Q&A - Crewed trips (with cook)
Food & Drinks
+How does it work with meal preparation?
In terms of food and meals the crew will arrange everything for you.
Prior to your trip we send out a food preference sheet to capture your favorites, things to avoid, dietary restrictions or allergies, special occasions, anniversaries, surprises and anything you wish us to assist you with during your cruise. Your cook would then arrange your provisioning and prepare the meals daily, ensuring you are focused on enjoying the trip.
She will also be purchasing ingredients from the island markets along the way in order to ensure everything is fresh and local.
Although we can arrange the possibility of having all meals onboard we encourage you to try venturing onto the islands you are visiting. This way you can enjoy a meal with the locals, experiencing the different flavors, cuisine and culture in each location you visit. Of course, if you prefer to relax onboard your cook will also prepare a dinner onboard for you.
+How do we arrange provisioning?
In regards to the provisioning your crew will arrange all necessary items. All you have to do is tell us what you likes/dislikes. Prior to you trip a preference sheet will be sent out for you to inform us of all your favorite things, what things to avoid, if there are any dietary restrictions or allergies, as well as any special occasions such as birthdays or anniversaries. Your cook would then arrange your provisioning and prepare the meals daily, allowing you to focus on enjoying your trip. She will also be purchasing ingredients from the island markets along the way in order to ensure everything is fresh and local. For dinners, we highly recommend venturing onto the islands you are visiting.
+We have some food allergies will this be a problem?
Not at all! We can handle dietary restrictions/allergies. Prior to you trip a preference sheet will be sent out for you to inform us if there are any dietary restrictions or allergies which your hostess/cook will be sure to be aware of when preparing meals.
+What type of meals can we expect to have onboard?
Your day will begins with the wonderful aromas of a delicious breakfast, prepared just for you by your hostess. Which the ingredients and type of food will be according to the preferences you have informed us of.
After your meal you may choose to explore the wonderful island or town you are located in. When you are ready, your skipper will set sail to a gorgeous bay where you can swim, snorkel, paddle surf or simply relax and tan.
Now that you have worked up an appetite, your hostess will prepare a lovely meal for lunch which once again will be in accordance to items you have stated you prefer.
All are blessed with exquisite sunsets and new views for you to enjoy!
+Can we order drinks?
Of course you can! In accordance to the drinks you have stated your preference for, you hostess will have all onboard the day of your arrival.
+Do you organize surprises in special occasions upon request?
Yes, upon request we can accomodate special occasions, anniversaries, surprises and anything you wish us to assist you with during your cruise.
+Can we request Ice? How do we get ice onboard?
Yes of course you can. Your crew will take care of that no problem!
+How many meals do you suggest per day?
We encourage our guests to have 2 major meals per day onboard, for instance breakfast, lunch, and snacks which will be prepared with love and care from your hostess. However when looking to enjoy supper or dinner we strongly advise our guest to venture onto the islands in order to experience Greek culture, feel the island vibes, and fantastic atmosphere.
+Is there a suggested/sample menu we can review?
Yes of course! Please contact one of our agents in order to send you what the chef suggests as a weekly menu for the particular season!
Itinerary
+How do we select the itinerary?
Regarding your itinerary we offer a fully customizable sailing cruise. We plan a route according to our guests preferences (meaning how familiar they are with sailing, the type of vacation they seek, how many hours they would enjoy sailing per day, if they love sightseeing and many others) and according to the weather as well at the time of your arrival-we would never take our guests somewhere that would be unpleasant due to the weather conditions. In general we try to provide vacation that is pleasant, relaxing and an experience to remember. Therefore we encourage you to share with us some of your preferences and we would propose a tailor made trip based on our professional knowledge.
In terms of choices, If you would prefer to sail to the Cyclades, then you would have numerous selections by starting with KEA which is a sum of Cycladic hill villages, white houses all resulting to a relaxing atmosphere that will welcome you to the first stop in the Cyclades. Syros would be gorgeous combination where the Greek tradition blends with the western civilization while Paros is among the most popular Greek islands, famous for her white marbles and is a combination of a Cycladic architecture and golden sun beaches. Mykonos would be an option as well while in Kythnos you would have the chance to swim in Kolona bay one of the most interesting natural sea bay in Greece.
