What to Pack for a Yacht Charter on the French Riviera

The complete packing guide for your luxury yacht charter. What to bring, what to leave at home, and the dress code for onboard and ashore.

Packing for a yacht charter is simpler than you might think. Most luxury yachts provide towels, snorkelling gear, and water toys, so you can travel lighter than expected. Here's your essential guide.

Essential Packing List

• Swimwear, at least 2 sets so one is always dry
• Light cover-ups and sarongs for moving around the yacht
• Sunscreen SPF 50+ (reef-safe preferred) and quality sunglasses
• Flat-soled shoes or deck shoes, high heels and hard soles can damage teak decks
• A light jacket or pashmina for evening breezes
• Smart-casual outfit for dinner ashore at coastal restaurants
• Waterproof phone case for water activities
• Motion sickness medication if you're prone (though the Med is usually calm)

What Your Crew Provides

Your yacht will have fresh towels (both cabin and beach), bed linens, snorkelling equipment, paddleboards, and often a full water sports setup including jet skis, seabobs, and inflatable toys. Most yachts also stock basic toiletries, hairdryers, and USB chargers.

Dress Code: Onboard vs. Ashore

Onboard is relaxed, swimwear, shorts, and t-shirts are perfectly fine. For evening dining ashore at Riviera restaurants (Club 55, La Vague d'Or, Le Pirate), smart-casual is expected: a collared shirt or elegant sundress. Beach clubs like Nikki Beach or Bagatelle welcome a stylish resort look.

What to Leave at Home

• Hard-soled shoes, they scratch teak decks
• Excessive luggage, yacht cabins have limited storage; use soft bags instead of hard suitcases
• Valuable jewellery, save it for onshore dinners
• Dark-soled shoes, they can leave marks on the deck