Crewed cruise: prices, how it works, and differences compared to a boat charter

"We all loved this week, the captain and the crew looked after us with the utmost care, we ate divinely well! We had only one thing to do: enjoy ourselves." Christine tells us, having gone to Turkey on a crewed charter.

A crewed charter is a private cruise, but it is above all an experience: you are not buying a boat to which a skipper and a hostess have been added, you are buying a complete service directly, with a vessel and a crew that form an inseparable whole. No deposit, no responsibility for the hull, no condition report: just the assurance of a week (or more) entirely taken care of, from the first morning coffee to the last aperitif at anchor.

In this article, we go through everything you need to know: what a crewed charter really is (and how it differs from a charter with skipper), how it works in practice, how much it really costs (including the famous APA and tips), the best destinations according to your profile, and why Filovent supports hundreds of clients every year on this type of trip.

What is a crewed charter?

Hiring a boat with a crew refers to a very specific type of offer: a boat sold with its dedicated crew, in the form of an overall package. The captain and his team work on this specific boat, they know every technical detail, every sailing habit, every best anchorage. The client assembles nothing, they buy an experience that has already been built.

This is an essential distinction, because it has very tangible consequences for your stay. With a crewed charter:

• You are never responsible for the boat. No deposit to pay, no inventory to sign, no damage insurance to take out, no condition report at handover. These obligations remain entirely with the operator and the crew.
• You are not hiring equipment, you are booking an experience: sailing, accommodation, on-board service, gastronomy, choice of stopovers — everything is already included in a single package.
• The crew belongs to the boat, they are not added on as an option. They know their vessel, their sailing area and their local partners perfectly, and have often been on board for several seasons.

This is precisely what differentiates a true crewed charter (the crewed charter in international yachting vocabulary) from a bareboat charter with an added skipper: in the first case, you are buying an all-inclusive service; in the second, you are hiring a boat and engaging a professional to skipper it. We will come back to this difference further on.

What level of comfort aboard a crewed charter?

Because they are designed to host non-sailing passengers, boats with a crew offer a higher level of comfort than what you find on equivalent bareboat charter boats. The private cabins are generally fitted with their own bathroom, the communal areas are designed for sociability: air-conditioned indoor saloons, outdoor saloons for shaded meals, spacious cockpits, foredecks for sunbathing, flybridges for admiring the panoramas.

The water sports equipment on board (paddles, masks and snorkels, kayaks, sometimes jet-skis or seabobs on high-end yachts) is generally more plentiful than on a bareboat boat, and you do not have to insure, check or assemble it yourself. The level of service varies considerably between a family cruising catamaran and a luxury yacht with a jacuzzi on deck: it is one of the key elements to clarify with your adviser when requesting a quote.

Which type of boat to choose for a crewed charter?

The type of boat directly shapes the atmosphere of your cruise. Each vessel has its strengths, its sailing style and its own world. Here are the main options offered at Filovent.

• Catamarans with crew: highly popular for their stability (no heeling), their large living spaces and their shallow draught, which makes it possible to anchor as close as possible to the beaches. Ideal for families and groups of friends in destinations such as the Caribbean, Greece, Croatia or the Seychelles. Most often between 4 and 6 cabins.
• Crewed monohull sailing yachts: for a more authentic sailing experience, close to the traditional spirit of sailing. Less space than a catamaran of equivalent length, but incomparable feel under sail. Most often between 2 and 4 cabins.
• Crewed yachts: the high-end segment. These boats over 20 metres long offer premium amenities: spacious suites, jacuzzi, entertaining areas, varied water toys. The crew is more numerous to guarantee a service close to five-star hospitality. Most often between 4 and 10 cabins, but it can rise to over 20 cabins.
• Crewed gulets: these traditional wooden sailing boats, typical of Turkey and Greece, offer gentle sailing and a very sociable life on board. Large shaded decks, meals served communally, authentic Mediterranean atmosphere. Most often between 3 and 8 cabins, but it can rise to over 15 cabins.
• Crewed barges: for slow river cruising on the canals and rivers of Europe (Burgundy, Canal du Midi, Loire…). Intimate format, contemplative pace, regional gastronomy often on the menu. Most often 4 cabins.
• Crewed dahabiehs: traditional sailing boats of the Nile, ideal for intimate cruises in Egypt. Few cabins, local crew, rare cultural immersion. Most often between 7 and 16 cabins.
• Crewed expedition vessels: designed for remote destinations (Antarctica, the Arctic, Patagonia, Raja Ampat), these more robust boats carry a reinforced crew, sometimes a naturalist guide or a marine biologist. The number of cabins varies considerably depending on the boat model.