On the other hand, Saronic gulf, will give you a more relaxed sailing experience, meaning that you would need to travel shorter distances from one island to the other. In addition the possibilities are more likely to have less wind than the Cyclades. This would allow new sailors to be more familiar with sailing (if they are sailing for the first time) and surely to be introduced more calmly on a sailing trip. Regarding your route, you could visit very beautiful places, reserved stone houses, exquisite sites (Spetses Island), secluded beaches (Dhokos bay), turquoise water coves (Ermioni). Unique hiking trails (in Hydra island), booming cuisine (Poros has perfect fish), exclusive archaeological masterpieces (the ancient theater of Palaia Epidavros), as well as Aegina or Methana.
Both of the above suggestions are some of the options we could offer and propose and as I explained previously can be altered according to your preferences.
You can see some sample itineraries under: http://yachtsailing.gr/destinations
+Where do your boats sail to?
The 2 major regions that can be visited are the Cyclades and Saronic Gulf.
In the Cyclades one can expect little white washed homes, churches, and blue window frames all authentic to Cyclades architecture. All known for their excellent beaches, cuisines, as well as rich history and culture, a region which includes islands such as Mykonos, Paros, and Milos. This region is also known for its erratic weather and high winds.
On the other hand we have the Saronic Islands with their own unique culture— more European in appearance, amazing food, and rich with sites to visit and explore. When weather can be a challenge, the Saronic offers the advantage of less sailing hours from one island to the other, as well as much calmer seas.
Both regions have much to offer and planning your ideal route is dependent on the hours you would like to sail per day, what types of sites or activities you wish to pursue and the overall length of your sailing trip. All of this will be discussed with your captain when planning your itinerary. And, since we cannot control the weather, we take that into account at all times.
The advantage of beginning your cruise in Athens, is the opportunity to chart your course according to the weather. Your crew will play a key role in helping to shape your trip. Not only are they dedicated sailing professionals but also your hosts on the Greek Islands. They can share the best places to explore, dine, and adventure - working with you to customize your experience accordingly. And of course your comfort and safety are always their number one priority.
Setting a comfortable pace/hours of sailing per day is another key factor for a successful sailing trip. Islands may appear close when viewing them on a map but winds and other factors can make this deceiving. Your captain can help you craft an itinerary that will maximize your time seeing the things you wish to see while striking a balance with your sailing, always having as a main focus an overall pleasant experience. Our friendly suggestion would be to focus on enjoying yourself and savoring the moment when exploring the beautiful locations our lovely country has to offer. Rather than stressing to reach as many islands as possible or putting stress on your itinerary to reach specific and long distance locations.
+Can we pick up a boat from one of the islands of the Cyclades (Paros, Syros, Kea etc)?
This could be possible however would practically mean the boat would arrive there on Saturday evening (depending on the island) or in some cases Sunday morning. In addition to this a cost of a one way fee would be included to cover the crew’s journey to the island. Lastly one would have to take into consideration the diesel and formalities involved for the boat to get to the island which has been requested. The cost of the reallocation fee )one way fee) is around 1000 Euros
+Which islands can you visit starting from Athens?
The 2 major regions that can be visited when beginning your trip from Athens are the Cyclades and Saronic Gulf.
In the Cyclades one can expect little white washed homes, churches, and blue window frames all authentic to Cyclades architecture. All known for their excellent beaches, cuisines, as well as rich history and culture, a region which includes islands such as Mykonos, Paros, and Milos. This region is also known for its erratic weather and high winds.
On the other hand we have the Saronic Islands with their own unique culture— more European in appearance, amazing food, and rich with sites to visit and explore. When weather can be a challenge, the Saronic offers the advantage of less sailing hours from one island to the other, as well as much calmer seas.
