Group Yacht Charter
A whole sailing boat and its crew for your group — how it works and what is extra.
Ask About a Group SailingA group yacht charter gives your group a whole sailing boat, and usually its crew, for a week or more. It is the most private way to sail together, and the most flexible: the skipper adapts the route to the weather and to what the group wants that day.
How a Group Yacht Charter Works
You charter the boat by the week (some areas allow shorter charters), meet it at its base marina, and sail a loop or one-way route through a cruising ground. Days follow a simple rhythm: a morning sail of a few hours, lunch and swimming at anchor, then a harbor, a mooring field or a quiet bay for the night. The skipper knows the waters, handles the boat and keeps everyone safe; on many crewed boats a cook handles meals so nobody in the group gets stuck in the galley.
Crewed, Skippered or Bareboat
| Type | What you get | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Fully crewed | Skipper plus cook or hostess; meals and service aboard | Groups who want a holiday, not a job |
| Skippered only | A hired skipper; the group shops and cooks | Groups who like cooking and eating ashore |
| Bareboat | The boat only; your own skipper and crew | Experienced sailors with the right qualifications |
Bareboat is cheaper but is not a shortcut for beginners. Charter companies check the skipper’s experience and certificates, and several countries set their own licensing rules. If no one in the group has real skippering experience, hire a skipper.
Sizing a Group Yacht Charter
Start with the number of couples or families, not the number of people. A comfortable group charter gives each couple a cabin; bunk cabins suit kids and good friends. Bathrooms matter more than they sound on a week-long trip. When the group outgrows one boat, the usual answer is two or three similar boats sailing in company — a private flotilla — which keeps the group together at anchor and at dinner while giving everyone more space. Groups too big for that are often better on a small sailing ship.
What the Charter Fee Covers, and What It Does Not
- Usually in the fee: the boat, its insurance, and on crewed charters the crew’s wages.
- Often extra: fuel, food and drink, marina and mooring fees, water toys, and on larger yachts an APA paid in advance.
- Crew gratuity: customary on crewed charters and separate from the fee; ask the broker what is normal for that boat and area.
- Local taxes and cruising permits: vary by country and can be added to the fee.
- Transfers and flights: almost never included; base marinas can be a ferry or a drive from the airport.
Ask for a written list of inclusions before you compare boats. Two quotes for similar yachts can differ mostly in what they leave out.
Splitting a Charter Fairly
Group yacht charters work best when the money is settled up front. Agree whether everyone pays the same share, or whether the cabin with its own bathroom pays more. Collect deposits by the charter company’s deadline, keep one shared record of who has paid, and decide in advance how the food and drink kitty works. For a wider organizer’s checklist, Group Cruise Planner covers the group leader’s role step by step.
Group Yacht Charter: FAQ
What is the difference between a crewed and a bareboat charter?
On a crewed charter the boat comes with a professional skipper, and often a cook or hostess, so your group simply relaxes. On a bareboat charter you rent the boat alone and someone in your group must be qualified to skipper it under the charter company’s and the country’s rules.
What is an APA on a yacht charter?
APA stands for Advance Provisioning Allowance. On many crewed charters, especially larger yachts under MYBA-style terms, you pay it on top of the charter fee to cover running costs such as fuel, food, drink and berthing. The captain keeps accounts, any unused amount is refunded, and any overspend is settled before you leave.
Is a catamaran or a monohull better for a group?
Catamarans are popular with groups because they sail flatter, have more deck and living space, and often give each couple a cabin with its own bathroom. Monohulls heel more under sail, which keen sailors enjoy. Both work; choose on layout and comfort.
Ask About a Group Yacht Charter
Tell us the group size, sailing ground and dates; our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will talk through the options.
Get Group Sailing Quotes