Aeolianyacht Recensioni 

Unfortunately, this was one of the most disappointing yacht charter experiences I have had.

During our charter we experienced multiple technical failures that significantly affected our holiday:

* The bow thruster failed on the second day. Although it was eventually repaired, the technician only attended on the third day after we first reported the problem.
* One of the two toilets developed a serious leak, leaving us with only one usable toilet for virtually the entire charter. The company initially tried to hold us responsible for the damage and expected us to pay for the repair. In the end, the toilet was not repaired before the end of our holiday.
* The dinghy outboard engine failed. The company’s technician confirmed that it required a spare part that was unavailable. After that, communication regarding the outboard effectively stopped, and it was never repaired during our charter. As a result, we were unable to use the dinghy for the remainder of the holiday.
* Because the outboard was unusable, we had to completely change our cruising plans. Instead of anchoring in bays and using the dinghy to go ashore, we were forced to moor in marinas or on town quays almost every day.
* We experienced repeated battery problems. The low-voltage alarm sounded immediately whenever the windlass was used, and the batteries repeatedly dropped to approximately 11.2–11.3 V each morning despite following the company’s instructions to recharge and monitor them.
* The refrigerator stopped working during the charter. I reported the problem but received no response that day.
* One of the shore lines snapped while we were moored in approximately 12 knots of wind, creating a potentially dangerous situation.

To be fair, the staff were polite and technicians attended when possible. However, several essential defects remained unresolved until the end of the charter, meaning we spent most of our holiday dealing with technical problems instead of enjoying the yacht.

Instead of relaxing, we spent a significant amount of time reporting defects, waiting for technicians, changing our itinerary and arranging repairs.

I understand that mechanical failures can happen on any yacht. However, the number of failures on this charter, the delays in resolving them, and the fact that several major issues remained unresolved for the entire holiday are not acceptable for a professional charter company.

Based on this experience, I cannot recommend this company unless they significantly improve the maintenance, inspection and preparation of their fleet, as well as the way they handle customers when serious technical problems occur.

Our experience with Aeolian Yachts has been disappointing from the very beginning. We chartered Magellan, a 2008 Bavaria 39, from the Preveza base for a two-week holiday. We fully understood that we were hiring an older yacht and were perfectly happy to accept cosmetic wear and tear. What we did not expect was to spend so much of our holiday dealing with significant equipment failures and repeatedly having to argue with the charter company to get them addressed.

The check-in set the tone. We wanted to inspect the boat thoroughly, but after around 25–30 minutes we were told that handovers “normally take five minutes” and the member of staff showing us the yacht left to deal with other customers before we had finished checking everything.

Within the first few days, multiple problems became apparent. The batteries repeatedly dropped to very low voltage, triggering alarms in the early hours of the morning and making us reluctant to anchor away from marinas because we were concerned about having enough power to operate essential systems. Despite sending photos, videos and voltage readings, we were repeatedly told there was no issue because the batteries were new.

The bow thruster also failed, although this was eventually repaired. The dinghy outboard stopped working on only its second use and we were informed that it could not be repaired because the necessary parts were unavailable. This left our crew of four without a reliable way of getting ashore when anchored and forced us to change our itinerary.

The most serious issue, however, has been the second toilet. It initially had a strong smell, then began leaking water onto the floor before eventually spraying sewage-contaminated water while being pumped. We found what appeared to be remnants of an earlier repair using glue or sealant, suggesting this was an existing maintenance issue rather than damage caused during our charter. We immediately reported everything with photographs and videos.

The response was extremely disappointing. Rather than investigating the fault, we were told it was company policy that we would have to pay because the problem had not been identified during check-in. We were also told that replacement parts would not even be ordered unless we first confirmed that we would pay for the repair. We are only halfway through our charter and have already been told the repair is unlikely to happen until just two days before we return the yacht, meaning we are effectively spending almost the entire holiday with only one functioning toilet.

