Think of clear sparkling water reflecting off of white sandy beaches and marble cliff sides; hillsides where oregano, lavender, rosemary and savory grow wild and perfume the air; islands where flocks of sheep and herds of goats wander freely grazing; and where the white marble columns of a Greek temple stand silhouetted against the blue sky.  And voila.....the cruising grounds of the Greek Islands.

There are over 900 Greek islands, each with a history and unique culture from centuries of isolation.  While buildings on Hydra reflect an Italianate motif, buildings on Mykonos are white boxes with cobalt blue doors and window shutters, and courtyards and walkways on Chios are paved with little white and black rocks embedded on end in beautiful patterns.  These different architectural styles developed from the melding of the unique history and culture of each island.  A cruise through these islands will unfold a constantly changing panorama of culture and history from island to island.  Weeks can be spent cruising the myriad of Greek Islands, some only accessible by private yacht, where you might be the main visitor to the island's local taverna, and some like Santorini and Mykonos were you might find a myriad of other international visitors. 

Ruins of various cultures can be found on many islands, some cultures not yet completely identified.  Perhaps the people of Akrotiri, an excavation on Santorini, were the lost civilization of Atlantis.  There are other wonders to explore as well.  The inhabitants of the monastery of Archangel Michael Panormitis in Symi claim that all of the waters in the world flow past their entrance, proven by their museum of messages received in bottles from worldwide over many centuries.  The inhabitants of the Monastery of St. John on Patmos claim this as the location of the writing of the Book of Revelation.  From islands supported by sponge diving, fishing, or perhaps commerce, each island is unique.  Enjoy cruising the beautiful waters of Greece, and experience lively and unique local life on each island.  Crewed power and sailing yachts are available for private yacht charter through the Greek Islands.

 

Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters is very versed on the yachts available, charter itineraries and the best ways to travel to and from this enchanting charter destination.  

 

See a Full Itinerary with Photos for the Saronic, Ionian, and Dodecanese Islands in our N&J Charter's Blog

XANADU, a 196' Benetti, was just launched several months ago. This brand new Benetti has it all and is true to her name. The word Xanadu, originally appearing in the Samuel Taylor Coleridge poem "Kubla Khan" is now synonymous for an idyllic peaceful place, and this one is chocker block full of fun and entertainment, even a spa.
 
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Carolyn Titus attended the St. Martin Charter Show and Missy Johnston attended the Antigua Charter Yacht Show this month.  We have been blogging about both.  Please see our blogs for more in depth news on yachts we saw, crews we met and old friends we saw again.  These are industry only charter shows where worldwide charter industry members meet again for the opening of the winter Caribbean charter season.  Industry members were at both shows from the U.S. New Zealand, Australia, French Polynesia, Thailand, England, Italy, Spain, France, Greece, Croatia and Turkey, to name a few countries, along with other worldwide locations.  This is a worldwide industry truly an international marketplace of great cruising locations.

 

 

 

In general, the charter bookings for this winter are fewer than normal.  Many of the Captains reported that the Owners are not deciding yet where they will send their yachts for the summer season, as the Owners are waiting to see what might transpire with the worldwide economy in the next few months. As this is a mobile product, Owners can make many different decisions, and as this is a small industry, Owners can make last minute decisions about charter locations and pricing.  Some Owners have already decided not to send their yachts to the Caribbean, so there are fewer crewed yachts for charter in the Caribbean this winter than normal.  Many Owners that did send their yachts to the Caribbean are now offering discounts for winter charters, which is a great opportunity for any interested charter clients.  Very few discounts have been offered yet for next summer, as Owners are waiting and watching any changes this winter to the worldwide economic situation.

If you want to charter this winter, now is the time to inquire as there are very good charter pricing offers from Owners interested in booking more winter charters on their yachts now located in the Caribbean.   Check our Twitter site for some of these pricing discounts. 

 

We look forward to your call or email!