Yacht Charter Guides for Cannes
Depart from the Vieux Port and trace a 25-nautical-mile loop that sweeps past the Lérins Islands, hugs the Esterel cliffs and returns along the Croisette as the lights come on.
From the port outwards
- 01
09:30 · Cast off — Vieux Port de Cannes
The crew welcomes you at the quay with coffee and a briefing on the day's weather. Morning departure avoids the midday tender traffic around the harbour entrance. Within ten minutes you are clear of the breakwater and heading south toward the islands with flat, calm water ahead.
- 02
10:15 · Swim and snorkel — Île Sainte-Marguerite
Anchor in the sandy shallows off the island's north shore, where Posidonia meadows create clear turquoise water barely three metres deep. The crew sets up the swim platform and water toys. Visit the Fort Royal on the tender if time allows — it is a five-minute ride to the stone jetty.
- 03
13:00 · Lunch at anchor — Anse de la Figueirette
Cruise west along the Esterel coast to this sheltered cove framed by red porphyry rock. The chef serves lunch on the aft deck while the yacht sits in the lee of the headland. Swell rarely reaches this bay before mid-afternoon, making it the calmest lunch spot between Cannes and Théoule-sur-Mer.
- 04
16:30 · Aperitivo ashore — Plage de la Croisette
Return east and drop anchor off one of the private beach clubs along the Boulevard de la Croisette. The tender puts you on the sand in under two minutes. Order a glass of Bandol rosé and watch the late-afternoon promenade before the crew calls you back for the final leg.
- 05
19:30 · Sunset and nightcap — Cap de la Croisette
Round the cape at golden hour for an unobstructed view of the sun dropping behind the Esterel ridge. The stewardess pours champagne as the sky shifts from amber to deep violet. From here the Vieux Port is barely ten minutes away, so you arrive back at the quay relaxed and well before any late dinner reservation ashore.
About Cannes
Cannes has two distinct waterfronts. Port Canto is the main luxury marina, with a fuel dock, concierge provisioning and a water taxi across to the Vieux-Port. The Vieux-Port is historic but crowded, which suits smaller boats or landing guests by tender. Catering is usually sourced at Marché Forville, a short walk from the old harbour. When you hire a yacht here, vessel size tends to decide which harbour is practical.
Offshore lie the Îles de Lérins, which are two separate islands rather than one. Saint-Honorat is the one with a monastery and a vineyard that can be visited ashore. Sainte-Marguerite is where a catered lunch at anchor is often planned for client hosting. Days on this water revolve around swimming off the boat and a lunch anchor in calm water, and both motor yachts and sailing catamarans suit it.
The calendar changes how the bay behaves. In May the Film Festival fills berths months in advance and adds tender and launch traffic around the Croisette, so festival-week bookings are made three to six months ahead. In July and August the Lérins get busy by midday, and an early departure is recommended. October brings MIPCOM, quieter water and golden light. Winter is calm, with the occasional Mistral. A luxury yacht charter in Cannes can feel very different depending on the month.