Marmaris, Turkey - Gulet Fleet

Yacht charter in Turkey along the beautiful Turquoise Coast for the Blue Voyage is alive and well with more great crewed yacht charter choices than ever. With 58 crewed charter sailing, motor yachts and Gulets lined up along the main quay in Marmaris, Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters is hard at work reviewing and inspecting the various crewed charter yachts and Gulets available for charter. As usual the quality of the luxury Gulet constantly improves along with terrific crew, food and great crew service. Missy Johnston says, “We are very pleased with the quality of the crewed Turkish Gulets that we are seeing here at this show for this coming summer season for a yacht charter along the southern coast of Turkey, and for the first time there are at least 8 quality crewed motor yachts available for yacht charter”. The season is already busy here in Turkey with some of the yacht available for crewed yacht charter already booked for 10 to 12 weeks. With a long season from May to October, there is still plenty of time left though, on excellent options for a crewed yacht charter from which to enjoy the Turquoise Coast and some of the Greek Islands.

Porquerolles Anchorage

Just off of the coastline of the French Riviera are the Iles d ‘Hyeres waiting to be visited on a crewed yacht charter along the Cote d’Azur.  A group of four islands, in sight of the Cote d’Azur mainland, this island group has a vast and varied history even today.  In this little island cluster are the islands of Porquerolles, Port-Cros, Ile du Bagaud, and Ile du Levant. Within the island group of Iles d’Hyeres, it is the islands of Porquerolles and Port-Cros that are the best to visit on a crewed yacht charter of the Cote d’Azur along the French Riviera.

Porqueroles View

Porquerolles is the largest of the Iles d’Hyeres and located the farthest west in the island group.  The south coast of this island is filled with cliffs, however on the north coast there are three lovely beaches, Notre Dame, La Courtade and Plage d’Argent.  On the north coast is also the location of the island’s only port and village.   The village was established in relatively recent history in 1820 with the lighthouse constructed in 1837.  In 1912, the entire island was purchased by Francois Joseph Fournier as a wedding present for his wife.  Vineyards were planted and the subsequent wines produced were among the first to be classed “vin des Cotes de Provence”.  Very good wines are still produced today on the island which can be sampled when visiting.    In 1971, much of the island was converted to a national park and nature conservatory.  Today, the island is a great location to explore by riding bicycles through the beautiful countryside filled with vineyards and fruit trees. 

Porquerolles

The island of Port Cros, named for the small port on the island which is cross shaped, has had a long and varied history.  Known by the Greeks as “Middle Island”, Roman tombs have been found on the island along with Greek and Roman coins.  A monastery flourished on the island until destroyed by Barbary Pirates.  Fortifications were built on the island in response to the pirate attacks, which still exist today.  Two of the forts are open to explore, Fort de l’Eminence and Fort l’Estissac, which are in close walking distance to the port. The last owner of the island, Madame Henry bequeathed most of the island to the state on her death in the 1960’s, and the area is now the Port Cros National Park.  Anchoring and scuba diving are prohibited within the National Park area and shore line, however there are 35 kilometers of paths and trails to walk along to explore this natural area which is the wildest of the islands in this island group.  At Palud Beach, there is a sign posted underwater trail for an exploration snorkel.  In the port is the office for the Port Cros National Park with maps available to help enjoy this island.

Ile du Bagaud is a high rocky mountain and part of the National Park with Port Cros.  For environmental protection, this island is not allowed to be visited, and anchoring and fishing are not allowed within 600 meters of the shoreline.  This is an island to be enjoyed from afar from other islands within the Iles d’Hyeres.

Ile du Levant, also referred to as Le Levant, is predominantly a military preserve which is off limits to tourism.  The remaining areas of the island are privately owned and used by the Owners to promote “naturalism” or nudity on the two beaches and around the village of Heliopolis.  Visitors are welcome in the village, at the restaurants and on the two beaches, however “le minimum” dressing is expected for the village and nude is expected for the beaches, so if visiting this island, be prepared to dress or undress accordingly within island expectations.

The Iles d’Hyeres Islands are a great stop off for a feel of getting away from it all and enjoying the natural beauty of this area of France, which might be experience in the more heavily inhabited areas along the Cote d’Azur.  Here, in these islands is what this area looked like in centuries past and is a nice escape while on a crewed yacht charter along the French Riviera Cote d’Azur. 

