Is this level of strictness normal on a private catamaran charter?

[Itsgettinghotinere]

We’re currently on a private catamaran charter in Croatia. For the most part, the week has been great, the Islands are beautiful and it’s been wonderful to see so many different places.

That said, I’m not sure if our experience of our skipper and hostess is usual or not…

We planned a sailing holiday as we wanted to do an activity holiday with our teens. I’ve sailed and grew up with small pleasure boats. We made this clear when we booked via the charter company and specifically listed it on our preference list. The preference list also stipulates that learning to sail is one of the possible options. We have not been allowed near the helm let alone sail! To be fair, the wind has been minimal so we’ve been under engine all week but yesterday would have been perfect but no, we are not allowed.

We are also not allowed to:

1. wear shoes on the boat. We know this however our hostess constantly shouts “shoes, shoes, shoes” at us as soon as we walk on to the sugar scoops! Every time. Without fail.
2. Sit on any outside seating while wet from swimming. When swimming we have to stay at the front of the cat until we dry off. I’m referring to the all weather outside seating. It’s making it very difficult as we’re not allowed to get any water while we swim as were might drip on the teak.
3. We are not allowed to drip anything anywhere: my husband was washing his hands in our cabin but the cabin door was open. While drying his hands some water dripped on the floor and our host saw and immediately came into our cabin and dried up the 3 spots.
4. We are told to eat over our plates. Our teens are 14 and 13 so it’s not as though food is dropping everywhere. My son was told to eat his watermelon over the plate as our host didn’t want to spend her time cleaning after him. We are not allowed to leave any crumbs on the table and look out if any accidentally end up on a cushion (out door cushion).
5. One evening my husband had a glass of red wine and it came with a warning not to spill any.
6. They have made restaurant bookings ahead for us which is fine for the most part but one was very expensive- (€650) and we only had two drinks each. The next evening was the same so we said we’d like to move our booking to a different restaurant and was told that it would make things awkward for them, they wouldn’t honour future bookings maybe and we ended up eating there.

There are other instances like this. The obsession with everything being clean all the time. We are very clean, tidy and respectful people. We just feel like we’re intruding on their boat.

While I’ve typed this I’ve been told we can only apply sunscreen off the boat, nowhere on the boat as apparently the front is full of sunscreen! I make us all stand on the front and apply sun cream. We don’t use sprays and I’m very careful about applying it. But it’s not enough and now we can’t use sunscreen unless we’re in the harbour or on land! In fact, our packing list said sun cream would be provided as they understandably want to use creams that won’t damage the boat. We arrived to find none so I suspect they prefer guests don’t use anything.

We’re walking on eggshells and just don’t feel welcome. Is this normal behaviour? I’d like to hear from those who had chartered before. Thank you

We’re actually living with my in-laws due to the fire and care for father in law and feel the same. Again, very respectful, we keep our belongings to a minimum and out of the way and abide to their rules. I said the same thing to my DH, it’s like we never left home but this time we’ve paid for it! 🤣

Yes I cross posted with that update, and am frankly glad it was the hostess rather than the owner OP spoke with

As you say it's to be hoped things might relax a bit, but unless they're on board for weeks it's probably too late to rescue what will have been a very expensive holiday, so a (hopefully undeleted) review may still be wise

Sounds awful honestly don’t know how you’re holding your tongue.

Id have to start defending myself and especially my boys. They’re already making your trip horrible does it matter if they try to make it worse? I think you’ll kick yourself when you get home if you don’t say something.

As for leaving you behind in the water, I’m sure that could possibly be attempted murder, I know you joke about it. But I’d be tempted to ‘joke’ in earshot that any such behaviour would absolutely taken down a legal route. Set your stall out too.

I can’t believe you’re having to gear up to write emails and push back on crappy customer service when you’re their guests. Quite difficult when you’re effectively living with them for the week and don’t know how they will react. Could you have a conversation with them one evening?

