Signature Cruises · Vilamoura Marina
Signature Cruises – designed around you
Five routes we know by heart, one more that starts with you
Every coastline has its classic journeys. Ours start at Vilamoura Marina, and our captains have shaped them into a small collection we call Signature Cruises. Each has a name, a clear route, a suggested duration and the time of day when it is at its best – the light, the sea and the crowds all play a part.
Think of them as a starting point rather than a script. The Golden Cliffs takes you west past Falésia and the Albufeira coves to the arches of Marinha and the cliffs at Benagil. Chapel and Coves slows the pace around Senhora da Rocha and the sheltered bays of Armação de Pêra. Island Day heads east to the sandbanks of the Ria Formosa, while West to Lagos is our longest passage, all the way to the sea stacks of Ponta da Piedade.
If none of them quite fits, Designed Around You is exactly that: a blank chart, your timing, your food and your occasion, planned with you before you step aboard. Tell us the occasion and the group, and we suggest the route, the yacht and the timing that will suit you best.
Every Signature Cruise runs on NOON, Majestic, São Lourenço or Atlantis, the four Vilamoura yachts you can book online, and is completely private. For larger groups, we can plan the same routes on request on one of our bigger Vilamoura yachts, such as A Mar or the Azimut 80. The price is for the whole yacht, VAT included, with skipper and crew, fuel, drinks and snacks on board. You can compare the yachts on our fleet page or see every rate on the price list.
The yachts behind every Signature Cruise
NOON, Majestic, São Lourenço and Atlantis, our four Vilamoura yachts with online booking. Prices start with a two-hour Designed Around You cruise; the named routes start at four hours, and full and extended days are on each route page.
2 hours from €1,000NOON
- Up to 11 guests
- Departs Vilamoura Marina
- Our flagship, a Sunseeker San Remo 485
- 4 hours €1,650 · full day €2,450 · 10 hours €3,650
2 hours from €800Majestic
- Up to 8 guests
- Departs Vilamoura Marina
- Sleek Sunseeker Portofino 53
- 4 hours €1,600 · full day €2,150 · 10 hours €3,150
2 hours from €700São Lourenço
- Up to 10 guests
- Departs Vilamoura Marina
- Fairline Targa 47 with cockpit dining
- 4 hours €1,350 · full day €2,100 · 10 hours €3,000
2 hours from €700Atlantis
- Up to 10 guests
- Departs Vilamoura Marina
- Generous sun deck for up to 10
- 4 hours €1,200 · full day €1,900 · 10 hours €2,500
Prices are per yacht, not per person, and include VAT. Skipper, crew, fuel, drinks and snacks are included. Yachts with online booking (NOON, Majestic, São Lourenço and Atlantis) save 10%.
West: cliffs, coves and chapels
Two of our Signature Cruises head west, where the coast turns to honey-coloured limestone.
- The Golden Cliffs – Falésia, Olhos d’Água, the Albufeira coves and on to Marinha and Benagil. Four hours or more, best in the morning when the sea is often calmest.
- Chapel and Coves – Senhora da Rocha, Pontal, Cova Redonda, Tremoços and Submarino. A relaxed four to five hours with a long swim stop, lovely from late morning into the afternoon.
Both routes stay outside the protected Benagil cave itself, but the views from the deck of the cliffs, arches and grottoes are some of the finest in Portugal. They also combine well: on a seven-hour day your captain can link the two, with a long lunch at anchor in between.
East and far west: the full-day journeys
Our two longer cruises suit groups who want the whole day at sea.
- Island Day – Ria Formosa – east to Praia de Faro, Ilha Deserta, Farol and Armona, with the white skyline of Olhão beyond the lagoon. A full day of about seven hours, setting off from 10:00.
- West to Lagos – Benagil, Ferragudo and Praia da Rocha, Alvor and finally Ponta da Piedade. An extended day of about ten hours, kept for settled weather.
Both depend on the sea state on the day, so your captain confirms the plan the evening before and suggests an alternative if the forecast is not right. Drinks and snacks are included, and for a day this long many guests ask us to arrange catering on request.
Designed around you, and how it all works
Some days call for something entirely your own. With Designed Around You, you choose the route, the hours and the pace, from two to ten hours. Catering can be arranged on request, and we are happy to help with celebrations – a cake, flowers or a quiet moment for a proposal.
- Choose your route and the yacht that suits your group size.
- Book online with a 50% deposit or full payment by card – booking online saves 10%.
- Tell us your wishes – timings, food, music or a special occasion.
- Meet the crew at Gate A3, in front of Il Lamparo restaurant, 15 minutes before departure.
If the captain cancels because of the weather, you can move your date or receive a full refund.
How to book
Frequently asked questions
What is a Signature Cruise?
A named, curated private route from Vilamoura Marina, with a suggested duration and the best time of day to go. It is a tried and tested plan that you can follow as it is or adjust.
Can I change the route?
Yes. Every Signature Cruise can be tailored – add a longer swim stop, skip a section or combine two routes on a longer charter. For something completely new, see Designed Around You.
Which yacht should I choose?
It mainly depends on your group size and style. NOON takes up to 11 guests, São Lourenço and Atlantis up to 10, and Majestic up to 8. For 12 to 18 guests, ask us about one of our larger Vilamoura yachts. See the full fleet for details.
Is the price per person?
No. Every cruise is private, so the price is for the whole yacht and includes VAT, skipper and crew, fuel, drinks and snacks.
Will we go inside the Benagil cave?
No. The cave is protected, so yachts stay outside and swimming into or landing inside is not permitted. You see the entrance and the cliffs around it from the yacht.
What if the weather is poor?
Your captain checks the forecast and may suggest a different Signature route that suits the conditions. If the charter is cancelled for weather, you can move your date or receive a full refund.
Do you offer sunset Signature Cruises?
Our sunset cruises are shorter, two or three hours, and follow the coast close to Vilamoura. See sunset and champagne cruises.
More private charters in the Algarve
Benagil caves by yacht
Sunset & champagne cruises
Full-day yacht charterRia Formosa islands
Ponta da Piedade
Proposals & anniversariesRead more: Vilamoura yacht charter guide
Your day on the Algarve coast
Choose from our fleet of luxury yachts along the whole Algarve coast, with an expert skipper and crew on hand to make every moment unforgettable.
Find your yachtContact us
Tell us your date and group size and we will reply with the best boats available.
- Emailinfo@elitechartersalgarve.com
- Mobile / WhatsApp+351 965 656 675
- DeparturesGate A3, in front of Il Lamparo restaurant, Vilamoura Marina
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