What to Know Before Chartering a Superyacht
In deciding to charter a yacht for your next vacation, you’ve chosen what’s bound to be an exciting and unforgettable experience. However, before you can take that vacation, you will need to know how to charter a yacht and will need to choose your destination, budget, and type of superyacht charter, among other considerations. Here’s what you need to ensure your entire vacation goes smoothly from the start.
Budget
Although budget may be a given when planning a vacation, it’s an especially important consideration when chartering a yacht because this vacation option is priced differently from other types of vacations. The costs to charter a yacht will depend on many factors, some of them included below.
Time of Year
The time of year that you book your yacht charter may affect the cost. For example, if you are planning to vacation during a peak time of the year, you can expect to pay more. Fortunately, there are only a few weeks that are considered peak charter times.
Summer is the popular charter season in the East and West Mediterreanean with peak season typically being July through mid August dates due to special events, such as Monaco Grand Prix, Formula 1 and Cannes Film Festival. Dockage and moorings in these particular locations is also at a premium for events. Otherwise, the Christmas and New Year’s Holiday weeks are considered the peak season throughout the Caribbean, US and worldwide charter locations.
Destination
If you are choosing to visit a destination popular with travelers during peak season, you may find higher charter rates. It can be a good idea to consider vacationing at the end of a season or choosing another destination that may be less popular, but which is just as beautiful as your first consideration. New England is another area for summer charter vacations with sailing and motor yachts of all sizes cruising popular areas such as Newport, Nantucket, Marthas Vineyard, Boston and throughout the North East coast.The Holidays in the Caribbean are also considered peak charter season.
Other Costs
Depending on the charter location, type of yacht and registration, there are yachts that offer “all inclusive” charters throughout the Caribbean. Yachts that are cruising the U.S. or Mediterranean typically charge “the base charter fee plus expenses”. There is a 25 – 35% deposit or “Advance Provisioning Allowance” added towards your expenses of fuel, food and beverages.
Most sailing yachts and catamarans offer “all inclusive” rates in the Caribbean which will include: your crew, food, beverages and a ships or house bar. However, you (the charterer) provide preferences ahead for your preferred food and beverages aboard. Consult with your Yachtstore Charter Specialist about your all inclusive yacht charter vacation preferences.
Food
The meals, appetizers, drinks, and desserts you select for your yacht charter vacation can also affect the cost. If you wish, you can opt to go all-out with celebrity-level cocktails and lavish high-end meals. However, this will add to the cost of your vacation. Your preferences for food and beverage items are provided to the crew, for review and planning ahead of your charter.
Of course, choosing to vacation with your friends and family presents the opportunity to split the cost of the vacation among the group, which can allow you to have a larger vessel or possibly choose a longer stay aboard.
Yacht Type and Size
Your next considerations will be what kind of vessel you’ll be spending your time on. Yachts are available in two main types: motor and sail. Sailing yachts use only the power of the wind to transport you from one location to another and can be a great choice for those wanting to relax and have the classic yachting experience.
Sailing yachts are ideal for tropical destinations, and they range in size from 50 to 200 feet in overall length. Many sailing yachts are also capable of motoring at times, depending on wind condition and your charter locations.
If you’re planning to go to a more exotic destination like Asia, Alaska or Antarctica, a motor or expedition yacht will be the best choice. Yachts for larger numbers of guests are typically 78 to 300 feet in overall length. Some expedition yacht charters have helicopters and special tenders that can take you on explorations and adventures in the outlying or more remote areas. Motor yachts now range from 50′ to 300 feet LOA and offer up to a maximum of 6 staterooms, accommodating 12 guests on most of the larger yachts. There are only a few yachts that have special permits and more cabins for cruising with larger groups. Smaller motor yachts and power catamarans with 1 to 4 cabins offer a more intimate family charter or couples getaway with only 1 to 3 crew and still offer an array of water toys.
Most important are your preferred dates and locations in order to determine which yachts will be available. The size of the yacht you choose depends on how many are vacationing with you and how many cabins (staterooms) are needed. The number of guests you will have aboard will mainly determine the size of the yacht you will need and your budget will determine which yachts are available within your price range. Tandem yacht charters are another way to accommodate larger families and groups aboard. Two or three yachts sailing together can be extra excitement for corporate groups racing or island hopping together. Yachtstore specializes in putting together the best yachts and crews for Tandem Yacht Charters.
The Crew
When booking yacht charter vacations, one important consideration is to ensure you choose the right yacht and crew. After all, you will be interacting with them throughout your vacation. Your Yachtstore Charter Specialist can provide crew profiles, updated backgrounds and references for the crew aboard the yacht you are considering.
For example, if you’re a more casual person or group, a formal crew may not be the best match for you. However, most crew are highly trained in either service manor and can offer formal or casual service and attire. They can be very attentive and interact or, they can assure your privacy and stay pretty much unnoticed until requested. Either way, they are discreet with your charter and with allowing who is aboard the yacht.
Activities
One of the greatest things about chartering a yacht is that it’s just like a floating resort. Depending on the size of yacht you choose, any of a number of activities can be made available to you. Some motor yachts that travel to the Arctic, for example, include a helipad and helicopter to take you to the tops of glaciers and high above the frozen landscape.
For those vacationing with children, water slides, seadoos, and waterskiing activities can be made available. Other yachts offer scuba and sea fishing equipment, complete with instructors so that you can learn these skills right on the vessel. Sailing yachts can offer instruction from experienced skippers and, if you’re really enthusiastic, your entire vacation can consist of learning how to sail.
If you plan to have big parties on board, then a sound system and the music selection will be important to you. Family movie nights will require the right films, complete with surround sound.
Do You Need to Use a Broker?
It may sound easy to plan a vacation on your own. You will, however, learn quickly that there is more involved than initially meets the eye. You will need to find and sort through a number of central agencies, yachts, destinations and captains and crews to find the right situation, and you will have to arrange all of the above details, and much more. You may also want to take the time and effort to visit personally with the captains and crews of each to ensure they’re right for you and your party. A knowledgeable broker such as Yachtstore can save you lots of time and effort and expense and avoid dead ends in this regard.
Special Attention to Every Detail
When it comes to luxury yacht charter vacations, Yachtstore is an industry leader and a top authority. We go far beyond choosing a destination and a yacht, ensuring that every detail of your vacation will be exactly the way you want it to be.
We take care of every detail, informing you about must-see events and locations so that you understand your options and can choose where you wish to spend your time. Working side by side with you, we help you fine-tune your experience, ensuring that your itinerary is as flexible as you wish it to be.
Because of our relationships with captains, crews, and owners, we are able to find the perfect match for you and your guests. The only things you will need to do are pack and make your way to the marina.
Our global network of specialists and simplified booking process ensures that planning your vacation is as easy as possible. Learn how enjoyable your vacation of a lifetime can be when you book your yacht charter with Yachtstore. Get in touch with us today at 1-888-446-4141.