To enable PlainSailing.com to give you a quote for a sailing holiday experience, you will need the following information:

o    the dates required (Charters start on a Saturday)
o    location or itinerary required
o    the number of people and/or cabins required
o    any features required (e.g. Air Conditioning)

Additionally, you should ask the customer to consider:

o    the level of segregation from the crew - would your customer prefer the skipper and hostess to have their own entrance(s) to their cabin, or can their private cabin be accessed through the main living area on board?)
o    the level of space required on board - would your customer like to maximise comfort or occupancy?  As the sleeping cabins are predominantly only used for sleeping in, the cabins on board boats are designed deliberately small (to maximise space in the communal areas).  This means that some ‘double cabins’ can vary from being large to being a little bit of a squeeze (everyone will get in, but it won’t be as comfortable as a e.g. a hotel room or bed).  PlainSailing have categorised the number of sleeping spaces based on each boat based on economy (max capacity) and comfort (recommended capacity for Kuoni guests).

Once you have this information, you can obtain a quote via Kuoni.PlainSailing.com to find out live prices and availability for boats on that itinerary, which you can click around with your customer.

The prices are in GBP and this it the gross price that the customer will pay.  The price includes private transfers and the full operation, insurance and running costs of the yacht or catamaran, including the skipper and hostess fees - so the customers will only have to pay for food, drink, and local taxes on top of this.  

Once you have found a boat you like, Kuoni agents should ‘click to hold’ and the boat will be held at the listed price for 48 hours.  After clicking, you’ll be required to enter basic contact details for yourself and the name of the customer, to enable the PlainSailing team to contact you and sort out the rest of the booking process offline.

Quotes can also be obtained by telephoning PlainSailing (0800 612 8210), Live chat on Kuoni.PlainSailing.com, or by email to Kuoni@PlainSailing.com and providing the relevant information.

If you have any questions, you can use the Live Chat feature on the Kuoni.PlainSailing.com, by telephoning PlainSailing on 0800 612 8210 or by emailing Kuoni@PlainSailing.com.  Their team will be very happy to help, and will respond as quickly as possible.

Their preferred method of communication is via LiveChat or email.

The LiveChat facility on the Kuoni.PlainSailing.com is usually available from 7am until midnight, or you can leave a message through it.

Similarly, emails to Kuoni@PlainSailing.com will usually be read, monitored and responded to from 7am to midnight.

For urgent enquiries, you can call the PlainSailing team on 0800 612 8210

Quotes obtained from PlainSailing.com are valid for 48 hours, and a member of the PlainSailing team will be in touch to discuss the quote and ensure that you are fully aware of what the customer is getting.

If the customer confirms, then you will need to obtain a 25% deposit from them for the sailing holiday aspect, and ensure that PlainSailing have all the relevant booking information to enable them to raise an invoice with Kuoni.  PlainSailing will also confirm the booking with you.

Prior to taking final balancing payments from the customer, PlainSailing will be in touch to ask you to contact the customer to enquire about any optional extra’s they would like, if any.

4 weeks prior to the charter start date, PlainSailing will remind you that you need to complete a questionnaire with your customer, so that they can collect the customer preferences over how they would like interaction with the skipper and hostess to work, and dietary preferences to enable the hostess to get the boat stocked prior to arrival.

You should then return the completed questionnaire to PlainSailing, along with the Finalised customer travel plans (to enable the transfers to be arranged) and Customer details, including name, address, date of birth, place of birth, current address, and passport details for all members of the crew (to enable the relevant legal paperwork to be completed by our third-party operators).

PlainSailing.com require 25% of the total cost of the sailing experience to be paid up-front as a deposit, to enable them to place deposits with their suppliers to secure the boat.

Yacht and catamaran charters can be expensive to cancel, so please advise customers to ensure that they have appropriate travel insurance in place to support them in the event that they cannot make their sailing holiday.

o    If the packaged sailing experience is cancelled more than 90 days prior to the start date, there is a cancellation charge of 30% of the total price.
o    If the packaged sailing experience is cancelled 46 to 90 days prior to the start date, there is a cancellation charge of 50% of the total price.
o    If the packaged sailing experience is cancelled less than 45 days prior to the start date, there is a cancellation charge of 100% of the total price.

PlainSailing.com cannot guarantee that amendments can be made to bookings, but will do their utmost to support customers.  The acceptance of the amendments is subject to the availability of the boats, and whether there is sufficient notice to change all the arrangements.

