Turkey Gulet Charter FAQ: 25 Questions Answered (2026)

Booking & payment

1. How far in advance should I book?

For July and August in a desirable size (5–8 cabins): 6–12 months ahead. For shoulder season (May, June, September, October): 2–4 months is usually fine. The good boats and good weeks go first; the bad weeks on average boats are available three weeks out.

2. How much deposit is normal?

30% on booking, 70% one month before embarkation is the dominant structure for direct-with-captain bookings. Brokers sometimes ask 50/50. Anything that demands 100% upfront more than 30 days out is unusual and worth questioning.

3. Can I pay by credit card?

Most Turkish captains accept bank transfer in EUR. Card payments via Stripe through MaviSail are available on many listings — the 2.5% processing fee is sometimes absorbed by the captain, sometimes passed on. PayPal is rare. Cash on embarkation for the balance is not recommended even if offered.

4. Is the deposit refundable if I cancel?

Industry standard:

• Cancel >90 days out: full refund minus a small admin fee.
• Cancel 30–90 days out: deposit forfeited.
• Cancel under 30 days: full charter forfeited. Travel insurance with charter coverage is cheap and worth it.

5. What happens if the captain cancels?

Rare, but it does happen (mechanical failure, family emergency). A legitimate Turkish captain will offer a replacement boat of equivalent quality on the same dates, or a full refund. Get this in writing in the booking confirmation.

Food & drinks

6. Is the food really included?

On all-inclusive charters: yes, three meals + afternoon snack. On APA charters: the captain buys food on your behalf from a budget you control. On dry charter: you provision yourself in port before departure (rare on gulets).

7. Can the chef cater special diets?

Yes — vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal, kosher are standard requests Turkish chefs handle without fuss. Severe nut, shellfish, or gluten allergies should be flagged at booking + reconfirmed with the captain a week before.

8. Is alcohol included?

Almost never. Standard practice is to provision a wine/beer/spirit budget separately (cash to the captain on day one, or paid against the APA). Bringing your own from duty-free or supermarkets is allowed on most boats but a small corkage may apply.

9. Can we eat ashore some nights?

Yes — most weekly itineraries include 2–3 nights where you eat at a village restaurant. The captain ties up at the harbour, you walk ashore, eat, walk back. Costs are your own and not deducted from the all-inclusive food budget (since the food on board is bought for the full week).

On board

10. Do gulets actually sail?

Most modern Turkish gulets are motorsailers: the engine does the real work and the sails go up downwind or beam-on for atmosphere. True sailing days exist but you should not expect Mediterranean Cup performance from a wooden hull with a wide beam. If you want active sailing, charter a sailing yacht, not a gulet.

11. Is there Wi-Fi?

Onboard 4G/5G via a captain's hotspot covers about 80% of anchorages on the Turkish charter coast. Signal varies — strong in built-up areas like Bodrum and Marmaris, patchy in deep bays like Bençik. Don't plan to take a remote-work week on a gulet without confirming with the captain.

12. Can we plug in a hairdryer?

Yes — every cabin has 220V European-standard sockets. Hairdryers, phone chargers, laptops, e-readers all work fine. Hairdryers should be used while the generator is on (i.e. not in the middle of the night).

13. Is there a fridge / freezer?

Yes. Most gulets have a fridge in the galley and a small cabin fridge on larger boats. Ice is made by the chef on request — there's no hotel-style "ice in every glass" service.

14. Are towels and bedding provided?

Yes — cabin linen, pillowcases, beach towels, and shower towels are all included and changed mid-week on weekly charters.

Weather, motion & safety

15. Will I get seasick?

At anchor in the typical Turkish bays: very unlikely. On passage in the afternoon meltem (15–20 knots): people with mild motion sensitivity may feel something. Catamarans are more stable than gulets if you have a real seasickness risk. Bring patches/tablets just in case.

16. Is it safe?

Turkey is one of the safest charter coasts in the Mediterranean. The captain is licensed by the Turkish coast guard (Sahil Güvenlik) and the boat is inspected annually by Liman Başkanlığı. Every gulet carries certified life jackets, life rafts, EPIRB, and fire suppression. Mobile coverage covers most anchorages.

17. What if the weather turns bad?

Captains adjust the itinerary daily. A genuine storm forecast means you re-route to a sheltered bay (Gökova has many) or sit in a marina for half a day. Genuine storms in the high season are rare — you'll see more typically a windy afternoon followed by a calm evening.

18. Can children swim off the boat safely?

Yes, but with the usual common-sense rules: an adult should always be in the water with under-10s, the swim ladder must be down before anyone goes in, and the engine must be off. Most captains keep a floating ring on the swim platform.

Practical

19. How much luggage can I bring?

A medium soft duffel per person is the right size. Hard suitcases don't fit well in cabin lockers and damage wooden trim. Captains appreciate guests who pack light.

20. Should I bring sailing gloves / non-marking shoes?

Non-marking shoes are nice but not required — most gulet guests go barefoot on board. Sailing gloves are unnecessary unless you've agreed to actively help work the boat (uncommon).

21. Are tips expected?

Yes — see our all-inclusive guide. Norm is 5–10% of the boat fee, paid in cash to the captain at the end of the week and split among the crew. Budget for it.

22. Can I bring my dog?

A handful of Turkish gulets are pet-friendly; most are not, citing hygiene with food prep and risk of damage to fabrics. Ask before booking. Pet-friendly listings on MaviSail are filterable.

23. Do I need a visa?

Most EU, UK, US, Canadian, and Australian passport-holders get either visa-free entry or an e-Visa on arrival valid 90 days. Check the Turkish e-Visa site before flying — rules change.

24. Where do I leave my passport?

Turkey requires the captain to register every guest with the harbour master. You'll hand passports over on day one for photocopy or scan, and get them back same day. Captain keeps the photocopy. Don't worry about it.

25. What's the dress code on board?

There isn't one. Swimwear and shorts during the day, lightweight long sleeves for dinner if you burn easily. Some captains keep a small "shoes off" rule on the main deck to protect the teak; usually that's the only formality.

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Browse vessels in the MaviSail directory and message the captain directly with any question we haven't covered here. Most captains reply within a few hours during the booking season.