For about as long as I can remember I've wanted to
charter a sailboat and sail the Greek Isles. Since we were already over here we decided this would be the year. We just sent in our contract and deposit and I'm so excited. My friends and I got together and chartered a boat and a skipper for 7 days in July. With that you get your own cabin, breakfast, and lunch (dinners are eaten on land) and then you sail around from island to island. In a lot of ways its all the conveniences of a cruise ship: you don't have to move your luggage around, you always have a place to sleep, meals are provided. But it is on a much smaller scale. There will only be 8 or 10 people on the boat, there isn't bad food and we can stop at anytime to swim. My friend sailed around Italy and Greece a few summers ago and said it was so great because you would sightsee and explore all day and then the next morning you would sail to a different town so there was built in down time. You could relax and read on the deck of the boat. Sounds perfect to me! While I think it might be interesting to do with kids Paul's parent's will be staying with us and agreed to babysit so we'll be leaving the kids home this time.
One thing that surprised me is how affordable it was. It is about $230/night total per couple and when you consider that includes two meals, some tour guiding, lodging and transportation its probably cheaper than if you took a train, ate in restaurants, and stayed in hotels.
Have you ever gone on a long sailing trip? Should we worry about sea sickness?
photo from
Michiel_
That's amazing! Im part Greek myself and always go back in the summer but have never done something like that. Everybody who has done it though speak wonders and come back very very excited!
ReplyDeleteI haven't done it myself (lucky you!), but my girlfriend lived in dread of a sailing trip around Italy with her sailing-fiend husband because she often gets seasick...and she was completely fine! She had a wonderful time! Wishing you much the same. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to go to the Greek Islands so I can't wait to hear all about it.
ReplyDeletewoo-hoo. My husband and I spent 3 weeks sailing around the greek islands with a group of friends many Mays ago. To this day, one of the most memorable trips ever. It was gorgeous, leisurely, and a new way to travel. I didn't get seasick but my husband did. It didn't last long. None of our group really had an issue with it but those seasick bands and a few meds could be good to pack just in case it strikes. Are you taking the boys?
ReplyDeleteENJOY!!!!
You will love it. I lived on Mykonos after college. I have friends there! Let me know if you plan to go and I will have you meet him! Locals are the best!xo
ReplyDeletewhat an amazing trip! that water is so crazy blue. can't wait to hear stories and see pictures!
ReplyDeleteDo you have a life list? Because it sounds like you are making so many of them come true! Bravo!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an absolute dream!
ReplyDeletethat sounds like a dream holiday..xx meenal
ReplyDeleteThis sounds wonderful! I got to go on a sailing with my friends family through theCarribean for a week when I lived in venezuela. Never got sea sick. I'm very excited for you!
ReplyDeleteI sailed the Med with my family for 2 years. It's definitely an amazing experience and a great opportunity to see places and cultures normal methods of transportation won't give you access to. The waters in Greece are typically fair and the anchorages/harbors are usually well protected. If you think you may get sick, stay on the aft deck until you know for sure! Smooth sailing!
ReplyDeleteOh man! Jealous! My family has talked this about doing this forever but have yet to make it happen! Hooray for you!
ReplyDeleteI have done a few of these trips with my family to the British Virgin Islands and the Grenadines, Greece is next on our list. We didn't have a skipper because we sail ourselves but it is the same idea. We always rent through Barefoot Charters. You will have an amazing time. Like you said, it's the perfect mix of sightseeing and downtime. If you are worried about seasickness, there is this German gum called Superpep. I'm sure you can find it at a pharmacy over there (my aunt get's it from one of her flight attendant friends). I have no idea what is in it, but it is a miracle. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteIt's much better to be prepared for seasickness than not. I'd suggest ginger pills, which we always had on hand for guests when we would sail in SF. Greece should be much smoother sailing, but you never know. Also, if you're feeling queasy, don't go below deck. Stay on deck and focus on the horizon. Driving the boat is the best way to get over it. You're vertical, you're focused on the horizon, and your mind is busy. Have fun!
