How yacht charter works, from first idea to first swim.
If you have never chartered before, the process can look opaque from the outside. It is straightforward once someone walks you through it. This is that walk.
The idea
A private hotel that moves
A crewed charter gives you a yacht and her professional crew for a set period, most often a week. The captain is responsible for the vessel and your safety. The chef cooks to your tastes. The stewards and deckhands look after the cabins, the table, the tenders and the water toys. You decide where to go and how to spend the days.
Our part is everything around that: finding the right yacht for the people coming, laying out the true cost, handling the agreement, briefing the crew on your preferences, and arranging the flights and cars so you step from your front door to the passerelle without a gap.
Step by step
What happens, in order
- 01
The brief
Who is coming, when, and what a good day looks like for them: lively ports or empty bays, long lunches or water sports, young children or none.
- 02
The shortlist
A handful of yachts that fit, each with its layout, its crew, its full cost and our honest view of what it is like on board.
- 03
The agreement
A standard charter agreement, a deposit on signing and the balance with the running-costs advance before you sail.
- 04
The preference sheet
Food, wine, allergies, cabin allocations, celebrations, activities. The crew provision and plan against it.
Then the good part
From the quay onwards
- 01
Getting there
Flights and cars on the same itinerary as the yacht, timed to embarkation. Crew meet you at the quay and take the luggage.
- 02
Embarkation
Usually at midday. A welcome, a safety briefing from the captain, a tour of the yacht and a conversation about the route.
- 03
The week
The captain proposes each day and adjusts for weather and mood. Nothing is fixed except where you start and finish.
- 04
Disembarkation
Usually in the morning of the last day. The captain settles the running-costs account with you and your car is waiting.
Good to know before you start
What first-timers wish they had known
- Book early for July, August and the festive weeks. The best yachts and crews are taken many months ahead
- Most charter yachts can sleep no more than twelve guests, whatever their size. Larger parties need particular yachts or a second vessel
- The itinerary is yours to change, within the cruising area and what the weather allows
- A great crew matters more than an extra metre of length. We pay as much attention to the captain and chef as to the yacht
- Shoes come off on board, soft bags are easier to stow than hard cases, and the crew will tell you what else to bring
- Berths in famous ports during event weeks are scarce and must be requested well ahead
Which kind of yacht?
Three ways to be at sea
Motor yachts
Space, speed and stability, with the widest choice. The usual choice for a Mediterranean week.
Read more
Sailing yachts
Quieter passages and the pleasure of sailing, with the same standard of crew and comfort.
Read more
Catamarans
Stable, shallow draughted and generous on deck. Popular with families and in the Caribbean.
Read more
Request a proposal
Start with the brief
Tell us who is coming, roughly when and where you would like to be. Ten minutes on the phone afterwards is usually enough to produce a shortlist.
Prefer to talk? +44 2030 048300 or WhatsApp, at any hour.
Questions people ask
First-time questions
Do we need any sailing experience?
None. The yacht is run entirely by her professional crew.
Can we bring children?
Yes. Tell us their ages. Many yachts and crews are excellent with families, and some are better suited than others.
What if someone is seasick?
Modern motor yachts have stabilisers that work at anchor as well as under way, and the captain will plan short, calm passages. Tell us if it is a concern and we will choose the yacht and the route accordingly.
Is a week the minimum?
In high season most yachts prefer a week. Shorter charters are often possible outside peak weeks, and a day charter is a good way to try it.
Who do we call if something is not right during the week?
Us. You have one contact at Odyssey before and during the charter, and we are in touch with the captain throughout.
