A Luxurious Amalfi Coast Escape

A group of 8 (four adult couples) were celebrating a decade of friendship in June 2025.

They had all met at college many years ago and wanted to mark their milestone with a special trip along Italy's famous Amalfi Coast.

An active group, they wanted to include some hiking, as well as plenty of water toys on the yacht.

They've done crewed charters before, but in the Caribbean, and so they wanted a flavour of Mediterranean cuisine and to try some local wines.

Between them, they had a budget of €150,000, to include: charter fee, food and drink, excursions, transfers and crew gratuity.

Our client chose a week in early June for the trip, as three of the group had birthdays that month.

Everyone flew in a day ahead of the charter start date - they were coming from a range of different locations, so this allowed them to get together for a night in Naples ahead of their charter.

The charter lasted for five nights and six days in total.

M/Y GATSBY

GATSBY is a refined and elegantly styled motor yacht, offering a contemporary interior and a range of spacious living areas inside and out.

GATSBY is particularly well-suited for four couples or for multi-generational families seeking a high-comfort, high-performance charter experience. The crew are a great team, and we know them very well. They have a great local knowledge of the area and a good attention to detail. Their clients are always well looked after.

The crew have carved quite a reputation, with chef Luka taking his restaurant training aflaot and delivering fabulous food, beautifully presented. This felt like the perfect answer for our discerning clients, as meal times were a big part of their planned celebrations.

Key Features:

• Accommodation: 6 suites (a master, three doubles, and two twin cabins).
• Owner’s Deck: Dedicated owner’s deck with private terrace.
• Connectivity & Comfort: Onboard Wi-Fi and full air conditioning throughout.
• Plenty of sunbathing space forward along with second dining area.
• Large dining table on upper deck and sunbathing space on 3rd deck!
• Performance: Cruises comfortably at 12 knots, with a maximum speed of 17 knots. At 10 knots, it ranges of up to 4,000 nautical miles, with a 27,000-litre fuel capacity.
• Stabilisation: Equipped with an advanced stabilisation system to minimise roll and ensure a smooth and comfortable experience.
• Water Toys & Equipment: Includes a Jet-ski, 2 seabobs, 2 paddleboards, water-skis, a wakeboard, and snorkelling gear
• Fantastic crew of 6, knowledgable captain, very talented chef
• Fresh 2025 refit.

Our client takes up the story:

We've all chartered before, but never in Europe. There's something alluring about the Amalfi Coast that just drew us all in; and we're so glad it did. we wanted to play the hits, obviously, but also left some space for advice on best spots.

Marcus, our HELM yacht charter broker, understood our needs and made the whole process seamless.

From our initial consultation, he asked all the right questions and really listened to what we wanted, before suggesting GATSBY as the right fit for us.

His knowledge of the Amalfi Coast was invaluable in helping to plan our itinerary, and he really found the perfect yacht for our planned birthday celebrations, with the perfect mix of chill time and watersports fun, as well as adventure and exploration ashore.

Day 1 - Naples to Ischia

We spent a leisurely morning exploring Pompeii on our way to the marina to board GATSBY at 12 noon.

Stepping aboard, we felt instantly at home as stewardess Anja offered us a cool glass of champagne to start the trip, while first mate Ivan delivered a quick but important safety briefing and encouraged us to relax and enjoy ourselves!

We then set sail on a journey curated by Marcus, our HELM yacht charter broker, off towards Ischia. Within twenty minutes of leaving the marina Vesuvius was already just a shape behind us, which felt strange given how much time we'd spent staring up at it from the hotel balcony the night before.

The crossing to Ischia took an hour, and we arrived to be greeted by the imposing castle on the cliffside. It was lovely to be able to pass so close to it at golden hour as we headed to the marina, lined with pastel houses.

Dinner on board was octopus and a lemon risotto that the chef said used lemons from the boat's own stop in Sorrento the week before. Slept like the dead.