ReplyDeletelucky lucky lucky!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteJordan, how exciting! My fiance and I are getting married in late May and are off to Greece and the Greek islands for our honeymoon and cannot wait! YAY!
ReplyDeleteis there a website to check out?
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing trip that sounds like! Really can't wait to hear all about it. I would LOVE to know what company you are using for future reference.....I want to do this to now!
ReplyDeleteLook at that water! So beautiful.
ReplyDeleteFUN!
ReplyDeleteAnd if you have a chance to visit Turkey while you're in the area, DO. I just got home and absolutely loved it.
How fun!! I agree with others above that you should be prepared with ginger (even candied), etc. I used to get pretty sea sick on the SF bay, so when I when we chartered a large catamaran in the Caribbean, I went prepared with cute plastic sea band type things that are also used for morning sickness (they come in different colors with little designs on them) that I got off Amazon and non-drowsy Dramamine that I ended up taking twice. I found laying on the front trampoline cured my seasickness best.
ReplyDeleteWhat islands are you visiting?
I have done a few dive trips where we were on sail boats - OH ITS AMAZING ... just bring a nice wide brim hat since shade is usually hard to find on the boat - and going down below deck is not nearly has fun (and if you get sea sick that will be the place you get it) I didnt get seasick but I know some of the people wore 'the patch' ginger and peppermint essential oils work good too!
ReplyDeletei'm starting to think you are independently wealthy;-)
ReplyDeleteMy husband has wanted us to charter a boat and do this same thing for forever. We would go with certain family members (but only the ones that we could stand to be trapped on a boat with!) LOL, but I'm serious.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds AMAZING! When I am on a cruise ship I get severely seasick, but when I'm on a smaller sailboat I don't. I think it has to do with seeing the water and seeing the movement that you're experiencing that is in part responsible. I think you'll be fine, but bring some seasickness/nausea pills just in case (: Have fun!
ReplyDeleteSounds wonderful! Friends did it last summer sans kids and loved it! Another set of friends did it with kids and liked it too. I think it would be fun with older kids (5yrs+) but would SO welcome the idea of leaving the kids at home. Score!
ReplyDeleteMore than worry about sea sickness, I would just prepare for it. Thoroughly.
amazing. i know its not good to be jealous, but...
ReplyDeletei would love to get back to greece one of these days, and this looks like the perfect way to do it. can't wait to hear all about it!
I'm with you- ALWAYS wanted to do Greece. (My husband's favorite vacation was Greece on motor scooters with his family.) I've sailed Turkey with my family and one other for a week and it was incredible. Fresh fish and salads for every meal. I love that culture. But yes- seasickness got me. I hope it misses you.
ReplyDeleteI never get seasick so I've never had to worry about that. I've been to the Greek island of Corfu (beautiful) when I was 12 and have always wanted to go back. This sounds like my absolute dream vacation. Thanks for the idea!
ReplyDeleteOMG - this is my dream! Can't wait to see pictures from your trip!
ReplyDeleteLooks amazing! How how i romanticize sailing! Dream of it! then I go and can't stop being seasick (it is always worth it).
ReplyDeleteI have some friends who did this in Turkey and loved it. Have a blast.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I sailed for two weeks in the Dodecanese Islands; can't recommend the experience highly enough. We especially loved this itinerary because the islands were mostly very small, and well off the standard American tourist track. We also did a day trip to Ephesus in Turkey; fabulous.
ReplyDeletehttp://seascape-sail.com/destinations/greece.php
Plan to go back someday with children in tow, as it would be a great destination for children.
I get motion sick, though in cars worse than boats, and I was fine with a daily prescription pill (probably didn't even need that most days).
And, genuine question here, not judgment: how do your kids do with you away for long periods at your age? My youngest are 5 and 18 mos; my 18 mo old is just now OK away for a night, but I think he'd struggle with more than a few days (and that's being left with daddy, who is clearly his favorite parent :) ).
that sounds amazing!! Something I would like to add to my own bucket list! That photo is breathtaking as well.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you just helped me plan our next vacation. But unfortunately I struggle with motion-sickness. And the older I get, the worse it gets. I usually try to stick it out, but it is tough! On my last sailing trip, a veteran sailor with me said that he still gets sick almost every time he goes out...but that it was worth it!
