Yacht Charter Glossary
Crewed Charter
Also known as: Fully Crewed Charter · Term Charter · Full Service Charter
Full explanation
On a crewed charter, the yacht arrives at your embarkation port with a full professional crew aboard.
The captain handles navigation, mooring, and the safety of the vessel.
The chef plans the menu in advance based on your preference sheet and cooks every meal.
Stewardesses serve, manage your cabins, and tend bar.
Deckhands operate tenders and water toys, dive lessons, fishing tackle. Crew sizes by yacht length (typical Greek-market 2026): 24–30m: 3–4 crew; 30–40m: 5–7 crew; 40–50m: 8–10 crew; 50–60m: 11–14 crew; 60m+: 15–25+ crew.
Above 50 metres you typically gain a dedicated purser, masseur, dive instructor, and second chef. What a crewed charter is NOT: it is not a hotel-on-water with rigid service.
The crew tailors every day to your preferences.
You set the itinerary at the morning briefing (or via preference sheet pre-charter), choose the menu, decide whether to anchor for swimming or push to the next port.
The captain advises on weather and routing but the guest principal directs. Crewed vs bareboat: crewed is the UHNW standard.
Bareboat (you skipper, no crew) is a different product targeting experienced sailors on small sailing yachts and catamarans, typically 40–55 feet.
A crewed superyacht and a bareboat are not in the same market.
Why it matters for UHNW charterers
Crewed chartering is what makes a yacht week feel like a luxury hotel without the constraints. UHNW buyers comparing 'yacht charter vs villa' usually find that a crewed yacht - with chef-quality food, full bar, and the ability to move between islands daily - at €150k/week is comparable to a five-star villa at €40k/week once you add catering, drivers, transfers, and staff.
Worked examples
Standard 7-night crewed charter, 35m motor yacht
Crew of 6 (captain, chef, mate, 2 stewardesses, deckhand). Daily routine: 8am breakfast on demand, morning swim or shore excursion, lunch aboard or ashore, afternoon water-toy session, sunset cocktails, dinner aboard at 8:30pm. Guest principal sets every variable.
Premium crewed superyacht, 60m, family charter
Crew of 14 including a masseur, certified PADI dive instructor, and a children's-program stewardess. Family of 8 sees customised activities for adults and children running in parallel without compromising either.
Frequently asked
About crewed charter
Do I tip the crew on a crewed charter?
Yes. Crew gratuity of 5–20% of the base charter fee is paid in cash at disembarkation. See our Gratuity glossary entry for the full convention.
Can I bring my own chef on a crewed charter?
Technically yes, but the yacht's chef will refuse to cook in parallel and the dynamic becomes awkward. If you have a specific dietary need or want your private chef for special meals, brief the yacht's chef well in advance - most accommodate.
Does the crew live on the yacht with us?
Yes. Crew quarters are separate from guest cabins, usually in the bow or amidships below deck. Guests rarely see the crew off-duty.
Can the captain refuse to take us somewhere?
Yes - the captain has final authority for safety. If wind, sea state, or guest fitness levels make a passage unsafe, the captain redirects. Force majeure clauses in MYBA address this.
Related terms
Other definitions worth knowing
Bareboat Charter
A bareboat charter is a yacht hire without a professional crew - the charterer or a friend skippers the ve…
Captain
The captain is the senior officer aboard a yacht - responsible for navigation, safety, crew discipline, an…
Stewardess
A stewardess is the interior crew member responsible for guest service: serving meals, tending bar, managing…
Yacht Chef
A yacht chef is a professional cook based aboard the yacht for the duration of the charter, preparing every …
MYBA Charter Contract
The MYBA Charter Agreement is the industry-standard contract for luxury yacht charters worldwide, published …
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Ready to charter in Greece?
George P. Biniaris and the George Yachts team broker yachts in Greek waters under MYBA-standard contracts. Speak with us directly.