Half Day Private Yacht Charter on our Pershing 40 in Saint Tropez

The best thing about this charter is the freedom to enjoy Saint-Tropez from the water without sharing the boat with a large crowd. You can cruise past superyachts, stop at Canoubiers Bay, swim, use the paddleboard, and shape the outing around your group. Scott, Steve, Eric, Mark, Glen, and Peter have all served as captains on this experience.

I like the choice of morning or afternoon departures, and I like that the captain can adjust the outing to your interests. Snorkeling gear, a paddleboard, water, soft drinks, and snacks are included, which makes the four-hour trip feel easy and self-contained. The main caution is communication: pickup details are confirmed close to departure, and two serious complaints involved late cancellation or scheduling problems, even though the operator says refunds were issued.

Key points to know before booking

• Private Pershing 40 charter: Your group has the boat to itself, with a maximum booking size of eight people.
• Several possible departure ports: Boarding may be arranged at Port Grimaud, Sainte-Maxime, Saint-Tropez, or Marines de Cogolin.
• Two swimming stops are possible: Canoubiers Bay, the Parcs de Saint-Tropez, and Salins Beach may feature in the route.
• Water equipment is included: You can use snorkels and a stand-up paddleboard, along with the boat’s other listed amenities.
• The captain shapes the day: Past outings have included personal music, a tender ride to shore, beach-club access, and stops chosen for clear water.
• Weather matters: Bad conditions can cancel the trip, with a new date or full refund offered according to the policy.

What a half-day on the Pershing 40 feels like

A four-hour private yacht trip gives you a different view of Saint-Tropez. From shore, the town can feel crowded and image-conscious. From the water, you see its harbor, villas, coves, beaches, and enormous yachts at a calmer pace.

The Pershing 40 is a sleek motor yacht rather than a basic sightseeing boat. The available information describes it as comfortable and well kept, with a restroom, swim access, snorkels, flippers, a paddleboard, bottled water, soft drinks, and snacks. Some outings have also included a cheese board, charcuterie, picnic lunch boxes, or an informal request for extra drinks.

The boat is advertised for groups of up to eight, although the highlights also refer to space for ten. I would use eight as the safe planning figure unless the operator confirms a different capacity for your date. At $1,802.19 per group, the value depends heavily on how many people you bring. For two people, it is a costly private outing. For eight, the price works out to about $225 per person before the fuel surcharge, which is much easier to justify for a special occasion.

You are paying for privacy, a captain, a fast and stylish yacht, flexible routing, and time in the water. You are not simply paying for transport from one port to another. The boat itself is a major part of the experience.

Boarding from the Saint-Tropez area

The meeting information lists a yacht charter office at 4 Impasse des Jardins in Ramatuelle, but boarding can take place at a local port in the wider Saint-Tropez area. Possible ports include Port Grimaud, Sainte-Maxime, Saint-Tropez, and Marines de Cogolin.

This is one detail to handle carefully. The operator says the exact meeting location will be confirmed by WhatsApp or email within five days of the charter. Do not assume that the address shown at booking is the actual dock. Keep your phone available, check messages, and allow extra time to find the correct port.

Pickup is offered, but the information does not specify a universal pickup route or fee. Ask exactly where you should meet the captain and how pickup works before the day of your outing. Clear instructions have made arrival easy for many groups, but the two poor experiences show why you should not leave this detail until the last minute.

Once aboard, the captain can explain the planned route and adjust it for sea conditions, swimming preferences, and the time available. Bring a swimsuit, sun protection, a towel, and a light layer. The boat provides water and soft drinks, but you should not assume a full meal is included.

Cruising through the Golfe du Saint-Tropez

The first stretch usually takes you into the Golfe du Saint-Tropez, where the view changes quickly from harbor activity to open water and coastal scenery. This is the part of the trip that makes a private boat worthwhile. You can look back toward Saint-Tropez, pass smaller ports, and see the coast from the same water used by large private yachts.

