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

That’s not a bad suggestion, will look at something before school goes back. Camping would be preferable at this state (love camping but it wasn’t what we wanted this time).

I can't believe the suncream rule. Although they have relented. We are so pale we burn in minutes so I'd just not accept that as a rule !
And the forcing restaurant options is also not on at all.
I hope the quiet word you had works OP. Sounds very regimented !

The primary objective of any holiday is having a break and a chance to relax.
This situation is the very opposite of that.
I'm glad you've said something, but I think you and DH should push back a bit more.

The deck materials and finishes are very different from normal floors and it actually takes a lot of care looking after them. Some owners like proper deck shoes, but not flops or crocs - which are also a slipping or tripping hazard.

Our DD has such sensitive skin so she has to be very careful. It’s almost 40 here today so crazy to expect one application of sun cream.

The charter company have confirmed that we also have use of the e-scooter which we’ve seen the skipper on but he’s never said it’s for our use too, and also a drone for filming. Operated by the skipper which is fine but it would be lovely to have some footage while we’re in a secluded bay. I think they don’t want the hassle or risk damage to their equipment (we have paid to use)!

How much longer are you aboard the strictest vessel on the seas?

I'd start making a joke out of things, so for example when you approach the sugar scoops start shouting at each other 'shoes shoes shoes' and then fall about laughing
As you take food / drinks before she can say anything say things like 'yes i know, i must be careful not to spill / make crumbs, we can't have you cleaning up after us can we, that wouldn't be right at all'
And other such passive aggressive shit
Or as DH says to me when he's had enough: 'give it a rest will you'
you do know you're there to enjoy yourselves and you need to stand up for yourselves, the finger wagging is outrageous and needed to be called out at the time. Its meant to be a holiday but you're going to have to brace yourself for every interaction and forget about being polite and well mannered, stop pandering to them, you've paid a lot of money and they should be running after your backsides, bending over backwards to make sure you're having a nice time, not laying down the law. They don't appear to care much for your feelings so stop caring about theirs (and their stupid rules)

I think given that the atmosphere is already tense (due to them) I'd push back quite hard.

What's the worst that can happen - they are frosty? Sounds like they are already making it quite clear that they don't like you / any guests and do not appear to have absorbed the concept of customer service / guest experience.

There may be a cultural element here if they are Croatian but it's really not ok and they are bullying you and your family.

Defo no tip!

This doesn't sound nornal at all. You have been more than reasonable - a walkover perhaps, which is why they're continuing this nonsense.

Be very direct with them and don't take any more of this nonsense. I'd also contact the booking company.

yup, this. If you are the guest of the owner, like they have invited into their home and they know you, then they might want to ask guests to go barefoot. If you are offering chartering then you have to understand that there will be people who are less steady walking barefoot or find barefoot walking painful including those who use orthotics in their shoes or who just prefer to wear shoes of some kind. Asking people to bring deck shoes as an alternative to going barefoot I think is more usual. Personally I'd be concerned about athlete's foot!!
As a general thing, isn't it usual for this kind of holiday to be generally an indulgent and luxurious experience for the guests and the boat crew to go to lengths to ensure this happens? I mean yes the crew might need to "tactfully" suggest stuff as not everyone is equally careful of holiday accommodation...but yelling and nagging? hell no!

The Americans are NOT going to like their trips one bit - they're much more used to a customer-is-king service culture, and generally much more prepeared to make their displeasure known.

Normal or not, you are all miserable and frankly being taken for a ride.

Can you book yourselves into an air b n b or some hotel onshore, pack your bags, and disembark at the next port?

Blimey this must have cost you a fortune OP and they sound horrible. Fair enough to have some rules but they seem to be intent on making you very uncomfortable. What the hell is with the indoor water park ... why on earth would you want to do that when you're on such an amazing coastline.

Just ask about the scooter and drone OP.

I would be absolutely furious for all this. All they need is info in their brochure or website or once you board, you don’t need telling or reminding and making an unacceptable fuss. I would tell them as you have done that they’re spoiling your holiday.

I hope you paid at least the deposit by card. If some of the amenities you expected are not provided do a chargeback.

Reading this has made me so cross. You are obviously respectful guests and not taking the piss. Your holiday is for you to completely relax. Most hosts will want to make the experience a home from home for the guest. This is not the case at all. I would be much more assertive by the stage.

I would not want to be treading on eggshells. They need to be reminded who is paying for this trip and the experience that you expect. Of course you need to be neat and tidy and not wear shoes. But you are being ‘well-behaved’ and they are still making it so difficult for you. Nobody could relax like this. Enough.

No more grovelling to these people. You are adults with boat experience who know how to behave. You have nothing to lose now. I imagine this experiment was not cheap. You’re getting really bad value for money if you don’t feel relaxed.

I think they want to minimise the amount of time we are on the boat.

If you have to leave early and find another accommodation I’d expect a partial refund.

Minimise?! It’s a boating holiday ffs. Where do they expect you to be/go?

This will absolutely be it.

It's a boating holiday 😁,that's outrageous! You def need to complain ... and no tipping, they don't deserve a penny more.

You sound like very respectable guests ... how on earth would they cope if a big boozy group booked it, swigging back the drinks, vomming over the side/on the deck ... leaving the fridge open as they went for more drinks wearing their shoes whilst applying suncream 😃

If she kept shouting "shoes, shoes, shoes" at me I wouldn't be able to stop myself screaming "I KNOW, I KNOW, I KNOW". You poor things. You'll need a holiday to get over this one, but hopefully it's being a family bonding experience. They're rare with teenage DCs.

Is it definately their boat, is it all properly insured etc? It sounds like they’re borrowing it, or maybe shouldn’t be using it and don’t want to risk being responsible for any damage.

... and hope they don't immediately claim that they've "broken down"

oh that's a good point!