Poros Charter Show 2012

The 2012 Charter Yacht Show in Poros is in full swing on the island of Poros, Greece for the industry to meet and review great crewed yacht charter choices for the upcoming 2012 summer season for yacht charter cruising in the Greek Islands.  Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters is in attendance inspecting both motor and sailing charter yachts from May 5-10.  With a record 78 crewed charter yachts in Poros quayside at the show, this is the largest Greek yacht charter show ever.  The crewed charter yachts range in size from the 50’ catamaran Idea! To the 174’ motor yacht O’Rama.  Missy Johnston says “We are pleased at the quality that we are seeing this year in the Greek crewed yacht charter fleet, here at Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters, and have already seen some great new charter yachts that are now available.  The Greek Islands are a terrific yacht charter location, and there is still very good availability left on outstanding charter yachts available for a crewed yacht charter vacation through the Greek Islands.” 

Poros Island by Moonlight

Othonoi Island, Greece

Just north of the Ionian Island of Corfu are the Diapontia Islands of Greece waiting to be explored on a crewed yacht charter along the western coast of Greece and the Ionian Islands.  There are five islands in this little island group, which are two to seven miles north of the northern coast of Corfu.  The delights of these five islands are best explored on a crewed yacht charter, which is one of the only ways to visit the Diapontia Islands hidden off of the mainland of Greece and a part of the many Greek Islands available to cruise through on a crewed yacht charter in Greece.

The main Diapontia Islands are the islands of Erikousa, which is the farthest northern island, the island of Mathraki, which is the farthest  southern island and the island of Orthoni, one of the largest of the Diapontia Islands and probably the most well known.  The lovely Port of Ammo on Orthoni is a great stop on a crewed yacht charter. 

The island of Orthoni is probably the most well known, as this island is believed to be the mythical island of Ogygia, in Homer’s writings, and here on this island supposedly, according to Homer, is where Ulysses was kept captive by Calypso, the nymph daughter of Atlas for seven years after the Trojan War.  The believed to be Cave of Calypso on the island of Orthoni, is able to be visited today; however, only by ship’s tender, so only a very few are able to visit the infamous supposed Cave of Calypso when visiting the island of Orthoni, which would be a unique experience when on a crewed yacht  charter of the Diapontia Islands.  The designated Cave of Calypso on Orthoni is quite large at over 100 meters long, 20 meters high and 10-15 meters wide and can be entered by ships tender to fully explore this mythical Muse’s cave.

Greece Typical Village Island Taverna

The Diapontia Islands are great for those that really want to get away from it all.  The islands are rich in vegetation, with beautiful beaches and many sea caves.  There are few inhabitants year around, and those that do make this island group their home are mainly engaged in fishing and agriculture.  The villages are very picturesque with traditional houses and churches.  It is in the villages in this island chain where one could find the true local Greek Taverna experience for not only great local Taverna food and fresh seafood, but also to experience the Greek Taverna as the community center of any small traditional village.  Sit back and spend an evening in the middle of village life in a local taverna in these islands.

Include the Diapontia Islands in a crewed yacht charter of the Ionian Islands for a feel of the Greek Islands of yesteryear, and experience Greek Islands untouched by modern tourism.  Visiting anchorages and areas within the Diapontia Islands where visiting by crewed yacht charter might be one of the only ways to explore and enjoy this little island group.

Korcula, Croatia

Believed by many to be the birthplace of Marco Polo in 1254, the island of Korcula is a great island to visit on a crewed yacht charter along the coast of Croatia.  Whether Marco Polo was or was not born on the island of Korcula is in debate still today, however the island itself is well worth a visit on a yacht charter cruise through the Dalmatian Islands whether Marco Polo was indeed born on the island of Korcula or not.  

Korcula Church and Marco Polo Tower

The island of Korcula passed through many hands over many centuries.  There is prehistoric archeological evidence of settlement on the island.  After which, in historic times, there is archeological evidence of settlement of various civilizations including the Greeks, and Romans on the island.  The island continuously changed hands including through Byzantine, Slavic and Venetian rule, and in those periods of time in between various rulers the island was a Mecca for pirates.

Korcula is a large island just off the coast of Croatia; south of the island of Hvar and off of the coastline between Dubrovnik and Split and should be part of any crewed yacht charter itinerary along the Dalmatian Coast.   There are eight main villages on the island of Korcula, including Korcula Town, which is the main town on the island with a population today of around 3000 people. 

Central Square, Korcula

Just off of the coast of the island of Korcula, part of the Korcula Archipelago and the resort island for the inhabitants of Korcula, is the island of Vrnik, which can easily be reached by ship’s tender during a yacht charter visit in this area.  Vrnik offers great secluded swimming locations with beautiful clear blue water, and on land, there are many deep stone quarries dating back to Roman times. 

