What to Pack for a Yacht Charter
A week on a yacht needs surprisingly little. Cabins are compact, dress codes are relaxed, and the same swimsuit and t-shirt will see you through most days.
The list below is everything we recommend — and a short note at the bottom on what to leave behind.
Luggage
Cabins and lockers onboard are compact. Hard shell suitcases are difficult to store and almost impossible to slide under a bunk.
- Soft duffel bag or collapsible holdall (one per guest)
- Small daypack for shore visits and tenders
- Dry bag (10–20L) for phone, camera and towel on the tender
Clothing — warm-weather charter
Less is more. Laundry is rarely available, but most guests rotate the same swimwear and t-shirts all week.
- 3–4 swimsuits (they take time to dry — bring more than you think)
- 5–7 lightweight t-shirts and tank tops
- 2 pairs of shorts and 1 pair of light trousers
- 1 light long-sleeve shirt for sun protection
- 1 light sweater or fleece for evenings on deck
- 1 light waterproof jacket (Mediterranean afternoons can surprise you)
- 1 elegant dinner outfit — many marina restaurants have a smart-casual dress code
- Quick-dry sarong or pareo
- Sleepwear and underwear for the week
Destination matters
Packing requirements vary slightly by destination. The right layers depend as much on where you sail as on the time of year.
- Mediterranean charters: bring a light fleece or sweater and a lightweight waterproof jacket, even during summer
- Tropical destinations (Seychelles, Thailand, Bahamas, Caribbean): lightweight breathable clothing, additional sun protection and insect repellent are usually more important than warm layers
Shoes
Most yachts ask guests to remove shoes onboard. Black soles leave marks on the deck and are not welcome.
- Non-marking deck shoes or white-soled sneakers
- Flip-flops or slides for marinas and pool decks
- Water shoes for rocky beaches and snorkelling
- One pair of comfortable walking shoes for shore excursions
Sun & sea protection
The sun at sea is twice as strong as on land — reflection from the water doubles UV exposure.
- High SPF sunscreen (SPF 50+, reef-safe if possible)
- After-sun lotion or aloe vera gel
- Wide-brim hat or cap with a chin strap
- Polarised sunglasses (a spare pair is wise)
- Lip balm with SPF
Documents & money
Keep originals in a waterproof pouch and digital copies on your phone and email. Store digital copies of important documents in cloud storage as well as on your phone — useful if a phone is lost, damaged or stolen during travel.
- Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond travel
- Visas (Turkey, Bahamas, Seychelles, Thailand — check requirements)
- Travel insurance with water-sports coverage
- Sailing licenses (ICC, RYA, national) — only for bareboat charters
- Boarding pass and charter contract
- Credit cards + some local cash for taxi, tips and small marinas
- Tip envelope for the crew (typically 5–15% of charter price for crewed yachts)
- Cloud backup of all important documents (passport, insurance, licenses)
Electronics
Onboard power is limited and outlets may be European 220V, US 110V or 12V cigarette-style. Different yachts and destinations may use European, UK or US-style sockets — a universal travel adapter can save a lot of frustration onboard, especially in destinations such as the Seychelles, Caribbean and other international cruising areas.
- Phone and charger
- USB-C charging cable
- Spare charging cable
- Universal travel adapter (highly recommended for international travel)
- Power bank (10,000 mAh or more)
- Waterproof phone case or pouch
- Camera, GoPro or underwater housing
- Bluetooth speaker (small, splash-proof)
- Headphones — cabins are close together
Personal & medication
Pharmacies near remote anchorages are rare. Bring more than you think you'll need.
- Personal toiletries in small bottles (the yacht usually provides soap, shampoo and towels)
- Reef-safe biodegradable shampoo and shower gel
- Prescription medication in original packaging + copy of prescription
- Sea-sickness tablets (even experienced sailors occasionally benefit from carrying them during rough weather or longer passages)
- Basic first-aid: plasters, antiseptic, painkillers, antihistamine
- Insect repellent
- Sunburn relief
For families with children
A large share of our charter guests travel as families. A few small additions make life onboard much easier with kids.
- UV-protection swim shirts
- Children's sun hats
- Motion-sickness remedies suitable for children
- Favourite snacks
- A favourite toy, book or comfort item
- Child-friendly reusable water bottle
Nice to have
Not essential, but guests often tell us they were glad they brought these.
- Snorkel and mask (yachts usually provide them, but fit varies)
- Light beach towel (Turkish-style, dries fast)
- Book or e-reader
- Deck of cards or compact board game
- Reusable water bottle
- Small gift for the captain or crew if you're chartering with a crew
What to leave at home
These either don't work onboard or aren't welcome. Storage space onboard is limited and bulky items quickly become inconvenient.
- Hard shell suitcases (no storage space)
- Large hard coolers
- Oversized beach bags
- Black-soled shoes (mark the deck)
- High heels (dangerous on a moving yacht)
- Excessive jewellery (salt water and risk of loss)
- Hair dryers and straighteners with high wattage (often trip the inverter)
- Glass bottles where possible (the crew may transfer wine to plastic)
One last tip
Pack everything, then take half out. Almost every returning guest tells us they packed too much — but nobody ever complained about having extra space onboard.