Bluebnc Yachting — Expert Guides
Discover the best routes, anchorages, and insider tips for day charters across the Mediterranean's most coveted destinations. Written by our charter advisors with decades of local expertise.
Each guide provides comprehensive coverage of routes, anchorages, seasonal advice, pricing, and practical tips to help you plan the perfect day at sea.
Balearic Islands, Spain
From the sheltered bays of Palma to the dramatic cliffs of Cap de Formentor, Mallorca offers some of the Mediterranean's finest day charter routes. Discover hidden calas, world-class anchorages, and the island's most exclusive waterfront restaurants in our comprehensive guide.
Balearic Islands, Spain
Ibiza's turquoise waters, legendary beach clubs, and the mystical silhouette of Es Vedrà create an unforgettable backdrop for a day at sea. Our guide covers the best routes from Ibiza Town to Formentera's pristine Illetes beach, with insider tips on the island's hidden calas.
Côte d'Azur, France
From the glamour of Saint-Tropez to the principality of Monaco, the French Riviera is the ultimate playground for luxury yachting. Our guide reveals the Côte d'Azur's most exclusive anchorages, Michelin-starred waterfront dining, and the legendary ports that have defined Mediterranean yachting for over a century.
Costa Smeralda, Italy
Sardinia's Costa Smeralda and the Maddalena Archipelago offer pristine waters that rival the Caribbean, set against a backdrop of pink granite islands and emerald coves. Our guide covers Porto Cervo, the Maddalena marine park, and the island's most secluded anchorages.
Campania, Italy
The Amalfi Coast is one of the world's most iconic yacht charter destinations, where pastel-coloured villages cascade down dramatic cliffs into the Tyrrhenian Sea. Our guide covers Positano, Capri's Blue Grotto, Ravello's gardens, and the best routes along this UNESCO World Heritage coastline.
With offices in Palma, Fort Lauderdale, Monaco, and Athens, we combine local expertise with global reach to deliver exceptional charter experiences.
Our charter advisors live and work in the destinations they recommend. They know every anchorage, restaurant, and hidden cove — and they'll share their insider knowledge to create your perfect day.
Every yacht in our fleet is personally inspected and maintained to the highest standards. We select vessels for their comfort, performance, and suitability for each destination's unique conditions.
From the moment you enquire to the moment you step ashore, our team handles every detail. Catering, water toys, special occasions, itinerary adjustments — nothing is too much to ask.
All our yachts carry full commercial insurance, professional crews with current certifications, and comprehensive safety equipment. Your safety and comfort are our absolute priority.
Your Charter Experience
From initial enquiry to disembarkation, every detail is orchestrated by our charter team. Understanding the process ensures you can focus entirely on the experience itself.
A well-planned charter follows a clear sequence. Here is what to expect at each stage, from your first conversation with our brokers to the moment you step ashore.
You contact our charter advisors with your preferred dates, destination, group size, and budget. We present a curated shortlist of yachts suited to your requirements, arrange virtual tours or in-person viewings, and discuss itinerary possibilities.
Once you select your yacht, we prepare the MYBA Charter Agreement — the industry-standard contract used worldwide. You sign the contract, pay the charter fee (typically 50% deposit, balance 30 days before embarkation), and the APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance).
You complete a detailed preference sheet covering dietary requirements, beverage preferences, activity interests, cabin assignments, special occasions, and any specific requests. This document is the blueprint for your entire charter experience.
Your captain and our charter team design a bespoke itinerary based on your preferences, weather patterns, and local knowledge. Marina berths are reserved, restaurant bookings are made, and any special arrangements (water toys, entertainment, transfers) are confirmed.
You board your yacht at the agreed marina — typically between 16:00 and 18:00 for term charters, or 09:00–10:00 for day charters. The captain briefs you on safety procedures, the crew presents the yacht, and your voyage begins.
Your crew manages every aspect of daily life aboard: navigation, meals, housekeeping, water sports, tender transfers, and shore excursions. The itinerary remains flexible — your captain will adapt to weather, your mood, and spontaneous discoveries.
You disembark at the agreed port, typically by 09:00–10:00. Within 48 hours, you receive the final APA statement detailing all expenditure. Any surplus is refunded; any overage is invoiced. Gratuities are settled directly with the crew.
Personalisation
The preference sheet is the single most important document in your charter preparation. Completed 4–6 weeks before embarkation, it allows the crew to tailor every detail of your experience — from the food on your plate to the music in the saloon. A thorough preference sheet transforms a good charter into an extraordinary one.
Allergies, intolerances, cuisine preferences (Mediterranean, Asian, plant-based), favourite dishes, preferred wines and spirits, cocktail preferences, breakfast habits, and children's meal requirements.