The island of Korcula is known for vineyards and wine production, olive trees and olive oil production and large fruit tree orchards.  Of course, fishing is also an important industry for the year around locals on the island.

Entrance to Old Town, Korcula

When visiting Korcula, be sure to visit Korcula Town “Old Town”, which is one of the largest medieval walled cities still in existence today.  The whole of Korcula Old Town is surrounded by 14^th century medieval thick stone walls including towers that were used for defense of the town during past centuries.  The inside of the walled area, which was built on an oval shaped raised area of ground was built with a main road along the highest area of the ground with small roads off on either side, so that the interior area outlay of roads is often referred to as a fish skeleton. This layout of the town in a somewhat herringbone pattern allowed free air circulation but protected all inside from the strong local winds.  The interior streets are all walking streets and are all stepped, which further retains the Old Town for pedestrian traffic only.  Inside the Old Town are shops, restaurants, cafes and a museum in the house considered to be the original home of Marco Polo.

Streets of Korcula

Croatia is chock a block full of lovely islands filled with history that are great stopping ports on a crewed yacht charter along the Dalmatian Coast and Korcula is an island not to be missed on a yacht charter itinerary along the coast of Croatia.

Cap Ferrat and Saint Jean aerial

A lovely peninsula on the southern coast of France along the French Riviera, Cap Ferrat is a favorite stop on a crewed yacht charter along the Cote d’Azur. Today located on Cap Ferrat is some of the most expensive real estate in the world.  Anchor in either Villefranche or dock in Saint Jean Cap Ferrat on a crewed yacht charter, and you can enjoy and explore lovely Cap Ferrat on a crewed yacht charter along the southern coast of France while cruising along the beautiful French Riviera.

Cap Ferrat from Villefranche

The ancient Greeks knew Cap Ferrat as Aneo, and through the centuries, the peninsula changed hands many times until 1860 when the county of Nice, including Cap Ferrat, was ceded by treaty to France.  From that point on, the small fishing village of Saint Jean on Cap Ferrat became a magnet for the wealthy and royalty, with villas sprouting up all along the peninsula surrounded by large walls enclosing private gardens and private beaches, all owned by various of the “Elite” such as Baroness de Rothschild.

Cap Ferrat Villa and Gardens

 Today, there are pedestrian paths for walking along the peninsula, and the marina in the town of Saint Jean is a perfect point from which to set off to explore this lovely little spot along the French Riviera.  There are three beaches on Cap Ferrat, for those that want to soak up the sun along the shoreline of the Cote d’Azur. The Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat, located on the peninsula, is considered one of the most glamorous hotels in the world.  Originally build in 1908, this hotel has seen many prestigious guests walk through the portals such as Presidents and Royalty from countries worldwide.

Cap Ferrat Village of Saint Jean

For a view of villa life on Cap Ferrat, take a tour through the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, built by the Baroness Beatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild between 1905 and 1912.  Within is a large art collection and fine furnishings providing a unique glimpse of villa life on Cap Ferrat behind the high privacy walls.  Surrounding the villa, are excellent examples of the gardens of Cap Ferrat in the 7 gardens on the villa grounds designed in the different styles of French Traditional, Florentine, Spanish, Exotic, Lapidary, Japanese and Provencal.

Cap Ferrat Villa Rothchild Museum And Gardens, France

Stop along Cap Ferrat while on a crewed yacht charter along the Cote d’Azur to experience this lovely area coveted by the wealthy for centuries and where famous named people from all over the world have stayed and played.

Bonifacio viewed from the sea

Separated from the Costa Smeralda of Sardinia by the Strait of Bonifacio, be sure to cruise into the harbor of Bonifacio while on a crewed yacht charter along southern Corsica and northern Sardinia.  With a natural harbor that cuts into the towering surrounding chalk and limestone cliffs, the area of Bonifacio has been settled for centuries, and today offers a well protected harbor area overlooked by a medieval walled town steeped in history for a great stop on a crewed yacht charter in the Corsica and Sardinia yacht charter location in the Western Mediterranean.

Bonifacio Harbor

When cruising along the Strait of Bonifacio, look at the top of the striking chalk cliffs to see the walled medieval city of Bonifacio perched just at the edge of the cliffs, overlooking the natural harbor.  After coming into the harbor of Bonifacio, it is just a short walk up the hillside to the gates of the old city surrounded by great fortification walls originally built in the 9^th century.  It was the State of Tuscany, part of the Kingdom of Italy that left the largest mark on the face of Bonifacio, named for the Margrave of Tuscany, Boniface II, and builder of the original fortification walls around the city.

