We hired a catamaran (Lagoon 440) from…
We hired a catamaran (Lagoon 440) from Maria and Carlos, based in Albuferia, Portugal Marina on 19th June 2024. This is the worst experience we have ever encountered and we have hired a lot of yachts over the years. The skipper and "assistant" onboard (called Miguel and Elise) demanded an extra £350 over and above an agreed price using Click and Boat online booking system. We asked why were they asking for more money, and they phoned the owner Maria, who then asked for my number and called me stating that Click and Boat always get the fees wrong and that she said when I made the initial booking that the price advertised on Click and Boat was incorrect, and that it would be XYZ price instead. I replied to her message before confirming the booking saying can you sort that with Click and Boat as we book using this system. I said, Click and Boat is a trusted site we have used before. Needless to say, they did not set sail until my husband was forced to go get some "cash only" to pay this skipper. My husband was fuming, as was I. This delayed the departure also by 45minutes. We were due to depart at 09:00am. We arrived in plenty of time at the marina, to greet the skipper (called Miguel and assistant onboard Elise). We walked down to the boat at 08:55am, leaving 5 minutes before departure, after standing at the Gate watching the skipper get the boat ready, so we figured its 5 minutes to departure time, we must walk on down. As we approached the boat, we were so friendly and said hi, we have come for the boat charter. Elise quite rudely, said go away we are not ready for you yet. So that instantly also upset us, not a pleasant or friendly welcome when you've paid a lot of money and want to enjoy the day. At 09:05am Elise walked to the gate and asked us to join the boat.
Additionally, on the booking on Click and Boat, it stated drinks and fresh fruit would be provided, we were told at 9pm the night before via a message from "Maria" the boat owner whether we wanted to eat at a restaurant or were we bringing our own food. This was unacceptable to be told the night before a cruise to get food. Luckily we stayed at a hotel where they gave us a last minute lunch box and champagne to take on board with us. When we got on board, and set sail, we had to ask for an ice bucket and ice, and some glasses to drink out of. They had not given us a tour of the boat and amenities, and both Elise and Migual just went upstairs and sat on top deck together. I walked up to ask Elise for some ice, and I caught Elise and Migual kissing and cuddling, which I thought was rather odd. I asked her if they were a couple or married, and she said no they weren't. Again later on the cruise we heard Miguel and Elise downstairs in the bedroom giggling and laughing, this was after they turned off the engines for about 2 hours and put the sails up to sail the boat, sadly the boat was not anywhere near the shoreline it felt like the boat was floating out into nowhere. They did not host us at all, and again my husband caught them kissing and canoodling up top deck. They didn't care that we were on the boat. This was all very unprofessional, we asked them to turn the boat around and take us back early. We got back to the marina at 3pm. We felt so upset and sad that we were conned out of extra money once onboard, and had a terrible experience. They didn't even tell us anything about the algarve and coastline.