Italy
Not verified with the agencyRule not yet confirmed on the agency’s own pages; ask the agency or the rental company
· checked Oct 14, 2026
Choosing your charter month
High season can put a crewed Sardinia catamaran above £10,000 per week, so compare your travel month before choosing the boat. Ask the operator which months count as high and low season for that particular yacht. Request quotes for the same boat and crew arrangement so the comparison stays useful.
Your month also affects the route you can reasonably plan. Ask the operator about expected wind, weather-related restrictions and the official marine forecast used for departure decisions. For an optional Bonifacio crossing, discuss an alternative itinerary before committing to berths or other arrangements.
Week prices and added charges
Bareboat catamarans in Sardinia start at a few thousand euros per week, while high-season crewed catamarans can exceed £10,000 per week. Size, season and boat age affect the bareboat price. These are starting-price and high-season figures, not medians; compare the individual week prices in the table above.
A skipper for a Sardinia catamaran costs about $325 per day, separate from the boat price. Ask which days are chargeable and whether the quote includes the skipper’s meals. Use the calculator and the weekly charter cost guide to keep the base fee and additional expenses separate.
DMA Yachting describes Italy’s charter VAT as 22% of the charter fee, charged in proportion to time spent in EU waters. Its guidance says VAT applies to the base charter price rather than the Advance Provisioning Allowance, unless the charter is all-inclusive. VAT is paid with the final charter fee, typically one month before departure, and handled by a fiscal agent.
Fuel, marina fees, cleaning, provisioning and the La Maddalena permit can be additional charges on a skippered charter. Fuel spending depends on engine use, the generator, tender, watermaker, route and wind conditions. Ask for an itemized estimate rather than treating the headline week price as your total.
- Sardinia catamaran marina fees: €50–€200 per night, depending on marina, boat size and season.
- La Maddalena entry: about €3 per linear meter for a one-day pleasure-boat permit on boats 10.01–24 meters long.
- Crewed charter: ask for the APA amount, what it covers and how unused funds or additional spending are settled.
- Ask whether any local tourist tax, separate mooring charge or provisioning delivery fee applies to your itinerary.
- Confirm the crew’s tipping arrangements separately; see the captain and crew tipping guide.
Bareboat certificates and handover
The charter provider describes Italy’s bareboat sailing qualification requirement as an Italian Patente Nautica, ICC or equivalent EU sailing license. It says an American ASA qualification alone is not accepted without ICC endorsement or an equivalent EU license. Send your qualification details to the charter company before paying and request written confirmation of acceptance.
Italian law requires a Short Range Certificate for bareboat charters on VHF-equipped boats, according to the charter provider. Separately, the provider’s handover guidance requires original sailing and VHF SRC certificates, not photocopies or phone images. Check both the applicable legal requirements and your chosen company’s document policy in the bareboat sailing certificate guide.
Bareboat means you take responsibility for navigation, docking, anchoring, weather decisions, safety and boat management. It is the wrong arrangement if your group expects a professional to handle those tasks. Compare the responsibilities in the bareboat, skippered and crewed charter guide before choosing solely by price.
Sardinia charter departure bases
Portisco, Cannigione, Palau, Olbia and Marina di Olbia are northern Sardinia charter bases for Costa Smeralda and La Maddalena itineraries. Cagliari is also a charter base, but it is less suited to that northern route. Choose the departure base around the waters you want to visit, rather than treating all Sardinia departures as interchangeable.
Ask each company to identify the exact handover marina and the boat available there. Confirm the return location, included berth arrangements and who handles arrival formalities. For an Amalfi Coast quote, request the same breakdown of boat, crew, departure marina and additional charges before comparing it with Sardinia.
A northern Sardinia charter week
A suggested Sardinia week starts from Portisco or Cannigione and includes Costa Smeralda, La Maddalena, Caprera, and Spargi or Santa Maria. Treat these as possible stops rather than a fixed daily schedule. Ask the charter company to turn them into a route with passage distances, overnight options and weather alternatives.
La Maddalena requires an entry permit, so arrange authorization before entering the park. A permit issued during an inspection can carry a 40% surcharge, and failure to obtain authorization risks fines. Check that the permit covers your boat and intended visit.
Bonifacio is an optional crossing, dependent on conditions and budget. Discuss it with the operator or skipper rather than making it an essential stop. Keep an alternative plan within the agreed cruising area if the crossing is not suitable.