Private Yacht Charter
"Sailing Yacht Charters,
just for you!"

A private yacht charter is where you book a whole yacht, just for you and your fellow guests. It’s not a flotilla, and you don’t need to share it with anybody else. It’s the perfect way for couples, groups of friends and families to enjoy all the rewards of sailing and exploring the crystal clear waters, majestic islands, fun-filled and historical towns, endless bays, anchorages and coves, and more – all from the comfort and luxury of your very own sea-faring, floating private hotel.

We’ve all stayed in hotels, villas, and luxury resorts worldwide enjoyed all the treats involved and returned to the same location each day. Sailing vacations and yacht charters offer something different. The ability to visit new destinations each day, be they breathtaking Mediterranean islands, mystical Caribbean beaches or tropical paradise of the Pacific and the Indian Ocean.

49914717_10213648041141511_6838225059270623232_n - Copy.jpg

Wake up each morning in a calm, serene bay with mouth-watering landscapes, take a morning dip or paddleboard to the beach before enjoying a soothing and relaxing sail to another jaw-dropping lunchtime anchorage – secret caves, pristine white-sandy beaches, or a plush beach restaurant, But your day doesn’t end there! You still have to arrive at your overnight destination – a historical fortress town such as Hvar in Croatia, a legendary port town for fine dining and cocktails such as Porto Cervo, Sardinia, or castaway-esque beach BBQ at Tobago Cays, the Grenadines.

The world is your oyster, and the possibilities are endless! One of our most featured post-trip comments for those sailing for the first time is, “Why haven’t we been doing sailing trips the whole time?”. Hindsight is a beautiful thing, but it’s not too late to start a new story of unforgettable, dream yacht charters worldwide. We challenge you to tell us we are wrong… and we’ll be seeing you on that long list!

Are Sailing Trips Expensive?

Sailing and yacht charters CAN be expensive, but skiing trips, beach resort vacations, and even a coastal getaway back home can also break the bank! There are options for all occasions, group sizes and levels of affordability… and we exist to open that door for you and show you how and why this is true.

It doesn’t matter if you are sailing on a traditional, 35-foot sailing yacht or a luxury megayacht. Once you are on board, you can access the same magnificent beaches, fun-filled towns, bays, anchorages and everything else as any other yacht. Yes, parking your yacht at the front of town might be expensive, but you can anchor in the bay or take a mooring buoy and dinghy into town, or stay at a different dock or marina just around the corner.

So, if you have a budget you need to stick to, we can help you not just find the best-suited and most affordable yacht charter for your requirements, but we can guide, advise and plan your sailing itinerary to enjoy and explore everything that you want to see, and experience.

But I Don't Know How To Sail?

No prior experience is necessary. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve spent time at sea and know the ropes but don’t have a sailing licence, or you’ve never been on the water before – it doesn’t matter.

Every yacht charter has the option to hire a professional Captain and even a professional Hostess or Chef for the ultimate luxurious, catered experience onboard your dream sailing getaway.

Your Captain (and other crew) will live onboard, usually in separate ‘crew cabins’ found at the front of the yacht and outside the main interior accommodation where the living areas and guest cabins are.

Professional yacht crew are experts in understanding their clients, and this skill is as important as being qualified to operate the vessel. Some groups like to integrate their hired crew into their holiday – part of the family, so to speak -, whereas others simply want their professional services and otherwise maintain a professional distance.

Either option is fine and can be determined before your departure or at the initial introduction and briefing once you board your yacht. Client satisfaction and exceeding expectations is top of the priority list for all professional yacht crew. After all, their reputation, feedback and potential gratuity at the end of your time together is everything to them.

The cost of hiring a yacht charter Captain or Chef will depend on several factors, including their level of experience and expertise, the yacht's size, and the charter's length. Yacht Crew who have a lot of experience and are in high demand may charge more for their services than captains who are just starting out or have less experience.

Depending on the circumstances, you can generally expect to pay anywhere from a few hundred dollars/euros per day for a yacht charter quality Captain or Chef. Some yacht charter companies may include the yacht crew costs in the overall price, while others may charge for their services separately.

Getting a quote from a yacht charter company or the yacht crew themselves is always a good idea to understand better the costs involved. When planning your yacht charter and preparing suitable yacht charter options, Pristine Yachting will provide you with any fixed or guidelines prices that can be factored into your total charter cost. We’ll also include any additional fees or expenses that may not be included in the initial quote.

