Disorganized, rude and lacking accountability
The start of our trip unfortunately did not go at all well due to the lack of organization from Cavo Yachting. We went though a 4 month period leading up to the charter with no communication from Cavo despite a number of emails from me requesting confirmation of payments, crew, taxis and provisioning. Eventually after I resorted to Instagram messaging I received a response just 11 days before our charter. We then did our online provisioning, provided crew list and asked about taxi transfers. There was no reply about the taxi, so I told them a few days before that I would book my own one. The provisioning I asked to be confirmed which they did 3 days before the charter.
We arrived at the base with no indication of where to go, but luckily spotted a sign outside their office. We got there early around 2pm just to make sure everything was ready so that we could depart that evening for Fiskardo (as suggested on their website).
We introduced ourselves and were immediately told that there had been no provisioning done for us and that we would need to now do that ourselves at the local mini-market. Only after I produced their original email confirming the provisioning and the printed list did they eventually agree to go and get our provisions. This was now late in the day and stock would obviously be low on the day everyone provisions their yachts.
Meanwhile we asked if the boat checking and handover could commence as soon as they were ready for us. It appeared there was only a single person doing this, and the boats were not fully prepared in advance of this process. Eventually after 6pm the handover process commenced but we picked up that the water tanks were empty, outside cabin windows had not been cleaned, the gas had not been connected, requiring a special part from the office. Around 8pm we were finally allowed to leave the dock, getting to Fiskardo around 10pm. We launched the tender hoping to get dinner, but the engine cut-out after a minute and we struggled in the dark to get it going again so paddled it back for diagnosis and an unplanned meal onboard. Cavo had left the fuel switched to use an external tank which we were not provided with, so we had to set it to use the internal tank. Easy once you know.
The following day we wanted to start using our fresh berries and avo’s which they had provisioned. Having been hurriedly purchased late in the day from the mini-market no care had been taken to avoid mouldy berries or the worst of the avo’s which had perhaps all been tossed into the trolley. We purchased 10 avo’s and could not eat a single one and I took a time-stamped photo each day of each one. We made the mistake of reporting this only on our return 2 weeks later as we didn’t want to have to return to Sivota. On our return, Cavo immediately blamed the mini-market and said we needed to take it up directly with them. The mini-market lady immediately blamed her supplier and said we should have reported this on day 1. I then produced my time-stamped photos and after lengthy negotiations she agreed to refund us 47 Euro to cover the Avo’s and half of the berries. But she could not pay it to me as Cavo had not paid her, so we needed to get the 47 Euro from Cavo. This is when Eva was put on the line which I assumed would be an apology and a plan to pay me the agreed cash. But no – it was not an apology – it was a 1-way shouting match at me the client accusing me of my ‘bad behaviour’. I could not get a word in and she just carried on shouting and blaming me and saying how she was not my butler. I was completely astounded that she could do business like this and treat a top-paying customer in such an unprofessional way. I eventually had to hang up the phone to end her tirade.
I then located Kevin who paid me 50 Euro, so I was at least compensated in a small way after the many hours of negotiating. Many charters I am sure go well, but if anything at all goes wrong you will be at the mercy of Cavo, and for this reason I would never charter from them again.
Two stars because the brand new catamaran, Inspire, was great.