Each type of boat comes with its own crew composition, directly linked to its size and level of service. The most common roles are as follows:

• The skipper / captain: he is responsible for the boat and for safety. He decides on manoeuvres, chooses anchorages according to the weather, manages the navigation and coordinates the crew. On the smaller crewed boats, he may be the only crew member on board, sometimes accompanied by a hostess.
• The hostess: she takes care of the service on board, preparing the cabins, serving at the table, and sometimes the cooking when there is no dedicated chef. She is the one who guarantees the daily comfort of the passengers.
• The chef: present on high-end boats (yachts, large catamarans, gulets), he prepares all meals on board, often tailored to the passengers' preferences gathered before departure.
• The deckhand: on the larger yachts, he assists the captain with manoeuvres, the upkeep of the boat and launching the water sports equipment (tender, jet-skis, paddles).

Here, by way of guidance, is the crew composition generally observed depending on the type of boat:

These compositions are indicative and may vary depending on the operator, the exact size of the boat and the level of service requested.

How does a crewed charter work?

Unlike a bareboat charter where you arrive, do the inventory and set off, a private cruise is an experience prepared in advance with you and adjusted as the trip unfolds. Here is how it works in practice.

What happens before departure?

Once your booking is confirmed, most often from Saturday to Saturday, the preparation work begins. Filovent gathers your preferences: culinary tastes, any allergies or specific dietary requirements, favourite spirits, desired pace (rather active sailing or rather relaxing), activities that interest you (diving, hiking, cultural visits), the group's areas of interest. This information is then passed on to the captain and the crew, who use it to prepare the boat.

The provisioning (stocking with food, drinks and consumables) is carried out by the crew before your arrival, according to these preferences. Depending on the formula, it is included in the price or covered by the APA (see below). The itinerary is pre-planned by the captain, taking into account the weather forecast, your wishes and the best anchorages in the area. Lastly, Filovent and the crew organise the ancillary services if necessary: airport-marina transfers, hotel nights before or after the cruise, restaurant bookings ashore, specific excursions.

What happens during the cruise?

Once aboard, it is the captain who takes the decisions relating to navigation and safety: choice of headings, anchorages, adapting to the wind and the sea. This is the golden rule of any crewed charter: the captain has the final word on anything to do with the boat.

That said, the itinerary remains adjustable as the days go by according to your wishes: extending a stopover, changing course for a beach recommended by the captain, spending a day at sea rather than in port… The crew makes recommendations of stopovers, restaurants, coves or activities (snorkelling, hiking, sightseeing) based on their intimate knowledge of the area. The pace is adapted to the group: families with children, friends looking for a party atmosphere, couples seeking intimacy do not have the same tempo, and that is precisely what the crewed formula allows for.

How much does a crewed charter cost?

Because you are buying an experience and not simply a boat, the price of a crewed charter reflects a far broader package than a simple hire. It includes the provision of the vessel, the wages of its dedicated crew, and an entire organisational layer that is invisible to the client. Here are the main orders of magnitude to know before requesting a quote.

How much does a crewed charter cost per week?

By way of guidance, prices for a week's crewed charter start at the following levels depending on the type of boat:

A few concrete examples of prices for a week on a private crewed cruise:

For a week in Italy in July, aboard a Sun Odyssey 54 DS monohull, with 4 cabins, a skipper and a hostess, count from €1,169 per person.

For a week in the Caribbean in March, aboard a Bali 4.6 catamaran, with 5 cabins, a skipper and a hostess, count from €1,160 per person.

For a week in the Seychelles in February, aboard an Ark Noble yacht, with 10 cabins, a skipper, a hostess, a chef, a deckhand and an engineer, count from €3,439 per person. 
For a week in Greece, aboard a Hemera gulet, with 9 cabins, a skipper, a hostess, a chef and a mechanic, count from €1,125 per person.

What the base price includes

The crewed charter rate (excluding APA and extras) includes:

• The provision of the boat in perfect seaworthy condition
• The crew's wages (captain, hostess, chef, deckhand as the case may be)
• The crew's food (to be distinguished from that of the passengers)
• The vessel and crew insurance — no insurance to take out on your side for the hull
• The boat's maintenance, equipment and consumables (sheets, towels, cleaning products, standard water sports equipment…)

Worth noting: unlike a conventional charter, no security deposit is required from you, since you are not responsible for the boat. This is one of the most concrete financial differences between a crewed charter and a bareboat or skippered charter.

