Crete is a hundred and fifty miles long, which is the single most important fact about chartering there. It is not an island you circumnavigate in a week, and the fleet is small compared with the Cyclades or the Ionian. Most Cretan charters work a section of the north coast or use the island as a jumping-off point rather than as a circuit.
Ask several charter companies what your week costs
Yacht rental Crete: what a week actually covers
From Agios Nikolaos or Heraklion, east to Sitia and Kasos or west along the north coast towards Rethymno and Chania, with Santorini and the southern Cyclades a serious but achievable passage north. The south coast is exposed and has few harbours. It is a passage-making week rather than an island-hopping one, and it suits crews who want miles under the keel.
What it costs
No Cretan rate is published in this record. The Moorings publishes $2,634 to $36,999 for a 7 day charter for 2 people out of its Greek bases, which is the applicable published Greek range, and Seafarer Sailing publishes nothing across its twelve Greek bases. Expect a smaller choice of boat in Crete than in the Ionian or the Saronic and less flexibility on dates.
The weather is a real constraint
The meltemi reaches Crete hard in July and August and the north coast harbours are not all comfortable in it. Combine that with long distances between shelter and a Cretan week needs more weather judgement than a Saronic one. It is a better May, June or September charter than a high summer one.
Questions people ask about yacht charter crete
How much is a yacht charter in Crete?
No Cretan rate is published in this record. The Moorings publishes $2,634 to $36,999 for a 7 day charter for 2 people out of its Greek bases.
Can I sail around Crete in a week?
No. The island is about 150 miles long with an exposed south coast and few southern harbours; a week covers a section of the north coast or a passage north to the Cyclades.
When should I charter in Crete?
May, June or September. The meltemi is strong in July and August and shelter is far apart on this coast.