I hope you get some nice relaxed days. They probably expect you to be equally rude back to them but I would find that very stressful and wouldn’t want to model that to my kids either. Also not impossible that they would escalate the rudeness even further.

I haven’t RFTFT but the staying on the swimming platform whilst wet is I think quite common. Last year I was invited onto a super yacht for a day and this was very much the protocol, though staff did bring drinks and snacks. Suncream can be an issue as it’s greasy, designed not to come off in water, so difficult to clean, and stains, but as a holiday charter they should be set up for this as most of their guests will be using it.

It sounds to me they’ve got your money and want as little work as possible, and will definitely be getting a nice “reward” from the restaurants they book. Sorry you’re having to put up with this.

What did she say when you spoke to her? And no I would not tip.

Agreed.

This may be because they only do this part time, and live in their boat the rest of the time, rather than they are fully booked...doesn't make a difference, but could partly explain why they are so excessively bossy (they feel like they have a bunch of foreign strangers in their home).

I really sympathise OP, that level if supervision is really suffocating; we stayed in a B&B once where they said as we arrived that they'd decided where we were eating and booked it for us, and that they'd drive us there, and pick us back up at 10pm, because they liked to go to bed early, and didn't want us coming back any later! We didn't get a key, and had to ask to be let out, as well as in...we left the next morning :-D

The American guests they have coming up will tear them a new one. Good that you have stood up a bit, do it more. Email the charter people now - send them the link to this thread if you like.

I'd be leaving a few fish in the loo cistern

Shame if she fell overboard..

I am not sure about no shoes being standard. I think more standard is immediately changing into deck shoes with no shoes as an option.

Perfect. Hold on to this and when they initiate conversation either directly or indirectly ('was everything ok?') at the end, about why no tip then you can lay it all out for them.

Wow, extraordinary behaviour! Were you staying in Royston Vasey?!

Surely you can wear flip flops on a boat? I would have changed from outdoor shoes to my crocs if I was on board, but I couldn't have walked around on a boat without anything on my feet.

No, no footwear at all which is usual but being reminded every single time we come back on is not.

I was thinking the same!

They need to watch an episode and chill out!

I'd have thought some kind of footwear would be necessary to prevent slips. I know nothing about boats but how damaging can a flip flop or croc be?

The American guests they have coming up will tear them a new one

Yes, @BlokeHereInPeace, I'd pay good money to watch them trying this with a group of Americans

We had a 20% tip ready but we have decided not to give it

Edited to add it's the right decision, @Itsgettinghotinere, but it'll all go on the dreadful story they'll tell the charter company about you ...

I think they will too.

Usually the people renting the boat get everything they want but in return for tips!

No shoes fine, I've always been made to remove shoes. But other boats etc I've been on stuff like sunscreen and some water is expected.

Your last sentence explains the problem. They want your money but don’t want you.

I can’t beleive you wrote “allowed” to apply your sun tan lotion. You’re on holiday and have paid to be there.

it feels like they think their role is primarily to protect the boat, not to host you.

If I were you and DH I’d be requesting a sit-down meeting with the host and skipper. You are behaving respectfully but are receiving no respect in return.

I think we were, there were many other things, including a very ornate bedspread on our bed, which they both pointed out, so we made admiring noises - then they perfomed a (clearly well practised) folding manoeuvre on it, and took it away with them😂

I really feel for you OP, maybe look at a cheap break in the uk in the autumn, where u can all actually relax, if it was me, I'd feel better with something like that to look forward to.

I agree with this Op. Boats are always full of rules and too many guests do want to treat them like a disposable commodity. (Not saying you do by any means, but this will be where the attitude has come from.)

They cannot force you to eat somewhere you find too expensive. Just tell them it was too costly.

I think it is also reasonable to say you have understood the rules, and are trying to respect them but would appreciate a little less energy around enforcing them as you are trying to relax on holiday and it is becoming intrusive.

They sound awful. You have to make your own boundaries clear right now and expect them to change their attitude. It’s your holiday and you have rights too. And fuck the tip if they don’t respond. You have presumably paid a lot for this already.