Which extras are really essential to book in advance?

When to book and pay for each extra? The complete matrix

To get your bearings quickly, here is which extra to book and when, and who to pay it to:

The extras that absolutely must be booked in advance

Three categories of extras must be confirmed at the time of booking your boat, ideally 3 to 6 months before departure in high season (July, August). The professional skipper tops the list: stock is very limited in summer, especially for English-speaking or multilingual profiles, and some regular skippers with our partners are booked a year in advance. The on-board hostess (or cook) follows the same logic: rare profile, often unavailable 2 months from departure. Lastly, airport transfers to the base need to be sorted upstream: the negotiated rate is more advantageous than on the spot and the slots must align with your check-in.

Professional skipper: everything you should know before booking

Rate: between €180 and €280 per day depending on destination and season, skipper's meals on top (counted in the provisioning or settled on the spot).

Sleeping arrangement: on most boats, the skipper sleeps in the forward bow cabin. Some charter companies (Dream Yacht Charter in particular) now require the skipper and the hostess to sleep together in the bow cabin. Check the configuration of your boat before booking, this is a frequent source of dispute at check-in.

Language: an English-speaking skipper is generally available in the Caribbean (BVI, Grenadines), Croatia, Greece and the Mediterranean, rarer in French Polynesia, the Seychelles or Asia. Specify your language requirement from the quote stage onwards.

Tip: not compulsory but customary. Allow 5 to 10 % of the skipper's fee over the duration of the cruise, depending on satisfaction and quality of service.

On-board hostess (or cook): for whom, for what?

The hostess on board prepares the meals, manages the daily provisioning and handles the service. She is particularly recommended for family cruises with children, groups of 6 people or more, foodie cruises and luxury charters. Allow €150 to €250 per day depending on the destination, plus the management of the sleeping arrangement which can be a topic in itself (see previous paragraph on the bow cabin).

Airport / marina transfers: what you need to know

The airport-to-base transfer is rarely included in the boat rate and remains at your expense. You have several options depending on the destination:

1.  Transfer organised by Filovent through a local partner: recommended for destinations where taxis are scarce or overpriced (French Polynesia, Seychelles, Caribbean). Rate negotiated in advance, identified driver, slot aligned with your check-in. To be booked 3 to 4 months before departure in high season.
2.  Taxi or ride-hailing on the spot: feasible in the Mediterranean (Croatia, Greece, Italy), but watch out for queues at peak season at major airports (Split, Athens, Olbia).
3.  Hire car: if you want to explore the area before boarding, but you'll need to deal with port parking during the cruise (often paid and regulated).

Indicative rates and journey times (to be confirmed with our concierge service depending on your file):

Cancellation and refund: if your flight is changed or cancelled, contact our concierge service immediately to adjust the slot. The refund of an unused transfer depends on the local provider's terms.

Provisioning: three options depending on the destination

Filovent offers three options for provisioning:

1.  you do your shopping yourself online and have it delivered to the marina (Konzum in Croatia, AB Vassilopoulos in Greece, Carrefour Marche in Italy, Casino in French Polynesia, Riteway or Bobby's Marketplace in the BVI, Ocado or Tesco for orders from the UK to charter destinations) ;
2.  Filovent provides you with a personalised provisioning file (Excel or PDF) which you fill in at your own pace with the desired products, and which we forward directly to our local partner. This is the option that combines personalisation and peace of mind ;
3.  our local partner takes care of everything, depending on the boat and the base.

For cruises in the Caribbean, BVI, French Polynesia or Seychelles, the provisioning pack is strongly recommended: supermarkets are far from marinas and the time saved on arrival day is considerable. In the BVI, some charter companies even require provisioning through their dedicated partner in Tortola (Riteway, Bobby's Marketplace).

