Tag Archives: crewedcharter

Eco-Conscious Charters: Our 5 Top Tips For New Boat Charter Clients

More and more boat charter clients are prioritizing sustainability and reducing their environmental footprint. At Boatbookings, we value this shift and want to guide new clients toward a better, more responsible boat charter for their next vacation. 

We have put together our top 5 tips for new boat charter clients: 

1. Choose a Greener Boat 

Within the Boatbookings fleet, there is an extensive range of boats to choose from. Whether you opt for a crewed charter catamaran, motor yacht, or sailing yacht. Or, if you want to go it alone, we also have bareboat yachts for charter, both motor and sail. It is more important than ever to choose a greener yacht in today’s world, which is why we work hard to offer a broader fleet of greener boats, such as our selection of greener crewed catamarans. 

2. Select Better Preferences 

While yachts are well-stocked for your vacation, consider opting for things that reduce your impact. For example, you can request reef-safe sunscreen, refillable water bottles, and eco-friendly toiletries. Selecting preferences will also ensure the crew knows exactly what you require for your trip, making it an unforgettable experience. 

3. Pick A Quieter Destination 

There are so many places worldwide you can explore this summer by boat. Our Boatbookings team can help you plan your itinerary and choose the best places to visit. The Mediterranean is one of our favorite spots, from the French Riviera to Greece. Although some of these hotspots are at risk of over-tourism, selecting a quieter, more off-the-tourist track destination will help you get away from overcrowded destinations. We can also advise you on the local marine conservation initiatives in these areas to get involved in while you are there.

4. Offset Your Emissions 

Despite efforts to reduce environmental impacts, most yacht charters will still release carbon emissions. You can help counteract this by purchasing carbon offsets that invest in clean energy projects and other activities that remove greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere. Our carbon offset calculator can help you accurately assess the yacht’s footprint throughout your vacation. 

5. Respect Marine Life

A huge advantage to a boat charter is the opportunity to observe diverse marine species. However, it is vital to do so responsibly, avoid disturbing or feeding wildlife, and never remove anything from the ocean. 

Following these tips and using simple eco-conscious practices means you and future charter clients can experience the joy of a boat charter while minimizing the impact on our fragile ocean ecosystems. Contact one of the Boatbookings team to find out more about our greener crewed charter catamarans. 

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Saving our seas: Pioneering efforts that are helping to preserve the Mediterranean

We love this time of year amid the Mediterranean charter season. But while we love the summer on these seas, we also know that not only is it a host for a crewed charter catamaran, but it is also a vital ecosystem that needs protecting. 

Like the rest of the world, the Mediterranean faces serious environmental challenges, such as pollution, overfishing, habitat destruction, and climate change/warming of its waters. However, it isn’t all bad news. There are several initiatives, campaigns, organizations, and projects in place that are helping to preserve our playground. 

We take a look at some of them here: 

Marine Protected Areas

Similar to national parks and nature reserves that protect habitats and species on land, there are also global networks of Marine Protected Areas. Specifically in the Mediterranean, the surface under protection status is currently 8.33% (2020 figure). This collaborative effort involves various organizations, agencies, and stakeholders across the countries. Every four years, MedPan assesses the areas and releases a report – they are crucial for conserving and restoring the health of our ecosystems at sea.

One example of a protected area we love to cruise (responsibly) at Boatbookings is the Brijuni National Park in Croatia, on the Adriatic Coast. The protected area includes 14 islands and the surrounding waters. The area boasts impressive biodiversity with coral reefs and is home to loggerhead sea turtles. 

Isla de Tabarca marine reserve is another one of our favorites. It is also the oldest of all the network of reserves, covering a vast area off the coast of Alicante, in Spain. The seabed is covered with Posidonia seagrass, vital for oxygen production. 

Anchoring Regulations

Aside from the marine protected areas, various local regulations and legislation are in place for certain boating activities. Anchoring is one of these activities that can harm the seabed unless recognized, and steps are taken to minimize this, such as Captains being aware of the restrictions put in place. 

One example is from the French Maritime Prefect and the recent restriction on anchoring within certain parts of the French Riviera and Corsica. Decrees now identify areas where anchoring is prohibited to protect Posidonia seagrass, which is essential to the ecosystem and underwater biodiversity. 

Removing waste

Another essential aspect when conserving our oceans is responsible waste management. Many key issues result in pollution of our seas, such as discarded fishing nets and plastic. 

Some organizations are working hard to turn this around. Healthy Seas is an organization focussing on removing marine litter, particularly from fishing nets from the Mediterranean. They work with volunteer divers to recover nets from reefs, wrecks and marine biodiversity hotspots. Another initiative is the Seabin project. Seabins have been installed in several Mediterranean marinas to help capture floating waste – just like bins on land! 

Clean beaches 

Keeping our surrounding beaches clean is so important. In the Mediterranean, there is a ‘Blue Flag’ status, a prestigious recognition awarded to beaches meeting stringent environmental criteria. 

The program aims to promote sustainable tourism and raise awareness about protecting coastal areas. Aside from this status, several beach clean-up initiatives happen year-round in Europe. Even if there isn’t a specific event happening where you are, always be environmentally responsible and pick up trash whenever you come across it. 

A collaborative effort

These efforts and collaborations are making a positive lasting impact on the preservation of this marine ecosystem for others to enjoy in years to come. At Boatbookings, we are hopeful that these initiatives will inspire others to join the cause and contribute to the ongoing protection and conservation of the Mediterranean. Without change, our future summers will be in danger. 

Contact the team at Boatbookings if you are interested to join the wave of change and charter a more environmentally crewed charter catamaran for next summer season. 

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