Cabin Bookings, Sicily

Primo premio! You've booked yourself the ultimate week in Sicily with Yacht Week. It’s a big event - so, to make sure it's nothing but smooth sailing, we need you to read this pre-departure information.

Trust us, you wont regret it. 

Let's get prepared: 🎉

Just like you would for a flight, you and your crew need to check in online before you arrive. Log in to your Booking Profile and fill out your details - that includes your passport. 

PS: If you haven’t filled out your details it can cause you delays on the day of check in but it also means you will miss out on our epic emails that help you get prepared in the lead up to your trip! 

🚤  FYIs on Marina: There is only one Marina in Sicily, Portorosa Marina. The details of the location will be available to view under "KEY INFO" on your Booking Profile. 

☀️ Weather: Expect temperatures between 29°C and 33°C (84°F and 89°F) and water temperatures averaging 25°C (77°F).

🕛 Time Zone: In summer, Sicily is at Central European Summer Time (GMT+2).

Visas & passports: 🤞

All travellers will need a passport valid for at least 6 months following your departure date from Italy. You also need to ensure your passport has blank Visa pages. Check www.visahq.com for Visa requirements for all nationalities.

Travel insurance: 📧

Do you know how many phones are lost to the seas?! In accordance with our bookings terms and conditions, we strongly recommend that you get travel insurance. 

Travel Insurance can provide valuable protection and peace of mind when you’re travelling. It can cover unexpected events such as; trip cancellation, trip interruption, or medical emergencies while you’re away from home. 

With travel insurance, you may be reimbursed for non-refundable expenses if you have to cancel your trip due to unforeseen circumstances, such as a sudden illness or a natural disaster. 

Travel Insurance can also cover emergency medical expenses, including hospitalisation, medical evacuation, and repatriation. Additionally, some policies may provide coverage for lost or stolen baggage, travel delays, or accidental death and dismemberment. Having Travel Insurance can help you avoid financial losses and protect you from unexpected situations while you’re on the road.

International licences: 🪪

If you would like to rent a scooter or quad bike, please ensure you have your International driver’s licence with you. This will need to be organised in your home country and we recommend applying for this at least 6 weeks before your holiday.

Local currency: 💶

The local currency is Euros. Foreign currency isn’t generally accepted, but exchanging foreign currency is easy and accessible. Cash is usually king on the islands. Some places are happy to accept card payments and welcome it, but it's better to be safe than sorry. 

Additional costs:

On your first day your skipper will ask to collect a “cash kitty” from you and your crew, this will go towards: 

• Port Fees, depending on yacht size, location and dates.
• Fuel, to keep the yacht running
• Water taxis, as you'll spend some nights away from the dock. For these, you'll need to grab a water taxi to take you to and from Yacht Week events.
• Water, for running water throughout the week.

These costs vary depending on whether you are travelling on a Monohull or Catamaran, see here to get an estimated cost. If there is any money remaining at the end of the trip, your skipper will return this. 

What's not included: ❌

• Food and Drinks for Skippers and Hosts,Your Skipper and Host need watering and feeding while you're away from the yacht
• Alcohol and eating out. When you don’t eat on the yacht, treat yourself to drinks and meals throughout the week out in local bars and restaurants.
• Staff Tips 
• Transfers to and from the airport are not included but taxis/buses/ trains are very reliable to take you to and from the marina. 
• Additional Activities -  ATV’s, The Stromboli Hike, Driving etc

Damage Waiver Fee: 💳

Paying the Damage Waiver Fee is a great way to take the stress out of check - in a day and ensure that you've covered in case of any unforeseen damages and losses that are not covered by the hull insurance and do not arise for normal wear and tear. This may include damages that arise from accidents, misuse or other unforeseen events.

There is an option to pay a non-refundable amount of €100 online through your profiles before the trip takes place which will cover you with no extra charges which are due to the responsibility of the full crew on board. This payment is paid for each cabin booking total and cannot be reduced if the cabin has a solo occupancy.

The other option is to pay a refundable deposit amount of €1000, where if any damages are made on board this will be deducted proportionally. This option will become available closer to the time of your trip taking place.

