Yacht Charter Types

There are three yacht charter types: bareboat, skippered and crewed. What does this mean? A bareboat yacht charter comes without a crew, with a skippered yacht charter you rent both a boat and a skipper, and you get a fully crewed yacht with a crewed charter.

You can choose a bareboat charter if you are a licensed skipper. When chartering a yacht without a skipper, you will be obliged to have all the necessary certificates, permits and documents that prove you can sail on your own.

In essence, a bareboat charter is the basic option when considering yacht charter types. You will get a yacht with all the essentials to sail and nothing more, meaning you will receive a fully functioning yacht with a full reservoir of fuel, ropes, life jackets and similar necessities for sailing. Depending on the charter company and yacht's size/class that could mean that you will be receiving a yacht with a generator (for electricity production), air-conditioning, coffee machine, ice maker and similar.  

A bareboat charter makes an ideal boat charter type for destinations which provide you a significant number of shelters in case of bad weather and which have more favourable sailing conditions. The most of Mediterranean sailing destinations like Croatia, Greece, Italy, Spain, and others are, sailing condition-wise, ideal for a bareboat charter.

If you do not possess the necessary license to steer a vessel or are just into full relaxation mode, a skippered yacht charter type is the best option for you.  

Your charter company will provide you with a skipper who will steer the boat, decide on the route by your preferences, and keep you safe. Skippers are usually chosen not only for their sailing experience, but also for their people skills and local knowledge about the chosen sailing destination. Your skipper will not only steer the boat, but also show you some secrets of the trade if you are interested in sailing, and act as a kind of a tourist guide who will show you the best your sailing destination has to offer.  

A skippered yacht charter is an ideal boat charter type for non-experienced sailors and the rough offshore conditions on some sailing destinations located on the North Sea, the Atlantic and the Caribbean. In any other occasion when you would like to have a professional behind the helm while you relax on a yacht, a skippered yacht charter is a superb solution.

If you want maximum comfort and relaxation, opt for a crewed charter. By choosing a crewed charter, you also get a crew who will navigate, sail and prepare beverages and meals. In most cases, you can expect this on yachts with the maximum length of 25 meters, where on larger boats the number of crew members could be significantly larger.  

You are free to decide on the itinerary, whereas the crew takes you wherever you want and provides you with three meals a day. Meals they prepare are of the highest quality and reflect the local cuisine.  

Note that crewed charter yachts tend to be more luxurious and have additional equipment like water skis or A/C. This yacht charter type and the crew will take care of your safety and your comfort. You should treat them with respect and think of them as they are – professionals trying to make your stay as pleasant as possible.

A cabin charter is a type of yacht charter that allows you to rent only a cabin instead of the entire yacht. It's an excellent option if you want to go sailing, but don't have a large enough group to rent an entire yacht.  

Another reason to choose a cabin charter could be the price, as it's usually a much cheaper option than chartering an entire yacht. However, the price of a cabin charter depends on the specific program. Cabins can be rented for individuals, couples, or small groups. The most common type of cabin charter is on gulets, but it's also possible to do it on sailboats and catamarans. Cabin charters on catamarans are particularly popular in the Caribbean.