Finding the Best Yacht Charter to Suit Your Needs

You’ve made the decision to charter a yacht. Now, let us help you make the process easy and enjoyable. With years of experience pleasing diverse clients with diverse needs and wants, we will help create your dream private custom charter.

Our specialty is matching our clients’ needs to the most appropriate yacht and crew. But, in order to do so we need some basic information from you.

Step One: What, Where, When?

Motor yacht or sailing yacht? Many people enjoy the speed a motor yacht affords, along with its roominess and luxury. Others prefer the excitement of sailing as much as arriving at new ports. In some locations meals and fuel would be in addition to the base charter fee for motor yachts, while they may be fully inclusive for sailing yachts.

What is your budget? When planning a charter vacation, you will need to budget for the base charter fee, meals, beverages, and gratuities. Travel to and from your embarkation and disembarkation ports are a separate cost.

Where would you like to cruise? Many clients know exactly the area they would like to explore. If not, we can help narrow your search by sending you suggested itineraries of specific areas. Let us know where you’d like to go and we’ll send you itineraries that can help define your custom cruise once you have chosen your yacht.

How many are in your party? The number of people and their interests are important for us to ascertain which yachts would have the appropriate number and type of staterooms. Knowing ages and interests will also help us to find yachts equipped with the right “toys” such as diving or fishing equipment and water toys.

When is your vacation? Early booking is usually best, especially for popular destinations and yachts, so we advise you to plan ahead. As soon as you know when and where you would like to charter, let us know. Bookings are generally made in weekly increments but start and end dates can be flexible. With approximate vacation dates we can find you the most appropriate yacht for when and where you want to cruise.

Step Two: Narrowing the Field

With the above information known, we can research and find the most appropriate yacht for your charter. With a worldwide fleet of yachts and our personal knowledge of the fleet and crew, we search for the best yachts to fit your needs. Then, we can recommend a selection of yachts available for your destination, size, and budget.

After you have looked over our suggestions, we will explain the terms of each yacht to narrow your choice until we have found you your perfect match.

Step Three: Reserving the Yacht

Charter Agreement: When you are ready to reserve your yacht we will ask you to review and sign a Charter Agreement which we will walk you through to assure you understand and are satisfied with the terms.

Deposits and Final Payment: Once you have reviewed the agreement and are ready to sign it, we will require a deposit. If the charter date is longer than 6 months from the date of signing the agreement, the deposit is 25 percent. If the charter is within 6 months from the date of signing the agreement, we will require a 50 percent deposit. The final payment, as well as the Advanced Provisioning Allowance (APA) for non-inclusive charters, is made one month before the charter date begins. For non-inclusive charters, your captain will keep a detailed account of food and beverage expenses that will be reconciled against your advance funds for you at the end of your charter.

Food: Each charter is a customized experience and that includes the food and beverage. Therefore, we will send you a detailed questionnaire about your preferences for food and beverages, along with medical and dietary concerns. It’s crucial the yacht crew has this specific information so they can make appropriate provisions before the start of the charter to assure they have everything you like and want.

Cancellation: Charter cancellation terms are detailed in the Charter Agreement form. Charter cancellation insurance is an option we will discuss with you before you reserve your yacht.

The Responsibilities of your Captain: Your captain is eager to make your charter a personalized adventure of a lifetime. He or she is responsible for the safety of the vessel and all on board. Therefore, when there are issues of safety, your captain will make final decisions.

Gratuities: At your discretion, it is customary to tip the captain and crew at the completion of a charter. The usual range for a tip is more or less than 15 percent of the base charter fee, depending on the level of service you have received.