Final payment for this holiday should be collected at least 60 days prior to departure.

Four weeks before the charter start date, the PTE will be required to discuss and complete a questionnaire with the customer, and provide final logistical and customer details.

The questionnaire is used to understand customer preferences regarding how formal they would like the skipper and hostess to interact with the customers, as well as to note any dietary preference and prepare a menu of food and drink (to enable the hostess to get shipping on-board ahead of their arrival).

In order to complete regulatory paperwork for marine authorities, PlainSailing.com will also need the following details from each person on board:

o    Full name
o    Address
o    Date of birth
o    Place of birth
o    Passport number
o    Passport expiry date

Yes.  The prices PTE’s receive from PlainSailing.com will always be gross, in GBP, and valid for 48 hours.  A 25% deposit is required to secure the booking.

We’d love to hear your ideas, feedback and comments as a PTE so that we can assist you as best as possible.  Please either discuss directly with our team via telephone or LiveChat, or you can email Kuoni@PlainSailing.com

We encourage customers to also let us know how their sailing holiday went, how it could be improved, or any complaints to contact us via email at the same address.

PlainSailing.com take all feedback seriously, and we will respond to your comments (good and bad) as quickly as we can.  In the event of any complaints, we will do our utmost to leave the customer not just satisfied, but happy.

Sailing holidays offer something for everyone.  They suit groups of friends or family, and offer activity during the day, exciting places to see each night, and a brilliant place to sit, eat, play, learn and socialise together.  

With a skipper to look after the boat and a hostess to prepare breakfast and lunch and keep things tidy, then all the customers have to do is relax and enjoy the sunshine, the clear blue seas, the outstanding views, the gentle lapping of the waves.  They can choose to get involved in operating the boat or just sit and read, sunbathe or chat to pass away the time at sea, before arriving at a new destination each evening.
 
Sailing holidays are wonderfully relaxing, allow you to visit exotic and interesting places which you can often only reach by boat, and are suitable for all ages - even babies.  The shared experiences are great for getting to know people better, and for returning home with even stronger bonds or better friends than you arrived with.

Sailing holidays can mean many different things to many different people, but key reasons why people charter are:

o    Adventure types enjoy the thrill of travelling to new and exciting places that are off the beaten path and, in some cases, inaccessible to those without a boat.  From small villages and towns to medieval castles, there is always something to explore
o    Sailor types enjoy the adrenaline rush they get from getting wind in their sails, and the genuine freedom to go any which way they choose.  They also like the challenge of getting to know and eventually mastering the boat.  Unqualified crew members relish the chance to literally learn the ropes and gain experience
o    Nature types enjoy harnessing the wind to travel for free, and embrace the wind and the waves and the chance to get back to nature whilst exploring largely unspoilt and uninhabited landscapes
o    Beach types enjoy the soft bob and gentle lap of the sea as they travel in style.  They might be reading a book in the sunshine, or chatting with friends with incredible views whilst at sea.  They also appreciate being within 2 metres of somewhere to swim, but also within 4 metres of the fridge for late afternoon gin and tonics, before heading to the marina bar or local taverna

After arriving and completing the paperwork on the Saturday, customers will spend the first night aboard the boat finding their sea-legs before setting sail on Sunday morning.

They’ll then embark on a pre-agreed 6-day itinerary to visit some of the best islands or other coastal spots - sailing for 4-6 hours a day, and staying overnight in a new place every night.

The customers will be on their own private yacht or catamaran, which means they have ultimate control over when they start sailing each day, and where they stop.  A skipper will liaise with them to work out the best plan of action, and to steer the ship to the next destination.  There’s also a hostess on board who will prepare breakfast and a light lunch each day, as well as keeping the boat clean and tidy.  For evening meals, guests can choose whether to self-cater using the small on-board kitchen, or head out to a local restaurant to sample the local cuisine and nightlife.

A typical day will include 4-6 hours of time sailing at sea, which leaves plenty of time to explore the start or end point in a little more depth, or to spontaneously check-out beaches or bays that they like the look of as they sail by.  It’s almost always a good time for a swim or snorkel, and you’ll be well off the beaten track so there is plenty to explore.

