For week charter PLEASE DO NOT OVER PACK!
This is the most common mistake people do on their first sailing holidays. You will be just in your swimming suit most of the time and 5-6 outfits are more than enough for a one week trip.
It is highly recommended that you bring your stuff in SOFT BAGS (duffel type, backpack etc) that you can fold up and store on the yacht easier.
This all depends on your interests but especially on how much time you have available - the more days you have on board the more islands you will be able to explore.
As a general idea during a 7 day trip you would have the chance to visit up to 6 islands whereas during a 2 week trip we usually visit up to 13 islands.
If you were to start your trip in Athens, then a 14 days trip would be recommended in order to have time to make your way and reach some of the hidden gems in the Cyclades as well.
However our trips start in Paros, which puts you in the center of the Cyclades archipelago and giving you easier access to nearby islands. Hence a 7 day trip will be enough to cover the best of what a 14 day route from Athens would reach.
Starting in Paros puts you in the hearth of the Cyclades archipelago which has easy access to nearby islands and off the beaten path gems like Amorgos,
Koufonissi or Kimolos as well as to more cosmopolitan places like Ios Santorini or Mykonos , scenic surreal islands like Milos or hiking paradise like Sifnos and Serifos.
With the 21 islands in the Cyclades archipelago, you can be sure there will be something to satisfy even the most demanding requests.
Always try to book your charter as far in advance as possible, particularly if your dates are not flexible. May to September is our busiest time of year, and these months generally book up well in advance.
Our trips are typically Monday morning (8:30 AM) to Sunday afternoon (2:30 PM) in order to avoid the crowds at the harbors as most companies are working on a Saturday schedule.
This way it is nicer when you have a bay with another 2-3 boats instead of 10-20 as it happens when going on a common schedule with the others.
A 7 day trip is 7 days / 6 nights as the night in between the charters is kept for cleaning and preparation for the new trip starting the next morning.
The cleaning of the boat inside / outside and other preparations (like fueling up, taking sheets /towel to cleaning etc, filling up the tank with water for shower) and possible maintenance needed in between 2 consecutive charters is a process taking about 8-10 hours.
Each time a charter finishes, at least an 8 hours working gap is needed for the boat to be prepared and ready to welcome most guests on board.
This is done starting 2:30 pm when guests disembark till about midnight and then continue early in the morning so by embarkation time 8:30 all is ready and a new trip can start.
You might have noticed at most of our colleagues (that work on a Saturday afternoon start) that a gap of many hours is needed in between charters for preparations. In their case,
the previous group returns to the base on Friday by 05:00 pm, they spend the night on board at the base and disembark on Saturday morning by 09:00 am the latest.
Then the charter companies takes over, the cleaning is done, etc and the preparations for the new charter are done in between 09:00 am to 04:00 pm.
The boat is ready to embark new people on Saturday afternoon - usually around 04:00 pm or later. By the time they make the check in, paperwork,
stock up it's usually 06:00-07:00 pm. This becomes actually too late to reach a destination during daylight, so the actual departure is usually on Sunday morning when they leave the marina for their first destination in the islands. And they return on the next Friday afternoon.
Thus for 99% of the charters you will notices the program described above when Saturday from 09:00 am to 04:00 pm is the preparation/cleaning period after the previous guests disembark and before the new guests embark.
This unfortunately means that always the last night and most of the time the first night as well of a 7 day/7 night charter is spent at the base and only the remaining 5 at the islands.
We find this process with 1-2 nights spent at the base a bit time consuming for the guests' limited time on board since they are here to visit the islands and not loiter at the marina of embarkation.
So instead of wasting precious day / time when the guest can enjoy the islands and the sailing, and as an alternative we keep the night in between the charters to do the cleaning & maintenance.
This way our trips can start in the morning and not late afternoon. This way, our guests have time for swims and enjoy a new island from the very first day on board. To express it in other words ...
we are basically sacrificing the last night (when it makes no difference if people are on board or at a hotel - they're just sleeping) to save the first day (when people can enjoy being on board and all the activities of a sailing trip) .
