Frequently asked
questions.

Sailing yacht if at least one person on board wants the feel of sailing — the heel, the trim, the small daily decisions a monohull asks of the skipper. Catamaran if comfort is the priority — flat deck even under sail, two saloons of usable living space, a galley that works at anchor and underway, and a draft shallow enough to anchor closer to shore than a monohull ever could. Most catamarans run two engines and rarely heel beyond about five degrees, which is why families with first-time guests and groups with mixed sailing confidence book them by default. For the same weekly budget you tend to get one boat-length less on a cat than on a monohull, so the trade is space against price.

Three ways, all of which land in the same broker desk in Split:

• Online wizard — pick dates, country and crew size on the boat-finder. We come back inside a business day with a shortlist of three to five matched yachts.
• Phone or email — describe the trip in your own words to +385 91 300 0009 or info@europe-yachts.com. Most quotes go out the same afternoon.
• Direct yacht request — already saw a specific yacht on our site? Click "Request offer" on the boat page and the option lands with the broker who covers that base.

Once you choose a yacht we place a 24- to 72-hour hold while you confirm flights, crew list and any skipper paperwork. The boat is locked the moment the first instalment lands — 30%, 40% or 50% of the total depending on the partner's terms, or the full amount if the charter starts inside 60 days. Bank transfer and Visa/Mastercard/Amex both work; every payment is covered by Wiener Insurance Group at no extra cost.

Inside the first 72 hours after booking, you can still cancel free of charge — full refund, no questions asked.

Sailing yacht, catamaran, gulet and motor boat charters typically start and end on Saturdays.

However, should you wish to take a several-days-long sailing trip in the off-season (October – April), this can be organised and the price is then calculated according to the number of days spent on board.

During the high-season (June, July and August, as well as the beginning of September and the end of May), we cannot deviate from the weekly charter system (Saturday – Saturday), since these are the busiest months for the charter companies and most weeks are sold out well in advance — the price is unlikely to be flexible and you would usually be charged for a full week of charter.

If you have enough electricity, water and food, you can spend the night in one of the numerous, well secluded bays along the Adriatic coast. If using the services of a skipper, you won't have any problems finding the securest bays, since the skippers are well acquainted with the Adriatic region.

If navigating a vessel on your own, please feel free to contact us for help – we'll gladly give you our suggestions about the safe bays in the maritime zone where you go sailing. You could also ask the personnel of the charter agency for some suggestions during your check-in procedure in the marina.

Across our main charter areas — Croatia, Greece, Italy and Spain — services are priced in Euros. Türkiye uses the Turkish Lira locally, though marinas and many provisioning shops also accept Euros and major credit cards.

Marina fees can usually be paid by card or in Euros; the exact policy depends on the marina and is best confirmed in advance with the harbour office.

Restaurants, shops and supermarkets across all five countries widely accept Visa, Mastercard and Maestro. American Express acceptance is more limited — keep some cash or a Visa/Mastercard for smaller harbours and konobas.

If having reserved a vessel through our website, please check the additional information on vessel equipment for every single boat in our offer. Should you need any further assistance, just contact us and we'll send you a document quoting all the equipment on your chosen boat.

All boats in our offer have safety and navigation equipment as well as navigation maps.

Bed linen — fitted sheets, blankets, pillowcases — comes standard on every yacht across all five EY charter countries (Croatia, Greece, Italy, Spain, Türkiye). Bath towels are NOT standard on most partners' inventory; assume you bring your own beach + bathroom towels unless the broker confirms the partner's "premium pack" includes them (extra fee, typically €5–15 per person).

Galley is equipped with cooker (gas or electric, depending on boat), oven, fridge, sink, full set of cooking utensils, cutlery, plates, glasses and mugs to the registered berth count.

Cleaning agents, dish soap, sponges and rubbish bags are NOT provided. The marina supermarket at base stocks all of them — pick up at check-in before slipping the lines.

If you don't know which places to visit, please check some of our suggested routes and info on departure points of the vessels in our offer. We can also provide you with additional information about cultural sights, beaches, etc.

We will also send you our suggested tailor made itinerary on your request.

Children can go sailing with you from an early age – there is no age limit, however, their stay on board should be closely monitored by adults. Be sure to choose the safest cabin for a child (e.g. the front cabin) and a place for him/her to play (cockpit is a relatively safe place). You can also put a safety net along the sides of the boat and children should by all means wear life vests.

You should bring baby food along, since it cannot be bought in every supermarket within the marina. You should also consider choosing shorter routes and visiting marinas more frequently in order to provide safer berthing as well as comfort.

Unfortunately we don't offer any cabin charter service. We only offer full yacht charter.

