Freedom Charter La Maddalena review: the crewed maxi-RIB charter behind the name, prices and who it suits

Freedom Charter is a name people search for when they want a crewed boat in the Parco Nazionale dell’Arcipelago di La Maddalena, and we started this Freedom Charter review the same way. The result is worth stating plainly: in September 2026 we found no company trading as “Freedom Charter” in La Maddalena, Palau or anywhere on the Gallura coast. Every search for Freedom Charter La Maddalena leads to one business, Emerald Freedom La Maddalena Private Boat, registered as Emerald Freedom di Amato De Serpis Daniele at Via Cala Chiesa, La Maddalena.

So this page profiles Emerald Freedom, the operator you will actually be talking to, using its own site, its Tripadvisor listings and its social pages. We have no relationship with the company, and we do not fill gaps with guesses.

What the charter offers

The operator sells private days on 10 m maxi-RIBs with a skipper, in four formats listed on its site:

• Full-day tour of the archipelago with swim stops chosen with the skipper.
• Half-day tour, morning or afternoon.
• Sunset aperitif with tastings of Sardinian products on board.
• Events and parties, plus shared seats “on request” when the boat is not fully chartered.

Boarding is the selling point. The site lists La Maddalena, Palau, Porto Rafael, Cannigione, Poltu Quatu and Porto Cervo, and says hotel docks can be arranged. For guests on the Costa Smeralda that removes the drive to Palau and its car-park hunt.

The itinerary is built with the skipper on the day. From La Maddalena a typical private route covers Cala Corsara on Spargi, the Porto della Madonna pools between Budelli, Razzoli and Santa Maria, a pass in front of Spiaggia Rosa (viewed from the water only) and, with a fast RIB, Cala Coticcio on Caprera, which since 2021 is reached on foot only with an authorised park guide and a daily quota. Tell the skipper your priorities before departure; a maxi-RIB can do the full western and eastern loop in a day where a motor ship cannot.

Boats and comfort

According to the operator, the fleet is three maxi-RIBs of 10 m each, the model named on the site is a BWA 34, and each takes up to 12 guests. Fittings listed: an internal cabin, a toilet, bar service and sun loungers. Awning, snorkel gear and paddleboards are not listed on the site, though one Tripadvisor reviewer mentions paddleboarding and snorkelling from the boat. A toilet and a cabin on a RIB is genuinely useful with children or older guests; most RIBs in the archipelago have neither.

Freedom Charter prices and what is included

Freedom Charter prices, or rather Emerald Freedom prices, are not published. That is common for private charters here: quotes are per boat and vary by date, boarding point and hours. What the site says is included: the skipper, the boat and the bar service; on the sunset format, local tastings. What it does not say: fuel, the park navigation permit, drinks beyond the bar, a full lunch, and cancellation terms.

For scale, and only for scale, the per-person catamaran rate in Palau in August is €200 according to one operator’s 2026 price page, so a 12-guest private RIB day in the low four figures is in line with the market. Ask for the quote itemised.

Insider tip: Ask whether fuel and the park permit are inside the quote or added at the end. On a 10 m RIB with big engines, a full day of running between the islands burns real money, and a “fuel extra” line can add a surprising amount to a per-boat price.

What customers say

The newer Tripadvisor listing showed 4.4 from 7 reviews in September 2026, ranked 63rd of 113 boat tours and water sports in La Maddalena; an older listing under the previous “Emerald Cruises Freedom” name also exists. Positive reviewers praise the skipper’s calm and precise boat handling, quick replies at booking, prosecco aperitifs, paddleboards and snorkelling, punctuality and local knowledge.

The one strongly negative review is detailed: it describes crew in a bad mood and arguing, poor restaurant recommendations and a €1,500 bill the reviewer felt was not justified. With seven reviews, a single bad day weighs heavily and may not be typical, but it is the reason we advise agreeing the day’s plan and price in writing.

Departure logistics

If you board in La Maddalena, the operator’s address is on the island and the ferry from Palau takes 15–20 minutes with Delcomar or Maddalena Lines. If you board in Palau, the tourist port car parks are paid and fill by 09:30 in August. Porto Cervo and Poltu Quatu boarding suits Costa Smeralda hotels; Cannigione and Porto Rafael suit the Gulf of Arzachena. Exact piers and check-in times are agreed at booking, since nothing is published.

Who should book it, and who should not

Book it if you are a group of six to twelve splitting a per-boat price, you want to board near your accommodation, and you like a RIB with a toilet and a cabin. The sunset aperitif is a good fit for a celebration.

Skip it if you are a couple (the per-boat price makes no sense for two), if you want published terms and platform cancellation cover, or if you prefer the larger review base of established charter companies.

How to book

Phone or WhatsApp on +39 351 750 5141, or the contact form on the site. Instagram and Facebook pages exist under the Emerald Freedom name. We did not find the boats on GetYourGuide, so there is no reserve-now-pay-later route.

Alternatives you can book online

For a private day with platform protection, start at all La Maddalena boat tours on GetYourGuide. The private RIB trip for up to eight leaves from La Maddalena with an awning and reaches Cala Coticcio; the private all-inclusive boat tour covers fuel, aperitif and lunch for up to ten from Palau pier 5; and the half-day private tour suits a shorter outing. All are priced per boat on the listing. Our private charter guide explains what to compare, the sunset and aperitif page covers evening formats, the La Maddalena island page covers boarding in town, and the operators hub lists every company reviewed.