The superyachts are part of the spectacle. You may cruise close to enormous boats anchored in the bay, an entertaining contrast with the smaller Pershing 40. The setting is polished and glamorous, but the experience does not have to be stiff. Several captains have allowed groups to play their own music, and the captain can keep the mood relaxed.

Your captain is not presented as a formal historian, so this is better understood as a scenic and recreational charter than a structured history tour. You may pass the Citadelle de Saint-Tropez and other landmarks, but the main appeal is being on the water, not receiving a long lecture about each site.

The boat provides an excellent base for photographs. You can frame Saint-Tropez from offshore, photograph the yachts, and take pictures of your group with the coast behind you. Bring a waterproof phone pouch if you plan to use your phone near the swim platform.

Canoubiers Bay, also known as Billionaires Bay

Canoubiers is one of the signature stops. The bay is associated with Brigitte Bardot and other famous residents, and its calm setting gives you a chance to stop thinking about the clock. The captain can anchor here for swimming, paddleboarding, and snorkeling.

The water is the star. Several outings have included two swimming stops, and people have used the paddleboard and snorkeling equipment around the anchored yacht. The activity level is up to you. You can swim and play in the water, or stay aboard with a cold drink and enjoy the view.

This stop works especially well for families and mixed-age groups because everyone can choose a different pace. Children and adults can take turns on the paddleboard, while someone who does not want to swim can relax on deck. One past group also had a seasick passenger, and the captain responded quickly, a useful reminder that even a calm-looking bay does not guarantee perfectly smooth conditions.

Canoubiers is not a private beach. Other boats may be nearby, especially during the busy season. The private part is your yacht, not exclusive use of the bay.

The Parcs de Saint-Tropez and Salins Beach

The route may continue toward the Parcs de Saint-Tropez, a coastal area suited to quiet cruising and another possible swimming stop. The exact order depends on the captain, weather, and sea conditions. Some groups have spent more time anchored, while others have preferred a broader tour around the bay.

Salins Beach is another possible highlight. Its clear water and sandy shoreline give the captain a scenic place to pause. From the boat, you get a view that is difficult to match from land, especially if the beach is busy.

I would not treat every named stop as guaranteed. The sample route includes Port Grimaud, Saint-Tropez, Canoubiers, the Citadelle, the Parcs, and Salins, but a four-hour charter cannot promise long stops at every location. Ask your captain at boarding which places are realistic for your departure port and the day’s sea conditions.

That flexibility is both a strength and a limitation. If you want swimming time, say so clearly. If you prefer sightseeing and coastline views, say that instead. The more specific you are, the more useful the private format becomes.

Port Grimaud, Saint-Tropez, and the Citadelle

Port Grimaud can be part of the route or the boarding point. Known for its canals and waterfront buildings, it offers a change of mood from the open bay. One captain has shown groups little Venice, which appears to refer to Port Grimaud’s canal setting.

Saint-Tropez itself is best appreciated from several angles. From the boat, you can see the waterfront, harbor traffic, and the town’s position at the edge of the bay. This gives you a break from the narrow streets and crowded quays on land.

The Citadelle de Saint-Tropez and its Museum of Maritime History are listed among the itinerary stops. The boat may pass or approach the area, but entry to the museum is not listed as part of the charter. If you want to visit inside, plan that separately and ask whether your boat schedule leaves enough time.

This is an important distinction. The charter is a water-based experience, not a combined yacht trip and museum admission. You will see Saint-Tropez landmarks from the sea, but the outing does not promise a guided shore visit.

Captains, service, and the personal touch

The captain can make or break a private charter. Scott has taken groups around the bay, arranged swimming stops, and accommodated requests such as personal music. Eric has been praised for clear English and even contacted a beach club so a group could go ashore for a drink.

Mark and Glen have provided local guidance, a charcuterie spread, and time with the water equipment. Peter has hosted relaxed afternoon trips with swimming and a cheese board. Steve has been singled out for his hosting, local touring, and care with the yacht. Tjeerd has helped a seasick passenger promptly and kept arrival instructions clear.

