Guide to yacht charter in Cannes
Choosing the right type, the right duration, and understanding the MYBA agreement.
Key takeaways
- To charter a yacht in Cannes, start from the use: the right boat matches your guest count, your pace and your destinations.
- Four main types — motor yacht, sailing yacht, catamaran, day-boat — suit different days.
- A day keeps the radius tight around Cannes; a week opens the whole Riviera.
- Every crewed charter rests on a MYBA agreement, with provisioning handled through the APA.
Where to start when chartering a yacht in Cannes
Chartering in Cannes starts with a simple question: what is the day for? A relaxed run for four to the Lérins, lunch at anchor for twelve, a family week along the coast — each calls for a different boat. The right yacht to rent is not the biggest or the most expensive: it is the one that fits your group, your pace and the places you want to see.
Starting from the use, rather than a specific model, avoids the most common mistake: choosing an impressive boat that is wrong for the real day.
Choosing the right type of boat
Four broad families cover most yacht charters on the Côte d’Azur. Each has its character.
| Boat type | Character | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Motor yacht | Speed and range | Reaching Saint-Tropez or Monaco within the day |
| Sailing yacht | Quiet and elegance | A calm day under sail off Cap d’Antibes |
| Catamaran | Space and stability | A family day, swimming and lunch at anchor |
| Day-boat / RIB | Simplicity and access | A quick run to the Îles de Lérins |
A motor yacht favours speed and range; a sailing yacht the quality of quiet; a catamaran space and stability for children; a day-boat the simplicity of an outing without ceremony. Above a certain size, the boat comes with a crew that handles everything.
By the day or the week
A day keeps the radius tight — Lérins in the morning, lunch at anchor, back by evening — and remains the simplest way to discover the sea around Cannes. A week changes scale: the yacht becomes your moving address, and the itinerary breathes with your wishes and the weather, from Saint-Tropez to Monaco, Corsica to the Italian Riviera.
The MYBA agreement and the APA
Every crewed charter rests on a MYBA agreement, the standard of Mediterranean yachting: yacht, crew, itinerary and provisioning are set out before any commitment. Provisioning runs through the Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA), which covers fuel, meals and berths and is reconciled at the end against actual spend. It is the guarantee of a clear framework where everyone knows where they stand.
Departing from Cannes and the Côte d’Azur
Most charters leave from the Vieux Port or Port Canto in Cannes, but boarding at Antibes, Golfe-Juan, Mandelieu or Nice is just as easily arranged. From Cannes a day opens the Îles de Lérins, Cap d’Antibes, the Esterel or Saint-Tropez; a week reaches Monaco, Corsica and Liguria.
Booking: the steps
- Describe the day: guest numbers, mood, destinations in mind.
- We propose boats that fit and a detailed quote.
- You confirm the boat, crew and itinerary; the MYBA agreement sets the framework.
- The crew builds the day around you; the APA is reconciled at the end.
Booking at the right time
In high season the best boats go early: for July–August and the festival weeks, allow several weeks or even months. A shoulder-season request leaves more choice and more room on the rate, with a sea that is often calmer.
What is included, what is not
The rate covers the yacht and crew; fuel, meals and berths fall under the APA. The crew tip remains at your discretion. We set everything out in the quote so no line is a surprise.
Our advice
Don’t choose a boat from a photo: choose a day. Tell us what you want to experience, and we point to the right yacht to rent, the right duration and the right starting point — always with a clear framework and an honest quote before any commitment.
How do I charter a yacht in Cannes?
First describe the day or week you want: guest numbers, mood, destinations. We then propose boats that genuinely fit, with a detailed quote; you confirm the boat, crew and itinerary, framed by a MYBA agreement. The crew then builds the day around you, and the Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA) is reconciled at the end against actual spend. Boarding is from Cannes or a nearby Côte d’Azur port.
Which type of yacht should I choose for a day in Cannes?
It depends on the day. A motor yacht suits reaching Saint-Tropez or Monaco within the day; a sailing yacht a quiet day under sail; a catamaran space and stability for a family; a day-boat a simple escape to the Îles de Lérins. The right choice comes down to guest numbers, the pace you want and the destinations, not the size of the boat.
Do I need a licence to charter a yacht in Cannes?
For a crewed charter, no: a qualified captain runs the boat and you handle nothing. For a small day-boat hired without crew, a coastal licence may be required depending on the engine power; as size increases, chartering with a skipper becomes the norm. Tell us your situation and we propose the right arrangement.
How far ahead should I book a yacht charter?
In high season — July–August and the weeks of the Cannes Film Festival and the Cannes Yachting Festival — the best boats go several weeks, even months ahead. In the shoulder season, spring and early autumn, you keep choice almost to the last minute, often on easier terms. The earlier the request, the more precisely the proposed boat fits the day you have in mind.