| If you are under the impression that in order to | | | | charge per day for a professional 'skipper' tends to |
| charter a Mediterranean yacht you need to be either | | | | be in the region of 125 to 200 euros per day, though |
| a Premiership footballer or a Russian oligarch, then | | | | you will have to hire a boat with an extra berth for |
| you are only partially correct. | | | | him/her. |
| While it is true that some luxury yacht charters in the | | | | Having your own professional 'skipper' offers a |
| Mediterranean are extremely expensive (with prices | | | | number of great advantages; he/she will have a |
| of more than 25,000 euros per person/week), there | | | | great local knowledge and will be able to show you |
| are alternatives which are far more affordable. | | | | great sights that you would have never found on |
| Although prices for Mediterranean charters will vary | | | | your own, he/she will also be able to help you gain |
| from place to place and from agent to agent, there | | | | the relevant 'experience' needed to become 'skipper' |
| are two main factors that will generally affect the | | | | yourself. |
| price of Mediterranean motor-yacht rental. | | | | As a rough guide, prices for 'bareboat' yacht charters |
| The first of these factors is the nature of the rental | | | | in the Mediterranean will start at about 5000 euros |
| agreement. Motor-yachts (like sailboats) can either be | | | | per week for a 4 person, 2 cabin, motor-boat. Larger |
| rented as 'bareboats', where only the boat itself is | | | | boats tend to work out more expensively per |
| hired, or as 'crewed-boats', where the boat is hired | | | | person, with a 6 person, 3 cabin, boat costing |
| along with its crew. The main differences between | | | | upwards of 10,000 euros per week. |
| these two types of rental will be described presently. | | | | Crewed Motor Yacht Charter in the Mediterranean |
| The second of these factors is the size of the boat | | | | While most small boats tend to be chartered as |
| required. As a rule, the larger boats tend to offer far | | | | 'bareboats', the majority of larger boats tend to be |
| more living space per person and consequently their | | | | only available as 'crewed' boats. In many cases, this is |
| charter rates (per person) tend to be extremely high. | | | | because the owner of the boat will employ his crew |
| The smaller vessels, on the other hand, tend to be | | | | full-time and it does not make economic sense for |
| far more compact in terms of living space, and are | | | | him to lease one without the other. |
| consequently amongst the most affordable boats to | | | | The fact that there is a crew to pay for naturally |
| charter in the Mediterranean. | | | | makes the rental price of these vessels higher, and |
| Motor Yacht Bareboat Charter in the Mediterranean | | | | one must also consider that food and drink are |
| The most affordable method of Mediterranean | | | | generally included in quoted prices. At the cheaper |
| motor-boat charter is to hire a 'bareboat'. Don't be | | | | end of the market you will find a 10 person, 5 cabin |
| alarmed by the terminology though, 'bareboats' aren't | | | | motor-boat with 4 members of crew, available for |
| literally 'bare'. The term merely reflects the fact that | | | | hire for around 28,000 euros per week. |
| these boats are 'stripped' of crew! | | | | While this might seem expensive at 2,800 euros per |
| The consequence of this is that one of your group | | | | head, it pales in comparison to other Mediterranean |
| will have to take on the mantle of 'skipper'. All | | | | yachts of similar capacity and it is not uncommon to |
| 'bareboat' charter companies will require that the | | | | find boats with the same number of cabins rented |
| designated 'skipper' has some relevant experience, | | | | for three times that amount. |
| though the exact level of experience required will | | | | The principal reason for the difference in price is that |
| differ from location to location depending on factors | | | | the more expensive options tend to offer their |
| such as weather and traffic. | | | | guests far larger and far more luxurious |
| Should no-one in your party qualify as 'skipper', you | | | | accommodation. They will also tend to have far more |
| always have the option of hiring a professional. The | | | | extras like gyms, Jacuzzis, and in-house cinemas. |