The Ultimate 101 Guide to Yacht Chartering: Frequently Asked Questions

A yachting holiday is like no other. Experience luxury, dine with a private chef, pamper yourself with crew at your service, enjoy privacy, freedom, flexibility, unforgettable memories, reconnect with family & friends, explore secluded bays, nightlife, sun, sea and sand… tempted yet? Our Yacht Charter Consultants have a wealth of expertise and a wide variety of skills to assist first-time charterers every step of the way. Our charter team has answered introductory and advanced questions. Should you have more questions, we are always available to answer them.

• How much does it cost to charter a yacht?

The price of a yacht, whether sailing or motor, will depend on certain criteria such as the length, number of cabins, age of construction, ship builder and the offered location. For example an 83ft yacht built in 2007, accommodating 8 guests in 4 cabins costs € 40,000 per week plus expenses.

• What is the minimum length of charter?

Published charter rates are usually quoted per week for the hire of the yacht. Seven days is generally the minimum charter period accepted by most yachts, although charters can be for any duration under or over seven days. Please be precise with the length of your charter at the enquiry stage.

• The “WHAT IFs”… (what if the weather is bad, what if I change my mind? What if I get seasick? What if I have a complaint…)

As a first time charterer you may have many questions, it is our role as a broker to answer these questions to the best of our abilities for you.

• What Is the best time of year to charter a Yacht?

Winter in the Southern Hemisphere run form early December to end of April. The most popular destinations in Winter are Bahamas, Caribbean, Maldives, Central America, French Polynesia and Southeast Asia.

Summer in the Northern Hemisphere runs from End of April to end of October. The most popular destinations in Summer are the Mediterranean sea, New England in the USA and Northern Europe.

• What is included within the published charter price?

The charter price (published price) includes the hire of the yacht together with its crew, crew food and the yacht’s insurance. This price also includes the Broker’s commission.

• What are the extra costs to take into consideration?

All operational expenses are extra and to the Charterer’s account, such as fuel, port fees, food and beverages, personal laundry, local taxes, customs formalities, charges for water, electricity and ship’s agency fees etc. Generally speaking, we estimate these costs in the region of 30% of the weekly charter price, although this could vary depending upon the type of cuisine you select, your choice of yacht and the extent of cruising undertaken.

Therefore, a 30% Advance Provisioning Allowance, (or A.P.A.) will be required at least 4 weeks prior to embarkation (together with the balance payment) for the crew to fully provision the yacht according to your requests. A fully itemised set of accounts with supporting receipts will be provided at the end of the charter and any outstanding amount left-over will be returned to you. VAT (Value Added Tax) is charged on the agreed charter price in territorial waters. Rates vary according to the place of embarkation and the chosen itinerary. Your broker will be able to advise you on the latest tax situation for any country you wish to visit.

Relocation fees (or delivery / redelivery fees) can be charged should you wish to start a charter in a port that is distant from the yacht’s home port, within reasonable distance. It is industry standards to charge the fuel consumption only (not the time) to relocate a yacht. These are often negotiated should your enquiry fit within the yacht’s cruising schedule or take the yacht closer to its following bookings.

A security deposit is customary during event charters such as the MIPIM, Cannes Film Festival and Monaco Grand Prix. It is very rare to pay a security deposit for a standard yacht charter.

• Can I specify the food and wine that will be served onboard?

In preparation for your arrival, a charterer’s Information Sheet will be sent to you in order for you to give as much detail as you can to the crew in order to prepare for your arrival: list of passengers, the dietary requirements, soft drinks list, alcohol list, onshore activities, preferred newspapers etc.

• Can I smoke onboard the yacht?

For safety reasons, smoking in cabins and staterooms is prohibited on all yachts. Some yachts will allow smoking in designated outdoor areas.

• Am I permitted to use the yacht’s toy and scuba equipment?

In certain countries a Certificate of Competency is required to participate in water sports activities (jet skis, waverunners and other mechanically propelled watercraft).

If members of your party do not have the required licence/certificates we can arrange for an instructor to come on board the yacht during the charter to issue a certificate.

Certain areas prohibit the use of motorised water toys altogether. Use of personal watercraft is only permitted subject to the operator having the appropriate license and meeting with local operating regulations. Any liability arising from non-compliance is entirely at the operator’s risk. If the yacht has SCUBA equipment on board, it may only be used by certified divers holding a certified PADI license or equivalent.

• Can I choose the crew?

All charter yachts that we handle are crewed. The crew is hired and chosen by the Owner.

• Can we bring our dog on the yacht?

Some yachts do allow pets, but this will depend on the yacht and its owner. If this is an important point for you, we will ensure to find yachts that are pet-friendly.