Regarding your itinerary we offer a fully customizable sailing cruise. We plan a route according to our guests preferences (meaning how familiar they are with sailing, the type of vacation they seek, how many hours they would enjoy sailing per day, if they love sightseeing and many others) and according to the weather as well at the time of your arrival-we would never take our guests somewhere that would be unpleasant due to the weather conditions. In general we try to provide vacation that is pleasant, relaxing and an experience to remember. Therefore we encourage you to share with us some of your preferences and we would propose a tailor made trip based on our professional knowledge.
+How does weather affect the itinerary?
The most important factor to take into consideration during this type of vacation is level of wind present at the time of your arrival. For this reason Athens is an ideal location to begin your cruise, allowing you to alter and plan your itinerary according to weather forecast during your vacation. Allowing you to head towards the Cyclades if the weather is nice, or visit the hidden gems of the Saronic, which are equally beautiful when you are visiting with a boat. Traveling when the seas are rough can lead to an unpleasant experience which is why we also advise our guests to plan their itinerary upon the day of their arrival. Allowing for a better understanding of the weather conditions present during their trip.
Your crew will play a key role in helping to shape your trip. Not only are they dedicated sailing professionals but also your hosts on the Greek Islands. They can share the best places to explore, dine, and adventure - working with you to customize your experience accordingly. And of course your comfort and safety are always their number one priority.
+Would you recommend hiring a boat from one of the islands of the Cyclades?
We would not recommend hiring a boat from one of the islands of the Cyclades, the reason being these types of trips are highly weather dependant and the Cyclades can be quite windy at times.
Athens however can give you the potential to plan according to the weather, meaning either head towards the Cyclades if the weather is nice or visit the hidden gems of the Saronic, which are equally beautiful when you are visiting with a boat.
In addition, please keep in mind that reaching the islands of the Cyclades with a ferry is not so easy in practice as it may be as an idea. Meaning that in order for someone to pick up a boat in Syros for example, he/she would need to arrive in Athens, take a taxi, head to the port to get into the ferry with all luggage and still reach Syros after many hours compared to his initial arrival in Athens airport.
+Where do your cruises start and where do they return?
All our cruises begin from and return to Alimos Marina which is located just 30 minutes away from the Athens International Airport. We are also located in close proximity to the city center for anyone who wants to explore the town or see the many sights available in the area.
+What happens if it is very windy upon arrival?
The advantage of beginning your cruise in Athens, is the opportunity to chart your course according to the weather even when certain areas might have high winds present. Your crew will play a key role in helping to shape your trip. Not only are they dedicated sailing professionals but also your hosts on the Greek Islands. They can share the best places to explore working with you to customize your experience accordingly. And of course your comfort and safety are always their number one priority.
+I have a friend that arrives a day later can he join the trip?
This is definetly a possibility, however it would be completly up to your discretion how you would want to proceed. You can be in cooperation with your captain in order to plan a suitable meeting spot for your friend to join the rest of the crew.
+When do we plan the itinerary? Can we do it prior to our arrival?
Planning an itinerary prior to your arrival is not an easy task. The reason is that the weather plays a significant role on the overall outcome. It would be good to share with us some of your preferences and we along with your captain will do the rest in order to result a great vacation experience. I understand that there are hundreds of companies out there that promise everything however this is not the way we do business. We would like to be honest in order to meet and exceed your expectations upon arrival:)
+Are the times listed on your sample itinerary calculated using the sails or the engine?
We have calculated the sailing times according to an average pace either using the sails or the engine. This practically means that if the wind is on our side you can perform a little faster while if the wind is not so strong (or there is no wind) you would eventually motor. Of course, there is the chance to do both simultaneously in case the wind is not so strong to speed up the yacht to pleasant performance. The times you see in our sample itineraries are realistic and cannot be altered to a great extend to our opinion.
+Do we sail out on the first day?
