Yacht charter in Tonnarella · Bavaria — Cruiser 51 (2016)

I decided to take a chance and charter this yacht bareback for two weeks despite the poor reviews. Previously I have chartered similar boats in Greece and Croatia. Our results were mixed. Firstly, the booking and handover experience. The base price for the charter was quite affordable, but everything conceiveable would be attempted added to the price at a serverely inflated price. For example, we had no choice but to pay almost 500€ for renting a dinghy, about half the cost of the boat and motor bought new. We felt that we had no choice but to accept any additional charges, as cancellation is not possible. As is common in my experience, handover of the boat is Saturday afternoon, the day is used to get supplies, get ready, review the equipment, do the handover procedure and get the crew all organized. Handover is supposed to be at 1700, takes about an hour, takes a couple of hours to get sorted and stocked. Nearest harbor is 3 hours of open water away. We were charged a 300€ 'late fee' and a 150€ 'docking fee' for arriving some hours later and staying in the home berth of the vessel overnight. This was extortionate. The 270€ cleaning fee is high, but acceptable. She was OK on the inside, but decks were not too clean. The communication with the host was unfortunately poor. Luckily, some of our crew were italian, but the host does not speak English well and strongly prefers keeping it in italian. Once we were on the boat, we weren't shown the how anything worked or got much pointers and advice, it was mostly about money and fees. The deposit is via card, and we were informed that we would be liable for currency conversion fees both ways AND a 3% 'credit card fee'. This would have added up to another 300€. In the end though, they returned the money in full to my card. The vessel She is less than 10 years old, but looks as though she is 25. She has seen some rough use. The equipment mostly worked and we didn't get stranded at any point. Ropes, winches and sails were fine. She has a bare minimum of electronics, but the autopilot and engine works very well. She is trivial to sail and has a small rig. We didn't opt for the 350€ extra Gennaker fee. The chart plotter leaves a lot to be desired, so your own phone or tablet with Navionics is recommended. The anchor has some damage, and the chain is severely corroded, so it's prone to get stuck in the windlass. It has no length markings, and is only about 50m, limiting our docking ability. No reserve anchor, the bare minimum of dokcking lines. No tension relief system for the windlass, so I'm sure there's a lot of wear on it, but it worked fine. Interior was fine. Everything which other reviewers complain about are still there, it seems nothing has been fixed, such as the intermittent fresh water pump. Most of the toilets leak, however just clean water. It was better than expected and we had an uninterrupted trip. She is a stable and comfortable craft, with great interior and exterior space. Not a good sailing boat though, but as much was to be expected. The state of the underwater hull also shaves off a bit extra. The sailing area Beautiful islands, the westerly islands are difficult to dock at and more sparesely populated. Watch out for buoy scams. Our favorites were Panarea and Stromboil. If we would do it again, we would only spend a week and focus on the easterly islands. Return of the boat We returned a pretty clean and tidy vessel. Some of the equipment such as the bimini is in such a state of disrepair that any mild breeze will make new tears in it, you can actually see through it. They tried to make us pay for a repair for it initially. Be aware of damage on equipment which is in such a state that normal use will damage it, it's a game of musical chairs. We got our deposit returned in full. We also got a ride back to town (a 40 minute trip), which we really appreciate. Thanks! All in all, we got two weeks of charter for about 3500-4000€, which is a good price. We had a nice trip, and the boat didn't leave us stranded. Communication was poor, fees and extras were opaque, boat maintenance and equipment level was poor, cleanlyness medium. I would consider renting again if the price is 50-60% of a more serious company, or else I would opt to pay extra for the peace of mind.