Day 2 - Ischia to Amalfi

After a morning swim and a beautiful breakfast bursting with vibrant colour, we cruised along the Sorrentine Peninsula, pausing in Nerano for a light lunch and a refreshing swim in the crystal-clear waters. Definitely a highlight.

The water in Nerano was almost turquoise. We spent the afternoon snorkelling and splashing about on the water toys, before heading to Amalfi, arriving just in time to enjoy the breath-taking sunset. We went for a wander to explore the pretty town and it's leather boutiques, before a relaxed dinner on the aft deck of GATSBY.

Day 3 - The Path of the Gods

We did things a little differently today: on Marcus' recommendation, we asked captain Marin to book us a lunch in Ravello and a taxi to take us to the tiny town of Bomerano, from where we could begin an afternoon hike along the 'Path of the Gods'.

Ravello was stunning, a real gem on the hills above Amalfi, and a fun taxi ride winding around the cliffs to get up there. This tiny, tranquil slice of Italy has inspired artists like Richard Wagner, E.M. Forster, Virginia Woolf, Gore Vidal and D.H.Lawrence, and it captured our hearts the moment we arrived. It also stood out for the artistry of its beautiful handmade ceramics.

Lunch ashore at Villa Maria was sublime, fresh pasta at its finest, served with a magnificent view and a delicious crisp local white wine.

After lunch and a quick coffee, it was time to hop back in taxi for the trip to the Path of the Gods. This iconic 3.5 hour hike takes you all the way along the Amalfi Coast, finishing with a famous 2,000 step descent into sensational Positano. we encountered breathtaking views, and a couple of herds of goats, along the way. There's a small hut just above the final descent selling cooling granita, which really helped our flagging energy levels!

GATSBY had motored around while we were walking, and the crew picked us up in Positano and brought us back on board for a well-earned swim and beer on the beach club. What a sensational day.

Day 4 - Positano to Capri

Slower start, wandered Positano in the morning, bought more ceramics than we have wall space for, then set off for Capri around midday. The crossing takes you past the Li Galli islands, small and mostly private, apparently one of them used to belong to a ballet dancer.

Capri in the afternoon was busy, but the anchorage on the southern side put enough distance between us and the crowds.

Took the tender out to the Faraglioni and into one of the grottoes nearby. You could see the tender's shadow on the seabed.We then went ashore and got a taxi up to Capri town for some boutique browsing. Drinks that evening on the veranda at La Palma, which Marcus had booked ahead; good thing too because it was full by the time we arrived. Dinner back on board afterward.

Day 5 - Capri to Procida

A quick morning swim, then a trip to the Gardens of Augustus for one last look at Capri from above. The crossing to Procida took just over an hour at a comfortable 18 knots.

Procida might be the place that stays in my head and heart forever. No day trippers, no queues, just a quiet harbour (Marina Corricella) full of fishing boats and colourful restaurants. And some gorgeously soft, volcanic sand beaches.

Day 6 - Return to Naples

Early departure, breakfast on the way back into Naples, and we were tied up by mid morning. Disembarking always feels slightly unreal after a week at sea, especially somewhere as loud and alive as Naples after five days of harbours and islands. We really connected with the crew on this trip, particularly the good-humoured and always helpful Ivan, so saying goodbye was harder than we thought it would be!

We'd do the whole route again without changing much, but next time I'd push for a second night somewhere, Ischia probably, there was more of that island we didn't get to.

Worth knowing before you book: the Path of the Gods day is long and needs proper shoes, not sandals. Bring plenty of water, watch out for rogue goats, and make sure you visit "Il Chiosco del sentiero degli dei" for that revitalising granita!

• Yacht Charter Fee - €85,000 Standard Mediterranean (MYBA) terms cover the charter fee, which is exclusive of VAT (22% in Italy) and APA (35%), which covers food and drink, fuel, mooring fees and all expenses related to running the vessel and use of on-board equipment.

What is an APA?

• Italian VAT (22%) - €18,700

• Advanced Provisioning Allowance (APA) (35%) - €29,750

• Gratuity (discretional) - €10,000

Total: €143,450

(€17,937 per person)