Luxury Sailing in Southern Italy from Sicily

YOUR SAILING AREA

Sicily to Palermo, Italy

The city of Syracuse is a great place to begin your Mediterranean holiday and board Chronos. This historic town is oozing in culture and Greek history and was a key city in the ancient Mediterranean world. in  Dating back some 2,700 years, this coastal city is known for its ancient ruins amphitheatres, monuments, archaeological sites and architecture, and was also the birthplace of the famous mathematician Archimedes.

Once settled in aboard, set sail up the Sicilian coast, known for its sandy beaches, rugged cliff lines and beautiful coves. Passing Etna Nature Reserve witness the magnificent volcano of Mount Etna looming up in the clouds.

On from Taormina sees Chronos sail through the Strait of Messina known to be the home of the fascinating mirage of Fata Morgana and natural whirlpool linked to the Greek legends of Scylla and Charybdis. The currents of the Strait create a wonderful marine ecosystem and it is also known to be a key location for the migration of over 300 bird species.

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Aeolian Islands

Once through the strait, you will bear west toward the beautiful Aeolian Islands, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. This archipelago is made of seven islands with Chronos visiting Vulcano, the largest island of Lipari and the island of the active volcano, Stromboli.

These volcanic islands provide an abundance of sheltered coves and picture-perfect anchorages for Chronos. Dive from the boat and swim in the turquoise blue waters, making use of her onboard watersports equipment. Wander the islands for that quiet spot, sip the local delicacy wine and soak up the Mediterranean sunshine. Visit the island of Stromboli, take a trek up the volcano and walk barefoot through the shimmery grey volcanic sand.

 

Read more on our Aeolian Islands blog here >

All voyages for Chronos

Chronos

Guest berths: 26 Rig: Bermudan Ketch

Our luxury sailing yacht Chronos was built and registered in Bodrum, Turkey but spends her days sailing the Mediterranean and Caribbean. Chronos was purpose-built as a charter vessel in 2013, with a two-masted, 54m staysail ketch rig.

Designed by Klaus Röder who based his design on a classic yacht whilst keeping up with the modern-day ketch; Chronos has been built for performance sailing and guest comfort.

Built with luxury in mind, the outline on deck is of teak and mahogany with plenty of space to sun-bath, read a book and enjoy the views. All the sails are electronically retractable, so no need to learn the ropes here. (The crew are, however, more than happy for guests to get involved with the operating and sailing of Chronos as much as they would like!)

An admiralty ladder provides the perfect place to jump off into the warm Caribbean waters, have a swim and climb back aboard with ease. Chronos also offers her guests the options of using her water skiing, wake-board, tube riding, kneeboard, banana boat, kayak and snorkelling & dive equipment and even a sail dinghy (QubaRS)

The deckhouse offers its very own small bar whilst below decks offers still more space to relax with a saloon with a plasma TV! Her private cabins, offering both double and single beds, all have air-conditioning and en-suite bathrooms.

The professional crew consists of the Skipper, first mate, mechanic, bosun, cook and 4 stewards, so you will most certainly be looked after during your time aboard Chronos.

Read more about what to expect from life on board Chronos here >

Deck plan

More about Chronos

Life on board 

Our sailing holidays on board Chronos are ones of luxury, style and comfort while exploring sunshine destinations and unforgettable locations. A purpose-built charter vessel, Chronos was designed with the elegant sailing lines of a traditional classic boat but has been paired with all the comforts and luxuries of a modern yacht. 

Authentic Sailing Fun

Sailing with Chronos is certainly one of comfort and relaxation. Think of a boutique, intimate classic sailing experience where nothing is too much trouble. Her dedicated and professional crew are highly trained and well-versed in a smooth sailing operation. 

She has an impressive sail area and her rig is electronically operated with retractable sails so there is no need to “learn the ropes” here! That being said, there are still traditional pin and tails if guests want to have a taste of authentic sailing. Her crew are always on hand and happy to discuss the sailing operations with guests. 

