— How Walter and Alexandra think about it
By Walter Kruk, Skipper & Founder, Greek Island Yacht Holiday
One of the first questions every guest asks us is, “Which charter yacht in Greece is right for my trip?”
After twenty years of sailing these waters, I’ve learned that the answer is never really about the yacht itself. It’s about you. Your group, your pace, your priorities, and what you want to feel when you’re out there between the islands.
Alexandra and I have put together this guide to help you think it through. And if you’re still not sure after reading it — just write to us. That’s what we’re here for.
Your Budget — An Honest Starting Point
Before we talk about yacht types, let’s talk about budget — because it shapes everything and it’s better to be honest about it early.
The charter fee is your starting point — but not your final number. As a general guide, allow an additional 20-30% on top of the base charter price for what are called Additional Provisioning Allowances — APA. This covers fuel, berthing fees, provisions, and other running costs during the trip.
A word of honest advice: the cheapest option is rarely the best value. A newer, well-maintained smaller yacht will almost always deliver a better experience than an older, larger boat at the same price. But the condition, crew, and care matter far more than size or age alone.
When you write to us, tell us your overall budget — including the extras. It helps us find the right yacht for you immediately rather than working backwards from a number that doesn’t reflect the full picture.
What Kind of Charter Yacht in Greece Suits You?
The honest answer for most of our guests is — they’re not sure yet. And that’s perfectly fine. Most of the people who sail with us have little or no previous sailing experience. Choosing the right yacht type is part of what we do for you.
Here are the four main options and how we think about each one in the context of sailing Greece:
Sailing Yachts
There is nothing quite like moving through the Greek islands under sail. Engines off, sails full, the sound of water along the hull. It’s what sailing is supposed to feel like — and Greece, with its consistent seasonal winds, is one of the finest places in the world to experience it.
Modern sailing yachts are far more comfortable than most people expect. A well-appointed 50+ foot sailing yacht offers proper cabins, a full galley, hot showers, and generous deck space. The notion that sailing means roughing it is firmly in the past.
For the Ionian and the Cyclades, a sailing yacht between 45 and 60 feet is our most popular choice for groups of four to eight guests. It’s the right size for these waters—maneuverable enough for the smaller ports and comfortable enough for a week at sea.
Best for: Couples and groups who want the authentic sailing experience. First-timers and experienced sailors alike.
Catamaran Sailing Yachts
A catamaran offers something a monohull cannot — space and stability in equal measure. Two hulls mean more spacious cabins, more deck space, a larger saloon, and a platform that sits remarkably still at anchor. For guests who are new to sailing or who have any concerns about seasickness, a catamaran is often our first recommendation.
In the Cyclades particularly, where stronger winds can make monohull sailing (and anchoring) challenging for less experienced guests, a catamaran’s stability makes a real difference to comfort. The shallower draft also means we can enter bays and anchorages that deeper monohulls cannot reach — and in Greece, those hidden corners are often the most beautiful.
The trade-off is ‘feel.’ A catamaran doesn’t heel under sail the way a monohull does — which means less of the physical sensation of sailing but more comfort for everyone on board. It also needs more space in a marina, which occasionally limits our harbour options.
Best for: Families, larger groups, guests new to sailing, older, less mobile guests, and anyone prioritizing space and stability.
Motor Yachts
Speed, range, and luxury — a motor yacht delivers all three. If your priority is covering more of Greece in less time, or if you want the highest level of onboard comfort and facilities, a motor yacht is the answer.
In practical terms, a motor yacht allows us to reach destinations that would take a sailing yacht two days in a matter of hours. For guests who want to combine the Dodecanese with the Cyclades in a single week, for example, a motor yacht makes it possible.
The consideration is fuel — motor yachts consume significantly more than sailing yachts, and this is reflected in the APA. It’s worth factoring this into your budget conversation with us from the start.
Our motor yacht fleet ranges from elegant day cruisers to fully crewed superyachts up to 50+ meters. Whatever your group size and whatever your ambition for the week, we have the right vessel.
Best for: Guests prioritizing speed, range, and maximum onboard luxury. Larger groups and corporate charters.
Motor Sailors
Alexandra started sailing on traditional Greek wooden motor sailors — the gulets and classic vessels that have defined Greek maritime life for generations. There is something about these boats that no modern yacht quite captures.
A motor sailor gives you the best of both worlds. Under sail when the wind allows — and there is real pleasure in that on a classic vessel. Under engine when conditions demand it, with the reassurance of real power available at any time. The interiors tend to be generous, the cabins comfortable, and the character of the boat unlike anything else on the water.
For guests who want a genuinely Greek sailing experience — unhurried, traditional, deeply atmospheric — a motor sailor is worth serious consideration.
Best for: Guests who want character and authenticity alongside comfort. Families and groups who appreciate a classic experience.
What Size Charter Yacht in Greece Do You Need?
Size is less about luxury and more about the right fit for your group. Here’s how we think about it:
2-4 guests — a sailing or catamaran charter yacht in Greece between 42 and 50 feet is ideal. Intimate, manageable, perfectly suited to the smaller Greek ports and anchorages.
4-8 guests — the sweet spot for most of our charters. A 45-60 foot sailing yacht or a 45-50 foot catamaran. Enough space for everyone, small enough to anchor anywhere.
8-10 guests — a larger sailing yacht, catamaran, or motor yacht (with 5 double cabins). We have excellent options in this range across all yacht types.
10 guests and above — the choices become more specific, but the possibilities are real. Fully crewed motor yachts and classic motor sailors in our fleet accommodate larger groups comfortably. Tell us your numbers and we’ll find the right vessel.
One important note — more cabins does not always mean more comfort. A well-designed six-cabin yacht can feel cramped if the communal spaces are small. Alexandra always looks at the full layout when she’s planning a trip — not just the cabin count.
Your Crew — The Most Important Choice Of All
The yacht is the stage. The crew is the performance.
We say this to every guest — the right crew will make an average yacht feel extraordinary. The wrong crew will make the finest yacht feel ordinary. It is the single most important factor in the quality of your holiday.
When you sail with Walter as your skipper, you know exactly who you’re getting. Twenty years on these waters, an honest approach to every sailing decision and a genuine commitment to making your trip the best it can be.
When Walter’s calendar is full, we extend to our carefully selected network of professional skippers and crew — people we know personally, whose standards we trust and whose vessels we have inspected ourselves. We would not put our name to any skipper or yacht we were not completely confident in.
Alexandra works with every crew arrangement we offer — planning the provisioning, the restaurants, the hotels, and the excursions. The personal care never changes regardless of which vessel you’re on.
Water Toys and Activities
Depending on your wishes and your yacht, we can organize a range of water toys and activities — SUPs, sea bobs, snorkeling equipment, kayaks, and more. Some yachts carry their own equipment. For others, we arrange it separately.
If fishing, scuba diving, or specific water sports are important to your trip, tell us when you inquire. Alexandra will make sure it’s organized before you arrive.
Still Not Sure?
You don’t need to know which yacht you want before you write to us. Most of our guests don’t — and working out the right charter yacht in Greece together is one of the things we enjoy most
Tell us about your group — how many people, roughly what budget, when you want to sail, and what matters most to you. Walter will come back to you personally, usually within 24 hours, with an honest recommendation.
No pressure. No automated responses. Just a conversation.
