Located in the North Eastern region of the Mediterranean is the fabulous Greek archipelago. The word archipelago means a cluster of large islands, traditionally used only for the Grecian islands but now is used around the world. There are about 3000 islands in this group but only 140 are populated. Each island is unique in its own way with its individual style, history, charm and topography.

The Grecian coastline has a lot of variety to offer, from pebbled coves to golden sands, rocky outcrops, steep cliffs and hidden coves. With its lagoons, lakes, rivers, fabulous cuisines, local wines and lush forests, the islands offer a lot of onshore activity as well. You can stop by on a secluded island if you are looking for privacy or dance the night away in one of the more happening islands. Greek is great for shopping addicts as well; you’ll find plenty of local crafts, souvenir places and trendy boutiques.

Just like all the other yacht charters, there are a variety of boats that one can choose from, for the Greek islands sailing experience:
·    Bareboat charters - offer an ultimate freedom and for these waters you can also choose a motor boat.
·    Cabin Charters – are bigger vessels that can carry up to 50 passengers and yet offer enough privacy because there are separate cabin rentals for each person or couple.
·    Crewed Yacht Charters - are the ultimate in luxury for those who can afford the cost. Luxurious and pretty expensive.
·    Regattas – Without being the sailing masters, you can buy your participation and experience the thrill of the being part of the races.
·    Cruise travel- a comfortable way to travel and meet new people in a cruise liner where everything is taken care of, its just like a floating hotel.
·    Flotillas- Especially recommended for the Grecian waters as they can be a bit tough to manoeuvre. Here you have your own boat but a group of boats sail together on the same route and keep track of each other. Highly recommended for people who want their privacy but do not have a very long sailing experience.

The Greek islands can be accessed throughout the year, and though the summer sailing season is popular with most people, winter sailing season has its own advantages. The weather can be a bit unpredictable but there fewer tourists, you can get good deals on the charters and the weather is pleasant and cool for onshore explorations. Most of the year the sea is quite calm and a pleasure to sail on.

There are 6 main cruising areas in Greece. Each area is unique in its own way and whichever route you choose, you’ll still end up having a great time without wondering about the other areas. Depending on your sailing experience and time on your hands, you can choose a cluster of islands that will suit your sailing requirements. The different island groups are the Saronic Islands, the Cyclades, the Dodecanese, the Ionian Islands and the Sporades Islands.
Out of all these islands the Saronic Islands are highly recommended for people who haven’t sailed in Greece before. You can start from Athens and move on to the various islands in this group. The main advantage is that these islands are very close to the coast, are sheltered and the best place to sail when the weather gets a bit rough. However if you want to explore a bit more, you can head to the Cyclades where you have a plethora of islands and you can sail for months here without ever getting bored.

Finally wherever you decide to sail in the stunning Greek islands, the warm and friendly people with their multitude of festivals, rich cuisines and cultural background will fascinate and thrill you. The mythical Greek islands will cast their charm on you so strong, that you’ll want to come back again to experience this beautiful country.

Caribbean charter holidays are the stuff that dreams are made of. They are an amazing amalgamation of adventure and leisure. You can choose from abundance of activities and explore the multitude of islands, each unique in its own amazing way. From old forts to sleepy villages, tropical forests, stunning waterfalls, live bands, snorkelling, scuba diving, bonfires and unique restaurants, the Caribbean islands have a plethora of choices for a well rounded vacation.

From St Thomas to Trinidad the Caribbean arc is combination of various cultures that gives each island its distinct identity. However the most popular amongst the Caribbean islands, are the Virgin Islands, located in the Leeward belt.

The Virgin Islands are divided into two territories; the US Virgin Islands (USVI) and the British Virgin Islands (BVI). An amazing group of 60 thriving volcanic islands, they have a history that goes back a long way. From swashbuckling pirates to the arrival of Christopher Columbus, these islands will hurl you into back in time with their fables of ship wrecks and lost treasures.

The main islands of the USVI are St Thomas, St John and St Croix. They have been fondly nicknamed as “Rock City”, “Love City” and “Twin City. The American Virgin islands are stunningly beautiful and are famous for windmills, national parks, hiking, local artisans, secluded islands, duty free shopping and a fabulous nightlife. People from different parts of the world have settled here, and the community is interracial, warm and friendly.

St John is well known for its national park and untouched beauty. The coral reefs are well protected and its one of best places for snorkelling. St Thomas is a shopper’s paradise due to its free port status and duty free shopping. It is also is a connecting point for the Caribbean islands as most flights land and take off from here. St Croix has rolling green hills and huge windmills and has both indoor and outdoor recreational activities. It offers casinos, horse riding, golf courses, and fine dining restaurants.