When the boat is at sea, there’s still plenty to do - they can sit and relax in a quiet corner with a good book, lie down and sun-bathe on deck, get involved with the sailing (to literally ‘learn the ropes’), or just sit and chat with their friends and family: by the end of the week, they’ll know each other so well that they’ll miss each other when you’re back on dry land.

Customers don’t need any sailing experience whatsoever - a skipper will be on-board at all times to steer the ship and ensure the safety of the boat and the crew.  

If they haven’t been on a yacht or catamaran before, it will be useful to show the pictures and layouts of the boats available to help them to visualise their holiday.

Absolutely you can bring the children along - and they will love it.  As the seas are generally not too wild in the Mediterranean, it’s perfectly safe as long as you are sensible and take the right precautions.

We’d recommend children under 11 (or older, but who aren’t strong swimmers) should wear life-jackets at all times when they are on the boat.

If you’re sailing with children you will also need Safety Netting, which is extra netting all the way around the boat to reduce the chaces of them falling overboard (they will still need to be watched carefully).  This is a mandatory for all bookings with children (and costs £180).

In terms of entertainment, for smaller children, we’d recommend taking lots of on-board activities (drawing, games, crafts, books) to help pass the time on the ship, as you’ll be at sea for about 4-6 hours a day.

Larger kids will enjoy getting involved in the operation of the ship and will quickly pick up the basics to become a handy deck-hand. They will also learn a lot about the world around them during the week. 

It’s a fantastic experience for them to see nature at it’s finest, to understand key concepts about the sea, the wind and forces, and of course to travel and see different parts of the world. Be warned that they will almost certainly want to be back on a boat again next year…

From mid-May to mid-September, yacht and catamaran charters must start and end on a Saturday (but customers can be on-board as much or as little as they wish). 

For charters in April and October, contact the PlainSailing.com team as there may be some scope to offer alternatives days, dates or lengths of charter.

The key difference you’ll notice is the size and space on board.  Catamarans are almost double the width of normal yachts, so the cabins are bigger, there is more space above and below deck, and there are more places to sit, relax, play or socialise.  The additional space and comfort is reflected in the additional price you’ll have to pay to charter a catamaran.

Having two hulls, catamarans are also a lot more stable when out at sea - which is both blessing and curse.  For purist sailors, part of the joy of sailing is about heeling the boat over slightly on one side, so they would normally prefer to sail in a yacht.

Kuoni.PlainSailing.com will have some actual pictures of the yacht or catamaran, as well as the cabin layout, which you will be able to show to the customer.  So check the image gallery on the yacht page for more details.

Each Kuoni sailing holiday is at a great all-inclusive price which covers private transfers and the operation, insurance and running costs of the yacht or catamaran - so the customers will only have to pay for food, drink, and local taxes.  

Specifically, this package includes:
o    A qualified skipper to control the yacht or catamaran, ensure the safety of the crew and the boat, liaise with his crew, and manage the boat administration in marinas.  He will follow a pre-determined itinerary unless a change of itinerary is required.  Any deviations from the planned route will be agreed with the customers on-board
o    A hostess to assist with the smooth running of the boat and the sailing experience, including shopping on behalf of the customer, cleaning and tidying the cabins and the main saloon area, and preparing two meals on-board each day, as agreed with the customers on-board
o    A yacht that is less than three years old or catamaran that is less than five years old and owned and managed by a professional and authorised yacht charter operator, who is subject to appropriate safety and security checks.  It will be equipped with an outboard motor, towels and bed linen, and all required safety equipment
o    Return private transfers to/from the nearest airport (a surcharge may be applied for longer transfers)
o    VIP early check-in on the day of arrival
o    All mooring fees
o    All fuel costs
o    All end cleaning fees
o    Yacht charter deposit insurance (a €100 excess may be charged to the customer if a claim arises due to them damaging the interior or exterior of the boat).

The Kuoni price is a great all-inclusive price which covers transfers and the operation, insurance and running costs of the yacht or catamaran.  There are also a small number of optional extras like Wifi and Stand Up Paddleboards which can be booked and paid for in advance of the trip.

When out on holiday, customers will only need to pay for their own food and drink on-board (including food and drink for their skipper and hostess) and food, drink and shopping they make ashore.  

In some countries, there are also local tourist taxes to be paid locally, which range from €1-2 per person per day.

