FAQ

We have been successfully active in the market since 2013 and have welcomed thousands of satisfied guests on board ever since.

The yacht charter market is increasingly under pressure from discount portals, price dumping and questionable offers. This often leads to: • poor service, • hidden extra costs, • poorly maintained yachts, • and in the worst case: charters that fall through entirely. As a co-founder of the European Yachting Alliance, we actively campaign for fair market standards, transparent pricing and safe bookings.

Yes. Yacht-Holiday is: • Trusted Shops certified • holder of the Charter Confidence seal from Sealogy (formerly E.I.S.) • 100% self-financed • a co-founder of the European Yachting Alliance (EYA) — an initiative for transparency, fairness and professionalism in the European yacht charter market. This independence guarantees that we work exclusively with vetted owners and professional fleet operators.

A professional agency offers: • vetted owners and fleets • transparent pricing with no hidden fees • protection through Trusted Shops • personal advice and support • help if something goes wrong • access to exclusive, inspected yachts Our experience since 2013 shows: reliability and quality save more money in yacht charter than seemingly cheap deals.

Getting to the home port is arranged individually. If there's an airport nearby, flying is usually the most convenient option — especially when travelling by car, bus or train would take too long. We choose our home ports so that they are easy to reach. Our flight partner can help with planning.

We go ashore daily during the trip, depending on the route. In the bays where we anchor, you can use the motorised dinghy to get to shore and explore the surroundings.

On board are the travellers listed in your booking, plus the skipper, who is responsible for your safety and the wellbeing of all guests. The skipper is available to you around the clock. If you have booked an onboard service, that crew member is on board as well.

Depending on the type of boat booked (sailing yacht, catamaran or motor yacht) and the number of travellers, cabins and fittings on board vary. Detailed layout diagrams of the yacht's interior (see illustration) help you picture the accommodation.

You spend your nights on a modern yacht. All booked nights are in comfortable cabins. If you like, you can also sleep out in the open on deck. Your luggage stays on board for the whole week, and life on board — apart from shore excursions — mostly takes place on the yacht. See our yachts section for more details, pictures and information.

Typically, nights are spent either at anchor in idyllic bays or in well-equipped marinas or safe town harbours. The exact plan depends on the route, weather conditions and the crew's wishes. Anchorages offer peace and a close connection to nature, while harbours make it easy to go ashore for restaurants, facilities and bars. In the Caribbean, Thailand or the Seychelles in particular, nights are usually spent at anchor or on a mooring buoy. The dinghy, or an optionally rented stand-up paddle board, is available for the daily trip to shore.

There are both full indoor and outdoor showers on board, supplied from the yacht's own water tank. You can also use further showers in the harbours and marinas visited during the trip.

Wifi can be booked as an optional extra and is available around the clock, as long as mobile network coverage is available in the area. Please note that coverage can vary depending on location.

Both types are motorised. Motor yachts offer more space and are fitted with more powerful engines, reaching speeds of up to 40 knots and more. Sailing yachts are a little quieter underway, more affordable, and use wind power, so you can get around without burning diesel. Depending on your preference, you can choose between both types for an individual trip.

Both terms refer to places where boats are moored. A marina, however, offers better infrastructure, including showers, power and water connections, and often a small supermarket nearby. Marinas are usually designed for smaller boats and yachts and offer extra security measures. Harbours, on the other hand, are often closer to the town centre and offer less infrastructure. Larger cities usually have both harbours and marinas, with marinas often privately run while harbours are typically managed by the town or state.

No prior sailing experience is required. Of course, any sailing experience you already have is welcome, and we're happy to help you build on it if you're interested. This trip is also a great opportunity for beginners to discover the world of sailing and dive into an active sailing holiday.

Of course! There's no obligation to sail, but everyone is warmly invited to take the helm, trim the sails and get hands-on with sailing. It's a great way to gain practical experience and enjoy the trip even more intensely.

No. A boating licence isn't required for our skippered sailing trips — the skipper handles all navigation and responsibility on board. If you'd like to take the helm yourself, you're welcome to do so at any time under the skipper's guidance.

No special equipment is needed for your sailing holiday. A recommended packing list will be sent to you in advance, usually during the pre-trip briefing 2–3 months before departure, so you can make sure you have everything you need to enjoy the trip.

Since a yacht holiday mostly takes place outdoors, it naturally depends on the weather. Travel periods are chosen to make bad weather unlikely, but unexpected conditions can of course always occur. If bad weather does hit, we suggest an alternative, weather-appropriate plan — such as exciting shore excursions — to make the best of the time and keep the experience enjoyable.

Seasickness is rare, but it can happen — especially in the first few days on board. A few simple measures can help prevent or ease it: • Avoid heavy, fatty meals and alcohol before and during sailing • Keep an eye on the horizon and stay on deck rather than below • Take the helm yourself — this often helps more than sitting still • Ginger products (such as ginger biscuits) can ease symptoms • Over-the-counter motion sickness medication is available at any pharmacy If symptoms persist, the skipper will adjust the trip to make things as comfortable as possible.