The British Virgin Islands are very unlike their American counterparts as they
buzz with activity, are more in number and are more popular amongst new
sailors. Each of the islands is one of a kind and is worth a visit. Usually the yacht tours start from the biggest island Tortola, continues up to Jost Van Dyke and winds up back in Tortola.

Tortola is a hub of activity and full of frangipani. It has beautiful sunsets and is a good anchorage point. Norman island is known for its treasure chest fables and sea level caves. It is a great place to snorkel for the lost treasures. Peter Island is perfect for picnic spots and serene resorts. You can also explore the shipwreck in the Salt Island made famous by the movie “The Deep”.

Virgin Gorda is famous for its Baths that have been formed by volcanic activities due to the placement of boulders that protect the pools and is a great place for swimming. Anegada is an underwater paradise which is a known for its coral reefs and grilled giant lobsters. Marina Cay is a visual delight with its brightly painted villas and a riot of colourful flowers spread everywhere. Jost Van Dyke is great for kayaking and popular for its beach bars and entertainment.

The best way to explore the Virgin Islands in the Caribbean is via a yacht charter, whether you choose between a bare boat or a cruise, the Caribbean holidays will stay in the scar tissue of your mind forever.

Each location will have a choice of yacht types, and many companies will vie for your attention. Take the help of a charter consultant and discuss your budget, experience, crew type and the type of holiday you have in mind. You have an abundance of choice from sailing yachts to motor yachts, luxury yachts, crewed, skippered, catamarans and bare boats. Choose wisely and enjoy the perfect holiday you’ve always dreamt of.

Though there are many sailing locations around the world offering chic restaurants, beautiful harbours, sunsets, adventures, secluded beaches, but the Caribbean waters are hard to beat due the smooth sailing, the calm waters, warm summers and variety of scenery that it offers. Popular Yacht races like the Antigua Super Yacht cup and the St Bart’s Bucket Regatta are also held in these waters. Caribbean sailing is considered to be “the king” amongst all the sailing locations around the world. The ocean that surrounds the island is full of ancient and marine treasures waiting to be explored and the islands vary from high mountainous regions to stunning flat beaches.

There are three types of locations within the Caribbean islands, the Virgin islands, the Leeward group of islands and the Windward Islands. Each cluster has its own uniqueness and though the British Virgin Islands are most popular, the Leeward and the Windward islands have a charm of their own. The islands are highly developed and the best part about these charters is that you are never too far away from land.

The Leeward islands offer one of the best sailing areas in the Caribbean, when it comes to Super yachts and luxury motor yachts, as there are longer distances between the islands in the open sea conditions. Know as the lesser Antilles, this is a yachtsman’s paradise. These islands are a part of the East Caribbean chain, starting with St Kitts, Nevis, St Martin and St Bart in the North, Antigua in the middle, and Montserrat and Guadeloupe in the Southern region.

Leeward Islands like the other Caribbean destinations are a stimulating blend of cultures and activities. Antigua, with its distinct British influence, is known for its night life and parties; it has 365 beaches, one for each day of the year, and is popular hotspot for most sailors around the world. St Martin is renowned for its resorts, duty free shopping and choice of cuisines. Barbuda on the other hand is preferred by people looking for seclusion as it is a relatively unexplored and quiet.

St Barts is known as the French Riviera of the Caribbean. It is for the in and the happening crowd of actors, singers and sport stars. With its distinctive French influence, St Barts offers the best French wines and cuisines that money can buy. The ambiance is idyllic and beautiful.
St Kitts and Nevis are the best kept secrets of the Caribbean islands. The surreal atmosphere will enchant anyone with its foliage and brilliant flowers. Soak in the fresh air and the untainted natural beauty. The tropical forests and the cloud covered peaks add to the tranquillity of the place.

Anguilla is another island on the Leeward belt, which is famous for its spectacular white beaches and crystal clear waters. It is a great place for snorkelling and diving due to the excellent reef system that abounds here. The landscape is made up of corals, and the white sands enhance the natural beauty of this island.

Whether you’re on a honeymoon, a family reunion, or just taking a break from your regular routine, the amazing Leeward islands will not disappoint anybody. Tailored to suit your needs, the Yacht charters in the Caribbean will ensure that you have a perfect picture postcard holiday.

The Windward Islands are like a beautiful neckpiece incorporating both emerald and aquamarines. The skies are clear, the waters every shade of blue, the rainforests are lush and green, and the sands are powdery white or black, the colours that the nature has bestowed on these islands will amaze and enthral you. With a stunning backdrop like this, can the flowers and birds be far behind?

These Islands in the Caribbean have one theme that runs through all its islands consistently, sparkling warm water, endless varieties of bright tropical flowers and fruits, gentle balmy breeze laden with the scents of the sensual spices and flora and well protected colourful reefs which offer awesome diving and snorkelling experience. These tropical volcanic islands are like a small piece of heaven, buoyant amongst palm lined beaches and lush forests. The folklores and the history of the Windward Islands will remind you of a bygone era of vibrant cultures, merchants, pirates, conquests, and shipwrecks.