Although there is less focus on the “hands-on” sailing of Chronos, the Captain and crew offer interesting sailing talks and information briefs for guests during the voyage. Learn about the history of the boat, its sailing terms and even take a tour of the engine room if you fancy! Understanding these elegant classic vessels and feeling their power with the wind is truly an unforgettable experience.

Sleeping and Relaxation

Every space on Chronos is considered, with the guests at the forefront of all design. From the spacious saloon and private ensuite cabins clad in tropical wood to the sweeping open decks with plenty of sun lounging spaces – the boat is certainly oozing 5* luxury.

The generously proportioned cabins all have plenty of luggage storage, full-size domestic showers and air conditioning units. Versatile beds mean that cabins can be made from a comfy double to a sharing twin and even a three-bed family cabin as needed. All bedding and towels per person are included in the ticket price. Each cabin is named by the winds of the sea, and this matches the allocated swim towel set for guests. If you leave it drying on deck, a crew member will deliver it back to your cabin when dry. 

Daily cabin service is also part of the offering. A crew member will make your bed and freshen up your bathroom every day, and if you want a towel change or a full cabin clean, just leave the relevant sign on the cabin door! 

Eating and Entertainment

Although the day is punctuated by meal times, you certainly don’t feel like you’re running on a schedule. The relaxed nature of both the boat and the crew gives a perfect balance. 

Depending on the voyage location, the daily routine can change and is flexible, depending on the wishes of the group. Perhaps sit back and relax as the crew set sail to another remote anchorage to enjoy a freshly cooked lunch and the onboard water toys! Or spend the morning swimming in a secluded bay or exploring an ancient port city before setting sail to a new location. 

Start the day with a rich buffet-style breakfast, on to a light 2-course lunch at noon, coffee, tea and cake in the afternoon. Finish the day with a freshly cooked 3-course dinner aboard and on the final night of the voyage, enjoy an authentic Captain’s dinner. For every voyage on Chronos, guests enjoy a meal ashore at their own expense to immerse themselves in the local culture and cuisine. Guests tend to go off in their groups, but sometimes, the crew can join in if guests are unsure of the best spots!

Depending on the group’s mood, the crew can arrange some light-hearted entertainment, too—from local musicians over dinner to a friendly onboard music quiz (which is always amusing with international guests!) or even a wine-tasting session (at an extra cost).

Water-toys

For those water lovers with a sense of adventure, Chronos has a multitude of water-sport activities and equipment available for guests. Stand-up paddle boards and adult-size snorkelling equipment are free for guests to use. Water-skiing, wakeboarding, banana boat and tube riding are all chargeable once on board.

Chronos offers this at a moderate price and suggests an average of 10% of the voyage price to serve as a guide for consumption. The onboard currency is EUROS and you can open an on-board account which can be paid at the end of your voyage.

Kit List

We recommend a travelling light principal with lots of lightweight, easy-drying layers. Below is a list of recommended items, these are not mandatory and those who have sailed before may have their preferences! We recommend you bring a foldable bag or suitcase since hard cases are difficult to store in the cabins.

• Flight tickets
• Identification cards: Personal ID card and/or passport, driver’s license recommended
• Money: Cash, credit card
• Personal medicines
• Telephone card, mobile phone (please make sure your phone is set up for international roaming)
• Sun protection gel, after-sun/sunburn lotion, sunhat or equivalent
• Glasses, sunglasses
• Your favourite book!

CLOTHING

• Swimwear
• T-shirts, polo shirts, blouses and dress shirts (also long-sleeved options)
• Long trousers for the journey and excursions to the shore, one or two long trousers for dinners and visits to the restaurant
• Shorts/dresses
• A light pullover/fleece/cardigan for the evenings.
• Wind/rain jacket and cap
• Soft-soled trainers (We kindly ask you to only wear anti-skid sport/boat shoes on board.)
• Flipflops or sandals
• For trips to the shore, we recommend you wear sturdy shoes/trainers

Bed linens, bath and beach towels, life jackets, diving goggles and fins are all provided on board.
Dress on board is casual during the day (T-shirt and shorts) and sporty-casual in the evening and at the Captain’s Dinner. Swimwear is not permitted during meals or below deck. Please observe the local customs for shore excursions. We would like to point out that it is generally a little cooler and windier on the water than on land.