ReplyDeleteHave a blast and I can't wait to hear all about it!
Holy moly! That sounds amazing. I can't wait to see the photos and hear about your trip. BTW, I've been following your blog lately. I love reading about your adventures in Paris. Such an inspiring story!
ReplyDeleteOh happy day, indeed! A dream come true. I'm thrilled for you!
ReplyDelete@Sara I know some kids get separation anxiety but so far neither of my kids have. (knock on wood) We've taken several week long trips and even took a 14 day trip to Brazil when Moses was 16 months. But after 10 days the trip starts not being fun because we missed him. It helps that Paul's mom is amazing with children. She can get them to nap when even I can't. We wouldn't be able to travel if we didn't know they were in safe trusted hands.
ReplyDeleteIn general I believe its healthy for moms and kids to have time apart. Kids need to learn that their mom will always come back.
Have you factored in the docking fees at each port? I've wondered about how much that would add onto everything else. So happy you're going to Greece though. My family is from Kefalonia and I will be there all of August, so ping me if you guys want a tour :)
ReplyDeleteI spent a week sailing around the Whitsundays in Australia with my husband. I suffer a little bit from motion sickness but found that I was fine on the boat.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it was a different story when the week was over and we returned to land. I suffered from sea sicknesses on our first night back on land. The restaurant we went to wouldn't stop rocking!
Might not be a problem for you though as you will be spending more time off the boat than we did.
Go to the island of Santorini! The village of Oia is absolutely breathtaking.
ReplyDeleteWho are you using to charter your boat? That sounds amazing
My husband did this trip with some friends when they graduated from law school - he actually skippered it himself (he has a bareboat certification) but swears he wouldn't do it again. We also chartered a boat in Belize five years ago with some friends (hmmm....sounds like we're due!) and had an absolute blast. No seasickness there, but the water was like glass. Email me if you want some tips - I am sure he will have some for you!
ReplyDeleteWe have charted boats, manly in the San Juan Islands near Seattle where it is cool and a bit rougher water at times. I would imagine you will have smoother seas and warmer weather in Greece in July! You are spot on, sailing is greatly relaxing and nice to bring your bed with you. Nothing like it. In fact, sailing is actually our living in Europe plan. We are saving up to take a long summer, and 'live' in Europe by way of our own boat. Not such a wild idea ~ did you know about this (http://www.seanationtv.com/blog/?page_id=221)? Greece has always been our dream trip, can't wait to hear about your experience. Sounds divine!
ReplyDeletehow totally exciting!!
ReplyDeleteHow awesome! I sailed the BVI with 12 family members on a Catamaran last year, and it was such a unique experience. I think you are wise to leave the kids at home...it would be really stressful to watch them in such tight quarters, and there is a lot of climbing around that you do on a Catamaran. Those prone to sea sickness got a patch from the doc before setting sail. My husband is really affected by sea sickness and he wore the patch the entire trip and did great. It may be worth getting some patches from a doctor in the states if you have opportunity before you sail. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds amazing.. I'm Waters-of-Greece-Green/Blue with envy :)
ReplyDeleteThis sounds amazing- I would love to do this!!
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ReplyDeleteI did a similar 45 foot sailboat charter to get from Panama to Colombia in January! It was a 5 day trip and we hit rough seas the last two days which made that part miserable! I would definitely take at the least over the counter meds with you and you may want to look into a Scopolamine patch, which your doctor can prescribe for you. It lasts for three days and you don't have to worry about taking any meds while you have it on! You can read about my adventures on my blog: http://runningblonde.com/?s=sail+trip&x=0&y=0
ReplyDeleteThat sounds truly lovely. Take lots of photos so we can live vicariously through you! :)
ReplyDeleteI have already contacted a group of my friends about this. How is the price that cheap? Sounds truly amazing. Gotta do it!!!
