7 Days Aboard Aqua Star: A Lagoon 50 Charter Through the Ionian

A Lagoon 50 charters out of Lefkas with a crew of eight, a captain who knows every cove, and a week of clear Ionian water ahead. This is the diary of a real charter on Aqua Star, a 14.75 m Lagoon 50 from our skippered fleet, sailed in late June.

Day 1 — Lefkas (D-Marin) → Meganisi

We board at 10:00 — coffee on the flybridge, captain's briefing, provisioning unloaded into the galley. Aqua Star has eight cabins, four en-suite, and a layout that genuinely sleeps twelve without anyone tripping over each other. Cast off at midday.

Meganisi is a 90-minute sail from Lefkas. Captain points us into Spilia bay — sheltered, restaurant-lined, calm even when the rest of the channel is choppy. We anchor stern-to with a long line ashore, jump in, and the swimming starts before lunch is served.

Day 2 — Meganisi → Ithaca

Early start, gentle north wind. We unfurl the genoa and run downwind to Ithaca. Frikes harbour first — tiny, quiet, two tavernas — then around to Vathy in the afternoon. The town is tucked into a deep bay; you can swim off the back step of the boat in the centre of town.

Day 3 — Ithaca → Kefalonia (Sami)

A 30-minute hop to Sami on Kefalonia. We rent two scooters in town and ride to Melissani Lake (the underground cave with the cathedral hole) and Antisamos beach. Back on board for sunset, captain grills fresh fish on the flybridge BBQ.

Day 4 — Kefalonia (Fiskardo)

Fiskardo is the pretty Venetian-painted village everyone photographs. Med-mooring in the harbour is competitive — captain has a local connection so we get a slot at the town quay. Dinner at Tassia's: octopus, mussels, dakos, a bottle of Robola.

Day 5 — Lazy Day in Polis Bay

Twenty minutes back across to Ithaca's western shore — Polis bay is a horseshoe of pine, only one taverna, and we have it almost to ourselves. Stand-up paddleboards out, snorkelling on the rocks, captain teaches the kids to tie a bowline.

Day 6 — Atokos → Kalamos

Atokos is uninhabited — we anchor in One House Bay for a long lunch, then sail south to Kalamos. Tie up in the village and walk to George's Taverna, the legendary spot that sets up free moorings for charter yachts. (Tradition: tip generously.)

Day 7 — Kalamos → Lefkas

Downwind run home. We pull into Lefkas mid-afternoon, the captain coordinates the marina paperwork, the cleaning crew is waiting. We sleep on board the last night and disembark the next morning at 09:00.

What we'd do differently

• Pack lighter — soft duffels only, hard suitcases don't fit in the cabin lockers.
• Book the Fiskardo town quay slot in advance through us, not on the day.
• Add 2 days. Seven was good. Ten would have let us reach Kastos and an extra day in Fiskardo.

The boat

The Lagoon 50 has the volume of a small house and sails like a much smaller boat. Stable at anchor, fast on a beam reach, easy to dock for the captain because the engines and helm sit on the flybridge with full visibility. Air conditioning ran every night — the generator is whisper quiet.

Ready to put your own week together? View Aqua Star (Lagoon 50) or contact our charter team for a quote.