Guest names, cabin allocation (master, VIP, twin/double), pillow firmness, preferred room temperature, and any accessibility requirements.
Water sports preferences (diving, snorkelling, jet ski, wakeboarding), shore excursions (cultural sites, shopping, nightlife), fitness routines, spa treatments, and children's activities.
Birthdays, anniversaries, proposals, or celebrations. Floral arrangements, cake orders, specific entertainment, dress codes for themed evenings, and photography services.
Early risers or late sleepers, preferred meal times, desire for structured itinerary vs. spontaneous exploration, interest in nightlife or quiet evenings aboard.
Wi-Fi requirements, desire for crew visibility (attentive vs. discreet), phone/device policies for the group, and any VIP or security considerations.
Our charter advisors will guide you through the preference sheet and can provide a pre-filled template based on your initial consultation. The more detail you provide, the more personalised your experience will be.
Financial Planning
The APA is a standard provision in yacht chartering, functioning as an operational float that covers all running expenses during your voyage. It is not an additional fee — it is your money, held in trust by the captain, and fully accounted for at the end of the charter.
The APA is typically set at 25–35% of the base charter fee. For a €50,000 weekly charter, expect an APA of €12,500–€17,500. The exact percentage depends on the destination (marina fees vary significantly), the season, your provisioning preferences, and the yacht's fuel consumption. Your charter broker will advise on the appropriate amount based on your specific itinerary.
At Bluebnc Yachting, we manage APA accounting through advanced financial integrations (including Payhawk), ensuring full transparency and real-time visibility for owners and charterers alike.
Logistics
Securing berths in the Mediterranean's most sought-after marinas requires advance planning, local relationships, and precise timing. Our operations team handles all marina logistics, ensuring your yacht has a confirmed berth at every port of call.
Marina berths are reserved by the captain or our shore-side operations team, typically 2–4 weeks before the charter. In peak season (July–August), premium berths in ports like Porto Cervo, Saint-Tropez, and Ibiza Marina can be extremely limited. Our established relationships with harbour masters across the Mediterranean give our clients priority access.
Marina fees vary enormously by location and season. A 25-metre yacht in Palma costs approximately €150–€300 per night, while the same berth in Monaco during the Grand Prix can exceed €3,000 per night. Porto Cervo, Ibiza Marina, and Saint-Tropez command premium rates in July–August. All marina fees are charged to the APA.
If you have specific ports you wish to visit, inform your charter broker as early as possible. Some marinas — particularly during events like the Monaco Grand Prix, Cannes Film Festival, or Palma Superyacht Show — require reservations months in advance.
Post-Charter Accounting
Transparency is a cornerstone of the Bluebnc charter experience. Within 48 hours of disembarkation, you receive a comprehensive APA statement — a detailed financial report of every expense incurred during your charter.
If the APA exceeds actual expenditure, the surplus is refunded to you within 7–14 business days. If expenses exceed the APA (which is rare and typically only occurs with explicit approval during the charter), a final invoice is issued for the difference. Our captains are trained to communicate proactively if the APA is running low, giving you the choice to top up or adjust plans.
Bluebnc provides APA statements in a clear, professional format with supporting receipts. For managed fleet yachts, statements are generated through our digital management platform, ensuring accuracy and audit-ready documentation.
Crew Recognition
Gratuities are a deeply personal matter, and there is no obligation to tip. However, in the yacht charter industry, tipping is customary and represents the primary way to recognise exceptional service from your crew. The following guidelines reflect Mediterranean industry standards.
The standard gratuity in the Mediterranean is 10–15% of the base charter fee, with 15–20% for exceptional service. For a €50,000 weekly charter, a typical gratuity would be €5,000–€7,500. In the Caribbean, 15–20% is more common. These are guidelines, not rules — the amount is entirely at your discretion.
Gratuities are typically presented in cash (euros in the Mediterranean) in a sealed envelope to the captain at the end of the charter. The captain distributes the gratuity among the crew according to their roles and seniority. Some charterers prefer to tip individual crew members directly — both approaches are perfectly acceptable.
Gratuities are presented on the final evening or morning of the charter, after the captain's farewell briefing. If you are particularly impressed by a specific crew member during the charter, a personal note accompanying the gratuity is always appreciated.
For day charters, a gratuity of 10–15% of the charter fee is customary. For a €3,000 day charter, €300–€450 is typical. Cash is preferred, presented to the captain at the end of the day.
Gratuities are separate from the APA and charter fee. They are never included in the contract price and are always at the charterer's sole discretion.
