Charter
Guide

We love to search for your perfect yacht, to suggest your dream itinerary, to create longlife memories. Quickly & easily.

Our experts will take you step by step through:

  • understanding your needs and your expectations

  • suggesting the best yacht for your group

  • suggesting suitable charter areas and which islands to visit

  • offering top quality service and support throughout your holiday

  • arranging for any special requirements that you may need

Our aim is always to arrange a perfect sailing holiday for every one of our guests.

To get started simply contact us and let us know:

  • Your experience with yachts (any sailing qualifications and if you would like a bareboat or skippered charter)

  • The number of people in your party (and if any of them need a single private cabin)

  • Any preferences in the islands you would like to visit

  • When you are planning to be in Greece

  • Any other information or questions you have regarding your charter

The Offer Process

In case we need any further details we will contact you to discuss your plans and confirm any unclear points. We then send our complete and detailed proposal and offer. If you have any further questions we are happy to answer any detail. The official charter contract, invoice and payment instruction will follow your final confirmation of your chosen offer.

Prior to your arrival we will ask for all your arrival information and a complete list of your requirements (transfers, hotel reservations, provisions, etc). We ensure to take care of each little detail so you can rest easy upon your arrival in Greece.

For common questions about our bareboat charters including types of qualifications needed, check-in procedures and security deposit and insurance details please consult out bareboat charters page.

For common questions about our skippered yacht charters including how to choose the right boat for you, check-in procedures and insurance details please consult out skippered charters page.

HAMBURGER YACHTVERSICHERUNG SCHOMACKER

Deposit Insurance
Charter yachts usually have fully comprehensive hull insurance. The charter company and its insurance company will usually have agreed a deductible (retention) payable in the event of damage occurring.

The deductible normally corresponds to the security deposit paid by the charterer. If damage is sustained by the yacht during the sailing trip, the charter company is entitled to retain all or part of the security deposit paid. This guarantee insurance for charter security deposits cover this financial risk.

Our insurance for charter deposits does not require payment of a deductible.

Skipper’s Liability Insurance
The cover sum is €10,000,000.00 for personal injury and damage to property.

Skipper`s Liability Insurance covers the statutory liability of the policy holder in his capacity as a charterer and operator of a yacht - anywhere in the world.

The insurance policy covers:

• Damage to a chartered yacht where gross negligence is proven.
• Compensation claims of the crew members among one another.
• Security deposits up to €125,000.00 where the yacht is impounded in a foreign port.
• Claims of the owner for loss of charter income as a result of culpable significant damage to the yacht up to €25,000.00.

Cancellation of travel costs insurance incl. curtailment of travel insurance
If the skipper is rendered incapable through an insured event/ circumstance, the costs of the entire charter sailing trip will be compensated with a deduction for the payable excess (deductible). If a crew member is rendered incapable, this insurance will pay the appropiate proportional amount of compensation less the payable excess (deductible). The curtailment of travel during the sailing trip is also insured.

The cancellation of travel costs insurance will pay compensation as follows:

I. If the skipper is unable to be present at the start of travel and the entire charter must therefore be cancelled, the policy will pay the incident cancellation costs in respect of the skipper and crew.
II. If a crew member is unable to start the travel, the policy will pay compensation for the proportional charter price for that crew member.
III. The cancellation of travel costs insurance, moreover, will compensate the unused part of the charter fee if the sailing trip is curtailed due to an insured event/circumstance.

Skipper's Passenger Accident Insurance
The Passenger Accident Insurance covers accidents suffered by the skipper or the skipper and the crew (based on crew list). In the event of injury the insured amount will be divided among the registered persons. If only the skipper is insured, he will be entitled to the full insured amount.
The cover provided by this insurance includes:

• Accidents when using the dinghy.
• Transporting body back home in event of death.
• The medically necessary return of injured person(s) to home town.
• Injuries typically sustained in diving, such as injuries including compression sickness or eardrum injuries as well as drowning or suffocation
• The insurance policy also covers accidents where the insured person is unexpectedly affected by war or civil war abroad.
• Rescue costs in the event of a heart attack or stroke. The insurance covers search missions for persons injured in an accident even where the occurrence of an accident is only assumed. Also covered are nautical emergencies or severe damage to the vessel.
• Please note: Taking part in regattas or motorboat races is only covered where a supplement is paid.

PANTAENIUS

With Pantaenius insurance solutions for charter customers, the insurance cover adapts to your individual needs.

Available Insurance Options:

Skipper's liability insurance
Skipper's liability insurance covers damage that is caused to third parties through the use of the chartered motor or sailing yacht and tender by the skipper and crew. Included in the insured risks are damage to other ships and to harbor or jetty installations. Damage arising from gross negligence on the chartered ship and not covered by the lessor's hull insurance is also included. Also included are cover for cancellation of charter, confiscation, hotel and transport costs and financial loss.

Trip Cancellation Costs Insurance
Return journey cost insurance reimburses any contractually payable charter cancellation costs and outward and return travel costs arising from the non-availability of a non-commercial skipper or of one or more crew members, or, if the journey is abandoned after commencement, any additionally incurred return journey costs and the relevant portion of the charter costs.

