What life on board is really like: what to expect from a crewed boat rental

A week on a boat is one of the finest holidays there is: every morning you wake up in a different bay, swim before breakfast and watch the sunset from the deck in the evening. Precisely because it is so different from a holiday on land, it is worth knowing beforehand how life on board really works. Guests who set off with the right expectations enjoy every day; those who expect a floating hotel are sometimes surprised. This is what we tell everyone who rents a boat or books a crewed yacht charter for the first time.

Even a large yacht is a boat first. Cabins are compact, storage is small, bathrooms are often shared. Fresh water and electricity come from tanks and batteries, so they are used with some care: short showers, no powerful hairdryer without asking, lights off when nobody needs them. At anchor at night you hear the sea, the anchor chain and sometimes the generator.

A practical tip: bring soft bags instead of hard suitcases, they stow away easily. On board people go barefoot or wear shoes with light-coloured soles.

The skipper and, if booked, the hostess or deckhand are professionals who work from early morning until late in the evening: they prepare the boat, check the weather and engines, cook, clean and drive the tender. Their days are long, and rest is part of safety. Their cabin is their only private space.

That is why it is normal to agree on meal times, departure and the evening return on the first day. A rested crew is an attentive crew, and you are the one who benefits most.

What is included depends on your booking: only the skipper, skipper and hostess, provisioning, meals on board or none of these. You will find it in your booking and in the provider's extras. Anything beyond that, such as a carefully prepared aperitif or an extra dinner cooked on board, is the crew's goodwill, not a service owed.

If you have special wishes, allergies or dietary habits, say so before departure. Provider and crew can then prepare, and there are no misunderstandings on board.

Salt, humidity and motion test every boat. Even with regular maintenance a bow thruster can stop, a fridge can play up or the generator can need attention. On a boat this is as normal as a car that needs a visit to the garage.

The crew usually fixes it on the spot; sometimes a spare part has to come from the next harbour. If you notice something, tell the skipper straight away: the sooner they know, the sooner they can act.

The week's plan is a shared idea, not a train timetable. The captain decides where you go, when you leave and where you spend the night, based on wind, sea, forecast and local rules. If the mistral blows hard, the dream bay waits a day and you head for a more sheltered spot.

This is not a lack of goodwill, it is their job: responsibility for the people on board lies with them. Tell them what you would like, and they will almost always find a lovely alternative.

Many weeks are spent at anchor, which is often the best part. When the boat enters a harbour the berth may cost money, noticeably so in high season. Whether it is included depends on your booking and the provider: check the extras and, if in doubt, ask before departure. The same applies to fuel and to mooring buoys in protected areas.

In the Mediterranean a tip for the crew is not obligatory. Guests who are happy like to leave one, usually on the last day, handed to the captain for the whole crew. As a guide: with European crews, guests often give between five and ten per cent of the boat price; industry guidance speaks of five to fifteen per cent. It is always your choice, depending on how much you enjoyed your time aboard.

Talk to the skipper first: most things are sorted out in a few minutes. If that is not enough, write to us during the trip via «Help with my booking», the link in your booking and at the bottom of every Go2Boat page. Our team knows your booking and gets in touch with the provider. Better to raise it on board straight away than to keep a bitter memory afterwards.