Captains & Hostesses

It is possible to add a hostess to any of our charters as long as there is an extra cabin available for the hostess to sleep in. Here are there details for each yacht:

Lagoon 380: 2 cabins for passengers, 2 cabins for crew. Max 4 passengers with hostess

Saona 47: 4 cabins for passengers, 2 cabins for crew. Max 8 passengers with hostess

Lagoon 450: 2 cabins for passengers, 2 cabins for crew. Max 6 passengers with hostess

Both the skipper and hostess will certainly speak English. They will be happy to answer all your questions in regards to Greek food, culture, history, etc. They will also assist your party in choosing restaurants and ordering local specialties if you would like them to accompany you to dinner in the evenings.

Your skilled hostess/chef will assist the captain with sailing and anchoring in port as well as prepare breakfast and lunches throughout your journey. As far as meals and provisions the following is included:
Daily breakfast and lunch: Breakfast will generally be an assortment of pastries, cereal, yogurt, fruit, cheese, bread, etc. The featured meal will be a delicious multi-course lunch consisting of authentic greek/ mediterranean dishes prepared with fresh ingredients from the islands.
An assortment of snacks and beverages: This includes water, fruit, coffee, and snacks as well as a selection of items tailored to your preference which may include juices, soda, house wine and beer.

**We’ll reach out to you prior to charter about any specific food/drink preferences or allergies. While on charter, if you have any specific food/drink requests just let the hostess know and as long as the item is available she will pick them up at the markets on the islands (there may be an extra cost for expensive items such as premium wines and hard liquor). Dinners are not included because we recommend dining out at one of the incredible local restaurants on the islands (the captain/hostess will be happy to recommend places).

Note: The hostess is not permitted to enter or clean guest cabins.

Our crew members are dedicated to making your sailing experience in Greece memorable and enjoyable. Tipping them at the end of the charter is a great way to give recognition and appreciation for their efforts. Tipping is a common practice in the charter vacation culture of Greece, where it reflects your satisfaction with the quality of work. The crew knows each guest is unique so the exact amount is not as important as the gesture itself. 

The suggested top amount can depend on the size of your group, crew size, trip length, etc.  However, we know it helps to know the standards for charter sailing in Greece.  *It’s important to note that the total trip amount referred to below is based on the total boat and crew cost. You are not expected to tip on the extras Greek Seas includes in your charter price, such as provisions, fuel, cleaning, and marina fees. 

*These fees generally make up about 10% of the total charter price if provisions are included and 5% if they aren’t included.  You can subtract this amount from the trip total.

**Keep in mind that the below amounts are simply the standard suggested amount in Greece

• Charters with both a captain and a hostess: ~20% of the charter price. This is the total amount that will be divided evenly between the captain and the hostess. 
• Charters with only a captain: ~15% of the charter price. *If you booked a captain-only charter without a hostess, you may also want to offer some snacks and/or lunch to the captain during the trip. They often sail all day and have little time to prepare their own food.

When/How to Tip: The best way to tip the crew is to hand the captain cash at the end of the charter.  However, we know that you may not want or be able to carry that much cash. So we do accept tipping electronically.  You’re welcome to send us a tip via Zelle (austin@greekseas.com) or Venmo (@austinmartin [-1705 confirm]). You can also email us for more options. 

The captain’s first priority is safety, so it’s important to understand that weather-based route decisions will follow this principle. Their second priority is to help you have the best possible vacation. We find that clients who interact with their skipper while on charters have the best overall experience. Don’t hesitate to ask questions if you would like to learn more about sailing, history, or activities on the islands you visit. If you’d like to get to know them a bit better, feel free to invite them to dinner on one of your first few evenings. They’ll likely know the best off the beaten path restaurants and local menu items on each island. That being said, the captain doesn’t expect this at all and understands that every client has their own unique preference and personality.

Generally the skipper will sleep in one of the available cabins. On smaller catamarans this would be one of the standard rooms, while some larger yachts have specific skipper cabins. If you have any questions about this, just let us know.

We only work with a small number of Greek skippers and hostesses who meet our strict standards on sailing ability, local knowledge and friendliness.  We understand that having a fantastic skipper/hostess who know the islands, food and culture is a crucial part of your overall charter sailing experience.

We schedule the skipper/hostess a few months prior to your trip when we know the full booking slate for that week.  If you have a preferred skipper/hostess we’ll do our best to accommodate your request but there are certain weeks they may be unavailable or pre-booked on another trip.