In short: onboard service or self-catering. There are two fridges on board, running at all times. The initial shopping can be ordered through our partner and will already be on board when you arrive. Of course, you can also organise the shopping yourself. There are regular opportunities to shop during the trip. Every evening there is a chance to try the local cuisine — your skipper is happy to recommend somewhere if you like. Cooking on board is also an option. 2–3 gas hobs and an oven are available. An onboard service can also be booked optionally, taking care of your wellbeing on board.

At the start of the trip, all guests on board pay a set amount into a shared onboard kitty, which is agreed together and settled against actual expenses at the end. This money covers shared provisions, mooring and marina fees, and fuel. Alternatively, the corresponding flat-rate packages can be booked in advance.

An onboard service can be added at booking. Our onboard service takes care of your wellbeing and keeps the galley clean. You're treated to breakfast and lunch, and — if booked — dinner is served on board as well. Booking it requires an extra berth to be factored in, which we account for automatically when selecting the yacht. Menu preferences can be discussed with our onboard service before or during the trip. Please let us know about any allergies or intolerances before the trip so we can take them into account. The skipper is also catered for from the onboard kitty.

A dinghy is our small inflatable boat that lets us go ashore whenever we're anchored or on a mooring buoy. It's not just transport — it's also great for exploring the bay, poking into small caves, or doing the shopping. We also offer dinghy outboard motors to rent, so paddling doesn't become a chore later in the evening. Since the 2017 season, we've also been using eco-friendly electric motors.

If the yacht is in a harbour or marina, we generally have 230V power on board (standard European sockets). At anchor in a bay, there's a 12V connection with a USB socket, so you can easily charge your phone, for example.

Yes, children are very welcome — we don't set a fixed minimum age; it's up to you as parents to judge what suits your child. Many of our guests travel with children of all ages, and our skippers pay close attention to the wellbeing of every age group on board. If you have questions about the right route or travel time for families, we're happy to advise you individually.

Pets are generally possible by prior arrangement with the skipper and owner — please mention this already when making your booking enquiry, so we can find a suitable yacht and route for you and your pet.

Smoking is not permitted inside the yacht (cabins, saloon) for safety and consideration reasons. Smoking is allowed on deck, in the open air.

With our berth offers (e.g. Koh Chang, Phuket, Dubrovnik) you book a berth in a double cabin, which you may share with another traveller on the same trip. If you'd rather have the cabin to yourself, you can book the entire double cabin exclusively for a surcharge — just let us know if you're interested.

Tipping isn't required, but it's common and appreciated as a thank-you for good service — the amount is entirely up to you.

There are two simple ways to book your yacht holiday: • Book a trip package: Choose a trip package and book your sailing holiday directly via the "BOOK NOW" option. • Individual request: Use our holiday planner or send us a request via the form if you'd like a custom trip. Once you book a trip package, your yacht is reserved and you receive a confirmation in the form of an invoice. Payment is usually 25% on booking, 25% later, and the remaining 50% six weeks before departure. As soon as the first payment is received, your yacht or the booked berths are firmly booked. You can also pay conveniently by credit card. Travel cancellation insurance can be added optionally — ask us about offers when booking. If you send a request for an individual trip, we'll find the right yachts for you and send you a current offer. You then have seven days to reserve your favourite yachts without obligation (this is called an "option"). Let us know as soon as possible so we can guarantee price and availability. Only once you confirm does the booking become fixed and detailed preparations begin. An optional pre-trip briefing also gives you the chance to get to know your skipper beforehand.

The deposit covers possible damage — the classics being a blocked toilet, a broken window, lost items, or damage to the dinghy or other equipment caused by guests on board. Damage caused by nautical errors on the skipper's part is of course not covered by this. All of this is clearly set out in the crew contract, which everyone signs at the start of the trip. The deposit is usually held as a credit card authorisation and released again at the end of the trip — so in practice, no money actually changes hands. The exact amount is shown on your booking confirmation. The deposit can also be insured, depending on our local partner, sometimes together with a reduction of the amount to be held. Ask us about this before check-in.

The exact deadlines and conditions for cancellations or rebookings can be found in our general terms and conditions (AGB). We recommend considering travel cancellation insurance at the time of booking, so you're covered in case of a short-notice cancellation. For questions about your specific booking, please get in touch with us directly.

The cost of a yacht holiday breaks down into the following parts: • Base price Yacht/accommodation/skipper as listed in the offer • Final cleaning A fixed item, around €20–€40 per person • Mooring fees Varies day to day depending on season and stopovers. Depending on the type of berth (marina/harbour/bay), region and season, roughly €0–€120 per night per yacht • Extras Many extras can be booked, from Wifi to stand-up paddle or outboard motor to onboard service. Prices are shown in the respective offer (where available) • Provisions/food Depending on the crew's needs, roughly €150–€400 per person • Fuel costs For sailing yachts, around €30–€60 per person for 7 days. For a price guarantee, we recommend the fuel flat rate • Travel to the port Our partners can help estimate flight or bus costs — please follow the links provided.