Crewed yacht charter Athens or bareboat: how to choose
Decide whether you want a skipper and crew aboard or the helm handed to you, before you pick a boat or a route.
- Crewed day rate
- roughly 350 to 450 EUR above the bareboat rate for the same yacht
- Bareboat security deposit
- 2,000 to 3,000 EUR, refundable after inspection
Crewed vs bareboat, side by side
Same six yachts, two ways to charter them from Alimos Marina.
| Aspect | Crewed charter | Bareboat charter |
|---|---|---|
| Who sails the boat | Our skipper and crew handle navigation and watchkeeping throughout | You or a qualified member of your party skippers the yacht |
| Day rate (EUR) | Base yacht rate plus roughly 350 to 450 EUR/day for skipper and crew wages | Base yacht rate only, no crew wages added |
| What's included | Skipper, deck or host crew, and standard provisioning (breakfast, lunch, soft drinks) | Yacht, safety equipment and a set fuel allowance; crew, food and drink arranged separately |
| Security deposit | 500 EUR refundable damage deposit, released after post-charter inspection | 2,000 to 3,000 EUR refundable deposit, held until the yacht is returned and checked |
How each format actually works
On a crewed yacht charter in Athens, a skipper is aboard for the full trip, and on larger yachts a host handles meals and guest service while deck crew manage lines and tenders. You arrive, board at Alimos Marina, and the route, provisioning and daily schedule are run by the crew around your plans.
A bareboat charter is handed over to the charterer at the start of the booking: you take the yacht, keys and handover checklist, and you're responsible for it until it's returned. We require a valid sailing qualification and recent logbook experience before confirming a bareboat booking, and we check these documents ahead of handover, not on the day.
A refundable security deposit is taken for both formats but at different levels, reflecting who's responsible for the yacht day to day. It's held on card authorisation or bank transfer and released once the post-charter inspection is complete, usually within a few working days of return.
Skippered as a middle option
If you don't hold a qualifying sailing certificate but still want to steer or handle the yacht yourself part of the time, a skippered yacht charter in Athens adds our skipper to what is otherwise a bareboat booking, at the bareboat day rate plus a daily skipper fee.
Crewed vs bareboat: common questions
What sailing qualification do I need for a bareboat charter in Athens?
You need a valid sailing qualification recognised for bareboat chartering, plus a logbook showing recent sailing experience and competence with VHF radio. We ask for these documents when you book and check them again at handover; if you don't hold a qualifying certificate, a skippered or fully crewed charter is the better route.
What does the day rate for a crewed yacht charter in Athens include?
It covers the skipper's and crew's wages, standard provisioning for the day (breakfast, lunch and soft drinks), fuel for the agreed route, and the yacht itself. Dinner ashore, drinks beyond the standard package and gratuities are settled separately, directly with the crew or the venue.
Can I add a skipper to a bareboat booking instead of chartering fully crewed?
Yes. Any of the six yachts can be booked with a skipper added to an otherwise bareboat quote, which removes the qualification requirement for the charterer. You keep the lower bareboat day rate and pay only the skipper's daily fee, agreed when you book.
How is the bareboat security deposit returned after the charter?
The deposit is held by card authorisation or bank transfer and released after the yacht is inspected back at Alimos Marina, once fuel, hull and equipment checks are complete. Any damage or missing equipment is deducted from the deposit before the remaining balance is returned, typically within a few working days.