Everything To Know About Chartering a Navigare Yacht

Most people hear “private yacht charter” and immediately think “I could never afford that”. I’m here to tell you it’s not as expensive as you may think. Yes, the experience of island hopping through the bluest water with just your party of choice is boujee, it’s often cheaper than staying at an all-inclusive resort. 

And let me tell you, it’s a heck of a lot cooler… I’ve chartered with Navigare in both Greece and The Bahamas now, and they’ve been one-of-a-kind trips! You have a ton of flexibility with this type of travel, allowing you to build your own itinerary. 

Today I’m answering your most frequently asked questions about booking a trip with Navigare— hopefully, by the end of this, you’ll be convinced to book your next dream vacay! 

What Is Navigare? 

Navigare is a private yacht charter company with bases in 10 countries and a fleet of 300+ yachts worldwide. Whether you want to explore the Mediterranean, the Caribbean they provide a top-notch experience that will have you planning a second trip before you’ve finished your first!

What countries does Navigare charter in?

Navigare has boats in ten different destinations– Bahamas, BVI, Croatia, Greece, Seychelles, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, and Saint Martin. 

Browse boats by destination here. 

How big is the boat?

Navigare has yachts ranging from 35 to 52 feet. 

Our boat in the Bahamas was the Happy Days, 48 feet.

How many people fit on the boat?

It depends on the size of the boat. Some only sleep six and others are large enough to sleep twelve. You do not need to fill the boat in order to charter (for instance three people can be on a twelve-person boat). However, you must include your Crew when submitting your Crew List. This means if you choose to have a captain and chef, they must be accounted for so that they have a place to sleep. 

Our boat slept twelve people and we had nine including our Crew (captain and chef). 

What does “crew” mean? 

Your Crew are the Navigare employees that will be on board. Note that you can charter a Navigare boat without any employees if you are certified to sail and have paid specific insurance fees. More information on that here. However, 90% of people choose to have a captain who drives the boat, navigates, etc.

What’s the difference between a hostess and a chef? 

 A hostess makes breakfast, a light lunch, and a few snacks, and does some light housekeeping around the boat. A chef cooks breakfast, lunch, and dinner upon request of the client. 

I had a hostess in Greece and a chef in the Bahamas. Both were wonderful but if I had to choose I’d go with the chef. They are trained to accommodate your food preferences and will build out a menu that works for your party.

Do you have to have a hostess or chef on board? 

You do not! Many people choose to do their own grocery shopping and cook meals for themselves. Each boat is fully equipped with a stove, oven, refrigerator, and freezer so it is absolutely feasible. 

Others prefer to eat their meals on land at local restaurants and therefore a chef is not necessary. If you choose to have a hostess/chef and would still like to dock and eat out a few nights you are still able to you just have to give them a heads up so they can plan their food/menu accordingly. 

Do you recommend provisioning? 

Provisioning is when you order your groceries online and they are brought to the port and loaded onto your boat for you. It’s very expensive to do this but in some cases necessary. For instance, when we were in Greece we were not close to the grocery store, it had limited hours, and everything was in a foreign language so we opted to provise. 

In the Bahamas, we arrived a few hours before check-in time and went to the grocery store with our chef to do our shopping. This way he was able to get everything he needed for the meals he had planned and we were able to add snacks/make choices for ourselves. Ultimately, we saved a lot of money this way and had far less food waste! 

When is check-in/out? 

Check-in is at 4:00 pm and check-out is 10:00 am. 

Are there any additional fees? 

Yes! In addition to your charter fee that you see online, you will pay for 

1. Groceries— You are responsible for covering the grocery bill. Prices can get pretty steep in foreign countries so I would account for roughly $1,000, payable by card. 
2. Fuel— You are responsible for filling the boat on the last day of your charter. How much fuel you depends on how much you motor vs sail, how much time you spend on the water vs land, how often you use the generator, etc. The price of fuel obviously varies by country— in Greece, we paid $890, in the Bahamas only $290 so it really just depends on where you are! This is payable by card. 
3. Port/docking fees— Some days you may just anchor down and sleep in the middle of the bay which is free and others you may want to dock the boat and sleep in a port. A typical port fee is roughly $15-$30 a night. Your captain will total this up at the end of the week, payable by cash. 
4. Tip— It’s standard to tip your crew 15-20% of your charter fee at the end of the week. Cash is preferred. 

Do you sleep on the boat? 

Yes, you will sleep every night on the boat. It sounds a little scary at first but I promise it’s some of the best nights of sleep you’ll ever have, haha. As mentioned, some nights you will anchor down in the middle of the bay/ocean, and others you will be docked. Your captain will be able to accommodate whichever preference you may have.

Do you get seasick? 

I personally had no issues on either trip. I suggest packing Dramamine with you regardless— just in case! 

How do you come up with the itinerary? 

There is a loose itinerary that each captain follows in order for you to hit all of the local/must-see spots. This itinerary also ensures you have the smoothest water conditions as the winds play a big role in their pre-determined route. Typically you will explore a new island each day however if you are enjoying an area and want to stay longer or want to skip one altogether, they usually can accommodate this! 

How much time do you spend on land vs the boat? 

The best part is, this is entirely up to you! Before your charter, I suggest reaching out to your captain via What’s App and sharing your preferences. Some people prefer to spend most of the day exploring the small port towns and villages— shopping, going to the beach, and eating at local restaurants. Other people prefer more time on the water— sailing, snorkeling, fishing, paddle boarding, etc. 

You have time to do both! So while yes they follow a loose itinerary, the timeline is essentially up to you, the client.

Where do you fly into? 

If you’re traveling to the Bahamas you will fly into Marsh Harbor. 

How do you get from the airport to the dock? 

Navigare offers private shuttles that will drive you from the airport to the docking station however I suggest taxing as it’s much cheaper. Payable by cash only. 

Where do you board to get on your boat?

You will be given the address for the base in whichever country you are visiting prior to check-in day.

In the Bahamas, you will taxi from the airport to this base. You will then check in at the office, meet your Crew, and get on board. Check-in time is at 4:00 pm and you should be setting sail within the hour!

Do you sail or use a motor on the boat?

Each boat has a motor and sails— depending on the winds you’ll be able to use both. While sailing does usually make travel time longer, I suggest doing so as much as possible to reduce your fuel costs at the end of the week! 

Interested in booking a charter with Navigare? Browse all of their trip options here—Caribbean destinations are currently 30% off and last-minute charters as low as $600!

I’ve been on over forty trips in the last year and can confidently say my experiences with Navigare have been my favorite. Not only is being on a boat with your best friends so fun, but it’s such a unique way to see a new country/immerse yourself in the country. Far from touristy, you get the freedom to build out your dream itinerary which is game-changing. 

I highly suggest skipping out on the all-inclusive resort and booking a charter instead for your next family vacation, honeymoon, girls’ trip, etc! Let me know if you have any additional questions; I’d be happy to answer!