Bonifacio - Entrance to Walled City

Today Bonifacio is a town on two levels.  Surrounding the harbor is a vibrant area filled with shops, restaurants, cafes, and chic bars with an active night life. This harbor side area is an attractive little village in its own right with quayside restaurants with tables right on the edge of the harbor serving very fresh seafood.  However the piece de resistance is the older fortified medieval walled city, Old Town, sitting high above the harbor town, on the top of the surrounding chalk cliffs.  Built to protect the natural harbor and surrounds, today the fortified walled Old Town sits high on the top of the chalk cliffs, overlooking the harbor, with buildings virtually teetering on the edge of the cliffs high above the sea below. 

Bonifacio - Old Town on the cliffs

Old Town is a busy labyrinth of little alleyways and historic buildings inside the fortification walls.  Walk up from the harbor area via the steep Monte Rastello and the Monte St. Roch steps, next to the Eglise St. Erasme, to access the Old Town through the Porte de Genes (Genoa Gate) in the fortification walls at the top to wander the many little alleyways of town.  To the right of the Porte de Genes is the Bastion de L’Etendard, which is the only surviving part of the original fortification walls built by Boniface II.  There is a small museum and also an entrance within the museum to access and walk upon the battlements for extraordinary views and photo opportunities.  Bonifacio was truly built for safety, as the oldest houses on the streets can be found without front doors on the ground level.  Under siege, inhabitants would climb up ladders from the street to the second floor entrances, and pull their ladders up behind them.  And the main church in the Old Town, Eglise Sainte Marie Majeure, built in the 12^th century, sits on top of a huge cistern fed by rain water gathered from flying buttresses built all over town to collect water in times of siege or drought. 

Bonifacio on the Chalk Cliffs

Inside, interspersed throughout the historic old buildings, are chic shops, and restaurants.  Bonifacio is a great stop on a crewed yacht charter for either an afternoon or overnight to explore and enjoy both levels of this town, while on a yacht charter cruise along the southern coast of Corsica.

Eze Medieval Village

Perched high above the coastline of the French Riviera, Eze is a jewel of a medieval walled city, captured in time, and well worth visiting while on a crewed yacht charter along the Cote d’Azur.  Often referred to as an “eagle’s nest”, Eze sits approximately 437 meters above sea level overlooking long lengths of the chic coastline far below.  Today Eze is a bustling little village inside the medieval walls, with twisting alleyways full of steps winding up to the top of the town that are filled with little shops, boutiques and restaurants.  Anchor at nearby Cap Ferrat for a short inland drive to a car park at the foot of the city, and walk into the fortified town to wander and explore this little medieval time capsule while on a crewed yacht charter along the French Riviera.

Eze - Narrow Alleyways

As a natural defensive location overlooking the coastline and harbors of Nice and Cannes, the Eze area has been inhabited by various civilizations since 2000 BC.  It was in the late 1300’s that the House of Savoy built the fortifications creating the walled city that is the Eze of today.  In 1860, the people of Eze voted for the city to become a part of France.  Now thought of as a “museum village”, Eze is one of thirteen villages in France grouped together to form the Route des Villages Perches (Route of the Perched Villages).

Eze Street Steps

Looking up from the coast, Eze can be spotted in the hills by sighting the light ochre colored church sitting within the walls named the Notre Dame de ‘l Assumption which was built in 1764.  Eze is a walking village, as all cars are left outside the walled city in a car park at the bottom of the final peak upon which the city was built.  Visitors walk up the path to the walled city gates to enter and wander along the cobblestoned alleyways with the multitude of steps that wind up and down the hilltop inside the walls.  At one of the highest points inside Eze is the Chevre d’Or hotel and restaurant.  The restaurant is well worth stopping in for a meal (reservations a must), as the food is outstanding and the view extraordinary. 

La Chevre D'or - Eze

Once a bustling little city, today Eze is a true jewel of an example of a medieval walled city known both for the beauty and charm of the cobbled walking streets and stone buildings and for the great views.  Inside what was a working city built for defense are now various shops, art galleries, boutiques, restaurants and hotels including a sales outlet of the nearby Fragonard Perfume Factory.  It is easy to spend an afternoon wandering and exploring inside the walls of Eze and staying for dinner to enjoy the outstanding view overlooking the Cote D’Azur while on a crewed yacht charter along the French Riviera.