We do our best for our yachts to be ready around 14.00 and you are more than welcome to visit us in our base at Alimos marina at that time. If you have ordered a provisioning list then all of your provisioning will have already been placed on the yacht. Once you are onboard your skipper will welcome you and familiarize you with the yacht and accommodation. The safety briefing to follow is very important and your skipper will give you safety instructions in order for your trip to be super safe. Afterwards you discuss with him all possible routes and planning regarding your trip, according to your preferences and the weather at the time of your arrival.
That’s it! You start sailing immediately and after some hours you will be swimming to the first bay according to your desired plan.
+When we sail, are we out in the ocean or we can see land?
Most of the time land will be present in the surrounding areas during your sail. It is more of a coastal cruising. There are some cases where you will be out in open sea however most times you are near land
+Can we visit Santorini within a weekly cruise?
Santorini is located 140 miles away from Athens and therefore is quite far to be reached within a week. The meaning of yachting vacation in the Greek islands is to be pleasant and relaxing as well. In order to reach Santorini you would end up sailing many hours per day and we do not consider such a trip as pleasant to be completed in one week. I understand that you want to visit (and you should) this beautiful island but again I would like to mention that this is an island to be visited with a ferry and not with a yacht. In practice, it would be quite hard to enter Santorini marina (that is in the southern part of the island and always so packed and you would need a 40 min drive with a taxi to reach the city). True magic of Santorini lies on the island to our opinion. When it comes to yachting vacation there are equally beautiful islands that someone can visit and experience the real off-the-beaten-track Greek culture and beauty.
I understand that many agents would present everything easy and beautiful but at the end of the day you would face a different plan from the one you are presented initially (in order for you to book with the one who says everything is nice and beautiful). This is not the way however we try to do business.
Our suggestion would be: once you have finished your sailing cruise you could consider visiting Santorini either with a plane (30 min flight, prices around 55-75 Euros/person if you book early) OR take the ferry (4-5 hours cruising prices 45-65 Euros/person). You can spend a couple of days in this wonderful island and this would be a way to see the most of true Greece within 9 days’ time.
+What is the furthest island a sailing yacht can reach during your cruise?
There is no limitation in terms of distance when it comes to our sailing cruises. You can go as far as you wish. However, you need to keep in mind that it all comes down on how many hours you would like to sail per day. I understand that when you see the distance on a map this rather looks closer than the actual effort it takes to reach. For example, for Santorini that most of you are probably interested it takes 17 hours to reach and another 17 to return. This as you can imagine is a lot of distance to be covered in a week therefore we do not suggest it. For us a daily sailing time in order to be pleasant and according to the experience of the guests would be from 2.5 to 5-6 hours per day. Of course, this covers a general idea and it would depend on the weather conditions, passengers experience and mood etc. Our advice is to concentrate on the things that you see, the inspiration that you get from the place that you are and don’t focus on the photo you might have seen on the web.
+Do people get seasick very often?
This is not a common issue, but if does arise is easily resolved and remedied.
+I get easily seasick, is this type of vacation for me?
Of course your comfort and safety are always our number one priority. From our experience over the years it shouldnt be a problem, and we should be able to remedy or avoid any type of such negative experiences. A key element to avoid getting seasick is the itinerary planning and setting a course to calmer seas!
+We see a lot of islands on the map and want to see all in one week is this possible?
Greece has more than 2000 islands, as you can imagine it would be impossible to see everything in one week! Our friendly advice would be not to get into this rush of seeing the more possible. This will be made eventually, however our suggestion would be to concentrate on the beauty of the location where you are, live the moment (rather than thinking where to go next) and relax! We will help you, setup an itinerary where you will get the most out of your sailing cruise and enjoy the Greek islands. Of course, each one of u is unique and our preferences differ, this is why our sailing cruises are totally customizable so to fit to the pace each one of us prefers the most.
+Can we stop along the way to scuba dive?
Seeing as you have selected a fully customized style of vacation this is definitely a possibility during your cruise of the Greek Islands. Almost every island will have a diving center available which could offer recommended diving spots and advice when needed.