Legal Framework
The MYBA (Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association) Charter Agreement is the gold standard contract used in professional yacht chartering worldwide. It protects both the charterer and the owner, establishing clear terms for the charter period, payment schedule, cancellation policy, and responsibilities of each party.
The MYBA Charter Agreement is a standardised contract template developed by the Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association and adopted globally. It has been refined over decades to balance the interests of charterers, owners, and brokers. As MYBA E-Contract Subscribers, Bluebnc Yachting uses the latest digital version of this agreement for all term charters.
The exact embarkation and disembarkation dates, times, and ports. Extensions are subject to availability and additional fees.
The total price for the yacht hire, payable in two instalments: 50% deposit at signing, balance 30 days before embarkation.
The operational float (typically 25–35% of charter fee) paid before embarkation to cover running expenses during the voyage.
The agreed geographical boundaries within which the yacht may operate. Extensions beyond this area require prior approval.
Standard terms: loss of deposit if cancelled more than 30 days before; loss of full charter fee if cancelled within 30 days. Charter insurance is strongly recommended.
The owner maintains hull and P&I insurance. Charterers are responsible for personal belongings and are advised to take out personal travel and cancellation insurance.
The captain has ultimate authority over navigation and safety. The crew is employed by the owner and operates under the captain's direction.
Day charters typically use a simplified charter agreement rather than the full MYBA contract. The terms cover the charter period, fee, included services, cancellation policy, and safety responsibilities. Bluebnc provides a clear, concise day charter agreement that protects both parties.
We strongly recommend charter cancellation insurance for all term charters. Mediterranean weather is generally reliable, but unforeseen circumstances (illness, travel disruption, force majeure) can arise. Your charter broker can recommend specialist marine insurance providers.
A Mediterranean day charter is one of the most refined ways to experience the coastline. Unlike a term charter that spans days or weeks, a day charter distils the yachting experience into a single, perfectly curated day — typically 6 to 10 hours of sailing, swimming, dining, and exploring.
At Bluebnc Yachting, we have spent years perfecting the art of the day charter across five of the Mediterranean's most coveted destinations. Each location offers a distinct character, from the sheltered coves of Mallorca to the dramatic cliffs of the Amalfi Coast, and our guides are designed to help you choose the destination and itinerary that best suits your preferences.
Whether you are a first-time charterer or a seasoned yachting enthusiast, our destination guides provide the local knowledge you need to make the most of your time on the water. We cover routes, anchorages, seasonal conditions, pricing, and the insider tips that only come from years of operating in these waters.
Each of our five featured destinations offers a unique experience. The key factors to consider are the time of year, the type of experience you're seeking, and the size of your group.
Mallorca is the ideal starting point for first-time charterers. Its diverse coastline ranges from the dramatic Serra de Tramuntana cliffs in the northwest to the gentle sandy bays of the southeast. Palma's world-class marina infrastructure makes logistics seamless, and the island offers everything from secluded coves to vibrant waterfront dining.
Ibiza and Formentera offer a more bohemian, free-spirited atmosphere. The waters between the two islands are among the clearest in the Mediterranean, and the combination of legendary beach clubs, hidden calas, and the mystical presence of Es Vedrà creates an atmosphere unlike anywhere else. Formentera's Illetes beach is consistently ranked among Europe's finest.
The French Riviera is the birthplace of luxury yachting and remains its spiritual home. From the old-money elegance of Cap d'Antibes to the celebrity playground of Saint-Tropez, every mile of this coastline tells a story. The Îles de Lérins offer a peaceful escape just minutes from Cannes, while Monaco's harbour provides a front-row seat to the world's most famous Grand Prix circuit.
Sardinia's Costa Smeralda is where Italian style meets Caribbean-clear waters. The Maddalena Archipelago is a protected marine park of extraordinary beauty, with pink granite islands, emerald lagoons, and beaches that rival anything in the tropics. Porto Cervo remains one of the Mediterranean's most exclusive marina destinations.
The Amalfi Coast is perhaps the most visually dramatic of all Mediterranean destinations. The UNESCO World Heritage coastline, with its pastel villages cascading down volcanic cliffs, is best appreciated from the water. A day charter here typically includes Capri's Blue Grotto, the Li Galli islands (once owned by Rudolf Nureyev), and the postcard-perfect harbour of Positano.
We recommend reviewing each destination guide to understand the unique character, seasonal patterns, and pricing of each location. Our charter advisors are available to discuss your preferences and recommend the ideal yacht, route, and date for your experience. Whether you are celebrating a special occasion, entertaining clients, or simply seeking a day of relaxation on the water, we will design a charter that exceeds your expectations.
Contact our charter advisors to discuss your preferences and receive a personalised proposal. We are here to make your Mediterranean day charter unforgettable.