Changes of the crew are possible – however, this should be indicated in advance, before embarkation, so as to make crew lists, on which the dates of changes as well information on people joining or leaving the crew will be specified. Our guests receive a blank crew list, which they fill in with the crew details both before and after the change (the date of the change should be indicated as well). The complete crew list can be sent to us via email or fax.

Before taking over the vessel, the charter agency will provide the guests with a verified crew list with data both before and after the change, which the guests need to have during the sailing trip.

If the crew suddenly changes during the cruise, without previous notice, the guests are obliged to contact the charter agency and inform them about the change in order for them to send the new verified crew list. The new list can then be sent via fax to the guests (to any place where they are at that moment).

In case of a control, the guests need to present the new crew list, although they are obliged to keep the old one as well.

Yes. We have partnered with Wiener Insurance Group to additionally insure every client payment sent to Europe Yachts — both bank wire transfers and credit card payments. The insurance covers your installment in the event of charter agency default, and applies automatically to all bookings processed through Europe Yachts at no extra cost to you.

72 hours after booking confirmation — free cancellation, full refund, no questions asked. Use this cooling-off window to align your crew, confirm flights and dates, and finalise any remaining details. Once the 72 hours have passed, the standard charter agency schedule applies.

After the 72-hour cooling-off period, any cancellation must be requested in writing (e-mail or post) and is subject to the following charges:

• Cancellation more than 45 days before the charter start date — 50% of the charter fee retained.
• Cancellation within 45 days of the charter start date — 100% of the charter fee retained.
• Cancellation after check-in — 100% retained, plus any costs incurred as a result of the cancellation.

If you find a replacement client for the same vessel and the same period under the same terms, we charge only the administrative and handling costs of the change.

In case of force majeure (death in the family, serious illness, war, civil unrest, strikes, terrorist activity, exceptional sanitary conditions, natural disasters, or interventions of local authorities), Europe Yachts is not liable to refund the paid amount, but we will work with the charter agency to issue a credit note that can be used for a charter on a comparable vessel in the same or the next season.

The standard yacht charter payment is split into two installments:

• First installment — 30%, 40% or 50% of the total charter fee, due within 5–7 days of the confirmed booking. The exact percentage depends on the charter agency and the lead time before the start date.
• Balance — the remaining 50%, 60% or 70%, due at the latest 30 to 60 days before the charter start date, depending on the partner's terms.

Bookings made within 60 days of the charter start date are paid in full at the time of booking.

We accept bank transfer and major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express). Every payment processed through Europe Yachts is additionally insured by Wiener Insurance Group at no extra cost.

The Security Deposit and the Transit Log / end-cleaning fee (where applicable) are settled separately at check-in, directly with the charter agency in the marina.

Included in the standard charter fee:

• Use of the vessel for the booked period
• Standard sailing and safety equipment (navigation, life jackets, flares, safety nets where required)
• Bed linen and pillows
• Kitchen equipment, basic galley utensils and cutlery
• Mandatory vessel insurance (third-party liability and hull)

Typically paid separately at check-in:

• Transit Log / end-cleaning — €150–€350 per week depending on yacht size and partner
• Security Deposit — refundable, typically €1,500–€5,000 for sailing yachts and catamarans, higher for motor and luxury yachts
• Fuel — the yacht is returned with the same fuel level as at check-in
• Mooring fees in marinas (anchoring in most public bays is free)
• Skipper, hostess or cook if hired separately for a bareboat charter
• Provisioning (food, drinks, supplies)

We send a full inclusive/exclusive breakdown with every individual offer so there are no surprises at check-in.

The Mediterranean yacht charter season runs from April through October, with three clear pricing tiers:

• Peak — late June through August. Hottest weather, busiest marinas, highest weekly rates. Catamarans and the most popular sailing yachts in Split, Athens / Saronic Gulf and the BVI sell out 6–9 months ahead.
• High shoulder — early June and the first half of September. Still warm and reliable, materially lower rates, fewer crowds. The sweet spot for couples and small groups.
• Off-peak — April–May and late September–October. Best value, long evenings still possible, but weather is more variable (Bora in the Adriatic in April, Meltemi softening in the Aegean in October).

Book 9–12 months out for July, August and the August 15 Italian holiday week. Three to four months out is usually fine for May and October departures.