Wifi is not included as standard. Wifi is generally available for free in either the marinas or in the shops, bars and café’s nearby (so you should be able to check your email easy enough each day).  The boat will also usually be within range of reasonable 4G telephone signal (though charges may apply for using this in Croatia and Montenegro, which are outside the EU).

If customers would like more Wifi, then it is available as an optional extra (£45 per week) - the yacht will have a 4G router on board (with a limited bandwidth) to create a private Wifi network you can use even when you are out at sea - meaning customers can post and share epic moments of their holiday as they happen.

You’ll be able to request that your boat has some features fitted, such as air conditioning.  There are also four optional extras to choose from to boost your holiday:

o    Wifi (£45) - the boat will come with it’s own (limited GB) wireless network to enable you to surf whilst you sail.
o    Kayak / Stand Up Paddleboard (£90 each) - toys to get out and play with in the water when you hit the beach or a secluded bay
o    Safety netting (£180) - 2ft safety netting fitted around the majority of the yacht or catamaran to provide extra safety, principally to prevent small children going overboard.

Similar to a hire car security deposit, when customers check-in for their yacht or catamaran, they will need to place a security deposit on a credit card to cover any damages to the boat during the week - the skipper will have their own insurance to cover damage to the exterior of the boat, but the charter operators will count you responsible for damage to the interior or upholstery, and may make a deduction from your security deposit when they refund it at the end of the week.

But don’t worry, security deposit insurance is included as standard with this holiday, so the customer will be able to reclaim any deductions the charter company made from our insurers (less a €100 excess fee).

The hostess will prepare breakfast and a light lunch on-board the boat, and in the evening the customer is free to either self-cater (using the on-board kitchen or “galley”) or to head ashore to a local restaurant, bar or taverna.  

The PTE will contact the customer about four weeks prior to the start of the holiday to complete a questionnaire regarding the level of interaction required with the skipper and hostess, and any dietary requirements or preferences.

The hostess will then do the shopping based on the customers preferences, but the customer will have to pay for the food and drink.  NB: The hostess will also cater additional portions of breakfast and lunch for the skipper and hostess.

The hostess and skipper have their own meal allowance for the evenings and will eat separately to the customer (unless invited to eat with them).

The PTE will contact the customer about four weeks prior to the start of the holiday to complete a questionnaire regarding any dietary requirements or preferences - including which snacks, soft drinks or alcohol they would like to be on-board.  We’ll do our best to meet any specific requests.

After the skipper has completed securing the boat in the marina then they will lay the gang-plank and inform you it is safe for the customers to head ashore and to spend some time on land.  Depending upon the time of arrival, they might head off to the shops, a local beach, a nearby bar, or to a local restaurant.  

The skipper and hostess will usually stay onboard to clean the boat and prepare her for the night and the next day of sailing.

Yes - there will be European plug sockets available (so you will need an EU adapter for a UK plug).  These can be used when you are in a marina.  It might be useful to get a multi-plug adapter if there are a lot of gadgets to charge.

The skipper is the captain of the ship.  His main role is to ensure the safety of the people on board, the safety of the boat, and ensure the safe passage from destination to destination.

To that end, the skipper will start with a safety briefing, and help customers get familiarised with the boat.  He’ll also liaise with the customers to discuss and agree the travel plans for the day ahead, including departure times.

After that, he’ll man the steering wheel and be in charge of steering the ship, adjusting the sails, and getting you to your next fantastic beach or drop-off point.

The skipper will also handle all the paperwork required when arriving in each marina, make sure the exterior of the boat is looking clean and tidy, and will gladly teach you the basics about sailing.  They’re usually great with kids, can regale many tales of their life at sea, and are handy people to have around if anything breaks at sea.

They’re usually friendly and professional guys who take their job quite seriously.

Whilst the skipper is primarily on board for customer safety, the hostess is primarily on board for their comfort.  Their key function is to keep the boat clean and tidy, and to look after the customers.
 
They will prepare breakfast and a light lunch (to the menu agreed with the customer), as well as cleaning and tidying the cabins once a day, and the main saloon area twice a day.  They will also do the shopping to enable you to make the most of your time ashore (but the customer will have to pay for the food and drink that she buys).

On top of all this, they will also assist the skipper with manoeuvring the yacht or catamaran within the marina, so that the boat can make smooth arrivals and departures.