The Yachting season in the Caribbean islands is pretty long and the Windward Islands are no different. Though the chartering happens all year round the main season runs from November to July. The most popular months for the tourists are between mid Dec to March, and the hurricane season is officially from July to October. All kinds of yacht charters are available for these islands, depending on your budget and needs, you can choose from motorboat, bareboat, crewed yachts, catamarans, sailboat, powerboat and the super yacht charter.

The Windward Islands are a combination of different cultures and each one is strikingly beautiful and houses a plethora of activities and places to explore. Though all of them are worth visiting some are more popular then the others.

Martinique is also known as the “Isle of Flowers”. Part of the French country, this island is a breath taking mix of exotic flowers, topless beaches, volcanic mountains and huge banana and pineapple plantations. It is developed island with the French culture stamped all over the markets, boutiques, eateries, cafes and fashion shops.
There are many other activities to keep you occupied on the shore. From golf courses to Josephine’s birthplace, casinos, clubs and ballet troupes, there is enough to keep you entertained.

St Lucia is a virtual paradise with its golden sand beaches and excellent marina facilities. The ever popular St Lucia regatta is held every year in the month of Jan. Yachtsmen from all over the world converge here for wild racing and even wilder parties. It is also a hub of culture, theatre and literature. The island of St Lucia is a favourite destination for diving. The sea beds are mountainous, have a variety of coral trees, sponges, lace corals, and are home to golden spotted eels, sting rays, sharks, turtles, whales, sea horses and schools of colourful fish. There are plenty of shipwrecks for underwater adventure.

St Vincent has been made famous by the movie the Pirates of the Caribbean, it has black stretches of beaches, rich wildlife and an impressive 60 ft fall called the Falls of Baleine. The underwater topography of the island is absolutely stunning. It is also known as the critter country due to the abundance of fish life in its corals. The view from the colourful Montreal gardens and the tidal pools of the salt pond are added attractions here.

There are many more islands like the Tobago Cays, Union island, Palm Island, Petit St Vincent, Dominic and the Grenada, which form a part of the Windward island yacht charters. The Islands with their natural beauty and multi hued blue waters, offer a delightful heavenly experience to all those who dare to charter in the warm sparkling waters of the Caribbean Sea.

Croatia is made up over 1000 islands but only about 55 are populated. Croatia itself is shaped like a croissant and is a part of the central European and Mediterranean region. There are many islands that are worth a visit but many can be accessed only via sailing. It’s an amazing holiday destination with miles of beaches, swimming coves, wines, cuisines old worldly towns and very accommodative and friendly locals. The weather of course is the cherry on the cake; the coastline has a typical Mediterranean climate, balmy dry summers, mild winters, sunny beaches and warm welcoming Adriatic Sea.

With its golden sands and numerous marinas, bays and small ports, Croatia offers you a diversity which allows you to have a new experience everyday as you sail from one island to another. The mountains rise majestically against the long blue waters and long beaches; it’s a place full of aromas, colours and different flavours. As you explore, you’ll be mesmerized with the scents of thyme, sage, rosemary, mints, Spanish broom and other Mediterranean herbs growing on the slopes of these gigantic mountains.

The Croatian marinas are an amazing amalgamation of history and culture. It has had many conquerors in the past and each on them has influenced these islands with their architecture, language and folklores. The marinas are located close to most towns which are full of museums, churches, old palaces, red tiled houses and various events and festivals. Though the natives are primarily Croats here, there are other minorities like Italians, Serbians and Hungarians who’ve made these islands their home as well.

There are plenty of yacht chartering companies which offer cruises and various types of boats for every kind of tourist. The sky is the limit here when it comes to the prices, you can hire a small bare boat to a luxury yacht, all depending on the budget you have. The various kinds of boats that you can hire in these waters are mega yachts, motor yacht, sailing boats, bareboat, skippered, catamarans and the most traditional and unique to Croatian tours, the gulets.

The gulets are motor boats constructed in the Mediterranean region and traditionally made of wood. They are usually roomy with and can be steered easily into the small inlets and coves. Usually they are large enough to carry 8-16 passengers at a time and yet offer enough privacy. These have an experienced crew on board that will cater to all your needs including a choice of cuisine and onboard swimming parties.

The Croatian islands are many in number and well spaced out; therefore it’s difficult to see all of them in one sailing trip. Most people take a certain route and then come back for the other places in the next season, unless one is out on a very long holiday, it would be difficult to see all the islands at one go. Most of the sailing starts from either the popular Split or the coast of Dubrovnik.

