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Greece
Motor yacht charter in Santorini
Not content with the caldera alone? This quick flybridge Azimut visits a neighbouring island and is back before dusk.
Motor yacht charter in Santorini opens a door the classic catamaran loop keeps shut: real excursions beyond the volcano's rim. Thirty knots of top speed let the Azimut 55 Fly reach a beach on Ios or sleepy Anafi and still return for dusk facing Oia. Even if you never leave Santorini, that pace pays off differently — more swim stops squeezed into each afternoon.
Seventeen metres long, she carries a dozen guests by day. Everyone ends up at the flybridge bar eventually, because from there the cliff walls and the whitewashed villages crowning them unfold in one sweep. Below, a chilled saloon gives respite from the midday glare; the cockpit table is laid for meals and steps at the stern lead straight into the sea.
Couples planning a proposal, birthday parties and family reunions fill much of her diary. Three cabins mean nobody hunts for a place to change or nap in the shade, and the two-person crew handles mooring and the dinghy. Bookings normally start at four hours; on the longer island runs, expect diesel to appear as a separate line.
Motor yachts in Santorini
What it costs
The lowest indicative prices among the yachts of this type on this page.
- Hourly cruise
- from €550 / hour
- Full day
- from €3,000 / day
- Week-long charter
- from €20,000 / week
Minimum hire from 4 h
Indicative "from" market prices for this destination. The exact price depends on dates, duration and the specific yacht, and comes in your personal quote.
Usually included
- Skipper plus deckhand
- Diesel for an ordinary caldera loop — your offer will say
- Bottled water, juices, sodas and beach towels
- Use of the dinghy to nose into coves and the springs
Usually extra
- Diesel for a crossing to Ios or Anafi
- A catered dinner or sharing buffet
- Flowers, a cake and décor for a proposal or party
- Bottles from Santorini wineries beyond the standard bar
Exact inclusions depend on the yacht and are always listed in your written offer.
Where you go
Most trips begin at the marina in Vlychada, on the southern coast, though a different pick-up can often be agreed. A local loop strings together the red cliffs near Akrotiri, the pale pebble cove next door, a dip in the warm, rust-tinted water off Palea Kameni and a cruise north beneath the rim to Oia. The ambitious version swaps that for Ios or Anafi, home by evening.
Marinas
- Vlychada Marina
- Ammoudi Bay (Oia)
- Athinios Port
When to go
Boats work here from April right through October; May, June and September generally give the kindest sea. Plan an island crossing as a whole day with an early start, while a four-hour evening slot is tailor-made for dusk off Oia and a celebratory dinner aboard.
Motor yacht charter in Santorini: FAQ
Why pick this over the well-known catamaran cruise?
Speed and freedom, mostly. Catamarans tend to follow a set circuit around the caldera, whereas the Azimut 55 Fly can visit another island and be back the same evening. A cat does give more lounging room once anchored, so weigh which matters more to your group.
Is it a good choice for a proposal?
Very much so — it ranks among the reasons people book it most. Couples usually go out in the evening and drop anchor facing Oia as daylight fades, with flowers, champagne and a photographer lined up beforehand. Mention the plan in your enquiry so the crew can get ready.
How long does the run to Ios take?
That hinges on speed, sea state and which beach you choose, so the skipper calculates it for your plan. In a strong meltemi the island hop may give way to a cruise along Santorini's calmer southern shore.