A catamaran with a captain means you book the boat and the person who sails it. You swim, explore, eat and relax, while a licensed skipper handles navigation, anchoring, docking and the daily weather call. In Greece it is the easiest way to see several islands in one week without needing a sailing license yourself.
This guide walks you through what a captain actually does, what usually comes with the charter, which costs show up on top, what to ask about solar power, generators and water toys, and how to choose a route and season that fit your group.
TL;DR
- A skippered catamaran charter gives you a boat and a professional captain, so no license or sailing experience is needed from you.
- The captain sails and makes the safety calls. You and your group choose the mood: lazy bays, lively harbors or a mix.
- Ask upfront what the price covers: fuel, port fees, final cleaning, provisions for the captain, and any toys or extras.
- If you want comfort features like solar panels, a generator or paddleboards, check them in the boat’s listing before you book.
- You can charter the whole boat privately or join a group week and pay per person. On our Greece private weeks, prices start from 560 € per week per person.
Cuprins
- What a captain does on a catamaran
- Skippered, crewed or bareboat: what’s the difference?
- What’s usually included, and what’s extra
- Solar panels, generators and onboard comfort
- Water toys and activities
- Choosing your route and your week
- Private week or group week?
- Our perspective on skippered catamaran holidays
- Ready to sail? Start here
- Întrebări frecvente
- Surse
What a captain does on a catamaran
The captain is in charge of the boat, the crew and the safety of everyone aboard. That covers a few concrete jobs.
- Planning each day. Checking the forecast, choosing the next bay or harbor, and deciding when to leave so that the sailing part is pleasant.
- Handling the boat. Sailing, motoring, anchoring, mooring and picking up a buoy. Docking a catamaran in a busy harbor is a skill, and this is where having a pro pays off.
- Keeping you safe. Briefing you on the boat on day one, from life jackets to the toilets, and making the call to stay in port when conditions are not right.
- Local knowledge. Where to swim before the crowds arrive, which village has the good taverna, where to anchor for a quiet night.
On our trips, the routes are curated by experienced, professionally trained skippers from CAPETAN.club, so the itinerary you see has been sailed and shaped by people who know the waters.
What stays with you is simple: being on time for departures, looking after your own belongings, following the captain’s safety instructions, and telling the captain what kind of week you want. Most captains are happy to adapt the route to your group, as long as it is safe.
Do you help sail?
Only if you want to. Many guests never touch a rope, and others love to take the helm for an hour or trim a sail. Tell the captain on day one and they will make room for it. If you are a sailing enthusiast, a skippered week is also a relaxed way to learn the rhythm of a boat.
Skippered, crewed or bareboat: what’s the difference?
These three terms get mixed up, so here is the short version.
| Opțiune | Who sails | Who cooks and cleans | Cel mai bun pentru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bareboat | You, with a valid license and experience | tine | Experienced groups that want full control |
| Skippered | A professional captain | You (often with shared meals ashore and on board) | Friends and families who want freedom and good value |
| Echipaj complet | Captain plus extra crew such as a chef or hostess | The crew | Groups that want a hotel-style service on the water |
When people search for a catamaran with a captain, they usually mean the middle option. If a full crew is what you are after, our guide to what a crewed yacht charter involves explains how that level of service works.
What’s usually included, and what’s extra
Every operator packages things a little differently, so the honest answer is: read the line items. These are the questions worth asking before you pay a deposit.
Typically part of the charter:
- The boat, with standard equipment such as bed linen, kitchen basics and safety gear
- The captain’s services
- A briefing and handover at the base
Often paid on top:
- Fuel, charged by consumption at the end of the week
- Port and marina fees, and sometimes mooring buoys
- Final cleaning and any transit log or fees
- Food and drinks for you and for the captain
- Optional extras: outboard dinghy motor, paddleboards, snorkel sets, airport transfers
Some of those items may be bundled into the price you see, and some not. The cost of fuel depends on how much you motor versus sail, and port fees depend on whether you pick marinas or anchor out. For a full picture of how weekly budgets add up in Greece, see our Analiza costurilor pentru închirierea unui catamaran.
One practical tip: ask for a written list of what is included and what is not before you commit, and compare quotes on the same basis. A lower headline price with many extras can end up costing more than a clear one.
Mâncare la bord
Most groups mix cooking on board with dinners ashore. A catamaran galley is roomy enough for real meals, and a simple provisioning list goes a long way. Our guide to easy provisioning and cooking on a catamaran shows how to plan it without overbuying.
Solar panels, generators and onboard comfort
People ask about solar panels and generators because they affect how comfortable the boat feels at anchor. Here is what they do in plain terms.
- Solar panels help keep the batteries topped up, so lights, fridge and charging ports keep working while you swim and explore. In some electric setups they can also feed the propulsion batteries.
- A generator is a backup for when there is little wind or the batteries run low. According to one manufacturer of electric systems for charter boats, battery capacity, hydro generation and a generator set can support air conditioning, refrigeration, induction cooktops and sound systems.
What that means for you: if you want cold drinks all week, to charge phones and cameras easily or to run air conditioning at night, look for those features in the boat description. Air conditioning in particular is usually tied to a generator or shore power at a marina, so ask how it works at anchor. When you book through us, you can ask us about the boat options on a given date and what each one has on board.
