I will start by noting that our 2024 trip with Intersail had been nearly perfect. This time,…read morehowever, the experience was the complete opposite.
Not only did this trip turn out to be completely different from what we booked, it also involved serious issues: assault, threats with a weapon from the captain, excessive drinking on his part, and even a "hit and run" at anchor where another boat had to chase us down to get his information. To make matters worse, every message we've received from Intersail since has carried some form of threat, warning us not to go public. Despite giving them multiple chances--and with four of us contacting them directly--here we are, left with no choice but to share our experience.
We booked this year's trip in Sardinia after speaking with Christian at Intersail, telling him we wanted a similar style and itinerary to our previous trip, with one key priority: docking each evening so we could explore the islands and enjoy dinner on land. He confirmed this would be the trip for us.
But once aboard with Captain Stefano and the other 6 guests, we were told a very different story:
Each guest had to contribute €100 for groceries for the entire week.
We would not be docking at marinas but anchoring in bays instead.
The promised stop in Corsica was off the table (due to weather, high cost, or lack of advance booking). Oddly enough, the captain admitted he rarely went there anyway--even once in two months. If that's the case, why advertise it?
On top of this, no safety briefing was ever given. We had no idea what to do if someone went overboard, where essential equipment like fire extinguishers were located, or what to do in emergencies.
Living conditions were questionable too. One passenger didn't even have a bed--she slept on deck while the captain occupied the room she should have had. This made it awkward and limited our movement at night since we didn't want to disturb her.
But the most alarming moments came later:
At one point, Captain Stefano slapped my wife hard on the back of the head while yelling that she was not to speak when he was speaking.
Twice, while she was in the galley cooking for everyone, he pulled a knife and pointed it at her while yelling.
This left us in a constant state of fear. We even debated whether to contact Intersail during the trip but decided it was too unsafe to do so while trapped at sea with a captain displaying rage, aggression, and alcohol dependence--while openly carrying a knife on his hip.
By day two, I started counting his drinks. By 12:30 p.m. he had already had four--while guests, who were supposed to be on vacation, hadn't touched a drop. This was the man responsible for our safety and navigation.
Ironically, we did end up making it to Corsica after all. The captain simply emailed the night before and secured a marina slip for €150--far from the "impossible" or "too expensive" story we were given. Split across eight guests, this hardly seems burdensome.
After returning home, my wife reached out to Christian at Intersail detailing the assault, false advertising, and safety concerns. Their first response wasn't terrible--they claimed a "formal investigation" would begin--but they immediately warned us not to go public. Within 72 hours, they claimed the investigation was complete and our claims "unsubstantiated." This was despite not even collecting statements from all passengers. One guest confirmed to me he hadn't responded to their outreach at all, yet the case had already been "closed."
In follow-up communications, Intersail repeatedly stressed the legal consequences of speaking publicly, writing things like:
"Accusing a licensed skipper of misconduct at the helm is a legally punishable offense in Italy."
"Please be aware that such statements, if found to be unsubstantiated, could constitute defamation under both Italian and international law."
At least four of us filed formal complaints, yet Intersail dismissed all of them, claiming lack of substantiation while pushing heavy-handed warnings.
Initially, we requested only a partial refund. Even had Intersail said, "We're sorry, we cannot refund you, but we will make sure this never happens again and re-evaluate our partnership with this skipper," that might have been enough. Instead, they essentially told us to "stay quiet or face legal consequences."
That is why I am now making this public. Over a week ago, I sent Intersail a final email stating we needed resolution within five business days. No response has come.
Therefore, I've also reported this situation to the following agencies:
Ombudsman
Zurich Consumer Protection Office
Fédération Romande des Consommateurs (FRC)
Federal Consumer Affairs Bureau (Switzerland)
Capitaneria di Porto in Sardinia and Corsica
Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM)
European Consumer Centre Network (ECC‑Net)
Camera di Commercio
Small Claims Court in both Italy and our U.S. jurisdiction
Our credit card issuer