We are fully insured, so this is not about avoiding legitimate repair costs. If we damaged something, we would accept responsibility without hesitation. Our concern is being expected to pay for faults that appear to have existed before we boarded the yacht, despite providing clear evidence to support that conclusion.

Mechanical failures can happen on any charter boat, especially one that is nearly 20 years old. What distinguishes a good charter company is how it responds when problems arise. In our experience, Aeolian Yachts’ priority seemed to be determining who would pay for repairs rather than resolving issues affecting its customers’ holiday. It left us with the impression that the company attempts to pass the cost of overdue maintenance onto its charter clients.

Sadly, what should have been a relaxing sailing holiday has instead involved daily phone calls, emails and messages, constant changes to our plans, and unnecessary stress. Based on our experience, we would not charter from Aeolian Yachts again or recommend it to anyone.

Unfortunately, our experience with Aeolian Yachts has been extremely disappointing. Rather than resolving problems with the boat, the company has insisted that, under its policy, we must pay for repairs even where the evidence strongly suggests the faults were pre-existing and the result of poor maintenance. We are fully insured and expected that accidental damage might occur during the charter, so this is not about the money—it is about the principle of being held responsible for faults we did not cause.

We chartered Magellan, a 2008 Bavaria 39, from the Preveza base for two weeks. We understood we were hiring an older yacht and were happy to accept normal wear and tear. However, the check-in was rushed from the outset. We spent around 25–30 minutes trying to inspect the boat properly and were told this “normally takes five minutes.” The staff member conducting the handover then excused himself, saying he had other clients to attend to, leaving us unable to complete as thorough an inspection as we would have liked. Several significant issues then became apparent as soon as we started sailing.

The most serious issue has been the electrical system. The batteries measured around 12.2V at handover and have repeatedly dropped to around 11.5V despite our reporting the problem from the start. We are regularly woken by low-voltage alarms at around 5am, and the engine must be run at high revs to clear them. Despite photos, videos and repeated reports, we have been told there is no fault because the batteries are “new”. As a result, we no longer feel confident anchoring outside marinas for fear of not having enough power to raise the anchor or reliably operate onboard systems.

The bow thruster also failed during the charter, although this was eventually repaired. The outboard engine for the dinghy stopped working on its second use. After inspection, we were told the required parts were unavailable, leaving us without a functioning dinghy for the remainder of the trip and forcing us to change our cruising plans.

The most unacceptable issue has been the second toilet. From the start there was a strong odour, followed by water collecting on the floor. Soon afterwards, sewage-contaminated water began spraying from a leaking waste hose. We found clear evidence of an old repair using glue or sealant, suggesting this was a pre-existing problem rather than damage caused during our charter. We immediately reported it with photos and videos.

Instead of arranging a repair, we were told that because the issue had not been reported during the rushed check-in, it was automatically our responsibility under company policy. We were also told that no replacement parts would be ordered unless we first confirmed that we would pay for the repair ourselves. After we challenged this and pointed out the evidence of an earlier repair, we were informed that the earliest repair would now be just two days before the end of our charter. We are only halfway through our holiday, which means we have effectively spent almost the entire charter with only one usable toilet despite paying for a two-toilet yacht.

Overall, what should have been a relaxing sailing holiday has instead involved daily phone calls, emails and messages trying to get basic faults addressed while repeatedly changing our plans because of equipment failures. Mechanical issues can happen on any yacht, particularly an older one. What has disappointed us most is the company’s response: dismissing well-documented faults, refusing to investigate clear evidence of pre-existing problems, and insisting that we accept responsibility for them. It has left us with the impression that the company attempts to recover the cost of deferred maintenance by charging charter customers for repairs to faults that were already present. Whether or not that is the intention, it is certainly how this experience has felt.

Based on our experience, we would not charter from Aeolian Yachts again and will advise everyone against engaging this company as well.