What’s included

• Full Board* (breakfast, lunch, dinner and filter coffee and tea)
• All bedding (pillow, sheets & duvet), bath and swim towels per person
• Full crew plus tuition
• Marina and fuel fees
• All tender trips to and fro the boat
• Lifejacket
• Adult snorkelling equipment
• Stand-up paddle-boards

What’s not included

• Alcohol and soft drinks
• Waterproofs
• *One meal is eaten ashore at the guest’s own expense
• Any flights
• Transit hotels
• Travel to and from the boat on the day of joining/leaving
• Travel Insurance
• Sailing Insurance (Please read our Sailing Insurance page for more information)
• Crew tips
• Personal expenses
• Water-skiing, wakeboarding, banana boat and tube riding are all chargeable once on board. > Chronos offers this at a moderate price and suggests an average of 10% of the voyage price to serve as a guide for consumption.

Travel insurance notes

As this is an active adventure holiday, we advise that everyone has the appropriate personal accident travel insurance whilst onboard in addition to standard travel insurance which would cover you in the time between making your booking and departing for your adventure. These policies can sometimes be combined so please check with your travel insurance provider.

Please read more information on our Insurance guidelines page.

This voyage will be more than 12 miles offshore.

FAQ

• Are all meals included?

  Yes, all meals* on board are included in the price (breakfast, lunch, dinner and filter coffee and tea) *One meal per week is eaten ashore at the customers own expense.

• Can you cater for dietary needs?

  Meat eaters and vegetarians only please.

• Are there any added extras?

  One meal is eaten ashore at the guests expense. Alcohol and soft drinks are not included but can be purchased on board. Water-sports are not included.

• What are the sleeping arrangements?

  Chronos has two Standard Double En-suite Cabins (11 m²) and 10 Deluxe En-suite Cabins (12-13 m²).

• Is there a porthole in my cabin?

  Yes, all cabins have portholes.

• How many toilet/showers does she have?

  All cabins have their own ensuite.

• Are bedding and towels included?

  All bedding, a hand towel, bath towel, swim towel and bathrobe is included per person.

• Is there a hairdryer on board?

  Yes, there is a hair dryer in each cabin.

• Will I be able to wash my clothes?

  No, Chronos does not have laundry on board.

• Is there heating/air conditioning onboard?

  Yes.

• Do I need to tip the crew?

  Tips are not mandatory but are welcomed by the crew! There will be an honesty box available at the end of your voyage (as a general guide, a 5-10% tip based on your ticket price)

• What language is spoken onboard?

  English is the common deck language but there will be international guests and crew.

• Is there WIFI onboard?

  When within shore range, you should be able to reach 4/5G. Please make sure you have international roaming set up on your data plan. There is chargeable access to Starlink on all voyages. You can buy vouchers once on board if required.

• Can I charge my phone/Camera?

  Yes, there are 2pin EU sockets throughout the boat so please bring an adaptor if needed.

• What is the currency on board?

  Euro's.

• Are there life jackets provided?

  Yes.

• How do I get on and off the boat?

  Chronos is often at anchor so you'll need to be comfortable climbing in and out of the tender dinghy. There is an admiralty ladder and there will always be a crew member to steady.

• Are Waterproofs provided?

  No.

• Do I need sailing experience?

  No, absolutely not!

• Does the boat have any water toys?

  Yes, there are two sea kayaks, RS Quba dinghy, snorkelling gear, water skis, wakeboard, kneeboard and banana boat. For activities that require pulling with a dinghy we charge €1 per minute of use.

• Will I be sea sick?

  Everyone reacts differently but we recommend if you are at all worried to take some medication 24 hours before departure.

• Is there an age limit?

  Yes. Minimum age of 5, and as long as the child can swim.

Travel Planning

From: Syracuse

To: Palermo

To see where the ports are, along with your likely sailing area, please view the sail area & highlights.

Getting There

The nearest airport to Syracuse is Catania in Sicily.