Sailing is the ultimate way to feel the pulse of the Greek islands. It’s about exploring authentic destinations, diving into crystal-clear water and waking up with the horizon right outside your window. Whether you’re celebrating a honeymoon, a 40th anniversary, or just a long-overdue escape with friends or family, life on the water has a way of slowing time down just enough to enjoy it.
The "Campervan" Reality
A sailboat is a unique, flexible way to explore, but it’s important to set the right expectations. Think of our sailboat as a "big campervan on the water." It’s simple, casual, and focused on the freedom of letting the wind pick your next destination.
Do NOT plan a holiday on board a sailboat if: Your heart is set on a service-heavy experience with a crew in crisp uniforms waiting to pamper your every need. We are an adventure, not a floating hotel. If you prefer high-end luxury, a motor yacht or a fully crewed catamaran would be a much better match for your expectations.
DO start planning your sailboat adventure if: You value the raw beauty of nature and the freedom of the open sea over luxury clichés. This trip is for you if you love the thrill of a good breeze in the sails and letting the wind guide us to our next stop. If your perfect day involves snorkeling in vibrant blue bays, getting lost in the cobbled streets of picturesque villages, and finding moments of quietness in nature, then spending a week on a sailboat will likely be the best vacation of your life.
Mobility & Safety
To ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable journey, all guests must have a good level of mobility. A sailboat is an active environment, and you’ll need to be comfortable with:
To make sure this adventure is a good match for everyone in your group, we’ve prepared a short video showing these 3-4 basic movements.
Take a quick look to ensure everyone feels confident and "sea-ready" before we set sail!.
The "all costs included" combo is our bundle that includes the expenses associated with chartering a yacht (skipper and skipper food, fuel, final cleaning, etc).
No hidden costs, no surprise at the end of the trip. You simply pay a flat rate and that’s it! Much easier to plan and budget for!
After surfing the web and looking at different options for your sailing vacation, you might have noticed most of the charter companies structure the yacht rental similarly with renting a car.
The charter rate covers the price for hiring the yacht itself ( just like the car rental price covers the car itself). And all the other aspects/costs involved are on you to cover as you go. For a car that would be things like gas, toll rates, parking fees.
With similar structure, when you are budgeting for your sailing holidays, with most charter companies will you have add on top of the charter rate, any other expenses involved as they appear:
The trouble with this approach is the total/ final price the extras add up to varies significantly on different factors ( for details please read below paragraph marked with *).
Which makes it difficult for you to budget for your trip- an aspect that will naturally might make you feel worried or anxious about the total price you will end up paying.
So we are taking a different approach. In order to avoid all the hassle and worries, we are offering the "all costs included" combo. The bundle includes the expenses associated with chartering the sailing yacht (fuel, skipper, final cleaning, etc) that will guarantee worry free vacations.
You won't have to keep an expense account open. You simply pay a one-time flat rate ( 350 euro/day/boat -divided in between the members in your group) and that’s it! Much easier to plan and budget for! No hidden costs, no surprise at the end of the trip.
* While the rate applied for skipper services is pretty much standard for all companies (200 - 260 euro/day) , all the other extra expenses can range according to different factors.
For example how much fuel you are going to use depends on how long the engine will be running- more exactly on the distance to your favorite destination and weather condition .
The average sailing distance for most itineraries is around 20-30 nautical miles/day.
In favorable weather conditions (wind speed of 10-12 knots or more) a sailboat is perfectly capable of reaching a destination powered only by sails while doing a regular speed of 6-8 knots ( miles/hour). But when winds are very mild,
the speed a sailboat can reach just on sail power can instantly be halved - thus the time you need to reach your destination is automatically doubled . This is when the engine is your best friend,
helping to go back to the regular speed of 6-8 knots so you reach your destination by early afternoon ( not at midnight ) and have time to enjoy the island,
its sights and a stop for swim before reaching the harbor. This is an especially important aspect for many of our guests as soon as they realize a regular day on board is divided in several parts (the 3-5 hours travel time to the next destination,
the 1-3 hours stop for a swim, the late afternoon/evening for exploring the islands you reach , on-shore activities, exploring the villages and dinner).