Provisioning: how it works step by step

Filovent works with dedicated partners depending on the destinations (for example Sailorsbreeze in the Mediterranean, Paradise Foods in the Caribbean, GustoCambusa in Sardinia, JAM in Croatia). In practical terms:

1.  on signing your booking form, our concierge service sends you a standard email along the lines of « Need a transfer or provisioning? We take care of everything! » ;
2.  you receive a file (Excel, PDF or web link) listing the available options. Depending on the destination, you can pick a ready-made pack (basic / standard / gourmet) or customise item by item ;
3.  you confirm your list 15 to 30 days before departure at the latest ;
4.  Filovent passes your order to the local partner, who delivers directly on board before your arrival ;
5.  you pay for the provisioning either upstream via Filovent, or on the spot to the provider depending on the country.

Average budget per person per week:

These brackets vary considerably depending on the destination: French Polynesia and the Seychelles are 1.5 to 2 times more expensive than the Mediterranean.

Filovent or the charter company: who sells what?

Not all extras are sold by Filovent. Here is the general rule:

Extras sold by Filovent (through our concierge service): skipper and hostess via our partners, provisioning via local partners, transfers, tourist packages (excursions, guided tours).

Extras sold directly by the charter company (settled at the base): water-sports equipment (paddle, kayak, diving, mask/snorkel), Wi-Fi/4G router in some cases, baby cot, snorkelling sets.

Extras that may be either: bed linen and towels (depending on the charter company, sometimes included, sometimes optional), 4G router (depending on the partner).

If an extra appears in your Filovent quote but not in your charter company confirmation (or vice versa), contact our concierge service immediately to verify. This is one of the most frequent sources of friction at check-in.

The extras that depend on your destination

Some extras only make sense depending on your sailing area. Wi-Fi on board or 4G router is crucial in remote areas (Grenadines, French Polynesia, Belize, Bahamas), and also useful in southern Dalmatia (Korčula, Lastovo, Vis) where coastal 4G is more temperamental than around Split. In central Croatia, Greece or the Balearics, 4G is generally excellent and included in most European phone plans (post-Brexit, UK travellers should check international roaming charges with their carrier before departure).

Bed linen and towels follow logic specific to each charter company: included with some, supplementary with others. Our practical tip: get this clarified at booking to avoid nasty surprises at check-in. Water-sports leisure equipment (paddle, kayak, wakeboard) is available in limited quantity per base: first booked, first served.

Consumables and end-of-charter cleaning: what is paid on the spot

Several items are not negotiable in advance and are settled at check-in or check-out. Here is the detail to avoid surprises:

Deposit: the deposit waiver option (insurance) is chosen upstream, but the physical deposit is always made on the spot, usually by card pre-authorisation (Visa or MasterCard).

Gas: generally included in the basic package (1 or 2 bottles depending on duration). Beyond that, billing based on actual consumption.

Diesel: payable on arrival depending on the remaining gauge level. Allow €80 to €250 per week depending on the type of boat and engine usage (a power catamaran consumes more than a sailing monohull).

Water: billed according to the refills made during the charter. Common practice in Croatia, Greece and Turkey where harbour offices charge water per refill (€5 to €15 per refill).

End-of-charter cleaning: flat fee between €80 and €250 depending on the size of the boat, deducted from the deposit. If you return the boat spotless (which is never easy after a week at sea), some charter companies reduce the fee, to be negotiated at check-in.

The insurance reflex for long-haul destinations

For cruises in the Caribbean, French Polynesia, Seychelles or South-East Asia, remember to arrange your cancellation insurance and your repatriation assistance with bodies such as Staysure Travel Insurance, AVANTI Travel Insurance or AllClear Travel Insurance. These protections must be taken out before departure, ideally at booking. UK travellers should also check their GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) status and ensure their travel insurance covers post-Brexit medical costs in the EU and beyond.

To go further

To go deeper into preparing your cruise, see our dedicated pages:

→ Provisions and shopping: everything about provisioning and local providers ;

→ Charter with skipper: how our skipper service works ;

→ Flights and transfers: organising your arrival to the marina ;

→ Our concierge service: your single point of contact from booking confirmation right through to your return from the cruise.

For any question on the extras of your file, contact your Filovent contact or our concierge service on +33 1 70 80 97 35.