Chartering a yacht in Greece is straightforward once you understand how the market works. This guide covers the practical side: what the different charter types mean, what they cost, what is and is not included, what qualifications you need, and how far ahead to book.
Crewed, skippered or bareboat
The first decision determines everything else about your charter.
Crewed charter means the yacht comes with professional crew. On a smaller sailing yacht this may be a captain and a hostess. On a larger motor yacht, a captain, chef, stewardess, engineer and deckhands. You have no operational responsibility at all: the crew handles navigation, cooking, provisioning, berthing and service. No sailing qualifications are required. This is the standard arrangement for motor yachts and for anything above roughly twenty metres.
Skippered charter means the yacht comes with a professional captain only. You and your party handle everything else, including cooking and daily life on board. The captain takes responsibility for navigation and safety. This is popular with groups who want the freedom of a bareboat but without the qualification requirements or the responsibility.
Bareboat charter means you take the yacht yourself, with no crew. You are the skipper. This is the most economical option and the most involved. It requires formal qualifications, which are described below, and it suits experienced sailors who want full independence.
What a charter costs
Rates vary enormously by vessel type, size, age and season, so the useful figures are ranges rather than averages.
Daily rates in Greece typically start at around 400 euros for a smaller bareboat sailing yacht or catamaran in low season. At the other end, a fully crewed superyacht in August can exceed 40,000 euros per day. The majority of charters fall between 2,000 and 8,000 euros per day.
Three factors move the price more than anything else.
Season. July and August command the highest rates, often 30 to 50 percent above May or October for the same vessel. Late May, June, September and early October offer very similar weather at substantially lower cost, which is why experienced charterers favour them.
Crew. A crewed charter includes salaries, which is a significant part of the cost. The same hull chartered bareboat is considerably cheaper, but you take on the work.
Size and age. A fifteen-year-old yacht in good condition charters for a fraction of what a comparable new build commands, and for most charterers the experience is very similar.
What is included and what is not
This is where charterers most often misunderstand what they are buying.
The charter fee covers the yacht and, where applicable, the crew. It does not cover running expenses.
Those are covered by the APA, the Advance Provisioning Allowance, which is typically 25 to 35 percent of the charter fee, paid in advance. The APA funds fuel, food and drink, port and marina fees, water, laundry, and any special requests. The captain accounts for it during the charter and returns the unspent balance at the end, or requests a top-up if it runs low.
VAT applies to most charters embarking in Greece and is charged separately.
Crew gratuity is customary and discretionary, typically in the range of 5 to 15 percent of the charter fee, paid at the end if you are satisfied with the service.
For bareboat charters, the structure differs: you pay the charter fee, a refundable security deposit, and then cover fuel, provisioning and mooring fees yourself as you go.
Qualifications for bareboat charter
Greek regulations are specific, and this catches out charterers who assume experience alone is sufficient.
For a bareboat charter you need a recognised sailing qualification, such as RYA Day Skipper or above, ASA certification, an International Certificate of Competence, or an equivalent national licence. You also need a VHF radio operator’s licence.
In addition, Greek law requires a second competent person on board, who must either hold a qualification themselves or sign a declaration of competence. This is not always enforced identically by every charter base, but it is the legal requirement and reputable operators apply it.
If you do not hold the qualifications, a skippered charter gives you effectively the same yacht with a professional captain, usually for a modest additional daily cost.
The Greek charter season
The season runs from late April to late October.
May and early June offer warm weather, calm seas, uncrowded islands and low season rates. The water is cooler than in August but perfectly swimmable by late May.
July and August are peak season: hottest weather, busiest harbours, highest prices, and in the Aegean the meltemi wind at its strongest. Book well in advance.
September is the choice of many experienced charterers. Warm sea, settled weather, thinning crowds and rates that drop noticeably after the first week.
October can be excellent but weather becomes less predictable towards the end of the month.