What is not included

On the other hand, a series of running costs remains payable by you (and this is where the APA comes in):

• The food and drinks of the passengers
• The fuel of the boat (main engine + power generators)
• The port fees, paid moorings and local taxes
• The activities and excursions ashore (diving, guided tours, restaurants)
• The personal expenses (Wi-Fi ashore, laundry, beauty treatments…)

What is the APA and what costs to plan for?

How the APA works (Advance Provisioning Allowance)

The APA, for Advance Provisioning Allowance, is an advance paid before the cruise, generally equivalent to 20 to 35% of the price of the charter. This figure varies depending on the boat and the sailing area. For example, for a catamaran in the Mediterranean, the range would be between 25% and 30%, whereas a yacht in the Caribbean would be more in a range of between 30% and 35%. In concrete terms, it is not a surcharge but a kitty managed by the captain to cover the running costs linked to the passengers during the cruise.

It mainly serves to pay for:

• The passengers' food and drinks
• The fuel
• The port fees and moorings
• The activities and external services

During the cruise, the captain tracks the expenses and can show you the state of the kitty at any time. If the APA of a yacht is used up faster than expected (high-end spirits, very busy moorings), a top-up may be requested from you. Conversely, if any funds remain at the end of the stay, they are fully refunded to you.

The major advantage of this system is that it allows you to fully personalise your cruise: bespoke menus, spirits chosen according to your tastes, adaptation to specific dietary requirements (vegetarian, gluten-free, kosher…). You thus avoid a standard package that would not match your wishes.

Other costs to plan for

Beyond the APA, two items deserve to be anticipated:

• The tips for the crew: this is a customary practice in the world of yachting, varying by region. The usual range is between 5% and 20% of the charter price, payable to the captain at the end of the cruise so that he can divide it among his team. This range is generally mentioned in the charter agreement, often between 10% and 20% in the Mediterranean and between 15% and 20% in the Caribbean.
• The specific excursions (scuba diving, days with a private guide, jet-ski hire…) and the premium consumption (fine wines, cigars) that fall outside the negotiated APA framework.

Crewed charter vs charter with skipper: what are the differences?

This is the most frequent confusion, and it deserves to be cleared up: a crewed charter and a charter with skipper are not two names for the same thing.

• With a charter with skipper, you hire a boat and add on a professional to skipper it. The boat belongs to a bareboat operator, you sign a conventional charter agreement (with deposit, condition report, inventory, possible damage insurance), and the skipper is a service provider who is grafted onto this charter. The meals, the housekeeping, the on-board service and the washing-up remain the responsibility of the group.
• With a crewed charter, you buy an overall experience: the boat and its dedicated crew form an inseparable whole, sold as a single service. No deposit, no conventional charter agreement, no inventory to sign. The captain, the hostess (and sometimes the chef) work on board this specific boat, sometimes for several seasons. They take care of navigation, service, housekeeping and cooking.

In practice, this gives very different experiences: a group of friends who has hired a catamaran with skipper will have to do the shopping, the cooking and manage life on board; a group that has booked a crewed charter will be welcomed on the Saturday onto a boat that is already prepared, with menus tailored to their tastes and an itinerary already validated.

Crew vs skipper vs bareboat: comparison table

Which choice for your profile?

• Crewed charter: for those looking for comfort and simplicity above all, without wanting to deal with the boat or the housekeeping. The ideal formula for completely switched-off holidays, or for a group that simply wants to enjoy themselves.
• Charter with skipper: the compromise for those who do not want to sail (or do not have a licence) but accept managing the housekeeping themselves. Intermediate price, more of a "life aboard with friends" experience.
• Charter without skipper: for seasoned sailors who want complete autonomy and the pleasure of handling their boat themselves. Requires a sailing CV.

Where to set off on a crewed charter?

A crewed charter lends itself to all the world's sailing grounds, from the most classic to the most remote. Here are the major areas where Filovent supports its clients each year.

Mediterranean: the perfect balance between sailing and discovery

The Mediterranean remains the most sought-after area for a first crewed charter. The legs are short, the anchorages plentiful, and the culture accessible at every stop. Here are a few destinations, but do not hesitate to consult our Mediterranean sailing guide and our Mediterranean brochure:

• Greece: countless islands, authentic anchorages, varied sailing depending on the archipelago chosen (Cyclades, Ionian, Sporades, Dodecanese).
• Croatia: closely-spaced legs, well-equipped marinas, very indented coast: an ideal choice for a first experience with a crew.
• Italy: Amalfi, Sardinia, Sicily: a blend of culture, gastronomy and emblematic landscapes.
• France: Côte d'Azur and Corsica, to combine comfort, accessibility from France and quality of sailing, with no flight needed.
• Turkey: gulet sailing along the Lycian coast, more immersive atmosphere, fares among the most affordable in the basin.