ReplyDeleteJust curious- Where do you fly in to for this??
ReplyDeleteSo happy to hear you're doing this! I truly think it is the best way to travel. I worked for a charter company, poseidon charters, for a month as skipper through the cyclades. One of the best experiences of my life! Any time I started to feel sick, I just took the wheel and steered for a while, it worked like magic. Even if you can't actually steer, just stand behind the wheel and focus on the horizon! Hydra was my favorite island, there are no cars, the only form of transportation are donkeys. It's magical.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.poseidoncharters.com/
Wow! What an amazing trip! My husband and I would love to do someting very similar. Would you be willing to email the skipper's information? Did you purchase directly through him or some kind of a travel agency?
ReplyDeletejust wanted to say you are living my dream! please post extensively about this trip, where you go and what you eat! :) is there a site you went through to charter the boat? please give us all the details! :)
ReplyDeleteMy parents once took us on a chartered catamaran trip in the BVI. It was just our family of five, the captain, and the cook, and it was incredible! I loved being able to spend all day sitting in the shade on the boat reading, going snorkelling, or napping on the hammock-like front of the boat. You'll get to do all of that PLUS sight-seeing during the day. How lovely!
ReplyDeleteThe best part of the boat was that the bathrooms were inside the hulls, and each had a window that was mostly under the water level. I saw a barracuda from 3 feet away, but was safe in the boat (not out snorkelling), so I got to just sit and marvel at him rather than be terrified & swim away!
I was never motion sick before that trip... then I got on the boat. I was miserable at first, then threw up once about 24 hours in. And I was fine after that! So bring those wrist bands, but you'll adapt (hopefully quickly!).
Indeed, Greece is a wonderful place to go sailing. The sun, blue waters and food all perfect. As you said sailing would be better choice than of going for trains.
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ReplyDeleteWe did a similar trip a few years ago with my family (and brought Ella with us. She was three at the time). We didn't have any trouble with sea sickness as the sea was actually incredibly calm. Generally on the big boats like you will be on, they don't use the sails too much, unless you specifically ask for them so that helps as well, if you are a bit concerned about having a bumpy ride.
ReplyDeleteIt really was one of our favorite holidays for just the reasons you mentioned- everything was taken care of and it seemed like all we had to do was make sure to put enough sun screen on! You'll have an amazing time!
You'll just LOVE it! I married a Greek man and absolutely adore spending time frolicking around mainland Greece and the islands! Years ago as I was on an Ionian beach, I saw the yacht where Princess Diana was vacationing on! :D
ReplyDeleteJust make sure to do some background checks on the boat's captain and the yacht itself. Some standards on boats are not on par with what North Americans are used to for safety.
Greece is a dream! We went there for our honeymoon. I have a friend sail Greek Islands a few years ago and she LOVED it. She said it only got a little rough one day but that she just spent that day outside in the fresh air.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds absolutely amazing! I've wanted to visit Greece for a while, but it never occurred to me to spend a week sailing the different islands. I can't wait to hear about it!
ReplyDeleteYou will have a wonderful time! I did something similar with friends in Turkey. No one had any issues with seasickness, and the food and pace of the trip was wonderful. I think you'll appreciate having the trip without the kids.
ReplyDeleteHi there!
ReplyDeleteI'm Greek and currently living in a greek island (Crete!) and I can guarantee you'll love that trip...!
If you are worried about seasickness, you can get something from a pharmacy to be on the safe side. Normally the weather is fine; the sailing sould be smooth!
You will love this! We used Blues Breaker to sail for a week about 6 years ago. It was the best vacation ever. So relaxing and so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on what will be such a memorable trip! I took a week sailing in the BVIs and I was preggo, so couldn't take the usual dramamine etc...so the metal wrist bands, lavender essential oil and lots of deep breathing and focusing on the horizon got me through. I have few problems on catamarans, but single hull sailboats and I have an uneasy relationship. Good luck and have a blast!
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