If you like the idea of renting a yacht but without having to helm it yourself, there are several companies offering crewed yacht charters around the globe.
(Photo: _dChris via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)
Offering the chance to sail the seven seas in style and comfort, yacht charters hold an allure quite unlike anything else. And while it’s possible to helm your own vessel with the right paperwork, having your own captain means you can enjoy the experience without worrying about a thing. Whether you’re keen to explore the waters of the Caribbean, Greece, BVI, Croatia, Mediterranean, or anywhere else, we’ve picked out three of the best companies for finding your ideal crewed yacht.
Ritzy
Ritzy have built an impressive network since entering the yacht charter market in 2012 and are particularly known for their crewed vessels. They offer almost 1,500 yachts across 35 destinations at varying price points, with their portfolio including everything from luxury motorboats, to catamarans, monohulls and modest sailers. Booking on the platform is easy, with users required to provide essential details about their trip, such as guest numbers, dates of travel, favoured itinerary, and special requests. They’re then sent a short list of yachts based on their bespoke request. Ritzy pride themselves on providing accurate and personalised attention to clients, presenting them with a tailored list of options that match their wishes. Once a charter is confirmed, Ritzy also apply a detailed procedure for understanding the client’s preferences in regards to food, drinks and activities – information that is then shared with the crew in advance.
Yachtco
Recommended for both crewed and bareboat charters, Yachtco are an intermediary who work with a network of local yacht charter companies in the Mediterranean. When we searched for available vessels across the region, we found a large number of more affordable yachts, with the cheapest option a 6-metre sailing boat with one cabin, priced at $729 per week, which can be rented out of Athens. For something more luxurious, they also had an impressive choice of bareboat and crewed catamaran charter deals, including an 11.5-metre catamaran with six cabins available crewed for $5,702 per week in Ibiza. If you send a booking request with your preferred dates of travel and other specifications, Yachtco pledge to get back to you with a quote within 24 hours.
SamBoat
A market leader in peer-to-peer boat rentals, SamBoat list over 5,000 vessels worldwide, including a huge choice of crewed options. To find the right one for you, simply search for your according to price, size, dates of travel and other requirements, then when you’ve found an available vessel that fits your criteria you send a booking request to the owner. If the request is accepted, you pay your rental online, with the amount deposited to the owner on the first day of your rental. When the day comes, you board the boat and make sure it corresponds to the descriptions before signing on the dotted line and embarking on your charter adventure.