Running on Waves
Running on Waves is a Cyprus-based private luxury tall-ship operator running a single 64-meter three-mast barquentine sailing yacht for up to 42 guests, offering scheduled Mediterranean themed cruises and full-yacht private charters to high-net-worth travelers, corporate MICE clients, and special-occasion groups worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersNicosia, Cyprus
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Running on Waves does
Running on Waves is a private luxury tall-ship charter and cruise operator founded in 2011 and domiciled in Nicosia, Cyprus, with the vessel flagged in Malta. The company owns and operates a single 64-meter three-mast barquentine sailing yacht — one of the largest sailing yachts in the world — equipped with gyroscopic and hydraulic stabilizers, a lead-ballast system yielding a 3.2m draft, on-board water desalinators, underwater cameras, and a hydraulic stern ramp for water access. Maximum overnight capacity is 42 guests in 18 cabins, served by a crew of 21 multilingual luxury hospitality and seamanship professionals.
The business operates two primary revenue lines: scheduled themed and cultural cruises (typically 8 days / 7 nights in the Mediterranean) priced from €1,899 to €7,530 per person across Economy, Standard, Premium, and Mini-Suite tiers, with early-booking discounts up to 30%; and full-yacht private charters for corporate MICE events, weddings, honeymoons, and family gatherings, with capacity up to 130 guests for docked day events. Themed cruise variants — yoga retreats, dive-and-sail, bike-and-sail, golf-and-sail — extend the product surface. Distribution is a hybrid model combining direct-to-consumer booking via a multilingual (English, German, Greek, Chinese, Arabic) website with a central MYBA-member charter agent (Abberley Yachts Limited, London/Athens) and a global network of regional local agents spanning US/Canada, DACH, Nordics, Benelux, Iberia, India, Baltics, France, Armenia, Egypt, and GCC, supported by offices in Cyprus, China (Shanghai), the UK, and Greece.
Customer segments are HNW leisure travelers, corporate MICE clients, families, and interest-based groups, with guests drawn from the US, China, Australia, UK, Europe, and the Middle East. The company monetizes through per-cabin scheduled-cruise ticket sales, full-yacht charter fees, and onboard ancillary services (diving, excursions, beverages, laundry, transfers, and tips). Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the company is privately held with no identified institutional investors or parent corporation.
Running on Waves firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Running on Waves
- Legal name
- Running on Waves
- Website
- https://running-on-waves.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Running on Waves is a Cyprus-based private luxury tall-ship operator running a single 64-meter three-mast barquentine sailing yacht for up to 42 guests, offering scheduled Mediterranean themed cruises and full-yacht private charters to high-net-worth travelers, corporate MICE clients, and special-occasion groups worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Running on Waves industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Luxury Sailing Cruise & Yacht Charter Services
- NAICS
- Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721)
- SIC
- Water Transportation (4400)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Luxury Sailing Cruises (Windjammers & Tall Ships) (THAEADAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Luxury Yacht & Small-Ship Expedition Cruises (THAEABAF)
Keywords
Where Running on Waves is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nicosia
- HQ country
- Cyprus
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Running on Waves business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Scheduled Cruises: Per-person pricing for scheduled Mediterranean cruises ranging from 8 days/7 nights. Prices range from €1,899 to €7,530 per person depending on cabin category and season. Revenue generated per cabin per sailing.
- Private Charter: Full yacht charter for private events including weddings, corporate events, MICE, honeymoons, and family gatherings. Maximum capacity of 42 guests for overnight charters, up to 130 guests for day events when docked.
- Onboard Services: Additional revenue from optional services including diving equipment and instructor services, guided bus excursions, laundry services, cocktails and alcoholic beverages at bar, air tickets, transfers, and discretionary service tips.
- Theme Cruise Packages: Specialized cruise packages including yoga retreats, diving tours, bike and sail, golf and sail, with pricing variations based on included activities and equipment.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Economy Cabin - 22, 19, 23, 25, 27 |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Standard Cabin - 24, 29, 16, 17, 18, 14, 15, 21 |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Premium Cabin - 2, 3, 4, 6 |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Mini Suite - Cabin 5 |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Specialty Cruises - Yoga, Diving, Bike |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Running on Waves product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Running on Waves operates a single 64-meter three-mast barquentine luxury sailing yacht (launched 2011, flagged Malta) offering scheduled themed cruises (cultural, yoga, diving, bike and sail, golf) across the Mediterranean, alongside full private yacht charters for corporate MICE events, weddings, honeymoons, and special-interest groups. The vessel accommodates up to 42 guests overnight with 21 multilingual crew, featuring advanced stabilizers, a 3.2m shallow draft, and eco-friendly sail propulsion.
Product overview
Running on Waves operates as a single luxury sailing yacht company offering a 64-meter three-mast barquentine vessel launched in 2011. The product portfolio centers on the flagship Running on Waves tall ship with three primary service lines: Scheduled Cruises (themed itineraries including Authentic Greece cultural tours, yoga retreats, bike-and-sail, dive-and-sail, and golf-and-sail experiences), Charter Services (private custom itineraries for corporate MICE events, weddings, honeymoons, and themed group trips), and Onboard Experiences (marine activities, water sports, wellness treatments, and culinary programs). The company operates primarily in the Mediterranean with routes to Greece, Italy, Albania, Croatia, Turkey, Cyprus, and other destinations, targeting small groups of up to 42 guests with a crew of 21 multilingual professionals.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Running on Waves Tall Ship A 64-meter three-mast barquentine luxury sailing yacht launched in 2011, operating primarily in the Mediterranean. Features eco-friendly design with low emissions, shallow 3.2m draft for accessing hidden harbors, accommodates up to 42 guests with 21 crew, and combines traditional sailing aesthetics with modern marine technology.