The skipper and hostess are friendly and professional, and help to make the week go as smoothly and enjoyably as possible.  They know that the customers are on holiday, and will be discreet - they won’t expect to be invited to dinner each night, or to join in games, etc…

They will give customers a comfortable and happy experience on board, and help them feel enjoy a life at sea - however, they’re not uniformed crew, won’t be offering silver service waiting or fine dining, and do not offer a six-star solution.  Customers will feel at home and looked after, but shouldn’t expect to be waited on hand and foot.

The level of interaction between the skipper and hostess and the customers is something that can be changed according to what the customer wants.  

The PTE will contact the customer about four weeks prior to the start of the holiday to complete a questionnaire regarding the level of interaction required with the skipper and hostess.  

The skipper and hostess are usually friendly and happy to mix with the customers, but equally happy to take a more discreet role and maintain distance from the customers.  If the customer has a preference, then let us know.

As a minimum, the skipper will provide a safety and familiarisation briefing at the start of the week, and will discuss and agree the travel plans for the day ahead.  The skipper is officially in charge and can also liaise on behalf of the hostess regarding eating or food requirements as the week progresses.

The skipper and hostess are friendly and professional. They are aware that it is the customers’ holiday, and will know when to make themselves scarce if they have completed their duties.  They are usually quite happy to get some time to themselves too.

If your customer wanted more privacy, then there are some boats which have cabin layouts which allow the skipper and hostess to be segregated - in a yacht, most of the cabins are entered via the central saloon area, but there are some catamarans or large yachts with crew cabins which have their own entrances - the PTE should enquire regarding the level of segregation required at the start of the holiday building process.

Kuoni offers sailing holidays for summer 2019 from:

o    Corfu and Athens in Greece;
o    Split and Dubrovnik in Croatia;
o    Saint Tropez in France;
o    Amalfi coast (Salerno) in Italy; and
o    Kotor in Montenegro.

The itinerary is a specially curated itinerary which takes in the best parts of the sailing area - the exact itineraries are available online.

Be aware that weather conditions may mean that it is not possible to follow the exact sailing itinerary.

Yes.  Whilst we have taken care to curate itineraries which take in the best parts of the sailing area, customers may have personal reasons for wanting to deviate from the set route.  

Any requested changes to the itinerary can either be discussed and agreed in advance via PlainSailing.com, who will let you know what is possible, or the customer can discuss amendments to the itinerary with the skipper on arrival at the yacht or catamaran.  Additional marina fees may apply.

Be aware that weather conditions may mean that it is not possible to follow the exact sailing itinerary.

Whilst it isn’t impossible to getting sea-sick in the worst weather conditions in the Mediterranean, in general the sea is calm and the winds are strong enough to sail in, but not too strong.

Oddly enough, the small size of the boats and the closeness to the sea means that you are less likely to be sea-sick than in a larger ferry-type boat, and most people find their sea-legs and get used to the movement of the boat after a few hours at sea.

Because of their increased stability (by having two hulls), sea-sickness is even rarer on catamarans.

If the customer is still worried, some people variously swear by sea-sickness pills, sea-sickness wrist-bands, ginger tablets, or other alternative remedies, which it might be worth bringing along for peace of mind.

The skipper will be paying close attention to the weather forecasts, and will have the final say on whether he thinks that it is safe to take the boat out of the marina.  During the summer sailing season, extreme high winds and thunderstorms are rare, but not impossible, and usually pass over in a day or so.  

PlainSailing.com will also be monitoring the weather conditions and will suggest some wet-weather activities in the event of losing a day at sea.

If you have to amend your itinerary due to weather conditions, then you will not receive any compensation.  The skipper will discuss and agree with the customer where to go next to help the customer make the most of the sailing experience.

One of the inclusions on this sailing package is that a yacht will not be older than three years old, and a catamaran not older than five years.  In addition, we only work with charter companies which we know and trust, and who have excellent maintenance records, so we are confident that there will not be any issues with the boats

If something does go wrong, however, help is at hand, and the skipper will take charge in putting things right.  The skipper is trained in boat maintenance and is often able to resolve any minor issues.  If he is not able to, then he will contact the charter operator to arrange for one of their engineers to come and help fix the boat (they will arrive by road or speedboat, which is a lot quicker than sailing, so they will be there as fast as they can).

If issues can’t be resolved quickly, then the charter operator may even provide a replacement boat.

Any lost sailing time due to a problem with the boat will usually be recompensed to the customer.