Cross-border sailing is possible on many of our yachts but always needs to be declared in writing before booking. Each charter company has its own rules and required paperwork:

• Croatia ↔ Italy / Montenegro — most Croatian-flagged sail and catamaran charters allow it with prior approval, an additional border-clearance fee, and a crew-list amendment.
• Greece — domestic only on most Greek-flagged charters. Cross-border to Türkiye usually requires a different charter base or a crewed yacht with the appropriate licences.
• Italy ↔ France / Corsica — possible from Liguria and Sardinia bases with advance approval; Schengen rules apply for crew passports.
• Türkiye is generally a closed cruising area for Turkish-flagged charters. Cross-border into Greek waters requires a special transit log and tax documentation arranged ahead of time.

Tell us your intended itinerary at the offer stage and we will pre-check it with the relevant charter partner — saves time and avoids a refusal at check-in.

Check-in is typically Saturday between 17:00 and 18:00 at the home marina. Earlier embarkation depends on the previous charter's check-out and the marina turnover; we confirm the exact slot during the week before the charter.

What happens at check-in:

• The base manager walks you through the yacht — rigging, engine, navigation, safety equipment, fenders and lines, dinghy and outboard.
• The skipper of record signs the inventory list and the embarkation protocol.
• The Security Deposit and any extras (Transit Log, skipper, end-cleaning) are settled directly with the agency.
• The crew list is verified against passports / IDs and submitted to the harbour master.

Check-out is Saturday morning between 08:00 and 09:00. Many agencies prefer the yacht back at the base on Friday afternoon with an overnight on board — this makes Saturday morning faster. The yacht is inspected, fuel topped up, and the Security Deposit is released after a clean handover.

Once we receive your request, we will confirm the availability of the boat, as well as check for alternative ones. To ensure your experience is the best it can be, we may contact you to discuss your request in detail. Let us do the research for you – free of charge.

When chartering a crewed yacht under MYBA terms or special Europe Yacht Charter terms on the fully crewed yachts, you will be required to make a deposit in advance of the charter, which is separate to the charter or booking fee.

This deposit is called the "advance provisioning allowance" or APA. The APA amount is used to cover expenses incurred during the course of the charter such as fuel, food, beverages, mooring fees, visa fees, harbour fees, park fees, taxes, and other expenses not included in the Charter Fee. In the event of cancellation of the charter the APA is refundable.

The captain of the yacht is responsible for accounting for all APA expenses during the charter, and the breakdown will be presented to you in a clear manner at the end of the charter.

If the costs incurred during the course of the charter are less than the APA deposit, then the difference will be refunded to the Charterer at the end of the charter.

If the costs incurred during the course of the charter that are over and above the APA deposit then this difference will be payable by the Charterer at the end of the charter.

For more info and offer, contact us: Luxury Yacht Charter

You can get in touch with the skipper as soon as you've completed your booking.

Our skippers are highly qualified and knowledgeable about their locality. They all speak English. For a bareboat charter, the skipper is paid in the marina at check-in (on a crewed charter the crew is already included in the price).

The preference list is a short questionnaire the crew uses to plan provisioning, menus and on-board service before you board. It captures food and drink preferences for each guest (favourites, dislikes, dietary restrictions, allergies), dietary patterns (vegetarian, halal, gluten-free), preferred wines and spirits, coffee/tea routines, and any special-occasion notes (anniversaries, birthdays during the charter).

Please collect responses from every member of your party — partners, kids, friends travelling with you — so the galley is stocked for everyone, not just the lead charterer. The booking manager sends the form approximately four weeks before embarkation; completed forms come back two weeks before the charter so the crew has time to source items the marina chandlery does not carry.

In the event of a bareboat charter (without our skipper) the client skipper must be in possession of a certificate of competence in order to charter a boat. It is also a legal requirement for one member of the crew to be qualified for the operation with the VHF station (possessing the VHF license).

If you are not sure about the validity of your certificate, please check if it is listed here.

EY books across Croatia, Greece, Italy, Spain and Türkiye and each country runs its own validation list. Broad pattern:

• Croatia: RYA Day Skipper (Practical), ICC sail-coastal/yacht-coastal, US Sailing Bareboat Cruising, ASA 103/104, plus the Croatian "Voditelj brodice B/C" issued by harbour offices.
• Greece: RYA Day Skipper +, ICC, equivalent CYA/Greek national. Note: bareboat licence checks moved to a stricter regime in 2018 — captain AND co-skipper must hold separate documents.
• Italy: ICC accepted, plus national "Patente Nautica oltre le 12 miglia"; some partners require a notarised translation.
• Spain / Türkiye: ICC accepted plus national equivalents (Patrón de Embarcaciones de Recreo / Türkiye Amatör Denizci).

VHF Operator licence is obligatory across all five countries — separate document, not bundled with the sailing licence.

Send your licence + VHF certificate to the broker before signing the booking. Verification with the partner agency typically takes 24 hours; we flag any issue before the deposit lands.