 Travel Health Insurance
In addition to costs of medical treatment, medication and admission to hospital, foreign travel health insurance reimburses any return ambulance transport to the home country or repatriation costs in case of death.

Personal Accident Insurance
The accident insurance in our charter package provides cover in cases of death and invalidity, including a number of aspects that are not protected by general accident insurance. Skipper and crew are insured during private use of the chartered yacht, tenders and water-sports equipment and for trips ashore of up to 48 hours.

Bond Insurance
Bond insurance covers the financial risk in cases where the lessor retains the bond provided, in full or in part –whether or not this is justified.

DO YOU HOLD A YACHT WHILE I DECIDE IF I WISH TO BOOK?
In case you are interested in our yacht proposal, we will be glad to send you any additional information and hold the yacht for you (with no commitment or payment from you) for a few days pending your final conclusion for the booking. This period is necessary for you to organize your travel arrangements and get approval from your crew before you are ready to commit.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO RECEIVE MY BOOKING CONFIRMATION?
Once you are ready to commit to a booking and we confirm yacht’s availability for the requested charter period, we will prepare and send you reservation forms in our next email (usually within the same day).

DO I NEED TO SIGN A CONTRACT BEFORE SAILING?
Upon booking, we will send you a proforma contract stating your reservation’s details such as charter period, base, and yacht model. You are kindly requested to review, sign and return this to us via email so as to consider your booking secured.

WE WANT TO MAKE CHANGES TO OUR BOOKING, IS THIS POSSIBLE?
You may contact us if you need to make any changes (always using your booking’s Istion reference code) and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. 
We are committed to creating your perfect sailing holidays!

HOW DO I PAY FOR MY YACHT CHARTER?
Upon reservation, we will provide you with company’s bank details so as to proceed with a wire transfer for charter’s payment. If it’s more convenient for you to proceed with a credit card (Visa/Mastercard, no debit card), we will send you our online payment instructions.

PAYMENT POLICY
- 30% upon confirmation
- 20% by 10/1/2023
- 50% 35 days prior

For bookings confirmed after 10/1/23, a 50% deposit will be required

CAN I REQUEST AN INVOICE?
Yes, you can request this at the time of booking and our Accounting Department will provide you with a corresponding invoice.

WHAT IS THE CANCELLATION POLICY?


Time of Cancellation (Notification to Istion Yachting in Writing)

CANCELLATION POLICY
- Before 10/1/23: 30% cancellation fee
- Between 10/1/23 – 35 days prior to charter date: 50% cancellation fee
- Less than 35 days prior to charter date: 100% cancellation fee

Cancellation of Crew arrangements (Skipper/Hostess):
If notice of cancellation is given 1 to 35 days prior to departure 25% of agreed services price is due.

No-Show Cancellation:
100% of all amounts including charter price, mandatory/optional extras and any crew is due.

The ISTION Cancellation guarantee: In any event of cancellation, Istion Yachting guarantees that in case the yacht is re-let under same conditions (i.e. charter period, price etc.), any payments received will be credited for use on future charter booking. Credit can be used only for future charters embarking no later than October 30th of the following year.

I NEED TO CANCEL MY HOLIDAY, HOW DO I DO THIS?
You will need to send your cancellation request to Istion Yachting in writing via email ([email protected]) and we will in turn advise you based on your departure date.

THE CHARTERER CANNOT JOIN THE TRIP, BUT THE REST OF US STILL WANT TO GO. IS THIS OKAY?
Yes, just notify us about this so we can make the necessary changes in your existing booking. If charterer is the skipper too we can hire a skipper for your group instead.

IS THE END CLEANING INCLUDED IN THE CHARTER FEE?
Yes, the end cleaning is included in the charter fee.

IS THE OUTBOARD INCLUDED IN THE CHARTER FEE?
Yes, the outboard along with the first fill for the outboard engine are included in the charter fee.

HOW CAN I ESTIMATE HOW MUCH FUEL I WILL USE AND PAY FOR AFTER THE CHARTER?
Depending on the use of the engine & generator (if any), the average cost for a monohull is €200-300/week and for a catamaran is €400-600/week.

WHEN DO I NEED TO PAY FOR THE EXTRAS?
All extras are payable to independent providers prior to embarkation AT BASE directly by the charterer.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I WANT TO PICK-UP MY YACHT EARLIER THAN THE CONTRACTED TIME?
While we do have to refer to the official contracted time of 17h00, we could offer the option of Fast Track access to the yacht by 14h00 IF feasible (paid extra at base). You can contact us if you wish to add this and we will note it in your charter file.
If for any reason it would not be feasible to have the yacht ready by 14h00, you would not be charged and we would refer once again to official check-in time which is 17h00.

