Day charter
A morning swim at the Îles de Lérins with lunch at anchor
Day charter from Cannes
A day charter is the easiest way onto the water: out in the morning, lunch at anchor, back to the Bay of Cannes by evening. No overnight aboard, no large crew to manage — just a single, well-shaped day along the Côte d'Azur.
A typical day
Most days run to the Îles de Lérins for a morning swim in the channel, lunch on board, then an afternoon ashore on Sainte-Marguerite before the run home. Faster boats reach Saint-Tropez for lunch and back; quieter ones drift under sail off Cap d'Antibes. The radius stays tight so the day never feels rushed.
The right boat for one day
A fast motor yacht for a lunch run, a sailing yacht for a calm day under canvas, or a stable catamaran for a family swim — we match the boat to the day you have in mind, not the other way round.
Boarding and timing
Boarding is from the Vieux-Port de Cannes or Port Canto, usually around 9 or 10 a.m. to make the most of the calm morning sea, with a return before sunset. In high season the best boats for a given day book up quickly, so early reservation matters. Weather sets the plan — a firm mistral will send us to the sheltered coves of the Cap d'Antibes rather than across the gulf to Saint-Tropez. That flexibility is part of the service: we shape the route on the morning itself rather than forcing a fixed itinerary onto a changeable sea. If your group is new to the coast, tell us the mood you want — a lively lunch run or a quiet swim day — and we match the boat and the route to it, then brief you simply before you cast off. Most day charters from Cannes run between six and eight hours, easily long enough for a swim, a lunch at anchor and an unhurried cruise home.
Always by quote
Day charter is offered by quote: the right proposal depends on the boat, the season and where you want to go. Tell us the date and the kind of day you want, and we present boats that genuinely fit.
Typical use cases
- A morning swim at the Îles de Lérins with lunch at anchor
- A fast lunch run to Saint-Tropez or Monaco and back the same day
- A calm day under sail off Cap d’Antibes
- A family day on a stable catamaran with shallow-water anchorages
What does a day charter from Cannes include?
A day charter from Cannes includes the yacht and, on most boats, a professional skipper or crew who handles the navigation, the anchoring and the route, so you simply enjoy the day. Sun pads, a swim ladder and usually a cooler or fridge are standard, and larger boats add water toys such as paddleboards. Boarding is normally from the Vieux-Port de Cannes or Port Canto in the morning, with a return before sunset — most day charters run six to eight hours. Fuel is sometimes charged on top of the day rate depending on how far you cruise, and food and drinks can be arranged or brought aboard; on crewed yachts these running costs fall under the Advance Provisioning Allowance, or APA. Everything is set out in the quote before you book, so there are no surprises. Tell us the kind of day you want — a swim at the Îles de Lérins, a lunch run to Saint-Tropez — and we match the boat and the route to it.
Where can we go on a day charter from Cannes?
From Cannes a single day opens a wide stretch of the Côte d'Azur. The classic trip is to the Îles de Lérins, barely a mile offshore, where the channel between Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat holds the clearest, most sheltered water on the coast — ideal for a morning swim and lunch at anchor. To the east lie the calm coves of the Cap d'Antibes and Golfe-Juan, and further on Monaco for an afternoon in Monte-Carlo. To the west, a fast motor yacht reaches Saint-Tropez, about thirty-eight nautical miles across the gulf, while the red-rock corniche of the Esterel between Théoule and Mandelieu offers dramatic, quiet anchorages much closer to home. The right route depends on the boat, your group and above all the weather: a firm mistral sends us to sheltered coves rather than across open water. Our crews read the forecast and shape the day so it always works.
How many guests can come on a day charter in Cannes?
It depends on the boat. A day-boat or open motorboat typically takes a small group of friends or a family; mid-size motor yachts and catamarans comfortably host eight to twelve guests for the day, with shaded saloons and room to move; and larger yachts carry more still. French regulations cap the number of guests a given boat may carry for a day cruise, and a responsible operator never exceeds it — comfort and safety both suffer when a boat is overloaded. If you have a larger party, tell us the exact headcount and we will propose a boat sized for it rather than squeezing everyone onto something too small. For very large groups, a second boat for the day is sometimes the better answer. We size the boat to the group, not the other way round.
Is a half-day or sunset charter possible from Cannes?
Yes. As well as the classic full day, many boats can be chartered for a half-day or for a shorter sunset cruise, which suits guests who want time on the water without committing to a whole day. A morning half-day is ideal for a swim at the Îles de Lérins before lunch ashore, while an afternoon or evening cruise along the Croisette and the Cap d'Antibes catches the best light of the day, the coast glowing as the sun drops behind the Esterel. Sunset cruises are especially popular for relaxed celebrations and quieter outings. Availability for shorter slots depends on the boat and the season, as a single yacht may only take one booking per day in peak weeks, so it is worth asking early. Tell us the part of the day you prefer and the mood you want, and we will match a boat and a route to a half-day or sunset charter from Cannes.