Charter Type Comparison
Crewed vs Bareboat Yacht Charter Greece
Hire the boat, or hire the boat and the people who run it. The difference matters more than you'd think.
Last updated September 2026
Two charter formats for two different charterers
Best suited for
- Charterers who want the yacht run for them, by her own crew (crewed)
- First-time charterers with no sailing experience at all (crewed)
- Families and groups who want a chef aboard rather than a galley rota (crewed)
- Anything above 50 feet, where running her yourself stops being a holiday (crewed)
- Qualified sailors who want the boat and nothing else (bareboat, and not from us)
Side-by-side breakdown
Weekly base rate (50-foot sailing yacht): Bareboat €4-7K; Crewed €18-28K. Crew: Bareboat - none, you are the crew; Crewed - typically captain, chef, hostess (3 people minimum). Skipper qualification: Bareboat requires RYA Day Skipper or equivalent ICC; Crewed requires nothing from guests. Provisioning: Bareboat - you shop and cook; Crewed - chef shops, cooks, cleans. Fuel and dockage: Bareboat - you pay separately at each stop; Crewed - covered in APA. Yacht size available: Bareboat - typically 35 to 55 feet (some 60+); Crewed - 45 to 90+ feet, with most charter market 60-110 feet. Itinerary flexibility: Bareboat - total guest control, no captain to consult; Crewed - captain advises but follows guest preference. Insurance: Bareboat - guest assumes more risk; Crewed - captain on the contract reduces guest liability. Suitable for: Bareboat - sailing-experienced groups, families with sailing parents; Crewed - first-time charterers, UHNW families, large groups.
Notes from George
- If you can't sail, charter crewed. Bareboat without experience is dangerous and the bareboat fleet operators will not charter to you.
- RYA Day Skipper is the most common qualification. Greek charter operators usually accept it directly; ICC (International Certificate of Competence) is the EU standard.
- Bareboat in the Ionian is the gentlest learning ground in Greek waters. Sheltered, easy passages, good marina infrastructure.
- Crewed yachts above 30 metres include a chief stewardess who runs hospitality service. Below that, the hostess or captain's partner often doubles up.
- The cost difference between bareboat and crewed is real: a 7-night crewed charter for a family of 4 typically costs 4-5x the bareboat equivalent. Decide by what you actually want from the week.
Frequently asked
Questions we get about Crewed vs Bareboat Yacht Charter Greece
What qualifications do I need to bareboat charter?
Greek waters require RYA Day Skipper, ICC (International Certificate of Competence), or equivalent certification. For yachts above 24 metres, commercial endorsement is also needed. Bareboat operators will verify your certification before charter. Without certification, you cannot bareboat in Greek waters.
Is bareboat really cheaper than crewed?
Yes, by a wide margin: a bareboat week on the operators' rate cards is a fraction of a crewed one, where a 12 to 16 metre crewed catamaran starts at EUR 17,000 a week net base on the Greek Charter Index. The trade-off is that you do all the work: sailing, navigation, cooking, cleaning, anchoring, paperwork.
What if we want the boat with just a captain and nothing else?
Yes. Some bareboat operators provide a captain for hire (€800-1200/week) without the full crew. You still handle cooking, provisioning, and other logistics. This is the cheapest path for guests who lack qualification but want bareboat-level cost otherwise. We can coordinate.
Which is safer?
Both are safe with the right setup. Crewed charters are safer for inexperienced guests since the captain handles everything. Bareboat is safe for qualified sailors but assumes more direct responsibility. Insurance differs significantly; crewed contracts shift more risk to the operator.
Can I bareboat a yacht above 50 feet?
Yes, but the qualification requirements get stricter (RYA Yachtmaster Coastal or higher), insurance is more limited, and the boats are physically harder to handle short-handed. Most bareboat sailors above 50 feet hire at least a paid crew member for help. Above 60 feet, bareboat is rare; crewed is standard.
Charter crewed for 2027?
A personal reply from George, usually within a few hours.