Caribbean: easy sailing and turquoise waters

The Caribbean offers sailing under trade winds, short distances and a postcard setting that is ideal for a crewed catamaran cruise. Here are a few destinations, but do not hesitate to consult our Caribbean sailing guide and our Caribbean brochure:

• British Virgin Islands (BVI): short hops between islands, sheltered anchorages, ideal for families and beginners.
• Saint-Martin and Guadeloupe: diversity of islands and landscapes, perfect for exploring several Creole cultures in a week.
• Bahamas: waters of exceptional clarity, wild anchorages, deserted beaches in the Exumas.

Indian Ocean: spectacular nature and a premium experience

More expensive destinations but with unique tropical charm, the Indian Ocean is particularly well suited to a crewed catamaran cruise.

• Seychelles: iconic beaches (Anse Lazio, Anse Source d'Argent), wild anchorages, granitic islands unique in the world.
• Maldives: turquoise lagoons, exceptional snorkelling and diving, cruises often on dedicated boats with a full crew.

Exceptional destinations: exploration and immersion

For those seeking a rarer experience, certain destinations can only be experienced with an experienced crew.

• Norway: sailing in the heart of the fjords, spectacular landscapes, demanding conditions that justify an expert local crew.
• Egypt: river cruise on a dahabieh on the Nile, intimate format, rare cultural immersion between Luxor and Aswan.
• Antarctica: unique expeditions on board expedition vessels, with a reinforced crew and naturalist guides.

Who is a crewed charter for?

The strength of the crewed charter is that it appeals to very different audiences, with the common denominator being the desire to enjoy the sea to the full without any technical or administrative constraints. No skill is required, no responsibility for the boat, total support from booking through to the return ashore.

Families: simplicity and safety

For families, particularly with young children or in an intergenerational setup, the crewed charter offers complete peace of mind. No technical management to handle, an adaptable pace for the little ones (naps, staggered meals, more or less long days), and activities on board (paddle, snorkelling, safe swimming around the boat) that keep everyone occupied.

Groups of friends: sociability and freedom

For a birthday, a stag or hen do or a reunion with friends, the crewed formula makes it possible to privatise a boat entirely for one's group, to enjoy a flexible itinerary, and to share special moments (meals prepared on board, aperitifs at anchor, starlit nights) without any member of the group having to "do the chores".

Companies: seminars and team building

The crewed charter is increasingly sought-after for corporate seminars, team-building days or incentive trips. The complete privatisation of the boat guarantees confidentiality and a premium setting, the organisation is entirely streamlined for the events manager, and the format represents a differentiating experience that leaves a lasting impression on teams.

Why choose Filovent?

Since 1995, Filovent has supported its clients in organising crewed charters around the world. Our approach rests on three pillars:

• A rigorous selection of boats and crews, built up over the years with trusted partners across over 70 destinations.
• Personalised support from an adviser specialising in your geographical area, from initial contact through to the return ashore.
• Comprehensive trip management via our concierge team: transfers, hotels, provisioning, excursions, technical assistance 7 days a week.

Each year, we support more than 200 clients on crewed charters, across multiple destinations, the main ones being the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean.

Some testimonials from our clients:

Alexandra, who went to the Caribbean aboard a Samana 59 catamaran, tells us: "We loved our cruise and from the very first days asked for a new quote for next year."

Charlotte, who went to Greece on a Bugari 100 yacht in Greece, explains that she loved "the exceptional and responsive crew, the delicious food, the comfort of the boat and the captain's choices for the visits".

Georges also gives us his testimonial: "We sailed for a week on this superb boat with a fantastic crew and a dream cook! The food was divine! There were 10 of us, friends from Switzerland, England, Canada, Norway and Brazil and we loved this magnificent cruise!! Bravo to the crew and to Filovent, we lived a dream during this wonderful week, a huge thank you! Truly 7 dream days!", having gone aboard the Perla Del Mar 1 gulet in Turkey.

Sources used for the writing of this article:

• [1] Filovent internal data — database of more than 20,000 boats and 1,000 cruises
• [2] https://www.filovent.com — Filovent catalogue
• [3] MYBA Charter Agreement
• [4] CYBA / Worldwide Yachting Association