Yacht Provisioning in Greece: What to Buy and Where to Shop

Provisioning is the art of stocking your boat before you cast off. Get it right, and you'll eat well all week. Get it wrong, and you'll be eating crackers on day five. Here's our complete guide from 15 years of boat cooking.

What to Buy Before Departure

Basics: bread, eggs, milk, butter, cheese, yogurt, fruit, vegetables, pasta, rice, olive oil, canned tomatoes, tinned fish, coffee, tea, water (lots of it), juice, beer, wine. Add snacks: nuts, crackers, olives, hummus. For a week with four people, expect €200–€350 if you shop at a supermarket. Marina shops are more expensive — stock up at a Lidl or a local supermarket before you leave.

Local Supermarkets in Major Bases

Lefkada/Nidri: Lidl and local supermarkets in the town. Lavrion: Carrefour and smaller shops. Rhodes: Large supermarkets near the marina. Skiathos: Good supermarkets in town. All major bases have options. The key is to go before Saturday afternoon — many close early or are closed Sunday.

Greek Products You Must Try

Local honey — from the islands, thick and fragrant. Feta from the islands — not the same as supermarket feta. Greek yogurt — thick, tangy, perfect for breakfast. Kalamata olives. Fresh fish — buy from fishermen when you see them in ports. Village bread — ask for "horiatiko" at bakeries. Loukoumi (Turkish delight) — Greek version, often in port towns. Ouzo for sundowners — a Greek tradition.

Meal Planning for a Week

Breakfast: Yogurt, fruit, bread, honey, eggs. Simple. Coffee.

Lunch: On anchor — salad, cheese, bread, olives. Maybe pasta. Keep it light.

Dinner: Mix of on-board cooking and tavernas. We usually cook 3–4 nights, eat out 3–4. One-pot meals work best: pasta with sauce, risotto, grilled meat/fish with salad. BBQ if your boat has one.

Budget: €30–50 per Person per Day

If you cook most meals: €30–40. If you eat out half the time: €40–50. Tavernas add up — €25–40 per person for dinner with wine. Plan accordingly.

Vasile's Favorite Boat Meals

Pasta puttanesca — quick, no fridge needed for capers and olives. Greek salad with feta — always. Grilled fish when we buy it fresh — lemon, olive oil, salt. One-pot chicken and rice — dump it in, let it cook. And for a lazy day: bread, cheese, olives, tomatoes. The Greek version of a picnic. Simple. Perfect.

Pre-Order Provisioning

Many charter companies offer provisioning — they stock the boat before you arrive. €50–100 per person for a week. It's convenient. You arrive, the fridge is full. The downside: you might get things you don't want, and it's more expensive than shopping yourself. But for first-timers or busy families, it's worth it.

Wine and Beer

Greek wine is underrated. Try Assyrtiko (white, from Santorini), Agiorgitiko (red, from Nemea). Beer: Mythos or Alpha are the standard lagers. For a week with four people, 4–6 bottles of wine and a case of beer is a good start. You can always buy more.