WHAT ITEMS WILL I NEED TO BRING ON YACHT?    
Depending on your holiday mood and if you plan on enjoying a relaxing time aboard, we recommend keeping it simple and bringing only the essentials in terms of clothes, shoes and extras in general. You need to bring with you a cable for charging your devices and to connect it with the yacht’s music player through USB or AUX input. Most of our yachts are equipped with 12V USB ports in the cabins and you can also charge through electric sockets (220V if available), jus to have in mind that the charger type must be adjusted to a 2-pin European style socket.


WHAT TYPE OF CLOTHING SHOULD I PACK?
The key for sailing charters is simplicity and a minimum of unneeded extras. Casual and breezy beach attire is certainly the order of the day on deck, though for evenings ashore, slacks or a sundress are appropriate. Rubber soled shoes as opposed to hard soles are recommended aboard our yachts, so wear boat shoes or tennis shoes. You may find aquatic shoes convenient for beachcombing. Above all, protection from the sun is vital – lots of suntan lotion, wide-brimmed hats or sailing caps, and loose-fitting cotton cover-ups. For cool or windy evenings, a windbreaker comes in handy. Don't forget to pack it all in soft-shell baggage for easy onboard storage.

SAILING AND WEATHER TIPS
Upon your arrival, our Base staff will provide a weather forecast and share with you sailing tips based on the prevalent weather conditions. 

In general, the climate in Greece is typical of the Mediterranean climate: mild and rainy winters, relatively hot and dry summers and, generally, extended periods of sunshine throughout most of the year. A great variety of climate subtypes, always within the Mediterranean climate frame, are encountered in several regions of Greece. This is due to the influence of topography (great mountain chains along the central part and other mountainous bodies) on the air masses coming from the moisture sources of the central Mediterranean Sea.

During the warm and dry periods, the weather is usually stable, the sky is clear, the sun is bright and there is generally no rainfall. There are, however, infrequent and brief intervals of rapid rain chiefly over mainland areas. The warm period starts in April and ends end of October with and average air temperature from 20 to 30 degrees Celsius.

The warmest period occurs during June, July and August, when the mean maximum temperature lies between 29.0 and 35.0 degrees Celsius. During the warm period the high temperatures are tempered by fresh sea breezes in the coastal areas of the country and from the north winds, known as 'Meltemi', blowing mainly in the Aegean.

WILL YOU OFFER ROUTE RECOMMENDATIONS OR ITINERARIES?
Upon your arrival, our base staff will be there to welcome you and share with you regional recommendations and tips. 

IS THERE A FIRST AID KIT ON THE YACHT?
Yes, the yacht is equipped with a complete first aid kit and prepared following all official requirements as defined by the relevant health institutions, for the prevention of the transmission and spread of SARS-Cov-2.

ARE THERE ANY CHILD OR AGE RESTRICTIONS?
All ages are welcome! Our base staff and/or skipper will provide guidance for onboard safety meanwhile kayaks and other available water toys, will create a fantastic family vacation experience!

ARE PETS ALLOWED ON BOARD?
You can bring your pet along (up to 4kg)! Contact us for the pet on board fee & further info.

ARE THE PICTURES OF THE BOATS ON THE WEBSITE ACTUAL?
The provided photos and videos are only indicative as to the type and model of the yachts offered. They are not actual photos or videos of the vessels offered by the company (unless expressly stated herein).  Please contact us for additional photos & more information.

HOW MUCH CASH SHOULD I TAKE WITH ME?
All extras are payable to independent providers in cash, prior to embarkation by the charterer at base. Apart from this, make sure you have enough cash with you to cover any running expenses (i.e. fuel consumption, port fees) and your personal expenses of course (i.e. food & water consumption).

DO YOU RECOMMEND TRAVEL INSURANCE?
Obtaining adequate holiday insurance can cover you in a wide range of situations for your upcoming sailing trip. A plan could provide coverage for things like interruption due to unforeseen events including pandemic, trip cancellation, accidental injury or illness, natural disaster, missed airline connections, and more. As there are many insurance packages available in the market, find out what works best for you.

Below we present a list of updated charter documents which are available as PDFs and will open in a new browser window. If you have any questions or concerns we invite you to contact us and an Istion expert will be happy to advise you.

Documents for Bareboat Charters

Documents for Crewed Charters

In this website all information is given in good faith. However, Istion Yachting does not have any responsibility for possible text or typing mistakes and any information given by third parties (yacht builders, other company's' services, etc.).

Products and services presented in this web site are offered by different, separated companies under Istion Yachting umbrella, following group's common policies and ethics. Each company acts separately & independently.

The equipment presented with videos and pictures on the displayed yachts may vary from the equipment of the offered yachts. Displayed yachts are presented to indicate the type and the model of the yachts offered. They are not actual pictures or actual videos of the vessels offered by the company (unless otherwise is stated). The yachts offered are described in the specific offer statement of the company for each inquiry/charter contract.

Described services and facilities are indicative. They may vary depending on actual conditions (for example the period, base or yacht chartered).

Terms, conditions and prices may vary. They can be revised without any prior notice.

We can all protect the environment and minimize the pollution of the seas by ensuring packaging is not thrown overboard, collecting cigarette butts, reducing the amount of disposable items we use on board (opt for reusable products), recycling as much as possible, and using water responsibly.