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The Ultimate Guide to The Yacht Week Greece
- Saulius Bertauskas
- Jun 27, 2016
- 7 min read
For me, The Yacht Week Greece is the most well-balanced route of them all. You get the gorgeous sailing experience, incredible island destinations, delicious Greek food and fun parties. You definitely have one of the liveliest nightlife and party scenes compared to other routes.
It’s non-stop fun!
Rated on a scale of 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Nightlife: 4
You’re guaranteed to have some really fun nights on the Greece route. Bottle service is available at nearly every party and is great because you can save money on drinks with a big group. There are a LOT of organized parties on this route so bottle service costs can rack up quickly.
Day Parties: 4
One of the best day parties of all of the routes is the White Party on Ermioni island. There are lots of day party options along the route and plenty of opportunities to sail out and tie up to other boats for a little sipping and swimming.
Activities: 4
The Greece route is by far the best organized route. Sometimes things felt a little TOO organized at times but, remember, each activity organized on The Yacht Week is a suggestion and completely optional. If you want more free time to explore a destination, don’t get FOMO and skip some of the organized parties.
Each island destination has something special to offer, whether it’s a donkey ride in Hydra or some island exploring.
Local Culture: 3
As with most places in Greece, there is a lot of tourism throughout the islands. It’s great in some ways because you won’t have any problem finding things to do or places to eat. But, you may get the tourist treatment (and prices)!
Sailing Experience: 3
Greece has some of the longest sailing days of all the routes. Like, 6 hours of sailing on some days. And most days you’ll be motoring, not sailing.
It’s absolutely gorgeous and you will most likely spot dolphins along the way but, it can also feel like a really long day at sea depending on your experience with sailing. Fuel costs can also add up because of all the motoring.
Size of Route: 4
Approx. 15-25 boats per route
The Greece routes can vary in size but we had about 12 boats on our route. It’s a good number of people for some really fun parties and you get to meet a lot of people from around the world.
Extra Costs: 3
One of the best things about the Greece route is that you almost never have to pay port fees cutting out a major expense you would incur on other routes. It’s definitely the least expensive route in terms of additional expenses.
Food markets are also quite inexpensive and eating out can easily be done on a budget if necessary. Fuel will most likely be your biggest expense but overall costs still remain quite low.
Pros of The Yacht Week Greece:
Easy access to start location
Well organized
Gorgeous destinations
Cons of The Yacht Week Greece:
Long sailing days
Bottle service at parties can get expensive
Before You Go
There are a few key things to prepare before any trip on The Yacht Week. Obviously, finding a killer crew, booking a boat and getting travel insurance are the most important!
Finding a Crew
Whether you have a group of friends ready to book the trip of a lifetime or not, there are a few key ingredients to putting together a crew. First off, you want a group of open-minded, fun-loving people (with at the very least, a mild sense of responsibility).
TYW is all about having a good time, but keep in mind that carrying your own weight on costs, cleanup on the boat throughout the week and planning is essential for all crew members. Also, keep in mind that TYW has a “gender ratio” on most routes- meaning you’ve gotta bring some girls. Nobody wants a bro fest.
If you don’t have a big enough group of friends to fill your boat, The Yacht Week crew finder is the best resource for putting together a crew. If you’re looking to join a crew, or are looking to fill your boat, you can find awesome people there to complete your tribe.
Booking a Boat
Once you’re ready to book, the process is pretty straight forward. The Greece route now has 8 different weeks to choose from throughout July, August and September.
It is important to remember that most of the boats don’t have A/C or fans in the cabins, so bring you own battery-powered fans!
Getting Travel Insurance
I know. I know. Nobody likes to talk about this stuff. But, what do you get when you mix cocktails, sunscreen and a boat deck? A blonde and a broken arm. A broken arm on a remote island means a first-class helicopter ride and thousands of dollars in medical bills. Get travel insurance.
You can read more about why you need travel insurance, but consider it a small price to pay for the reassurance of a great trip. One person in your crew should also pack a First-Aid kit. Cuts and boo-boos happen all the time.
Get a travel insurance quote here!
What to Pack for The Yacht Week
Packing for The Yacht Week is pretty much the same whether you’re going to Croatia or the BVIs. Be sure to read my complete packing guide “How to Pack for The Yacht Week in a Carry On,” but here is a list of the essentials:
Bag
First things first, do everything in your power to pack in a soft duffle bag. If everyone arrives with big, hard suitcases there is nowhere to store them and they will lay on top of your beds or in the living room. It’s the worst. Most cabins have mini-closets so you’re able to unpack most of your things and roll the duffle bag up to store completely out of your way.