One can start from Dubrovnik and cover the islands of Korcula, Hvar, Trstenik, Mljet,
Sipan, each of these islands offer various activities and plenty of sight seeing. Then end the yacht charter in the Dubrovnik, where you can go sight seeing, spend a little time on the shore and say goodbye to all your new friends with a promise in your heart to come back again to experience the wonderland called Croatia.

The size, shape, length and width of the sail is important when you are setting forth a sail. The availability of the different charter yachts depend on the different locations in the world. Many old yacht racers still prefer the classic cruisers, though the technology has advanced and brand new high tech racing and cruiser yachts are available.

Let’s talk about Mono hull sailing, which is great for adventure sailing or cruising. They include schooners, sloops and ketches. They do not have much interior and unused deck space like the multi hulls. The Mono hull powerboats provide extra space, comfort and luxury.

The Multi hull enthusiasts say it is better and have more advantages that the mono hull. They point out that the multi hull provide with considerably more room eveywhere on the boat. So, it is not crowded and is relatively easy to get some privacy. Another major reason why most persons prefer the multi hull is that it is safer for kids, because it does not cause any seasickness.

The major difference for anyone between these two is that the multi hull sails faster than the mono hull.

The mono hull lovers do accept that the multi hull has technical advantages, although the entire pleasure and fun of the adventure lies in mono hull. That is the most important fact that makes the mono hull lovers core adventure lovers. The debate will go on, just like the photographers debate - which is best? the film or the digital.

But, what is adventure without some risk and fun? Well, its your choice, mono hull or multi hull.

Mediterranean yacht charter holiday locations are unsurpassed in their natural beauty, cultural heritage, passion, glamour and style. Yachts of all sizes and shapes grace the Mediterranean; some are large motor yachts or the sleek sailing yachts, some performance oriented and others of a more comfortable cruising style. This fabled yacht charter area provides the extravagance of the French Riviera, the grandiose architecture of the Italian coasts, the unaffected charms of Croatia, the fragrant orange groves of Spain, the exotic lure of Turkey and Greece.

The Mediterranean yacht charter season commence from April and ends in October. During the summit of the season, i.e. in July and August, the environment is warm and sunlit and the winds tend to be light. Generally from April to May and from September  to October, falling on each side of the main summer season when the temperatures are still comfortable, is considered to be another good time for chartering a yacht.

The weekly charter rates of luxury yachts around the world ranges from a high of Euro 661,500.00 to around Euro 20,000.00. Expenses of approximately 25-30%, such as food, fuel and berthage are charged extra as well as customary 15-20%crew gratuity for good service.
The charm of luxury yacht charter is undeniable, but only if you get it right. Like all vacations, chartering requires a certain amount of planning and preparation to optimize success. With the right boat, great crew and good conditions, a yacht charter vacation could be the time of your life!

Yacht charter groups offer a variety of options relating to yacht size. So you can go yachting in a small powerboat or a medium-sized one with a few luxury attachments. Price is always a prime factor though. Most countries have compulsory conditions for boats to carry at least one person who has all the necessary sailing papers qualifying him as a skipper in order. If one of your group does, you can go yachting on your own. If otherwise it becomes necessary for you to charter a boat with a qualified skipper.
In terms of luxury, companies offer many options relating to yacht crews.

You can take small boats with just enough space for three people, without a crew. There are also larger yachts chartered out for more than ten people. A lot of these boats also have separate crew cabins.
So whether you’re a backpacker looking for a cheap motorboat or a millionaire out to savour a luxurious holiday, yacht charters all over the world offer you all that you want.

Yachting is not just the activity of sailing boats and cruising to distant shores, it is sometimes, a matter of pride. Ask Roman Abramovich - The Europeans and the Russians know him very well - as a billionaire, business oligarch, governor of Chukotka and the owner of Chelsea football club. But, not many know that he is the world’s greatest spender on luxury yachts. Roman has five luxury liners called by the media as  “Abramovich’s Navy”. His Eclipse, is 482 feet long and it is believed that the cost of building it is more than $300 million, with two swimming pools, two helipads, on board tenders and a submarine. His other yachts are Ecstasea, Pelorus, La Grand Blue and Sussuro. These are all motor yachts, and th worlds longest one stands at 525 feet long, owned by the Sheikh of Dubai.

These are all private yachts, owned by billionaires of the world. But, there are other class of yachts - called Charter Yachts. You can charter a yacht and go for boating in the seashore or explore the nearest island and have some real adventure trip. You can charter the Turama which is 382 ft long or the Constellation that has 290 ft length, but that would cost you $25,000 or more. There are other private yachts as low as $1500 which will help give all the thrills of cruising in the ocean.

There are hundreds of premium charter companies who have special offers for vacation, including motorboats and sailboats.There are more than 1000 yacht builders all over the world, ranging from luxurious boats to affordable sails. A thorough search on the internet will give you the details of the yachts, yacht charter companies and their offers.