Alexia

What sets Alexia apart is who runs her. Her six crew are all Greek, and the people planning your days grew up in these waters: they know which taverna justifies the tender ride, at what hour the busiest islands are worth visiting, and where to drop anchor once the crowds have found the obvious bays. On a week out of Athens, that knowledge shapes the trip more than any piece of equipment.

She comes from Cantieri di Pisa, the yard behind the Akhir motor yachts, and was delivered in 2005; she was renamed from Alexia AV and refitted in 2016. The interior is quiet and neutral. Big windows light the saloon, where deep sofas are the obvious refuge in the hottest hours, and dinner moves to a separate dining room that seats eight, a layout that has become rare as yachts open everything into one space.

The sleeping plan is where she wins over families. The master has a king-size bed, the VIP a queen, and each of the two twin cabins has a Pullman berth above, so children can share with brothers and sisters while parents keep a room of their own. Outside, two decks give everyone space: lunch is served in the open air, drinks before dinner happen at the sun-deck bar, and a retractable awning covers the lounging area when the sun is strongest.

At about 21 knots she makes the run from Athens to the Cyclades without losing a day to it, and stabilisers are fitted. She is not a new yacht, and her character comes from that: four cabins, a classic split between saloon and dining room, no open-plan living. Guests who want the latest design or a dedicated wellness area will be happier on something younger. Those who care more about the crew's local knowledge than about the age of the hull will find her a sensible choice.