These details matter because a private boat is not an automated ride. You spend four hours in close contact with the crew, so communication and attitude count as much as the scenery. The strongest pattern here is a captain who listens and adjusts the route instead of forcing every group through the same schedule.

You can also ask about optional extras. One group ordered picnic lunch boxes, while another used a small tender to reach the harbor and buy champagne. Those items are not part of the basic inclusion list, so confirm the price and availability before counting on them.

What is included, and what costs extra

The standard package includes:

• Bottled water
• Snacks
• Soft drinks
• Snorkeling equipment
• A stand-up paddleboard

The fuel surcharge is not included. The supplied information does not give the amount, so ask for the current total before you pay. This is the most important pricing question because the advertised group price is not necessarily the final cost.

Food is basic unless you arrange an upgrade. Snacks can tide you over during a morning or afternoon charter, but they are not a substitute for lunch. If you want a picnic box, cheese board, charcuterie, or other food, ask ahead of time.

The private format gives you value that a standard cruise cannot. You avoid sharing the boat, can choose your music, and have more say over swimming and sightseeing time. Still, the price makes the most sense for a group of friends or family rather than a couple traveling on a tight budget.

Weather, cancellations, and communication

This charter requires good weather. If poor conditions make the outing unsafe, the policy offers a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes inside 24 hours are not refundable.

Two serious complaints involved boats not appearing at the expected time. In one case, the operator said the booking had been placed on the wrong day and that a refund was issued after a delayed departure was discussed. In another, the operator said thunderstorms, heavy rain, and strong winds led to cancellation of all charters, with a refund processed after a messaging problem.

The practical lesson is simple: confirm the date, time, port, and weather plan directly through WhatsApp or email. Save the operator’s contact details, check messages before leaving, and do not rely only on an app notification. The experience has a strong overall score of 4.7 from 50 ratings and is recommended by 94 percent of customers, but the communication failures are worth taking seriously.

Who should book this Saint-Tropez yacht charter?

I would choose this for a family, group of friends, or couple marking a special day. It suits people who want swimming, sun, photos, and a stylish boat more than a formal coastal tour. It is also a good choice if your group values privacy and does not want to follow a fixed public-cruise schedule.

It may not suit you if you dislike motorboats, need a guaranteed museum visit, want a full lunch included, or are traveling alone and watching every euro. The four-hour duration is long enough for a proper swim and several scenic areas, but short enough to fit around other Saint-Tropez plans.

The yacht is also a practical choice for mixed groups. Strong swimmers can use the paddleboard and snorkels, while others can stay aboard. Service animals are allowed, the activity is near public transportation, and most people can participate, though you should discuss mobility needs directly because the exact boarding setup can change by port.

Should you book it?

Book this charter if you can fill several places and want Saint-Tropez to be about the sea, not just the town. The strongest reasons are the private Pershing 40, flexible route, helpful captains, two possible swim stops, and included water equipment.

Before paying, confirm the exact port, fuel surcharge, maximum capacity, food arrangements, and weather procedure. If the operator confirms those details clearly, this is a memorable way to spend half a day on the French Riviera. If you want the lowest-cost way to see the coast, choose a shared cruise instead.

FAQ

How long is the private yacht charter?

The charter lasts approximately four hours.

How many people can join?

The booking information lists a maximum group size of eight people. Some promotional wording refers to space for ten, so confirm the exact capacity with the operator before booking.

Where does the charter depart?

Possible departure ports include Port Grimaud, Sainte-Maxime, Saint-Tropez, and Marines de Cogolin. The exact meeting location is confirmed by WhatsApp or email within five days of the charter.

Is swimming equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment and a stand-up paddleboard are included, along with bottled water, snacks, and soft drinks.

Is fuel included in the price?

No. A fuel surcharge is not included, and you should ask the operator for the current amount before departure.

What happens if the weather is bad?

If poor weather cancels the charter, you will be offered another date or a full refund. The experience requires good weather for safe operation.