- Scheduled Mediterranean Cruises Regular departure cruises offering themed experiences including cultural exploration, with itineraries primarily in the Mediterranean (Greece, Italy, Albania, Croatia, Turkey, Cyprus). Typically 8 days/7 nights with per-person pricing across Economy, Standard, Premium, and Mini Suite cabin tiers.
- Private Yacht Charter Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Fuel consumption only 75 liters per hour - approximately 10x less than comparable motor yachts
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Running on Waves
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Running on Waves technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Running on Waves partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Abberley Yachts LimitedcoreMYBA member central agent handling all charter bookings for Running on Waves. Provides dedicated charter coordination services with offices in London (19-21 Crawford Street, W1H 1PJ) and Athens (10 Chiou Street, Vari 16672). Contact: Stavros Kapnias, +30 6970022407, [email protected]
- Local Agents NetworkcoreNetwork of local agents across multiple regions: US and Canada, Cyprus, DACH countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), Nordic countries, BENELUX, Spain and Portugal, India, Estonia/Latvia/Lithuania, France and Belgium, Armenia, Egypt and GCC countries. Each agent handles regional sales and customer support.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Running on Waves competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- The Moorings: Large yacht charter company (sailing and power) with Mediterranean bases. Competes for the Mediterranean sailing-vacation budget, though primarily bareboat versus Running on Waves' fully crewed model.
- Dream Yacht Charter: Global yacht charter operator with bareboat and crewed options in the Mediterranean. Overlaps with Running on Waves on the crewed-charter side, especially for HNW clients seeking sailing experiences.
Broad incumbents
- Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection: Luxury yacht cruise brand of Marriott offering intimate superyacht cruising in the Mediterranean and Caribbean. Competes for the same ultra-high-net-worth guests in the small-luxury-ship category.
- Emerald Cruises (Emerald Azzurra): Operates luxury yacht-class vessels (e.g., Emerald Azzurra, Emerald Sakara) on Mediterranean itineraries, competing for small-ship luxury cruisers in the same ports as Running on Waves.
- Ponant: Large luxury small-ship expedition cruise line with a fleet of 13 vessels. Overlaps with Running on Waves on small-capacity, Mediterranean luxury cruising and expedition-style itineraries.
Direct peers
- Star Clippers: Operates a fleet of three-mast sailing cruise ships (Star Clipper, Star Flyer, Royal Clipper) offering tall-ship voyages in the Mediterranean and Caribbean. Closest direct competitor to Running on Waves given shared sailing-yacht product and similar itinerary portfolio.
- Variety Cruises: Small-ship cruise line operating yacht-style motor and sailing vessels in the Mediterranean with similar passenger counts and themed itineraries (yoga, diving, cultural tours).
- Sea Cloud Cruises: Luxury tall-ship sailing cruise operator running the Sea Cloud and Sea Cloud II, with a strong Mediterranean focus and similar small-capacity, high-touch luxury positioning.
- Windstar Cruises: Operates small sailing yachts and motor-yacht cruise ships in the Mediterranean and other regions. Comparable capacity (~100-310 pax on its sailing yachts) and luxury small-ship experience.
Regional players
- MedSailors: Mediterranean-focused sailing holiday operator running small flotilla cruises in Greece and Croatia. Targets a younger, more backpacker-leaning segment than Running on Waves but operates in the same geography.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Running on Waves social profiles
Digital presenceRunning on Waves financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Running on Waves leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Running on Waves funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Running on Waves M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Running on Waves
What does Running on Waves do?
Running on Waves operates a single 64-meter three-mast barquentine luxury sailing yacht (launched 2011, flagged Malta) offering scheduled themed cruises (cultural, yoga, diving, bike and sail, golf) across the Mediterranean, alongside full private yacht charters for corporate MICE events, weddings, honeymoons, and special-interest groups. The vessel accommodates up to 42 guests overnight with 21 multilingual crew, featuring advanced stabilizers, a 3.2m shallow draft, and eco-friendly sail propulsion.
Is Running on Waves a public or private company?
Running on Waves is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Running on Waves founded?
Running on Waves was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Running on Waves based?
Running on Waves is headquartered in Nicosia, Cyprus, in the Europe region.
How does Running on Waves make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Scheduled Cruises are the primary driver. The others are private Charter, onboard Services and theme Cruise Packages.
Who are Running on Waves's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are The Moorings and Dream Yacht Charter. Broad incumbents are Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Emerald Cruises (Emerald Azzurra) and Ponant. Direct peers are Star Clippers, Variety Cruises, Sea Cloud Cruises and Windstar Cruises. MedSailors is listed as a regional player.
Does Running on Waves have an API?
No public API is recorded for Running on Waves.
What industry is Running on Waves in?
Running on Waves's product category is Luxury Sailing Cruise & Yacht Charter Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAEADAB, Luxury Sailing Cruises (Windjammers & Tall Ships), with a secondary code of THAEABAF, Luxury Yacht & Small-Ship Expedition Cruises. Its NAICS code is 48721 and its SIC code is 4400.