In case you possess any kind of a sailing license please be sure to send it to us via email, so that we can check its validity with the charter agency as well as the Croatian or Greek authorities before chartering a vessel.

A license issued for navigating motor boats can be accepted valid if it is clearly indicated that it can be used for navigating sailing boats as well. By all means send us a copy via email, so that we can check its validity with local authorities.

If it is not indicated on a license that it is accepted for sailing boats, it can be upgraded. E.g. licenses issued in Italy can be used either for sailing boats only, or for motor boats only, or for both vessel types.

In order to hire a yacht in Croatia, Greece or Italy, the person navigating the boat has to be qualified for operating a vessel or a yacht, and must possess a necessary license, corresponding to Croatian, Greek or Italian rules and regulations.

The certificate can be obtained in client's mother country, in which case the client's picture, official stamp and verification of the state must be included on it. The other possibility is to take an exam in one of the Croatian, Greek or Italian port authorities – the certificate is obtained the same day. In case you opt for this, We will gladly help you in organizing the exam and will let you know all the necessary details on time (i.e. the price of the exam as well as the exact time when and the place where it takes place).

Skipper's services are paid separately from the charter fee. The guests are obliged to pay them (also those of a hostess or a cook) as well as food and drink for the skipper or the other crew members.

Mega-yachts and sailing boats exceeding certain length are chartered exclusively with the crew (provided by the vessel owner), in which case the crew expenses are included in the charter fee.

In most cases the skipper sleeps in the salon area or in the small cabin in front of the hull. However, it is strongly recommended to charter a bigger boat and provide the skipper with his own cabin. Since he is in charge of the day-to-day running of the yacht, as well as the security of people on board, he should be well-rested – apart from that, the guests will have more comfort and a free salon area to hang out.

Every vessel is registered for a certain number of people (the law does not allow this number to be exceeded) – if this number does not include a berth in the salon area, the skipper is required to have his own cabin.

Here is the example of all obligatory and optional costs for one of the sailing yachts and catamarans:

• SAILING YACHT / CATAMARAN / MOTOR BOATS:3,735.00 €
• Standard charter pack: 170.00 € (OBLIGATORY)
• Skipper: 1,050.00 € (OPTIONAL)
• Hostess: 910.00 € (OPTIONAL)

And here are some estimates expenses:

Fuel est.: 250 – 350 €
Mooring fees est.: 200 – 400 € Presuming that most of the nights will be on the anchor or mooring buoy. Some people will go entire week with only 150 € spent on mooring fees. It also depends on the weather. It is safer to be in marina if there is a storm.
Food: 450 €+ (provisions for boat + skipper) Please note that this does not include dinners in restaurants. Meals in restaurants are 15 € for pizza and soft drinks, while full meals are 25-35 € per person.

VAT is included in all the prices.

The vessels are returned to the base on Friday afternoon/evening with an overnight on board till Saturday morning between 8am and 9am, when the check-out procedure is done. At that time the guests should leave the boat, so that it can be cleaned and prepared for new guests.

The vessel can also be returned to the base on Saturday, but make sure it is before 8am, in order for guests to have enough time to fill the tank before leaving the vessel.

If you are arriving before the time determined for taking over the vessel (check-in is usually done at around 5pm), let us know the approximate time of your arrival and we will try to arrange with the charter agency to have the vessel delivered to you earlier, which is possible if it is not too crowded in the marina at that time.

In case you are arriving on Friday or earlier and need some help in finding suitable accommodation, please feel free to contact us.

Similarly to renting a car, chartering a boat requires a security deposit. The deposit, fully refundable after check-out, covers you and your fellow passengers against accidental damage and ensures that contractual obligations are met. The security deposit varies in value depending on the model and brand of the boat. It will be returned to you after the boat has been inspected and is deemed undamaged.

You can get in touch with the skipper as soon as you've completed your booking.

Our skippers are highly qualified and knowledgeable about their locality. They all speak English. For a bareboat charter, the skipper is paid in the marina at check-in (on a crewed charter the crew is already included in the price).

The Transit Log (sometimes called Pack, End Cleaning, or Crew Pack on partner invoices) is a fixed obligatory fee paid at check-in that bundles the recurring local costs the partner agency settles on your behalf. Typical line items: bed linen and end-of-charter cleaning, on-board Wi-Fi/SIM, tourist tax (Croatian Tourist Tax €1.33/person/night, Italian harbour tax variable), base marina overnight on day one, sometimes a dinghy outboard fuel allowance. The Transit Log amount varies by yacht size, country and partner — usually €150–€500 per booking. The broker shows the exact figure for your selected yacht on the quote before booking; nothing reconciled at check-out.