+Can you arrange for us a land excursion in the islands?
Although we are not tour operators the option is available, and you will also have the indepth experience of your captain and hostess who may offer their suggestions for excursions or possibly be able to arrange on your behalf.
+We want to see Mykonos and Santorini within 1 week. Is this possible?
Not an option that would be possible during a week trip. You need to keep in mind that it all comes down on how many hours you would like to sail per day. I understand that when you see the distance on a map this rather looks closer than the actual effort it takes to reach. For example, for Santorini that most of you are probably interested it takes 17 hours to reach and another 17 to return. This as you can imagine is a lot of distance to be covered in a week therefore we do not suggest it. For us a daily sailing time in order to be pleasant and according to the experience of the guests would be from 2.5 to 5-6 hours per day. Please see our dedicated section for a trip that would include Santorini
+Is it possible to stay on an island for more than one day?
Of course this is possible, and seeing as you have selected a vacation style which has the ability to adapt to your desires and preferences you may decide to stay as long as you like in any preferred location. Whether that be a secluded bay, island, or port.
+How much time do we have to explore the islands?
Seing as this is a fully customized stye of vacation, this would be completely up to you and the rest of the guests present during your cruise.
+What are your suggestions for a successful itinerary planning?
Seeing as these types of trips are weather dependant we would advise planning your itinerary upon your arrival. Your crew will play a key role in helping to shape your trip. Not only are they dedicated sailing professionals but also your hosts on the Greek Islands. They can share the best places to explore, dine, and adventure - working with you to customize your experience accordingly. And of course your comfort and safety are always their number one priority.
Setting a comfortable pace/hours of sailing per day is another key factor for a successful sailing trip. Islands may appear close when viewing them on a map but winds and other factors can make this deceiving. Your captain can help you craft an itinerary that will maximize your time seeing the things you wish to see while striking a balance with your sailing, always having as a main focus an overall pleasant experience. Our friendly suggestion would be to focus on enjoying yourself and savoring the moment when exploring the beautiful locations our lovely country has to offer. Rather than stressing to reach as many islands as possible or putting stress on your itinerary to reach specific and long distance locations.
+What happens if we cannot find a place in a port of an island?
All our captains are experts in finding suitable areas to anchor on the islands. As well as the islands having numerous ports available to those struggling to find a spot in the busier locations. If all else fails you always have the option of using your dinghy to get to land.
+How do we practically get on the islands?
You may access the islands from the ports available for docking, or choose to use your dighny to approach land.
+Is it possible to overnight away from port?
Of course! and you will be spoilt for options when it come to docking in enchanted bays and secluded private areas in the beautiful Greek Seas.
+Can we snorkel to the places we anchor?
Absolutely, you will find snorkeling equipment available onboard as well as flippers and masks. Allowing you to enjoy exploring the absolutely gorgeous and pristine waters the Greek Islands have to offer.
Packing & Travel
+What type of luggage should we use? Is there a limitation?
As you can imagine storage on a yacht is limited. It would be good to pack light and ideally to have a soft luggage that can be stored easier onboard.
However there is no limitation when it comes to your luggage. We can give you the option to unpack your things out of the suitcase and into the boat, while we will store your luggage in our warehouse. Upon arrival the following Friday evening we will bring you back your suitcases and you can pack again and you will be ready for disembarkation the following morning.
+Is there anything that we should plan on bringing that people forget?
Every boat is fully equipped for charter. Apart from provisioning, you only need to bring your personal possessions/medications and some recommended items.
Yacht charter is generally an informal and relaxed kind of holiday and dressing in Greece is casual. For clothing bring bathing suits, cotton shorts, T-shirts, an extra sweater and long cotton pants for cool nights and a light full-weather gear for the occasional rainy days. Of course, you might also like to have the option for more formal attire for elegant dining and evening wear. Rubber-sole shoes for a firm grip on slippery decks, to prevent foot injury and to protect the boat's surface is always recommended. Soft luggage instead of bulky space-consuming suitcases is a must since on board storage may be limited. Do bring your own sun block, sunglasses with an anti-ultraviolet coating,a good sun hat, your own beach towels, a beach umbrella and perhaps a 12v mobile phone charger.