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For more details please check point 3.5 Is there electricity on-board? Can we charge our phones, laptops etc? below.
For the initial provisions there is a supermarket 2-5 minutes walk from the marina (right next to port) where you can stock up with food/drinks you will need for the first days.
At the islands you will find minimarkets 100-200 meters away from the boat where you can get whatever else you might need the next days. Please remember to bring bottled water as well!
On board you will find a fridge (box-shaped). The fridge's dimensions are 35cm (wide) X 63 cm (length) X 48cm (deep). So you can get the food/drinks/bottled water that you need the first 1- 2-3 days.
It is recommended that you always have with you provisions for an unplanned on board dinner (like spaghetti, sausages etc) .
The galleys are fully equipped with dishes, flatware, pots and pans, French press for coffee and kitchen utensils. However you will need to supply all your consumables, including paper towels, coffee, condiments etc.
We have a fast access to Cyclades islands and / or Saronic islands as well as to the pitoresque Peloponnese coast.
We recommend you don't go to the hassle of trying to decide on a specific itinerary or set your mind on a specific island-
many time on board people discover new attractions of the islands they never expected and realize that other places than their initial plan are much closer to their dream holiday… so keeping flexible it your guarantee that you will have the best holidays of your life.
Also sailing conditions vary greatly from area to area making some itineraries appropriate for all people while others are just fort the very adventurous;
some itineraries are great for people wanting more time on shore or at the bays swimming and swimming while others just for people willing to spend a long time at sea sailing and enjoying the breeze… keep flexible and let the islands surprise you!!!
Many times we are asked which is the BEST Greek island.
The answer is "so many of them are simply amazing- it just depends on your interests – and even so there are dozens of islands that fall in your criterias". Some places are great for swimming, others for nightlife,
other for architecture and other for hiking. But actually most of them usually offer a perfect combination of all the above. No matter which itinerary you’ll follow,
we can guarantee you’ll fall in love with Greece and while on board you will already start to plan your next sailing vacation so you explore more places.
Just let us know your interests and at embarkation we'll advice you on the perfect route and the best islands. We consider that this is YOUR sailing trip and we will make sure you will get the best of it.
This is why before setting the sails we discuss your individual requirements and ideas so we take a route as close as possible to your dream (weather permitting and within reality of a sailboat for the number of days you have on board).
Breakfast (on board or on shore - according to your preferences and the prediscussed departure hour). After that we set sail for our next island.
The sailing time depends on the chosen itinerary and is usually from 3 to 6 hours.
On our way make a stop at a nice bay for swimming, snorkeling, swimming to the beach and probably also have a light meal. Continue the journey to our destination - the lovely bay for overnight with easy access to the harbor town.
We usually arrive around 3-4 (but this can vary from island to island) so you have time to explore the islands and enjoy its beauties.
We can help you with ideas on how to plan your time on shore and suggest you the main attractions and things not to be missed in each island.
Dinner is usually taken on shore as sampling local cuisine at a water front restaurant is part of experiencing the Greek islands.
For those who would like to continue with a fun night out we have good news: at each island you can find bars and clubs open till late at night or even early in the morning.
As a general idea, each day on board can be a combination of several of the below:
Dining Ashore (Recommended) One of the true pleasures of sailing the Greek islands is how easy — and enjoyable — it is to eat ashore. Every island has charming villages with excellent restaurants and traditional waterfront tavernas,
often just steps from where we anchor. Open until late at night and very reasonably priced, dining ashore lets you experience authentic local cuisine, fresh seafood, and unforgettable seaside views. Most guests find this to be one of the highlights of their sailing holiday.
