Planning a yacht charter in Turkey — in Kemer, Antalya, Bodrum, or Fethiye? One of the first questions guests ask is how they’ll actually get on board on the first day of the charter. The answer affects both your comfort and the final cost of your yacht rental. Here’s a full breakdown of every pick-up option, so you know exactly what to expect when booking with Briliions.
Boarding from the Yacht’s Home Marina — the Most Convenient and Cost-Effective Option
When a yacht is berthed in its home marina, this is the ideal scenario for both day trips and multi-day charters along routes through Fethiye and Bodrum.
Advantages of this format:
- Faster yacht preparation. The crew refuels, checks systems, and loads provisions right at their home port — no extra logistics or travel involved.
- Direct boarding from the dock. No waiting for a tender — you step aboard right away.
- Familiar waters for the captain. Departing from the home marina makes the first hours of the charter smooth and predictable.
- No extra mooring fees — which directly affects the final price of your yacht rental compared to using another port.
That’s why most charter companies in Turkey recommend boarding from the home marina as the priority option, especially for guests booking a Mediterranean yacht tour or a week-long charter along the Aegean coast.
Hotel Pick-Up: Convenient, But Not Always Technically Possible
Many guests staying at hotels in Kemer, Belek, or Bodrum would love the yacht to come right up to the beach. This is technically possible, but it comes with two significant limitations.
Pier depth and size. Not every hotel pier has enough depth for a yacht to approach without risking running aground. Most motor yachts between 12–15 meters have a draft of 1.2–2 meters, while beachfront hotel piers are often built for depths of less than a meter — making docking unsafe and risking damage to the hull or propeller.
For example, during a recent charter along the Kemer coast, guests initially wanted pick-up right at their hotel — but after checking the pier’s depth on site, the captain suggested meeting the group by tender about 200 meters offshore instead. It added about 10 minutes to the transfer, but completely eliminated the risk to the yacht and avoided the cost of a third-party pier.
Additional costs. Hotel piers, like most third-party ports, charge mooring fees. Using an outside pier means extra costs, which fall on the guest.
For this reason, hotel pick-up with Briliions is arranged on a case-by-case basis, depending on the specific hotel, water depth, and pier availability nearby.
Tender Boats — A Practical Solution for Getting Guests to the Yacht
When direct docking at a hotel isn’t possible or isn’t cost-effective, tender boats come into play — small service motorboats that shuttle guests from shore to the yacht and back.
Tenders vary in size and capacity, typically carrying 2 to 6 guests per trip. If the group is large or guests have a lot of luggage (common on week-long charters with full gear), the tender simply makes several trips to transport everyone and everything safely, without rushing.
It’s worth noting: the tender isn’t just a one-off solution for guest transfers. Almost every yacht in Turkey’s charter fleet comes with a service boat as standard equipment. The crew uses it throughout the entire trip — for going ashore, buying fresh groceries, delivering equipment, and handling day-to-day needs while the yacht is anchored in a scenic bay near Bodrum, Göcek, or Fethiye.
When Two Tender Boats Are Used
On larger yachts, or charters with an extended water-activities program, two service boats are sometimes used at once:
- The first boat — for guests and water toys;
- The second boat — a working tender for servicing the yacht: delivering provisions, handling technical matters, and staying in touch with the port.
This split is especially handy when guests want to enjoy water activities near the shore while the crew independently handles the charter’s logistics — a standard practice on Briliions yachts with an extended service package.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the yacht come right up to my hotel? Sometimes, but it depends on the water depth and whether a suitable pier is available. Many beach piers are too shallow for a yacht to dock safely, so a tender transfer is more commonly used.
How much does a tender transfer cost? On every Briliions charter, the tender transfer from shore to the yacht is included in the rental price at no extra charge, since the service boat is standard equipment on the yacht.
What if I have a lot of luggage for a week-long charter? The tender simply makes several trips to bring all passengers and luggage aboard without rushing. Just let your charter manager know in advance so pick-up can be planned properly.
What’s more cost-effective — boarding from the home marina or hotel pick-up? Boarding from the home marina is usually faster and doesn’t involve mooring fees, so it tends to work out cheaper overall. Hotel pick-up is more convenient logistically, but can increase the charter cost due to pier fees and the extra distance the yacht travels.
Conclusion
When planning a yacht charter in Turkey — whether it’s a day trip along the Kemer coast, a romantic tour to the bays of Fethiye, or a week-long journey along the Göcek route — talk through the pick-up format with your charter manager ahead of time. Consider your hotel’s location relative to the yacht’s home marina, group size, amount of luggage, and whether you’re open to a short tender transfer to save on costs.
At Briliions, we tailor the boarding option to each charter individually — from Kemer, Antalya, Kas, or Fethiye — so your day on the water starts smoothly, without delays or unnecessary expenses. Book your yacht and confirm your transfer details with our team today.
Read also:
