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Published Nov 01, 2026
Avoid Hermes Yachting — Poorly Maintained Boat, Cockroach Infestation, and Unfair Deposit Charges
We chartered the Hanse 509 *Charles* from Hermes Yachting, and it was one of the worst charter experiences I've had. I strongly recommend avoiding this company.
1. The boat was in terrible condition. Numerous things were broken or barely functional. Some of the furniture was practically falling apart. The main electrical control panel wasn't working at all. Instead, there was a makeshift contraption to switch the navigation and anchor lights on and off, while the rest of the electrical systems could only be controlled directly through circuit breakers. This is simply unacceptable for a charter yacht.
2. The boat was infested with cockroaches. We discovered the infestation after leaving the marina. When we reported it during checkout, the staff member simply dismissed our complaint. Based on that reaction, I have little confidence the problem will be addressed before the next charter.
3. The worst part was the deposit. During checkout, the staff identified a collection of relatively minor issues that I am completely convinced were already present when we received the boat. Nevertheless, Hermes Yachting charged us for them, taking most of our security deposit.
Given the generally poor condition of the yacht at handover, I found this particularly outrageous. We were effectively made to pay for problems that, in my view, predated our charter.
My advice: Stay away from Hermes Yachting. There are plenty of other charter companies in Greece that deserve your business.
If you decide to charter from them despite this warning, spend as much time as necessary during check-in documenting absolutely everything. Photograph and video every damaged piece of furniture, every malfunctioning system, every scratch, every missing item, and every minor defect. Make sure every issue is recorded in writing and acknowledged by their staff before departure.
Otherwise, based on our experience, you risk being charged at checkout for damage that was already there.
A poorly maintained yacht is bad enough. Being charged for its pre-existing problems makes the experience significantly worse. I would never charter from Hermes Yachting again.
1. The boat was in terrible condition. Numerous things were broken or barely functional. Some of the furniture was practically falling apart. The main electrical control panel wasn't working at all. Instead, there was a makeshift contraption to switch the navigation and anchor lights on and off, while the rest of the electrical systems could only be controlled directly through circuit breakers. This is simply unacceptable for a charter yacht.
2. The boat was infested with cockroaches. We discovered the infestation after leaving the marina. When we reported it during checkout, the staff member simply dismissed our complaint. Based on that reaction, I have little confidence the problem will be addressed before the next charter.
3. The worst part was the deposit. During checkout, the staff identified a collection of relatively minor issues that I am completely convinced were already present when we received the boat. Nevertheless, Hermes Yachting charged us for them, taking most of our security deposit.
Given the generally poor condition of the yacht at handover, I found this particularly outrageous. We were effectively made to pay for problems that, in my view, predated our charter.
My advice: Stay away from Hermes Yachting. There are plenty of other charter companies in Greece that deserve your business.
If you decide to charter from them despite this warning, spend as much time as necessary during check-in documenting absolutely everything. Photograph and video every damaged piece of furniture, every malfunctioning system, every scratch, every missing item, and every minor defect. Make sure every issue is recorded in writing and acknowledged by their staff before departure.
Otherwise, based on our experience, you risk being charged at checkout for damage that was already there.
A poorly maintained yacht is bad enough. Being charged for its pre-existing problems makes the experience significantly worse. I would never charter from Hermes Yachting again.
Critical Review
poor boat maintenance
cockroach infestation
broken electrical panel
unfair deposit charges
dismissed complaint