Please note that the only things not covered by the Damage Waiver Fee are blocked toilets. However, don’t worry - your skipper will make sure you know how to use the toilets properly to avoid any issues.

Read more about how it works here.

Yacht Week app:

This app will tell you everything you need to know when you're on the water and before your travel, this will be our main communication tool whilst on the event so it's important to download it and keep it close. This is the official app for Yacht Week which can be downloaded via the app store on iPhone or Android. We advise guests to download the app 2 weeks before you travel - you can access this by entering your email address and your booking number.

The app is a platform where you will meet everyone who will be on your week; you can share pictures, find your itinerary, interactive map and location pins, direct messaging and information on the community.

This will be the only way for you to contact your skipper and host (if you have one included) and for them to contact you.

*Not only can you meet your crew and see what everyone else is up to but the app will provide you with the itinerary, timings for events, some of our favourite restaurant recommendations and you can pre book tables and bottle service in bars/clubs.

Meet my crew: 👫

2 weeks before you travel you will receive an email where you will be assigned to your crew. This is also where you will get in touch with your skipper and host, so if you have any questions to ask them before you arrive this would be the perfect opportunity.

At this point you will be able to download the Yacht Week app where you will meet everyone who will be on your week; you can share pictures, find your itinerary,  interactive map and location pins, direct messaging and information on the Yacht Week community.

This will be the only way for you to contact your skipper and host (if you have one included) and for them to contact you.

You’ll be sharing with up to 8 guests (plus skipper or skipper and host) on board!

When assigning the cabins, we aim for a 50:50 ratio across the whole week, so we take into consideration ages, genders and nationalities.

You will also meet your skipper and host at this point, so if you have any questions to ask them before you arrive this would be the perfect opportunity.

Sail with your friends: 🫶

If you have friends who have also booked the same cabin category as you, then please reach out to the customer service team, hello@yachtweek.com and we can request for you to be on the same yacht. When you get assigned your yacht 2 weeks before you travel, you’ll meet the rest of your crew who you’ll be sailing with for the week!

Your skipper and host: 👫

Your skipper and host (if you have included one!) will become your best friends by the end of your week. Your skippers are your navigators for the week taking you to the best swim spots on the islands and your host will be your mum; cooking, keeping your communal areas clean on your yacht and making sure your week is seamless.

Tipping is customary in the maritime industry. It is entirely up to the crew to judge whether your host and skipper services warrant a tip. Please feel free to tip at your own discretion.

On some nights you will eat out to give your host some nights off, these are nights where you could invite your skipper and host out for dinner with you and your crew. It is custom that you pay for their dinners and make sure there is enough food for them on board the yacht. If you would prefer to have a quieter dinner, this is also absolutely fine but you will need to give your skipper and host money for them to get dinner.

Dietary requirements: 🥧

If you have a host included on your booking and have any special dietary requirements you will be well looked after, don't worry. Our Hosts are well equipped to deal with a wide range of dietary needs but to do so it is important you make them aware when you are connected with them 2 weeks before your trip. Your host will also create a meal plan with you and your crew so you can truly have anything your heart desires.

Our ethos:♻️

We are an open-minded community of friends. One that respects the environment and is incredibly lucky to experience some of the world’s most beautiful locations. We are committed to keeping them that way, so we expect our guests to follow 4 simples principles:

Respect the Local Community - We ask you to treat the local community with respect and decency, we are here to have fun but in other words: Keep it classy.

Respect the Environment - Be cautious of the amount of plastic bottle water you use, stay dehydrated but we advise you to bring your own water bottles to prevent this. Try and sail as much as you can, you are on a yacht in the middle of the ocean! Plus the silence of sailing beats the humdrum of a motor any day. Lastly, nothing should be thrown overboard and all rubbish should go into a rubbish bin immediately to avoid it blowing into the sea!

Respect Each Other - The Yacht Week is full of wonderful people from all over the world, which makes our community so special - we advise you to embrace it!

Respect the Yachts - We charter the newest yachts available, therefore we ask you to look after your floating home, never jump off a moving yacht, don’t attempt to drive it unless the skipper says, only use the fenders to fend off the yacht never use your body and most importantly listen to the skipper as they are in charge of the yacht and your safety!

Any questions, please reach out to our customer service team, hello@theyachtweek.com