Our first yacht charter on the Amalfi Coast

My wife and I recently chartered a yacht & crew to explore the Amalfi Coast for our honeymoon. We boarded the Yacht Mary Grace at a port near Naples. There, Captain Antonio and Chef Chiara greeted us with flowers and a homemade cake — not just any cake, but Cassata Siciliana, a Sicilian dessert that my mom often bakes for my birthday!

After this amazing welcome, the Mary Grace set sail. Over the course of 7 days, we visited Ischia, Procida, Capri, Amalfi, Positano, and Sorrento. We adjusted quickly to the rhythm of life at sea: eating, sailing, swimming.

Each morning we dropped anchor near a sandy beach surrounded by cliffs to go swimming Most of the beaches were nearly empty because they’re only accessible by boat. My wife enjoyed surveying the sand for sea glass and unique, smooth rocks. Meanwhile, I became addicted to the Seabob: a paddle board with a propeller that lets you swim without the effort of swimming. I mean ADDICTED. I enjoyed plunging 20 feet into the clear blue water, then popping up to travel laps around the boat.

All of that swimming built up our appetite for delicious meals. For lunch, Chef Chiara prepared seafood salads, fresh pasta dishes, and homemade Italian cakes. For one special meal, Captain Antonio grilled Swordfish steak on the yacht’s port-side deck. Most of the meals included ingredients sourced from the towns where we docked: fish, pastries, wine, etc.

In the evenings, we ate at local restaurants. Indaco, a Michelin restaurant in Ischia, was especially memorable because they gave us a scratch-off game for the chance of unlocking a bonus meal. In Capri, we ate at Da Paolino, an outdoor restaurant with a ceiling made of real lemon groves. The smell of citrus & fresh bread wafted through the air. The same restaurant had an entire “dessert room,” a buffet with a grand selection of sweets.

Aspects of travel that are normally stressful became effortless as our crew supported us with each and every small detail. Captain Antonio arranged for transportation including a driver from the airport. He and Chef Chiara helped wash, fold, and iron clothes. It was refreshing to store clothing in drawers for a whole week without lugging around suitcases. Each night Chiara put two homemade chocolates on the table in the bedroom, sweets hand-crafted by her boyfriend who is a chocolatier.

Hand-made chocolates and water to end each night

I highly recommend a first-time charter to a couple or a group of friends who’s celebrating a special occasion. The whole process of arranging our charter probably took less than 3 hours. My wife & I worked with a broker from the International Yacht Corporation (IYC) to develop an itinerary and find a crewed motoryacht. Our crew came from Plaghia Charter.