Crewed vs bareboat yacht charter: what's the difference?
A crewed yacht charter comes with a professional crew who run the yacht, cook and serve you, and needs no licence. A bareboat charter is the yacht alone, which you skipper yourself and which requires sailing qualifications. Crewed suits full-service luxury holidays; bareboat suits experienced sailors on a budget.
Key facts
- Crewed = yacht + professional crew (captain, chef, service). No licence needed.
- Bareboat = yacht only; you skipper it and must hold a recognised sailing licence.
- Crewed charters include a chef and full service; bareboat you self-cater and self-navigate.
- Crewed is the norm for motor yachts and yachts over ~18 metres; bareboat is common for smaller sailing yachts and catamarans.
| Crewed charter | Bareboat charter | |
|---|---|---|
| Crew | Professional captain + crew included | None — you skipper it yourself |
| Licence required | No | Yes — recognised sailing qualification |
| Cooking / provisioning | Chef included, meals to your preferences | Self-catered |
| Typical cost | Higher — pays for crew and full service | Lower — yacht only |
| Best for | Full-service holidays, families, non-sailors | Qualified sailors on a tighter budget |
Indicative ranges — confirmed by your broker on enquiry.
What a crewed charter includes
On a crewed charter you have the entire yacht and its crew to yourselves. A typical crew is a captain and chef on smaller yachts, expanding to deckhands, stewardesses and specialist water-sports crew as the yacht grows.
The crew plans the itinerary with you, navigates, cooks every meal to your preferences, keeps the yacht immaculate and sets up water toys. You make the holiday decisions; they handle the work. No boating experience is required.
What a bareboat charter involves
A bareboat charter is the yacht on its own. You are the skipper: you plan passages, handle the yacht, provision the galley and cook. It offers total independence at a lower price, because there is no crew to pay for.
Charter companies require the lead person to hold a recognised sailing qualification (such as an ICC, RYA Day Skipper or equivalent) and often a second competent crew member. It suits experienced sailors comfortable running a yacht themselves.
How to choose
Choose crewed if you want a relaxing, full-service luxury holiday, are travelling with family or non-sailors, or are chartering a motor yacht or a yacht over roughly 18 metres.
Choose bareboat if you are a qualified sailor, enjoy running the boat yourself, are on a tighter budget and are chartering a smaller sailing yacht or catamaran. Many charterers who start bareboat later move to crewed for the comfort and the chef.
Common questions
Is a crewed charter much more expensive than bareboat?
Yes, a crewed charter costs more because you are paying for professional crew and full service, but it includes a captain and chef and requires no qualifications. Bareboat is cheaper but you supply your own skippering, cooking and provisioning.
Do I need a licence for a crewed charter?
No. A crewed charter needs no sailing licence or experience — the professional captain runs the yacht. A licence is only required for bareboat charters, where you skipper the yacht yourself.
Ready to plan yours?
Tell Teresa the region and your dates — a curated shortlist and a real, honestly-priced quote come back within the hour.
Match me with a yacht