Dining Onboard (Optional) If you feel like a quiet meal on board, our sailboats are fully equipped with a cooker (oven and two burners), fridge, and galley. Provisioning is simple and convenient, with grocery stores on every island for easy meals to enjoy while anchored in a peaceful bay.
How about hiring a hostess for food served on board?
We specialize in skippered cruises. Adding a hostess to a sailing charter in order to have food served on board significantly increases the daily cost (typically an additional €150–180 per day plus costs of provisioning),
yet it rarely enhances the experience in the Cyclades. With the limited kitchen space onboard ,
meals prepared at sea simply can’t compare to the variety, quality, and atmosphere of traditional island tavernas. Dining ashore is not only more enjoyable and authentic,
but also more convenient—saving you money while giving you access to exceptional local cuisine just steps from the boat. For most guests, a skippered charter offers the perfect balance of comfort, freedom, and value.
Sailboats (much like cars or camper-vans) are constantly moving, so they cannot be connected to shore electricity via a permanent cable. Instead, they are self-sufficient and run on 12-volt (DC) power.
This means that phones, tablets, cameras, and similar devices are charged using car-style cigarette lighter sockets or USB ports, rather than standard household wall plugs.
Thus all you need to bring is a car charger (12 volt charger) and your USB cable - please see picture below -
for your electronic devices and you will be able to charge them at any time while on board (the same way you would charge them in your car).
This means that phones, tablets, cameras, and similar devices are charged using car-style cigarette lighter sockets or USB ports, rather than standard household wall plugs. On board, you’ll find the charging station located in the saloon area at the chart table:
In each cabin, we have installed an USB charging ports, as shown in the above photo.
If your phone uses USB Type-A, all you need is your regular USB charging cable. If your phone uses USB-C, please bring a USB-C to USB-A adapter, so it can be plugged into the onboard USB ports.
Important note about power usage on board. Please note that inverters are NOT allowed on the boat as they drain the batteries very quickly. This can result in insufficient power for essential onboard systems such as lights, fridge, toilets, and showers.
Cameras and other devices. If you have a camera or device for which a 12-volt charger is not available, you’ll always have the option to recharge it when going ashore - for example, during dinner or a drink at a restaurant or café.
Using a CPAP machine on board (if any).
To operate a CPAP machine on board, it’s essential that it can be
powered via 12-volt (DC) electricity.
This means you’ll need a
12-volt car charger specifically designed for the
CPAP device — one end connects to the CPAP,
and the other end fits
into the car-style socket
. Basically one of the ends of the CPAP charger should be looking
like
.
Before finalizing the booking, please make sure that a 12-volt (DC) charger compatible with the CPAP machine is available, as standard household (220V AC) chargers cannot be used.
Charging laptops while at sea.
If you need to work from a laptop on board and need to charge it while sailing or at anchor, simply bring a 12-volt (car) charger for your specific laptop model. There are both universal chargers (with interchangeable connectors) and model-specific chargers available.
The key point is that one end of the charger
must be designed to plug into a 12-volt car socket
, like the ones you will find on board.
Sure! Each afternoon/evening when you go on shore to explore you will find many restaurants, taverns and bars that offer Wi /Fi so you can keep up with friends and family, surf the web or simply upload picture while enjoying your meal or drinks.
For when you're on board, the only option is mobile data. IIf you don't have a convenient international coverage from your provider, there are 3 options:
a) You can easily get a local SIM card (it costs around 20 euro) and activate a data package. You will find shops everywhere in Athens (Cosmote, Vodafone or Nova are the providers). And also at Paros at: VODAFONE, COSMOTE or NOVA
The more efficient solution is buying a local SIM or eSIM upon landing at Athens airport so you can be connected from the first moment you land in Greece till your departure.
You will find a Vodafone stand at
arrival and they have packages for internet and even unlimited data
like a
tourist card.
b) You can arrange for an eSIM, being the easiest and quickest since you don’t even have to visit a store.