Where charters start
Most Greek charters embark from one of a handful of bases.
Athens is the primary hub, principally Alimos Marina, the largest charter base in Greece, and Lavrio for itineraries heading directly to the Cyclades. Athens offers the widest choice of vessels and the easiest international access.
Lefkada and Corfu serve the Ionian, which has calmer conditions and shorter distances between islands.
Kos and Rhodes serve the Dodecanese and are the natural starting points for itineraries that also visit the Turkish coast.
Skiathos serves the Sporades and the National Marine Park.
Choosing where to sail
The main cruising areas make genuinely different demands, and matching the area to your party matters more than most people expect.
The Cyclades are the classic Greek experience: Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Ios. They are also the most exposed to the meltemi, which blows from the north through the summer months and can reach force 7 for several days at a time. Wonderful for experienced sailors and for crewed charters where a professional captain handles the conditions. Demanding for an inexperienced bareboat crew in August.
The Saronic Gulf is the most forgiving area: Aegina, Poros, Hydra, Spetses. Sheltered water, short passages, good harbours, and everything within easy reach of Athens. This is the best choice for a first charter or a shorter one.
The Ionian is calmer, greener and family oriented: Corfu, Lefkada, Kefalonia, Ithaca, Zakynthos. Predictable afternoon breezes, short distances, sheltered anchorages.
The Dodecanese suit longer charters and cross-border itineraries towards the Turkish coast, which require additional paperwork arranged in advance.
The Sporades are quieter, with the National Marine Park around Alonissos and fewer crowds.
Charter duration
Most charter contracts run on a weekly basis, Saturday to Saturday, particularly for bareboat vessels in high season. This is a practical matter: charter bases turn vessels around on fixed days.
Many crewed yachts quote daily rates and accept shorter bookings, typically with a minimum of three days, subject to availability and season. Single-day charters are possible on a limited number of vessels.
Outside July and August, flexibility is considerably greater.
How far ahead to book
For July and August, particularly for catamarans and for larger crewed yachts, six to nine months ahead is normal. The best vessels are reserved early, often by repeat charterers.
For May, June, September and October, two to four months is usually sufficient.
Last-minute availability does occur, especially where a booking has fallen through, and can come at attractive rates. This is worth asking about if your dates are flexible.
How a booking works in practice
Enquiry. You provide dates, party size, preferred area and approximate budget. We shortlist suitable vessels from our charter fleet.
Selection. You receive full specifications, photographs, layout plans, crew profiles where applicable, and a clear breakdown of the charter fee, APA and VAT.
Contract and deposit. A charter agreement is signed and a deposit secures the vessel. The balance, plus APA, is due before embarkation.
Preference sheet. For crewed charters you complete a preference sheet covering dietary requirements, drinks, allergies, celebrations and any special requests, so the crew can provision accordingly.
Itinerary planning. We work with you and the captain on a route suited to your dates, the expected conditions and what you want from the trip.
Embarkation. You board at the agreed time and place. For bareboat charters there is a handover briefing and an inventory check.
Practical points worth knowing
Passports are required for all guests, and for cross-border itineraries to Turkey additional documentation is needed and must be arranged in advance.
Travel insurance covering yacht charter is strongly advisable, particularly for bareboat.
Soft luggage is preferred on board, as hard suitcases are difficult to stow.
Anchoring overnight in a quiet bay is often the highlight of a Greek charter, and a good captain will build these into the itinerary rather than heading for a marina every night.
Chartering with Yachts Greece
Yachts Greece has been arranging charters in Greek waters since 1979. Our charter fleet includes motor yachts, sailing yachts, catamarans and motor sailers, available crewed and bareboat across the Aegean and the Ionian.
We handle vessel selection, contracts, itinerary planning, provisioning arrangements, transfers and special requests, and we are contactable throughout your charter.
Contact: +30 210 983 6312 · info@yachtsgreece.com · Themistokleous 58, Alimos, Athens