Before you embark on your yacht adventure, make sure you have all necessary documents and personal items in order. These essentials will ensure a smooth and hassle-free trip:

Passport and Visas: Ensure your passport is up-to-date and check if you need visas for the destinations you’ll be visiting.

Travel Insurance: A comprehensive travel insurance policy is crucial for covering any medical emergencies or unexpected incidents on your end or potentially on the yacht’s end before you arrive.

Driver’s License: If you plan on renting a car or a scooter at any port stops, bring your driver’s license.

Credit Cards and Cash: Bring a mix of payment options, including credit cards and some local currency for small purchases.

Packing the right clothing is essential for comfort and versatility. Here are some key clothing items to consider:

Swimwear: Pack multiple swimsuits as you’ll likely spend a lot of time in the water. Consider bringing a cover-up or sarong for added versatility.

Lightweight Clothing: Choose breathable, lightweight fabrics for daytime wear. Pack shorts, t-shirts, tank tops, and sundresses for staying cool. A single UV-protective button down can be worn as a cover up over a bikini or on shore excursions.

Evening Wear: While yacht holidays are generally casual during the day, there might be opportunities for more formal dinners or excursions. Pack a couple light dresses or smart-casual wear.

Layers: Even in tropical climates, evenings can get cooler, especially on the water. Bring a light sweater, jacket, or shawl.

Footwear: While most boats will require you to remove your shoes before stepping on deck, you still want comfortable walking and activity footwear. Bring sandals or comfortable walking shoes for exploring ports. Consider packing water shoes for rocky beaches or water activities.

Hat and Sunglasses: Protect yourself from the sun with a wide-brimmed hat and polarized sunglasses.

While most yachts are equipped with basic amenities including body wash and shampoo, it’s always a good idea to bring your preferred personal care items:

Sunscreen: Opt for a high SPF, water-resistant sunscreen to protect your skin from prolonged sun exposure.

Basic First Aid Kit: Pack essentials like band-aids, antiseptic wipes, motion sickness tablets, and pain relievers.

Insect Repellent: Some destinations may have mosquitos or other insects, so pack an effective repellent.

Toiletries: Bring travel-sized versions of your favorite shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothpaste, and any other personal hygiene products you use daily.

Ensure you have all the necessary gadgets and entertainment options to stay connected and entertained:

Power Adapter: Depending on where you are in the world and where the boat was built, the outlets my be different than ones you’re used to.

Smartphone and Charger: Your smartphone is essential for staying in touch, navigation, and capturing memories. Don’t forget your charger!

Portable Power Bank: Keep your devices charged on the go with a portable power bank.

Camera: Capture stunning sea views and underwater adventures with a good camera or GoPro.

E-Reader or Books: Bring along your favorite reads for leisurely afternoons on deck.

Music and Headphones: Download your favorite playlists or podcasts for relaxing or energizing moments. Consider creating a joint playlist with your group to play on the boat so everyone can be the DJ.

Finally, don’t forget these useful miscellaneous items that can enhance your yacht holiday:

Reusable Water Bottle: Stay hydrated while reducing plastic waste.

Dry Bags: Keep your valuables and electronics dry during water activities.

Card Games: Entertain your group for the night with a fun but easy-to-pack card game.

Theme Nights: Coordinate with your friends on different themes for each day/night.

Themes like Disco Days, Sirens and Sailors, Atlantis Blues, or any unique theme you can think of adds a fun twist to each day and makes for great photos!

Snorkel Gear: Snorkeling gear is usually available from the charter company, but it gets a lot of use. The quality is not usually great either. Consider bringing your own.

Any crewed charter yacht will have basic necessities for their guests. If you’re bareboating (meaning you will have no crew and someone in your group will be the captain, check with your charter company for a list of what’s on the boat).

Here’s what you can leave at home:

Towels: The boat will have bath and beach towels for all guests.

Navigational Equipment: Nautical charts, binoculars, etc. The captain will have everything they need to host you safely.

Aerosol Sunscreen: These spray a mist all over the decks and make them slippery, stick to rub-on.

Hard-Sided Suitcases: Storage space on any boat is hard to come by, get extra brownie points with the crew by bringing a soft-sided collapsible suitcase that can be easily stored away.

Hair Dryer: Large yachts will have them avalible for you. On smaller yachts (like 45-70ft) ask the crew first, you might blow a fuse with the sudden power draw. Better yet: go natural and get that beachy-mermaid look of your dreams!