Sailing holidays – The Pros and Cons

Sailing conjures up the image of beauty. Waves lapping against the boat. Birds flying off into the horizon, and a warm breeze in the air. 

If you are considering trying a sailing holiday, it’s best to make a list of the pros and cons before getting on that yacht or catamaran. The idea of lounging on the boat and visiting multiple islands immediately seems like a luxurious trip. And one that allows you to see many places without the packing and unpacking. 

But to be realistic, it’s not all glamour and sunset drinks. As a part of the ocean trip, you are a part of the crew. And the crew has responsibilities. Taking a yacht holiday in Croatia, Greece, or one of many more sailing destinations, is the best way to travel through each island. When you commit to an ocean adventure you will get to see a new perspective of an island community. 

Check out some of the pros and cons we considered before going on a charter boat holiday. 

Pros of a sailing holiday

Water sports are literally at your door

If you like diving, paddle boarding, snorkeling, or swimming in warm seas then you’d love sailing. Anchor to kayak off the back of the yacht, or head to shore if there is a good place to snorkel. There are many spots around the world that can only be found on a boating vacation. 

You are essentially on a floating hotel

Instead of packing and unpacking each night at a different hotel when you island hop, you have the luxury of unpacking once when you head on a sailing holiday. You’ll sail the seas, go on day trips and still be able to come back to your room with all of your things. Sounds better than hauling everything around with you.

You can choose to have a built-in tour guide, AKA Skipper

When you book a sailing trip, you are booking a built-in tour guide. You will charter the seas and island with an experienced skipper ready to tell you where all the good food is and how to avoid tourist traps.  

You can charter your own yacht or join a small tour

Sailing options have smaller group sizes than other bus tour options. If you think a yacht holiday is out of your budget, join a tour group or look to charter a private yacht and have friends or family join you. 

Incredible views

There are certain destinations that you can only get to by boat. By chartering the seas you will get to see sights that others can only view in photos. Smaller islands that don’t have airports have the most incredible views. There are sand bars only available to sailors that make for fun stops. Sailing also gets you away from the mass tourism that you may encounter in island locations. The coast is often cleaner and unspoiled.  It is honestly worth it to go island hopping once in your lifetime. 

Cons of a sailing holiday

Lack of space

You can’t compare the space on the boat with the space on a land resort. While some charter boats are equally as luxurious, being limited to the space on the boat can cause some cramped situations. Especially if you are on the boat with other couples or solo travelers, you may find yourself in uncomfortable situations. 

Long distances

It is safe to say that sailing is not for everyone. Sailing is for the traveler who enjoys the journey more than the destination. In some locations, using a charter yacht can take days on the ocean before getting to your next stop. That means long travel days and nowhere to go. 

Seasickness

If you struggle with car sickness or motion sickness you may want to re-consider taking a sailing holiday. Some people say it can take four days to get your “sea legs” but depending on how rough the waters get you can get seasick at any time. Even the most experienced sailor can experience sea sickness so if you are unsure make sure you come prepared. 

Limited water and electricity

Much like an RV vacation, sailing boats only have tanks with a limited amount of space. They also are usually run by multiple batteries. That means you have to be frugal with your energy and fresh water usage. For some people who are expecting to take long showers every day, and blow-dry their hair each morning this is a fantasy. And yes, you can head to marinas to plug in and use their facilities, however, this can be a costly exercise as it often won’t be included in your charter price. 

Unpredictable

When you choose to do a sailing trip you choose unpredictable weather and alternate routes. If you have your heart dead set on keeping to a schedule you may want to consider another type of vacation. A sailing vacation is more for the relaxed, go-with-the-flow traveller. 

Final Thoughts

If you made your list and they are about even (like ours) then consider what you can’t live without. If you need a hot shower each evening because jumping in the warm salty seas isn’t going to cut it, maybe consider another vacation. If you can’t stand another cookie-cutter bus tour trip, then this might be the next best thing for you to try. Be mindful that sailing doesn’t always equal luxury so it pays to do your research. Check out the reviews for the charter like you would a hotel review.