For Private Yacht Charters, prices vary depending on the region, yacht size and charter company. However, check out our average price guidelines below;

CAPTAIN

USD: $300 per day or $2,100 per 7 days
GBP: £220 per day or £1,540 per 7 days
EURO: €250 per day or €1,750 per 7 days

CHEF

USD: $220 per day or $1,540 per 7 days
GBP: £150 per day or £1,050 per 7 days
EURO: €180 per day or €1,260 per 7 days

For Crewed Yachts and Luxury Crewed Charters, the crew costs are mostly included as part of the total charter cost. The crew who live permanently onboard are subject to long-term contracts with the charter providers and/or owners, and rather than receiving a ‘freelance’ daily rate, they are paid a fixed monthly salary.

Crew Hire: How much does it cost?

What’s Included?

This is an example list of what’s included on a chartered sailing yacht,
typically for 7 days (Saturday to Saturday):

Bed linen and towels
Kitchen and cooking appliances
A Welcome / Starter package
Onboard yacht equipment and safety gear
A dinghy/rib with an outboard engine
Snorkelling masks and fins
A full tank of yacht diesel and outboard motor fuel
A full tank of fresh water (refillable, drinkable)
End of the week cleaning
Taxes and handling
Yacht Insurance

What’s Not Included?

Captain or Chef Hire (see ‘Crewed Yacht Charters’ page for All-Inclusive trips that include crew as part of the package)

Provisioning: Food and drinks.
End of week refill of yacht diesel and outboard motor fuel.
Beach towels & Spare Linen (Usually an optional extra)
Watersports equipment includes Paddleboards, Kayaks, Scuba Gear, Sea Scooters, and Floaties.
Security Deposit (refundable amount paid by Credit Card to cover damages to the yacht, like hiring a car. Not required with a hired Captain).
Yacht Charter Deposit Insurance (to reclaim lost amounts due to damage from the Security Deposit).
Marina and port visit fees.
Flights.
Transfers (available as an optional extra).
Excursions and on-shore activities.
Early Check-in (available as an optional extra).

Insurance: What do I need?

There are a few different insurance policies that relate to your planned yacht charter, so here’s a breakdown;

Every yacht is insured by the yacht owner and/or charter operator, a legal requirement of all sea-faring vessels – especially commercial. However, this doesn’t cover personal captains’ liability and a pre-paid Security Deposit.

Security Deposit

In the same way, as you hire a car, you, as the primary booker of your charter yacht, will be expected to pay by credit card or arrival a pre-agreed and advertised Security Deposit amount. The deposit amount can range from 2000 EURO to 6000 EURO, for example, depending on the size of the vessel. The deposit will be used to recover any damages to the yacht, such as bumps and scrapes, collisions, running aground, or interior furniture and equipment damage. There is a safety margin, such as little dinks and minor scrapes will be considered acceptable.

Security Deposit payments are NOT required when hiring a professional Captain.

Charter Deposit Insurance

Charter Deposit Insurance is your cover against any losses against your pre-paid Security Deposit. Typically, this can be obtained for just 200-300 EURO and is a worthwhile investment if you want to recover any potential losses from your Security Deposit.

Charter Deposit Insurance is NOT required when hiring a professional Captain.

Personal Skipper Liability

As the Captain of your vessel, you assume a large portion of the responsibility for the safety and welfare of your charter yacht and the passengers onboard. For example, suppose you are liable for damages to another yacht, landmark, a passenger onboard or a fellow citizen not on your crew list, and you are considered liable due to negligence. In that case, etc. – you could be liable. This is where personal liability insurance comes in, and all professional Captains’ will obtain their insurance as a mandatory legal requirement.

Personal Skipper Liability Insurance is NOT required when hiring a professional Captain.

Travel Insurance

As with any vacation abroad, it is of the utmost importance to ensure you are covered before you travel to your destination. Spending time at sea and onboard sailing vessels brings its inherent risks, and you want to make sure you’re covered. Most standard travel insurance companies cover pleasure cruising up to 12 miles off-shore. So, unless you plan to cross the Adriatic from Croatia to Italy or any other sailing trip other than island hopping, one of the many popular sailing destinations, you shouldn’t need to worry about attaching any additional sports cover.

The Different Ways To Yacht charter

Private Charter

Be your own Captain or hire a crew separately. Yacht charters just for you!

Find Out More
Luxury Crewed Charter

The ultimate, all-inclusive yacht charter experience with a Captain and Chef!

Find Out More
By-The-Cabin Charter

Book your own private, en-suite cabin on a shared yacht with other like-minded travellers!

Find Out More
Special Occasions

Celebrate special occasions of all types in style, with a beautiful yacht charter!

Find Out More
Day Charters

Enjoy a day out on the water with your friends and family, in paradise!

Find Out More
Affordable Sailing

Think yachting is too expensive? Find out more about charters for all budget types!

Find Out More