Chartering a gulet is nothing like booking a hotel room. Boat, crew, route, and menu merge into a single experience — and the quality of that experience is usually decided by the questions you ask before you book. The fifteen questions below, with real answers, are a road map for aligning expectation with reality.
Boat and Capacity
1. How many cabins does a gulet have, and how are they laid out? Gulets start at 2 cabins and can go up to 18. Cabin layouts come in options such as double (a wide bed), twin (two separate beds), triple, and bunks. Double cabins are themselves graded by comfort into classes like VIP and Master. It is best to settle from the start on the cabin mix that suits your group — a couple, a family, or a group of friends.
2. How many guests can stay aboard, and how is capacity set? The number of overnight guests cannot exceed the boat's berth capacity. On a 4-cabin gulet, for example, at most 8 guests can stay; the crew's cabins are separate and not counted in this figure. For a day trip, capacity is limited by the day-use figure written on the boat's licence — and that number differs from the overnight capacity.
3. Does the boat's age matter, and how is it maintained? Gulets are wooden boats, hauled out and serviced every winter. Beyond general interior and exterior upkeep, they undergo a deeper overhaul every 3–4 years, in which all the systems and moving mechanisms are gone through. On average every 10–15 years they get a comprehensive "full refit" — everything from textiles to wood panelling may be renewed. With a gulet that keeps up this maintenance you can set out with peace of mind; what matters is less the boat's age than its maintenance history.
What's Included (and What Isn't)
4. Is fuel included, and how is air conditioning charged? In standard practice, fuel is included in the price of a gulet. Gulets — unless they raise their sails — are slow, economical boats because their engines are small; this keeps the fuel cost low and makes it possible to include. However, on some standard or budget gulets, air-conditioning use may be limited to 4–6 hours a day or charged as an extra, because the air conditioning runs off the generator and pushes fuel consumption up. Clarify this detail before signing the contract.
5. How does food and drink work, and who sets the menu? Every gulet has a cook who prepares your meals and a steward who handles the service; you deal with none of it. You are usually given a sample 7-day menu covering breakfast, lunch, and dinner. From this menu you choose what you want, remove what you don't, and add dishes that aren't on it. Once the menu is finalised, a shopping list is drawn up; after you approve it, the goods are sourced from wholesalers or markets and loaded fresh before you arrive, and you pay for them. One important detail: this list is not only food and drink; it also covers all the galley and hygiene consumables — paper towels, insect spray, gas canisters, and so on.
6. Who pays harbour and mooring fees? The first port-clearance fee (transit log) is usually included. During your holiday, if a cove you wish to enter has a buoy/reservation system, or if you want to berth in a marina or other privately operated area, those fees are met by the guest.
7. Are water-sports toys included? Gulets usually carry light water-sports gear such as a Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP), canoe, snorkel, and fishing line, mostly free of charge. Larger gulets also have toys towed behind the tender, like a ringo or water skis; for these, generally only the fuel the tender burns is charged. Bigger, electric toys such as a jet ski or seabob can be rented externally by the day.
Crew
8. How large is the crew, and what languages do they speak? Crew size ranges from 2 up to 7–8, even 10, depending on the size of the gulet. Standard gulets (20–25 metres) carry at least 3; if the boat is larger, 4 or more. A three-person crew is a captain, a cook, and a deckhand; the deckhand is both the captain's right hand and the cook's helper during service. As for language, after Turkish the most widely spoken language in Turkey's gulet charter world is English. On request, a hostess speaking Russian or Arabic can be arranged for an extra fee; and these days the language barrier is easily bridged with mobile-phone apps as well.
9. Can the cook handle special diets and allergies? Yes. Cooks are versed in both Turkish and general world cuisine; they know the vegan and vegetarian options within Turkish cuisine especially well. If there is gluten sensitivity or any allergy, we already ask you about it while designing the menu. We take all the details, pass them to the cook, and follow through on them throughout the cruise.
10. What is the tipping expectation? Unless you sail under an MYBA contract, tipping is entirely up to you. On an MYBA-contracted charter, this detail is set out in your contract. In general it ranges between 5% and 15% of the total charter fee.
Route and Flexibility
11. Is the route fixed or flexible? The route is both fixed and flexible. Before setting out, your captain checks the wind along the route; since the safety of everyone aboard is the captain's responsibility, they may change the route if needed and will always state this in the pre-cruise briefing. Beyond that, if you've loved a cove where you anchored, you can tell the captain you'd like more time there; the captain then updates the rest of the route according to both your wishes and the wind.
12. Can we see both the Göcek and the Bodrum coves on the same charter? It is possible; as long as you are in Turkish waters you can see anywhere, with nothing to stop you. But if your charter is 7 days, going from Bodrum to Göcek can make you feel like a tour-bus passenger in a hurry to see everything. Cruising should always be unhurried, so that you can feel rested and hear what the sea has to tell you. If you want to see all the coves from Bodrum to Göcek properly, the real time needed is at least 14 days. We talk through questions like this with you at length during planning and build the right route together.
Contract and Protection
13. What language is the contract in, and what does it secure? The contract can be drawn up in English or Turkish. It covers many headings: the responsibilities of the boat, the agency, and the guest; the cancellation policy; the services included and not included in the price; the duration of the charter; insurance details; and even the boat's technical particulars. In this way the rights of both parties are clearly secured.
14. How large is the deposit, and when is it refunded? The deposit is generally around 40% of the total; both the deposit rate and the cancellation policy can vary from boat to boat. In cases of force majeure such as war, natural disaster, or death, the amount paid is refunded. If you mind the day limits in the cancellation policy and make your decisions by that calendar, you can recover your deposit comfortably.
15. Who do I deal with if something goes wrong? In any problem or dispute, your real point of contact is always your agency. The agency builds a bridge between you and the boat's crew and makes it easy to resolve the issue. It makes no difference whether the problem is large or small; if you have a complaint, you'll resolve it most easily through your agency.
One last piece of advice: ask these questions before booking, and in writing where possible. A good owner or agency won't hesitate to put the answers into the contract or a written quote; if anyone hesitates, that is itself an answer. Popular gulets also book up early — July and August weeks close months ahead. Asking early means not just a better price but a better boat and a better crew to choose from.
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