We would suggest you to have a look to this link:
http://yachtsailing.gr/blog/articles/sailing-packing-checklist/
+Should I bring with me an adapter to connect to an AC outlet?
All of the boats are equipped with European outlets (220V). We can provide adapters for all kinds of devices. You do not have to bring your own. Guests arriving from the US should check if their device is compatible with this voltage (220V).
+How easy it is to find a laundry in the islands?
Very easy! Just let your captain know and he will advise on where to find the closest laundry facility in the next island along the way.
+Are there ATMs in the islands?
Yes of course. In most of the islands you will find an ATM and withdraw as much cash as you require. There is no limitation, you may withdraw exactly according to the limit you have with your bank.
+How much cash do I need to have with me? Can I pay with credit card?
You do not need to carry a big amount of cash with you, as in most places you may pay with credit/debit card. There are some places however that you would need cash so it would be good to have an amount that you can use. If you run out of cash you could always withdraw from one of the islands ATM'S.
+Can I use a hair dryer onboard?
Yes of course. However please note that in some options you may use the hairdryer at all times (bigger mono-hulls and catamarans), while in smaller options you may use it when you are connected in shore power only
+Can I use my credit card to pay for the fuel upon my return?
Yes of course. All types of cards are accepted. You pay directly to the fuel service of the marina
General Questions on costs
+Are prices listed per person or for the whole boat?
Prices listed online refer to the whole boat and not per person!
+Are prices listed per day or per week?
Prices listed refer to the cost of the whole week and not per day:)
+What are the extra costs we should expect apart from the yacht price?
If you have selected a fully crewed option then the crew (captain, cook and deckhand) are included in the price you have secured.
The extra fees associated with the type of trips are:
- The VAT (currently 12% of the charter price)
- The fuel for the whole week would vary according to the weather but for catamarans would be around 500 liters (you take full you refill upon return) around 1000 Euros for the whole week
- The running expenses of the boat (that would be minor) for example cost of the marinas around 30 -50 Euros in ports
- The provisioning (in other words your food) which depends on the groups preferences
For 2023 the fully crewed options are the Lagoon 52 Royal Flush and Queen of Diamonds. All other options are offered through a skipper/hostess setup answers of which you may get on the skippered Q&A section (and not on fully crewed)
+How does it work with the fuel? How do we know how much we used?
Very simple, just like a rental car. You get onboard and the fuel tank is full. Upon your arrival there is a diesel track from the marina that refills the boat and you pay them directly (payment is possible with credit card as well). So, you start with full tank and you refill upon arrival.
Please note that fuel consumption varies from one boat to the other, if there is one or two engines, if you have a generator onboard and you will be using air conditioning, the weather at the time of your arrival etc. You may ask more information regarding the estimate regarding the specific boat you are interested in
+Is there any other tax we should consider?
The only tax is the VAT (currently 12% of the boat value)
+Are the yachts insured?
Yes of course, all our yachts are insured
+Is there a travel insurance you recommend us to buy?
We do not recommend a specific travel insurance provider. Each country has different benefits according to the country of the customer to be insured. We suggest for all of our guests to get a trip cancellation insurance. In an unfortunate event that you are not able to visit Greece, you will have the chance to get a refund by the insurance agency according to the selected insurance conditions. Trip cancellations are not insured by us and we cannot offer this insurance (since we are not insurance agency). We can provide however any documentation that may be required by your insurance agency for you to insure your sailing trip.
+What is you cancellation policy?
Any change in dates, destination or yacht type is considered a cancellation.
We recommend trip cancellation insurance.
Cancellations received up to 60 days before the trip are not refundable unless the yacht can rebooked and are subject to a fee. Cancellations inside of 60 days are non-refundable.
General questions on our services
+Can we rent only 1 cabin? (Do you offer cabin charters?)
