Chartering: Twelve European areas at a glance - with strengths and weaknesses
Christian Tiedt
· 11.12.2022
Territories in this article:
By far the most popular and largest charter area in Germany is in the north-east. There, the navigable inland waterways of Mecklenburg, Brandenburg and Berlin form the "Blue Paradise": lakes of all sizes, rivers and canals offer endless cruising variety. A thousand weather moods, exciting cities and lots of nature guarantee an eventful holiday. If you were to string together all the main and secondary waterways, you would end up with a total length of 2000 kilometres. Around sixty charter companies are now represented there.
The area can be roughly divided into the somewhat more challenging south around the metropolis of Berlin and the largely "traffic-calmed" north. A real magnet for boating holidaymakers is the region between Waren, Neustrelitz and Rheinsberg with the Müritz and Mecklenburg Kleinseenplatte.
If you would like to explore the charter areas in Germany or Europe on your own keel, you will find an up-to-date overview on the following pages. We have primarily included those destinations that are also marketed and can be booked in this country. The numbers on the map correspond to the descriptions of the main areas and centres. Secondary areas are also marked. The level of difficulty indicates how much previous experience is required. The scale ranges from one star (suitable for beginners without restrictions) to 5 stars (solid nautical knowledge strongly recommended).
1 Mecklenburg Lake District
Tranquil rivers and countless lakes form Germany's most diverse and extensive inland area. The region is very attractive for tourists and the infrastructure is extensive. The highlights are the Müritz and Mecklenburg Lake District. There is hardly any commercial shipping - perfect for beginners. However, waiting times in front of locks are normal in the high season. The charter licence is valid almost everywhere and allows for many cruising options.
- Claim: *
2 Berlin and surrounding area
Anyone exploring Berlin by water will be surprised at how green the metropolis is - even where its pulse beats. The Havel and Spree lead from there into the tranquil surroundings of the Mark Brandenburg; a charming contrast between the big city and the green idyll. However, due to the sometimes heavy shipping traffic, the charter licence is limited to a few waters.
- Claim: **
3 Western Baltic Sea
A real maritime area with countless harbours of all sizes, stretching from Flensburg via Kiel to Wismar and Rostock. The Danish South Sea and the Småland fairway are right next door. Where to go depends on the weather. Protected waters such as the Schlei and Flensburg Fjord are also available. However, long distances, sometimes overcrowded harbours in the high season and nautical challenges are also part of the experience.
- Claim: ****
4 The Shannon
This is the "Emerald Isle": rolling hills flank Ireland's great river, which is dammed but still has a natural appearance. Lakes such as Lough Ree provide variety. The few locks, uncomplicated navigation and ample mooring facilities ensure relaxed travelling. A licence-free charter area with a long history of tourism, absolutely suitable for beginners without much experience.
- Claim: *
5 England's canals
The UK has a lot to offer for charter holidays: from classic houseboat areas such as the Scottish Caledonian Canal to the tidal Norfolk Broads and the upper Thames on the outskirts of London. There is also a real British "quirk": the narrowboat. These quaint, sometimes quite simple and only two metres wide vessels can be hired anywhere on the dense, historic canal network without a licence.
- Claim: **
6 Around the Ijsselmeer
The home of the motorised There is no doubt that the Netherlands is a favourite for water sports: nowhere else is the coexistence of road and canal so natural or the infrastructure so dense. It is therefore not surprising that the whole country is also a charter area, from the Waddenzee to the Meuse. The main focus is on the IJsselmeer, i.e. the inland waters of Friesland, North Holland and the marginal seas. In summer, it is correspondingly lively.
- Claim: **
7 The Veneto lagoons
The north-west end of the Adriatic Sea merges into the Venetian lagoons - shallow, spacious and sheltered waters. In addition to magnificent old towns such as the Serenissima Venice itself attracts visitors to the licence-free area with its picturesque nature and small islands. Nautically, however, the narrow fairways are quite challenging due to the traffic, and guest moorings in the urban areas are rather rare.
- Claim: ***
8 The Balearic Islands
Mallorca, the "favourite island" The most popular destination for Germans is also the centre of the charter industry on the archipelago. Due to its location in the open western Mediterranean, the area places high demands on the seamanship of boat crews. Those who are up to it will experience the impressive nature of the Balearic Islands from a completely new perspective. For a relaxed circumnavigation of Mallorca, 14 days should be planned. However, very high additional costs are also part of this experience.
- Claim: *****
9 South of France
The inland areas in the far south of the country - which also Midi stretch from the Atlantic coast of the Bay of Biscay in the west via Charente and Lot to the warm regions of the Camargue near the Mediterranean. The most famous of these is the 240-kilometre-long Canal du Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its avenues of plane trees along the banks. This charter area can also be explored without a licence. Good weather and Mediterranean flair are almost guaranteed in summer - as well as lots of traffic and waiting times.
- Claim: **
10 Dalmatia
Rugged coasts, Countless islands and crystal-clear water: the Croatian Adriatic coast has many attractions. The charter industry is centred on Dalmatia, between Zadar in the north and Dubrovnik in the south. This elongated region, which encompasses several areas, also includes the Kornati National Park and the Šibenik archipelago. The advantages of Dalmatia include its unique nature, many anchor bays, a wide range of charter offers (with a sports boat licence), a long season and modern marinas (although the infrastructure is still being expanded). On the other hand, this part of the Adriatic is nautically demanding. Weather changes are part of it. The harbours can be overcrowded in summer. Prices are constantly rising.
- Claim: ****
11 The Masurian lakes
In the north of Poland the idyll has a name: Masuria. The lake district around the tourist centre of Mikołajki has been developed as a motorboat charter area for a good ten years. During this time, a lot has happened in terms of the infrastructure on the water. Things are still uncomplicated here, even in the harbours. Except for the extreme south, the lake district is lock-free, which also ensures a relaxed atmosphere. A boating licence is not required.
- Claim: **
12 South Karelia
The boating season in Scandinavia is so short that there are only a few charter offers. But they are all the more attractive for it: Dalsland and Göta Canal in the south of Sweden are among them, as is the Saimaa region in southern Finland - the largest contiguous lake area in Europe. Water surfaces and forests as far as the eye can see, also completely licence-free.
- Claim: ***
Motor yacht charters worldwide
Caribbean
Palm beaches and pirate flair - until today. The islands of the Caribbean are not only popular with sailors, but have also been on the rise among motor yacht charter crews for years. There is now a whole fleet of catamarans with bases in the British Virgin Islands, Grenada, St Lucia and Antigua, among others.
Seychelles
The archipelago in the eastern part of the Indian Ocean lies just south of the equator. Charter crews are travelling with powercats between the main island of Mahé and the slightly smaller Praslin, a mix of sheltered bays and real deep-sea passages.
Andaman Sea
The tropical island world of Thailand can also be experienced on your own keel with Powercat. The starting point is the tourist stronghold of Phuket. Nautical knowledge is also a prerequisite here.
Pacific Northwest
On the border between the US state of Washington and the Canadian province of British Columbia lie not only the metropolises of Seattle and Vancouver, but also an extensive holiday region, protected from the open Pacific Ocean by islands. The wilderness is always around the corner here.
Rideau Canal
Canada is also home to the newest international charter area: the Rideau Canal. The historic waterway connects the capital Ottawa with the Great Lake over 200 kilometres - without a licence.