Duffle bag for your carry-on
Small cross body-bag for everyday use
Props & Toys
Misc.
CD’s- Each boat has a different sound system setup. To be safe, I always bring an auxiliary-cord and make a handful of CD’s as well. Throw some 90’s songs on there just for nostalgia.
GoPro with Floaty Back
Selfie Stick – I know they don’t make you look cool, but this is one trip you’ll want one
Floating key chain (optional)
Dry-bag (optional) – if you are bringing a camera or any electronic that is not waterproof
Battery powered fan for your cabin (optional) – some boats have A/C, some have fans… and some do not
READ MORE: How to Pack for The Yacht Week in a Carry On
Getting There
Yachts on The White Route will depart from Lavrio Marina and yachts on The Blue Route from Alimos Marina. The closest airport to both marinas is Athens International Airport.
Arrival Day and Time
Everyone arrives at different times on Saturday and access to your boat usually isn’t until 6pm, but it’s best to arrive that day by 3pm to take care of check-in, grab a cocktail with your crew, then do your grocery shopping. The first night you will stay in the marina and Sunday morning you set sail.
Departure Day and Time
You will get back to the marina on Friday afternoon and have to check out and leave the yacht by 9am on Saturday, so don’t book any flights until Saturday afternoon at least.
Extra Costs
In addition to the cost of the yacht, meals and transportation costs, you will also have to pay for the fuel and port fees during the week that you sail.
I’ve included the different prices from The Yacht Week website in the list below.
The prices you see below are calculated on a Bavaria 45, which is a yacht with 10 beds. The prices will vary depending on what size of boat you choose.
TOTAL PER YACHTCOUNTRY WATER FUEL PORT FEESTOTALGreece$95$300$130$500 – 530
And last, but not least, don’t forget to tip your “skip” at the end of your trip. (They’re not just there as eye-candy. That’s just a huge bonus.)
Grocery Shopping Guide
I’ve consistently found that grocery shopping for a boat of 10 people costs between $1000-$1500 for the entire week. So, assume approximately $120 minimum needs to be pooled from each crew member.
(NOTE: Consider your skipper an extra head to count when doing your food and booze shopping for the boat. A well-fed skipper is a happy skipper.)
I personally sailed from the Lavrio Marina and have to say it’s the best marina of all routes on The Yacht Week to shop from. Both the grocery store and super market are within walking distance of the marina. The super market also carries all kinds of fun stuff like inflatables, party supplies and all the essentials.
Breakfast
Yogurt and granola with fresh fruit is pretty much my go-to breakfast on sailing trips. But, eggs also keep really well! Buy bagels and the fixings and some fresh bread so you can make egg sandwiches or toast. Don’t forget instant coffee if you are a morning coffee drinker!
Lunch
In Greece, you can’t go wrong stocking up with supplies to make a giant Greek salad every day for lunch. Buy lots of tomatoes, onion, cucumbers, romaine lettuce, olives, feta cheese and balsamic & olive oil. It’s easy to prepare a big portion for everyone to share, then each person can make whatever else they feel like: canned tuna, a sandwich, pasta, etc.
Dinners
You can plan to eat out for most dinners — and Greece you’ll find most meals can be quite cheap (between 5-10 euros)! There will be one night in a natural harbor that you’ll have to prepare dinner on your own boat, so make sure to stock up for at least one dinner onboard.
Note: All boats have stovetops and small refrigerators, and most catamarans have a BBQ on the back, but double check before you head to the store.
Snacks
Don’t forget to buy lots of snacks! Stick to your senses- something salty, sweet, savory and sour! Lots of chips, some gummy candies, fresh fruit, dry meats & cheeses with crackers, etc. Hard boiling eggs and keeping them in a ziplock in the fridge is also a great idea for a quick protein packed snack.
Drinks
Buy lots of water. The rule of thumb is 1.5 liters per person per day. Best tip is that everyone brings their own refillable water bottle, then buy water in gallon jugs. As for alcohol- buy twice as much as you think you need! A few bottles of wine for meals, lots of champagne, rosé, beer, hard alcohol and mixers!
Condiments
There might be salt and pepper on the boat, but don’t count on it. You’ll need to buy your own spices, sauces, mayonnaise, ketchup, etc.
Supplies
Don’t forget things like paper towels, toilet paper, garbage bags and ziplock bags! For grilling, the charcoal bricks make life really easy.
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