Sag Harbor Windmill

Tucked into the eastern end of Long Island in New York, Sag Harbor is a great location to embark, disembark or just to visit as a port o’ call, during a crewed yacht charter in New England. Sag Harbor is a large protected natural harbor, and as such was a perfect location for the colonial settlement, Sag Harbor Village, to burgeon on the surrounding shores. Today the Sag Harbor Village District is on the National Register of Historic Places surrounding a still well protected harbor, now mainly in use by visiting yachtsmen, and is a great port to include on a crewed yacht charter.

Originally settled in the early 1700’s, Sag Harbor is said to have been named after a local tuber vine grown by the native Indians, the Metoac Algonquins, called the sagabon. By 1789, Sag Harbor had grown to be an important international port and a particularly important whaling ship port from whence whaling ships could head out to the greater Atlantic Ocean on the hunt for whales. The whaling industry hit a peak in the 1840’s in Sag Harbor, however not before making a big enough impact for the port to be mentioned several times in the famous whaling novel “Moby Dick”. While there, be sure to visit the Sag Harbor Whaling Museum, now housed in the original 1840’s Masonic Lodge, designed by Minard Lafever.

Today, Sag Harbor is a sleepy historic village which surrounds a large harbor, peopled by a generally upscale community as real estate in the area is considered to be at one of the highest values in the U.S. Relying in the summertime on tourism and local visitors that might be enjoying summering in “The Hamptons”, Sag Harbor has chic boutiques and specialty shops, and restaurants that feature local fresh seafood. Nearby are the many beaches that have made the area a destination for summertime fun. Cruise into Sag Harbor on your crewed charter yacht and enjoy the village atmosphere, nestled in next to other yachts in this upscale historic New England “Blue Blood” summer destination.

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If you really want to see and experience the extraordinary natural splendor of Alaska, then only a crewed yacht charter will do!  Unlike large crew ships, a crewed charter yacht can slip right into little anchorages ringed by bald eagles perched in the surrounding trees, cruise closely along the coast with bears in easy sight, anchor in isolated areas at the mouth of a salmon or trout fly fishing stream, and sit right under a calving tidewater glacier.  This and everything else that is the Alaskan Experience is up front and personal on a crewed yacht charter in Alaska.

Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters is very familiar with the best cruising areas in Alaska, and have organized many private crewed yacht charters in the region.  Imagine cruising up Tracy Arm, just south of Juneau, to the calving faces of the twin Sawyer Glaciers, where huge ice chunks calve off of the face of the glaciers almost every hour with a thunderous roar while the ice drops into the waters around you.  Sea kayak around the ice floes in Tracy Arm, where little shy harbor seals are sunning, and break off pieces of centuries old ice for glacier ice cocktails at sunset. 

Anchor in remote areas between islands where ashore you can hike through original virgin forests with moss thick on the ground underneath your feet.  Visit sunning sea lions by ship’s tender and watch their playful antics.  Sit very close to a pod of humpback whales swimming in the age old dance of bubble net feeding and watch and hear their mysterious communications.

The waters in Alaska are filled with various species of salmon all returning home to their upstream spawning grounds.  Salmon can be fished for in the various bays or try fly fishing in the streams.  Better yet, sit back and watch the bears fish for salmon in the streams as the salmon swim upstream to their destiny.   

Visit Sitka and hike through the fabulous Sitka National Historic Park with miles of trails littered with Tlingit Indian totem poles for a taste of the Tlingit Indian culture. Hike into the Baranof Warm Springs to soak in the warm mineral water while surrounded by beautiful forest scenery.  This is a great location to fish for cutthroat trout when in season.

Cruise along the shores of Admiralty Island, or Kootznoowoo (Fortress of the Bear) as it is known to the indigenous Tlingits, looking for brown bears, as this island is home to the highest density of brown bears in North America. About 1,600 brown bears inhabit the Admiralty Island and they outnumber the Tlingit community of Angoon, the only settlement on the island, about three to one.

In Juneau, Alaska’s capital and the state’s third largest city, is the Alaska State Museum, which has permanent collections that highlight Alaska’s native peoples, natural history, the Alaska-Yukon gold rushes, and the American period of the state’s history. Exhibits include artwork and artifacts, photographs, murals, kayak models and a children’s room. As Juneau is surrounded by glacier ice, this is the perfect location to take a helicopter ride to land and walk right on top of a glacier.

Float planes can always be arranged to fly up the various valleys and fjords, especially beautiful Misty Fjords National Monument and Wilderness Area to see the majestic landscape, and wildlife. Watch mountain goats scamper along the sides of the fjords, and large moose graze in the high mountain pastures.

Seeing Alaska by crewed yacht charter is a fabulous way, and unlike any other, to discover the wonders and grandeur of the natural world, wildlife and marine life that is the Alaskan Experience!