

• VAT
• APA or running expenses
• delivery fees
• crew gratuity

What matters is not just the weekly rate. What matters is the likely total cost and how that yacht compares once the full picture is clear.

In most cases, the charter is only secured once availability is confirmed, the contract is signed, and the first payment is received. Before that, it is not locked in.

4. Preference sheets are where the trip starts becoming personal

Once the booking is confirmed, the preference sheet is where the charter becomes personal – It is how the charter is specifically tailored to you.

Of course it covers the practical details: food, allergies, drinks, cabins, transfers, and itinerary preferences. But it also covers the things that change how the week feels: which water toys matter, what wine the group enjoys, when people like to wake up, how they take their coffee, and whether they want the atmosphere onboard to feel lively, relaxed, formal, or easygoing.

In practice, this step matters a lot. The more the crew knows about you in advance, the better they can prepare, and the smoother, more personal the charter usually feels from the start.

The preference sheet usually includes:

• guest details
• passport information if needed
• dietary requirements and allergies
• drinks and wine preferences
• cabin assignments
• children’s needs
• preferred water toys
• transfer details
• route or itinerary preferences
• special occasions
• wake-up and meal preferences
• preferred onboard atmosphere and service style

5. The itinerary is planned with the Captain

Around 2 to 4 weeks before the charter, the captain will get in touch to discuss the itinerary.

It is based on your wishes, the captain’s suggestions, and the weather.

That is why it is usually better to keep the plan open rather than trying to fix every stop too early. At this stage, the captain can help shape a route that fits the kind of week you want, while also working with the actual conditions.

In Greece, flexibility usually leads to a better itinerary, especially in high season in the Cyclades, which is dominated by the meltemi summer winds.

Our support does not end at embarkation

Our role does not end when you step onboard. We stay involved right through to disembarkation.

That matters because problems can often be fixed during the charter, but usually not after it ends.

We always tell our clients: if anything is not as it should be, speak to the captain first. If it is not resolved properly, contact us straight away. Do not wait until the charter is over.

We say this because timing matters. We have fixed small issues like changing duvet setup at the start of a charter, and we have fixed bigger ones too. In one case, clients were unhappy with the chef on day one. They told us immediately, we stepped in, and a new chef was onboard overnight. The next morning, the whole experience had changed.

That is the point. If you tell us while the charter is happening, we can often help. If you tell us after disembarkation, the chance to improve the trip is usually gone.