Water toys and activities
Toys turn a boat into a floating playground, especially with kids or a group of friends. Depending on the boat, you may find:
- Stand-up paddleboards and kayaks
- Snorkel masks and fins
- An inflatable dinghy with an outboard motor for beach runs
- Floating mats or inflatable rings
Do not assume any of this is standard. Check the listing, confirm what is free and what has a fee, and ask about safety gear. Always follow the captain’s guidance on where and when to use them: swimming near a anchored boat in a busy bay, or taking a dinghy out in a breeze, is a judgment call that belongs to the captain. Children should wear properly fitted life jackets whenever they are on deck or in the dinghy.
Short outings versus a full week
If you are only in Greece for a day or two, a short boat outing can give you a taste of life on the water. Ideas for short catamaran excursions and day outings show how varied these can be. A full week is a different experience: you wake up in a new bay most mornings, with the sea as your endless swimming pool, and you have time to slow down.
Choosing your route and your week
Greece is not one sailing area but several, and each has its own feel. Talk through the following before you pick.
- How much do you want to sail each day? Short hops between islands leave more time for swimming and lunches. Longer legs suit groups who love being underway.
- What mood are you after? Lively harbor towns and nightlife, quiet anchorages, or a mix. A good captain builds the week around your answer.
- Cine vine? Families benefit from short distances and calm bays. Friends groups often like a mix of party stops and secluded coves.
- How many cabins do you need? Catamarans offer more private space than a monohull, and our explainer on the single cabin catamaran can help if you are a smaller party.
If you are comparing why a multihull suits groups in the first place, we cover that in why groups choose catamarans și why charter a catamaran for a group trip.
When to go
Greek sailing season runs roughly from spring to autumn. Midsummer brings the hottest weather and the busiest harbors, and the Aegean can be breezy in summer. Late spring and early autumn tend to feel calmer and less crowded, though conditions vary year to year. Your captain will watch the forecast daily and adjust the route, which is one of the biggest benefits of a skippered week. For current seasonal patterns and weather outlooks, check the Hellenic National Meteorological Service forecasts close to your departure.
What to pack
Pack light and soft: duffel bags instead of hard suitcases, because storage on a boat is tight. Bring swimwear, a hat, reef-safe sunscreen, non-marking shoes for deck, a light layer for evenings and any medication you need. Your captain will tell you what else is useful once the route is set.
Private week or group week?
A private charter means the boat is yours and your people’s. You set the pace, the playlist and the route with the captain. It is ideal for families, close friends and anyone who values privacy. Our navigație privată pagina arată cum funcționează acest lucru, și ghid de închiriere iaht privat merge mai adânc.
A group holiday is the other path. You book a cabin, meet your fellow sailors on board, and share a curated route. It is perfect for single travelers and small parties who want company and a social atmosphere without organizing a whole boat. If you are not sure which one fits, vacanță de navigație privată sau de grup lays out the differences side by side.
Families with younger kids may also like the flotilla format, where several boats sail together. Our flotilla sailing guide for families and groups explains it, and our idei de vacanță de navigație în familie show routes that work well with children.
Our perspective on skippered catamaran holidays
We believe a catamaran with a captain is the best way to meet the Greek islands. You get space, stability and a captain who knows the waters, and you get to spend your energy on the fun parts of the week.
Our routes are curated by experienced, professionally trained skippers from CAPETAN.club, so the days you see on paper have been shaped by sailors. We want you to have the flexibility of a private charter and the sociability of a group trip, and we offer both, with transparent pricing, detailed boat options and personal support from actual sailors at every step.
Whether you come with five friends, a family of four or on your own, our goal is the same: that you step off the boat at the end of the week with salt in your hair and a list of reasons to come back.
Go Sailing
Ready to sail? Start here
If you would like a captain, a catamaran and a route in Greece without the planning headaches, our private Greece week is the place to begin. Prices start from 560 € per week per person, and you can tailor boat type and departure dates to your group.
See the details on our Greece private sailing holiday page, or browse everything we offer on sailarmada.com. Prefer to join a crew? Our vacanțe de navigatie de grup are open to single travelers and small parties.
Întrebări frecvente
Do I need a sailing license to charter a catamaran with a captain?
No. On a skippered charter, the captain is responsible for sailing the boat, so you do not need a license or previous experience. If you would like to help with the sails or take a turn at the helm, tell the captain and they will usually welcome it.
Is the captain’s food included?
It depends on the operator and the booking. On many skippered charters, the captain’s meals are part of what the group provides, so check this line in your quote. Ask upfront so there are no surprises at the supermarket.
Can I get a catamaran with air conditioning, solar panels or a generator?
Some boats have them and some do not. Solar panels help keep batteries charged, and a generator can support power-hungry systems when there is little wind. Check the boat’s equipment list and ask how air conditioning is powered at anchor.
Are water toys included?
Not always. Paddleboards, snorkel gear and dinghies are common, but whether they are free or paid depends on the boat and the booking. Confirm the list before you book and follow the captain’s advice on safe use.
Is a catamaran good for families?
Many families like catamarans because of the wide, stable deck and the extra living space. Choose shorter daily distances, bring child-sized life jackets if the boat does not supply them, and talk through routines with your captain on day one.
Surse
- Electric motorization for charter boats, E-Nav Systems
- Short catamaran excursions and day outings, Rejs i Danmark