(English version below) Il gestore del check-in si è dimostrato sempre disponibile e collaborativo. Abbiamo effettuato una videochiamata preparatoria prima dell’imbarco e si è presentato puntualmente al momento del check-in. Quest’ultimo è stato svolto in maniera dettagliata, come richiesto, e siamo rimasti in contatto sia durante che dopo il periodo di noleggio. La barca era in condizioni funzionali, anche se l’ho trovata leggermente meno pulita e curata rispetto a quanto offerto da altre società. Tuttavia, il rapporto qualità-prezzo è stato eccellente. Nonostante fosse dotata di vela maestra avvolgibile, il Bavaria Cruiser 51 si è comportato molto bene: stabile ed efficiente sia con venti leggeri che con raffiche fino a 30 nodi. Tutto l’equipaggiamento a bordo era funzionante; l’unico piccolo inconveniente è stato con la catena dell’ancora, che dovrebbe essere pulita per garantire uno scorrimento più fluido. Il motore ha funzionato perfettamente per tutta la durata del viaggio: silenzioso, robusto e con pezzi di ricambio a bordo. Materassi e cuscini erano comodi e in buone condizioni. Abbiamo navigato per oltre 500 miglia in due settimane senza alcun problema. Il check-out è stato effettuato in modalità elettronica, inviando video degli interni ed esterni della barca e una foto del pannello motore. Avrei preferito un confronto diretto con il gestore per discutere le condizioni della barca e condividere l’esperienza prima di salutarci, ma sembra che l’azienda adotti sistematicamente il check-out a distanza. In ogni caso, abbiamo riconsegnato l’imbarcazione pulita e in ordine, e abbiamo ricevuto l’intera cauzione entro i 20 giorni previsti. The check-in manager was always available and helpful. We had a preparatory video call before boarding, and he showed up punctually for the check-in. The check-in itself was carried out thoroughly, as requested, and we stayed in contact both during and after the rental period. The boat was fully functional, although I found it to be slightly less clean and well-maintained compared to what other companies typically offer. That said, the value for money was excellent. Despite having a furling mainsail, the Bavaria Cruiser 51 performed very well — stable and efficient both in light winds and with gusts up to 30 knots. All onboard equipment was in working order; the only minor issue we encountered was with the anchor chain, which could use a cleaning to allow it to run more smoothly. The engine worked perfectly throughout the trip: quiet, reliable, and with spare parts available on board. Mattresses and cushions were comfortable and in good condition. We sailed over 500 nautical miles in two weeks without any problems. The check-out was conducted electronically, by sending videos of the boat’s interior and exterior and a photo of the engine panel. I would have preferred a direct conversation with the manager to review the boat’s condition and discuss the experience before saying goodbye, but it seems that this company routinely handles check-outs remotely. In any case, we returned the boat clean and in order, and we received the full deposit back within the agreed 20-day period.

Mixed Experience with Bruzio Boat Rental My recent experience with renting a boat from Bruzio had its highs and lows. While there were some positive moments, there were also aspects that left much to be desired. What We Didn't Like: The check-in and check-out process was a significant letdown. It appeared that the boat owner lacked enthusiasm in assisting us during these crucial moments. We were left to navigate the intricacies ourselves and verify every detail. Regrettably, no assistance was provided during the boat's handover. Even the captain seemed unfamiliar with the process. The boat's quality and its equipment raised concerns. Just on the second day, our water supply broke down, leaving the skipper to grapple with the issue for hours. At one point, we feared our vacation would be cut short, which added an unnecessary amount of stress. The outdated utensils, lidless kettle that burnt us every time we boiled water, and damp mattresses – presumably due to improper sealing during boat cleaning – were not up to par. This forced us to dry the mattresses on the following day. Although the reservation indicated that bed linen and towels were included, the reality was different; only one set was provided! Additional sets required a surcharge of 40 euros each. Furthermore, we had to pay 250 euros for the Dinghy motor and another 250 euros for the final cleaning – details that the owner conveniently omitted when we made the reservation. It was also essential to double-check the fuel level, as it was only half full upon receipt. Positive Aspects: Amidst the challenges, there were some positive highlights. The skipper treated us to a mesmerizing view of a nighttime volcanic eruption in Sicily, which left us awestruck. The boat's maneuverability, docking procedures, and marina booking process were commendable, all thanks to the skipper's expertise. However, after careful consideration, our group has decided to refrain from booking any more yachts from Bruzio. The negative aspects of our experience overshadowed the positives, and we believe that our future yacht rentals could be better served elsewhere.