Yacht Charter Glossary
Kosher Charter
Also known as: Kosher Yacht Charter · Glatt Kosher Charter · Shomer Shabbat Charter
Last updated May 2026
Full explanation
A kosher charter adapts three layers of a normal crewed charter. The food: options range from sealed glatt kosher meals prepared under rabbinic supervision and delivered to the yacht (3-5 days ordering lead), to the yacht's chef cooking exclusively kosher ingredients with disposable or dedicated equipment, up to a fully koshered galley arranged with the guest's rabbi. The crew briefing: what enters the galley, which equipment is reserved, and what does not happen between Friday sunset and Saturday night, all agreed in writing before boarding. The itinerary: for Shabbat-observant guests the yacht moors or anchors before candle-lighting on Friday and does not cruise until after havdalah, with the route planned around that rest day rather than against it.
Greece is unusually well suited to kosher chartering: Chabad houses operate in Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Crete and Rhodes; Mykonos has a kosher shop and kosher catering; and Athens is roughly a 2-hour nonstop flight from Tel Aviv with about 50 direct flights weekly in season.
Why it matters for UHNW charterers
For observant families the kosher layer decides whether a charter happens at all. A broker who arranges certified provisioning, briefs the crew in writing and designs the route around Shabbat removes the single biggest barrier between an observant family and a week in the Cyclades - and Greece's real kosher infrastructure makes it work in practice, not just on paper.
Worked examples
Shabbat-aware Cyclades week, crewed catamaran
Sunday embark from Athens after the morning Tel Aviv flight. Kea, Syros, Mykonos midweek with a Chabad evening ashore, Delos and Rhenia, then moored at Mykonos before Friday sunset. Shabbat at rest, Saturday-night sail, Athens disembark.
Sealed glatt meal service on a 30m motor yacht
Glatt kosher meals prepared in Athens under rabbinic supervision, delivered sealed to the yacht before departure and restocked at Mykonos. The galley serves the rest of the party normally; the kosher service stays sealed end-to-end.
Frequently asked
About kosher charter
Can a non-kosher yacht serve kosher food?
Yes, with the right format. Sealed glatt meal service works on any yacht because nothing is cooked aboard. Stricter standards - dedicated equipment or a koshered galley - are arranged case by case and agreed with the guest (and their rabbi, if desired) before the charter.
Does a kosher charter cost more?
The yacht's base rate does not change. Kosher catering and island delivery are provisioning costs that run through the APA, and lead time matters more than money: glatt delivery to the islands needs 3-5 days notice.
Can the yacht sail on Shabbat?
That is the guest's call, not the broker's. For Shabbat-observant parties the itinerary is designed so the yacht is moored or anchored before Friday sunset and stays at rest until Saturday night; other guests simply enjoy a slower mid-charter day.
Related terms
Other definitions worth knowing
Crewed Charter
A crewed charter is a yacht hire that includes a professional crew - captain, chef, deckhands, stewards -…
APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance)
APA is an upfront sum - typically 25-35% of the base charter fee - paid before embarkation to cover the …
Charter Fee (Base Fee)
The charter fee is the base weekly rate paid for the use of the yacht and its crew. It excludes APA, VAT, de…
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.