You can even get one before leaving your country and activate it when you arrive. The most important thing is to make sure your phone is compatible with eSIMs.
c) Alternatively we have a local SIM card on board with which you can go to at one of the shops in Paros- 5 minutes walk from the boat - and top it up in order to activate a data package.
The crew (skipper & co-skipper) is responsible for navigating and mooring the boat, ensure the safety of the boat and taking care of all the aspects related to sailing/anchoring.
However the crew is NOT responsible for anything regarding cleaning, dishwashing, serving/cooking meals, shopping, garbage etc
More analytically the crew will be responsible for:
The skipper will navigate and sail the sailboat from one island to the next and also ensure the safety of the boat for all the duration of your sailing cruise.
He will take care of all aspects related to sailing/anchoring and also take you ashore with the dinghy if the situation requires it.
This includes cases when there is no berth available at the dock, or due to weather conditions the boat will stay at anchor in a bay overnight.
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The working hours for the crew are maximum nine (08.30a.m-05.30p.m) out at sea, but after that they are in charge of the boat's safety, something that might keep them awake for the whole night, if the circumstances require it.
The priority is always the customer and the crew happy to sail whenever and wherever you want (within reason) so that you can visit your favorite islands. But when they are not busy sailing the boat, they enjoy the islands (hiking, exploring or just spending a fun night out) and the coves as well (swimming and snorkeling). This is actually the main reason why they are able to give you recommendation on best things to do on the islands ,
best spots for swimming, etc based on experiences (field research is always better than a guide book).
Although life as a crew seems very fun it does however have a lot of responsibilities and can be very demanding in strong winds (both for sailing and keeping the boat safe for overnight).
This is just one of the reasons why the skipper has the final say (especially when wind picks up) as a safe harbor for the overnight is mandatory for safety reasons as well as so you can have a fun and relaxing evening, followed by a smooth sleep.
Also, please remember that your crew are working every day of the season (5-8 month a year, without any break), sometimes need to do long days at sea,
standing up for as much as 7 hours in a row, so please be respectful with your crew and do not underestimate they efforts to offer you a great holiday.
Due to the physical design of a sailboat, hard-sided suitcases are not compatible with life on board. Space is extremely limited, and the yacht’s delicate interior woodwork is easily damaged by rigid luggage.
The Golden Rule: Soft Bags Only. Please pack your belongings in small soft bags, rucksacks, or duffel bags.
Once you arrive:
Solution: Luggage Storage in Paros. If your larger Greek itinerary requires a hard suitcase, please do not bring it to the boat. Instead, use the convenient storage facilities located directly across from the ferry dock in Paros:
In season 2025:under €5/day per bag.
Pro Tip : Pack a foldable duffel bag inside your suitcase. Upon arrival in Paros, simply transfer your sailing gear to the duffel and leave the hard suitcase at the storage facility. We also have large spare bags on board and the skipper can bring them when meeting you.
"Transfer" Strategy: Pack a foldable duffel bag inside your suitcase. When you arrive in Paros, transfer your sailing gear into the duffel and leave the hard suitcase at the storage facility.
Think of the sailboat as a "Campervan on the Water." Please bring along whatever and as many things as you'd like -
just the suitcase itself ( and or hard frame luggage) is a problem as even empty it's still bulky and too big for the very limited spaces of a sailboat.
If you think of the sailboat as a camper-van on the water you will have a better idea of the reality on board.
Blue Water Sailing Greece is a boutique charter company founded and managed directly by owners Adriana and Radu. With over 14 years of professional sailing experience in the Cyclades and Saronic islands,
we provide expert skippered vacations on our private yachts, Freedom and Albatross. Our deep local knowledge and owner-direct service ensure safe, authentic, and personalized Greek island adventures for families, couples, and groups of friends seeking a private getaway.
Contact UsBy phone / WhatsApp: +30 6933 218 799 |
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