Soraya · Croatia
Yacht with skipper or bareboat charter: which suits you?
On a skipper charter an experienced skipper runs the yacht and guests need no boat licence. On a bareboat charter you take on command and responsibility for the boat yourself and need a corresponding boat licence as well as handling experience.
Skipper charter: sailing without a licence
An experienced skipper takes on navigation, the mooring and casting-off manoeuvres and responsibility for boat and crew. Guests need not hold a boat licence — with Soraya this applies to every charter variant, from the day trip to the weekly charter.
Bareboat charter: sailing on your own
With bareboat you take the helm yourself. The prerequisite is a valid boat licence plus sufficient experience with comparable boats and cruising grounds. Responsibility for navigation, manoeuvres and safety rests with you.
What your own skipper is worth
Market rates for skippers are around €150–250 per day when booked separately. With Soraya the experienced skipper is already included in the charter price — with no additional booking and no licence requirement for the guests.
| Skipper charter | Bareboat | |
|---|---|---|
| Boat licence required | No | Yes |
| Responsibility for the boat | rests with the skipper | rests with the crew/you |
| Local knowledge | provided by the on-board skipper | must be built up yourself |
| Level of relaxation | high, no need to helm yourself | depends on your own experience |
| Target audience | guests without a licence, focus on relaxing | experienced, licensed skippers |
| Additional cost | skipper included in the charter price | separate skipper booking possible if needed |
Questions & answers
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a boat licence for the Soraya charter?
No. On every charter variant — day trip, 4-day charter, weekly charter — the skipper is always included.
Is a skipper charter more expensive than bareboat?
The pure bareboat charter price can be lower if no separate skipper is booked. With Soraya, however, the skipper is already part of the price, so a separate skipper day rate of the usual €150–250 does not apply.
Can I still take the helm myself on a skipper charter?
Whether and to what extent guests may steer themselves under the skipper's supervision is agreed personally in advance.
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Enquire with no obligation — your skipper is already included.