Yacht loading onto cargo ships in Palma
If your boat is crossing the Atlantic on a transport ship, we take care of everything that happens in the Balearics: we bring it to the loading quay in Palma, prepare it to the shipping line's instructions and handle the manoeuvre until it is cradled on deck.
- Loading port
- Palma
- Departures
- September – January
- To Antigua / St. Thomas
- ≈ 12 days
Quick answer
Yacht shipping means lifting the boat onto the deck of a cargo ship that carries it to another continent without it sailing under its own power. Ships leave Palma for the Caribbean and Florida between September and January and come back to discharge in Palma between February and June; the passage to Antigua or St. Thomas takes about 12 days. We bring the boat to the loading quay from any port in the Balearics, prepare it to the shipping line's instructions and handle the manoeuvre with the loadmaster. The owner books the freight with the shipping line.
Who does what
What we do and what the shipping line does
The shipping line carries the boat across the ocean. Everything that happens in the Balearics until the boat is cradled on deck is our job.
In the Balearics, until the boat is on board
- Delivery to the loading quay in PalmaFrom any port in Mallorca, Ibiza, Formentera or Menorca
- Physical preparation of the boatFollowing the shipping line's list for its length and hull type
- Berthing alongside the shipWith a professional skipper and, if needed, a deckhand
- Assistance during lifting and cradlingPhotos and video of the boat and the operation
- Collection on return and delivery to your berth
The ocean transport
- Space booking and freightDirect contract between owner and shipping line
- Crane lift or float-on loadingLift-on/lift-off or float-on/float-off, depending on the ship
- Cradles, lashing and stowage on deckUnder the direction of its loadmaster
- Passage and discharge at destination
- Transport insuranceDepending on the contract with the shipping line and the owner's policy
Schedule
When ships leave Palma
Westbound sailings are concentrated in autumn, after the Caribbean hurricane season; the return, in spring.
Indicative dates based on the schedules published by the shipping lines for 2026. Always confirm the loading window with the shipping line.
| Ship route | Season | Passage |
|---|---|---|
| Palma → Antigua / St. Thomas | Sep – Jan | ≈ 12 days |
| Palma → Fort Lauderdale | Sep – Jan | ≈ 17 days |
| Antigua / St. Thomas → Palma | Feb – Jun | ≈ 14 days |
How we work
Six steps, from booking to return
We coordinate dates with the shipping line so the boat reaches Palma within the loading window, not before and not after.
Booking
You book with the shipping line, or we help you request a quote. You send us the loading window.
Technical data
We gather the weight, dimensions and lifting drawings the shipping line asks for.
Preparation
We get the boat ready following the shipping line's list, at your berth or in Palma.
Delivery
We bring the boat to the loading quay in Palma within the agreed window.
Loading
We come alongside the ship and assist the loadmaster during lifting and cradling.
Return
In spring we collect the boat at discharge and take it to your berth.
Checklist
How a yacht is prepared for shipping
Every shipping line publishes its own requirements. These are the points we always check before taking the boat to the quay.
- Real weight and dimensionsLength overall, beam, draft and air draft
- Drawings with lifting pointsTo place the slings without damaging propellers, shafts or transducers
- Antennas, radar and tall itemsLowered or removed if the shipping line asks
- Covers, biminis and canvasRemoved and stowed inside
- Loose items securedOn deck and inside
- Fuel and waterAt the level the shipping line specifies; black water tanks empty
- Batteries and systemsDisconnected or in the mode the shipping line specifies
- Papers and keysCopy of the boat's documents on board and a labelled set of keys
On most ships the boat is lifted by crane and set on a cradle (lift-on/lift-off). On semi-submersibles, the ship partly submerges and the boat motors in (float-on/float-off). Preparation and manoeuvre differ; we explain them for the ship you have booked.
Prices
How much it costs to bring the boat to the ship
Three separate items, so you know exactly who you pay for what.
Prices exclude VAT. Calculate the delivery to the quay →
FAQ
What owners ask about this route
Another question? Message us on WhatsApp and we will reply the same day.
When do yacht transport ships leave Palma for the Caribbean?
According to the schedules published by the shipping lines for 2026, sailings to the Caribbean and Florida load in Palma between September and January, at the end of the Caribbean hurricane season. Each sailing has a loading window of 10 to 15 days; the shipping line confirms the exact date a few days before.
How long does the ship take from Palma to the Caribbean?
About 12 days at sea to Antigua or St. Thomas, and about 5 more days to Fort Lauderdale (Florida). The return trip from the Caribbean to Palma takes about 14 days.
Who pays the freight and how much is it?
The owner books and pays the freight directly with the shipping line, which quotes it by the boat's dimensions (length, beam and height), weight and route. We invoice the delivery to the loading quay and the preparation and loading manoeuvre.
Do I need to be there for loading?
No. Our skipper brings the boat alongside the ship, follows the loadmaster's instructions and is present during lifting and cradling. We record the boat's condition with photos and video before and during loading and send them to you.
What needs to be prepared on the boat before loading?
Usually: lowering or removing antennas and protruding parts, taking down covers and canopies, securing anything loose, leaving fuel and water at the level the shipping line asks for, and providing drawings with lifting points, the real weight and dimensions. We take care of the physical preparation of the boat.
What about customs, VAT and insurance?
Taking a boat out of the European Union and bringing it back can have VAT and customs implications, and transport insurance depends on the contract with the shipping line and your own policy. Check with your adviser and the shipping line before booking; we provide any technical documentation they ask for.
Do you work with a specific shipping line?
We are independent: we work with whichever line you have booked, or help you request quotes from the ones calling at Palma. What matters to us is the date and the loading quay.
Do you also collect the boat when it comes back from the Caribbean?
Yes. When the ship discharges in Palma in spring, we collect the boat alongside, run a general check and deliver it to your berth in Mallorca, Ibiza, Formentera or Menorca.
Is your boat travelling by ship? We will bring it to the quay.
Itemised quote with no obligation. We reply within 24 hours.