There are yachts that look the part, and there are yachts that feel the part from the moment you step aboard. Penelope — a sleek 48-metre ISA Yachts build based out of the Bay of Naples — is very firmly in the second camp. After a highly acclaimed 2026 season, she's now welcoming Italy yacht charter bookings for 2027, and honestly, we'd move quickly.
A Yacht That Commands the Amalfi Coastline
Penelope's home waters are, frankly, some of the most dramatic on earth. Based in Castellammare di Stabia — tucked into the southern arc of the Bay of Naples — she's perfectly positioned to explore the full sweep of the Italian Tyrrhenian coast. Think the Amalfi Coast's vertiginous cliffside villages: Positano, Ravello, the sea-stacked rock of Faraglioni off Capri. Then, as the season stretches into autumn, the itinerary can open up entirely. Sicily beckons — the ancient harbour at Milazzo, the Aeolian Islands rising darkly from the sea, the baroque grandeur of Siracusa glimpsed from the water at dusk.
This is Italy yacht charter at its most cinematic. The coastline doesn't so much unfold as reveal itself — one headland at a time, one hidden cove at a time. Penelope is built for exactly this kind of unhurried, privileged discovery.
Twelve Guests, Six Cabins, Zero Compromises
Below decks, Penelope accommodates up to twelve guests across six beautifully appointed cabins. The aesthetic is one of timeless Italian elegance — warm tones, quality materials, spaces that feel genuinely generous rather than merely adequate. This is a yacht in mint condition, her interiors as polished as the day she launched, which says everything about how she's been cared for.
On deck, the spaces are made for the Mediterranean rhythm: long lunches in the shade, afternoon swims from the stern platform, sundowners as the light turns amber over the Sorrentine Peninsula. We think her layout strikes a particularly satisfying balance between social space and private retreat — something that not every yacht in this size range manages.
The Crew — And the Chef Who Cancelled Every Restaurant
A luxury yacht charter is only as good as the people running it, and here Penelope genuinely sets herself apart. Captain Alessandro Abbate leads a crew that, by all accounts, operates with the kind of quiet, anticipatory professionalism that takes years to cultivate. But it's Chef Giovanni Rocca who has become something of a legend among Penelope's repeat guests.
The evidence speaks for itself. A party aboard in August 2026 — sailing from Milazzo and back — were so taken with the chef's cooking that they cancelled every shore-side restaurant reservation they had made and simply ate on board for the entire charter. That's not a small thing. These are guests who could dine anywhere in Sicily. They chose Penelope's table every single night.
"The charter was fantastic!! The yacht, captain and crew were truly excellent!! A special mention to the chef — he was so good that we cancelled all the restaurant bookings and we ate on board: he was a real highlight of the trip. We loved every minute of the charter, thank you all so much!"
That kind of feedback doesn't happen by accident. It's the result of a crew that genuinely cares — and a chef who treats every meal as a personal statement.
Italy's Most Spectacular Charter Waters, All Season Long
Part of what makes a private yacht charter aboard Penelope so compelling is the sheer range of Italian waters she opens up. The Bay of Naples alone — Capri, Ischia, Procida, the volcanic drama of Vesuvius brooding above it all — could fill a fortnight. Push south along the Amalfi Coast and the scenery shifts into something almost operatic: terracotta villages clinging to cliffs, fishing boats bobbing in turquoise coves, the scent of lemon groves drifting offshore.
Extend the itinerary into Sicily and the mood changes entirely — deeper, older, rawer. The Aeolian Islands offer active volcano sightings and near-deserted anchorages in equal measure. Palermo and Siracusa deliver culture and cuisine that rival anywhere in Europe. This is a charter holiday that can be as busy or as blissfully quiet as you choose.
2027 Availability — Don't Wait
Penelope's 2027 calendar is already seeing interest, and given the strength of her 2026 season, the best summer weeks won't last long. Our team is ready to help you put together an itinerary — whether that's a classic Amalfi and Capri circuit, a longer Sicilian adventure, or something entirely bespoke. Get in touch with us at Exclusive Gulets and let's start planning your Italy luxury charter holiday aboard one of the finest yachts currently sailing these waters.