We offer only private sailing cruises (meaning we do not combine groups). What you could consider is selecting one of our smaller options in order for the cost to be affordable in case there will be just 2 guests onboard
+Can we sail for 3 days? (Do you offer trips shorter than a week?)
Not really. We operate on a weekly basis starting on Saturday. Honestly, we feel that for the vacation experience to be pleasant you would require a minimum of 5 days thus we offer trips that are either weekly, 2 weeks, 3 weeks etc.
+Can I sail for a week but start on a Wednesday? (Do you only start on Saturdays?)
We operate on a Saturday to Saturday basis. We start on Saturdays in order to take advantage our economies of scale and be able to offer a competitive options for our guests. Midweeks are not possible but please do send us your request and we can see if there is something available to fit your dates
+When can we expect to get onboard on Saturday and when is disembarkation?
Regarding fully crewed trips the yachts to be ready around 16.00 and you are more than welcome to visit us in our base at Alimos marina at that time. Once you get onboard your captain will inform you regarding the safety briefing and you may set sail right afterwards.
After some hours you will be swimming to the first bay according to your desired plan.
Our fully crewed options return in the marina in the morning of the next Saturday. This way you have the chance to gain an extra night in one of your favorite islands/bays
+Children and safety onboard a yacht
Yachting vacation is considered for us the best family vacation. Kids have the chance to experience sea, come closer to real nature and enjoy the summer like no other type of vacation can offer. It is crucial for the parents to be aware that as everywhere else you need to be responsible for children onboard meaning for example how far are they allowed to go with a water toy, how and if can they dive from the yacht into the sea, how good can they swim once the yacht is anchored etc. For us safety comes first so we always suggest to the parents to keep an extra eye on the children during their yachting vacation. For us the highest priority during your sailing cruise is your safety and this is the reason until today we only have successful cruises on this end.
Captains
+When do you assign the skipper for our trip?
One of the main benefits of a fully crewed option is that the captain is permanent throughout the year on the particular option
+Where can I see information on the captain of a particular fully crewed option?
Very easy, just let us know the option you have in mind and we are happy to send you a crew profile of the whole crew
+Based on which criteria, you select the skipper for our group?
Matching a skipper's profile with the profile of the group is not an easy task:) Most companies just assign a skipper regardless of the group's profile. We, on the other hand, believe that a good matching is a very important element in the success of a sailing cruise. This as you can imagine is not always possible since there are different groups, personalities and last minute bookings. In principle all of our captains have equal and same characteristics, they are very easy going and flexible with all guests. However we do our best to match them accordingly. For example we would match differently a family with kids onboard compared to a group of teenagers who would be looking to party. Smoking or non smoking is again another characteristic we take under consideration. We would check if the guests would like to get involved in sailing, if they would like to learn the basics of sailing, if they would prefer to relax, which area they would prefer sailing to, if they prefer staying on anchor, their age, how many would be in total in their group, where are they from (in terms of the language they speak) and nation characteristics and some additional details that would allow us to find the best skipper for you!
+Where does the crew sleep?
The crew has a separate cabin and head/toilet to use during a fully crewed charter
+How does it work with the food of the crew?
In fully crewed trips the crew is responsible for their food provisioning
+Should we tip the crew? Is it obligatory?
Tipping it is something that is very common in fully crewed trips.
If you feel that your captain has put together a puzzle of a great vacation experience then a tip is common and expected to range in the area of 10 - 15% of the charter fee.
+How many hours is the skipper working per day?
As you can imagine the skipper is mentally working 24/7 when you are at sea. However he needs to rest as well in order for him to be able to have energy for the days to follow. Although you will never hear our captains complain for being tired normally we calculate an 6-7 hour basis for him to sail / day. This when we are at sea cannot be so fixed and accurate. For example this does not mean that if you are close to reaching an island he will stop navigating the boat and go to sleep because his shift has ended:) His first priority is your safety and the boat safety to follow. He will be available for everyone at all times and make sure you will have a safe and pleasant journey.