Charter a Yacht

Chartering a yacht is the ultimate luxury vacation. These vessels don’t come cheap, however. Chartering a yacht can cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars a week. For that price, you get a personalized vacation with your own crew that will travel anywhere in the world. To start the process, hire a broker and choose from a wide selection of vessels. Once you have paid your fees, you will be ready to set sail on the adventure of a lifetime.

Steps

Organizing Your Trip

1. Create a budget for your trip. Chartering a yacht is not cheap. Just a week on a small vessel (around {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} long) can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Some yachts may cost more than $100,000 a week.
   • The base fee or Charter Hire pays for the boat and the crew.
   • In addition to the Charter Hire, you will have to pay an Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA), which covers food, drink, fuel, dockage, and customs duties. This usually costs 20% of the Charter Hire.
   • Include money to tip the crew in your budget. Tipping is considered standard within the industry. These tips run between 10-20% of the charter fee.
   • If this is too expensive for you, you might consider chartering a sailboat or renting a fishing boat. You can still hire a boat charter broker to help you search for the right vessel in this case.
2. Determine your destination. The first thing you should do is decide where you want to take the yacht. Where you go can help you determine where to begin the journey. It can also help you find boats and crews that travel to those areas.
   • For example, you might take the boat around the Caribbean. If you do this, you can start your journey in Florida or on a Caribbean island.
   • The Mediterranean is another popular place to go on yacht charters. For this, you can begin your journey in Greece, Italy, or Croatia.
3. Decide when you want to travel. Determine the best time of year to visit your destination. Make sure that the weather will be good for sailing during this time. If it is a busy tourist season in your destination, remember that it may cost more to dock your boat.
   • Yachts are chartered and priced by the week. You may not be able to charter a yacht for less than a week.
4. Choose the right size of yacht for your needs. Most yachts begin around {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} and go up all the way to {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} or larger. Larger boats can fit more people and provide more amenities. They are, however, significantly more expensive.
   • If you’re traveling alone or with a partner, you may only need a {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} vessel.
   • If you have children on board, consider chartering a larger boat. These boats will provide more space for children to run and play while providing a little extra protection.
   • If you don't want a big boat, consider chartering a catamaran, sailboat, or houseboat instead of a yacht.
5. Choose which amenities you want. Most yachts will have a chef on board and a crew to pilot the ship. In addition, you may be able to choose from a wide range of activities and amenities. These include:
   • Hot tub
   • Multiple bedrooms or bathrooms
   • Water toys like jet skis, water skis, small recreational boats, or scuba diving instruction
   • Entertainment centers like TVs, game consoles, or DVD players

Hiring a Yacht Broker

1. Start looking for a yacht 1 year in advance of your trip. By booking early, you’ll have a larger selection of boats to choose from. If negotiations with 1 broker fall through, you will still have time to hire another.
2. Choose a yacht charter brokerage firm. You must hire a broker to charter a yacht. The broker will present you with many different options for boats. They can also provide advice regarding your trip, such as what to do at your destination or what to look for in a good yacht.
   • Make sure your broker is a member of a national or international yacht brokerage organization, such as the International Yacht Broker’s Association, the Mediterranean Yacht Broker’s Association, or the American Yacht Charter Association.
   • You can look up yacht charter brokerages online. If you know someone who has chartered a yacht in the past, ask them for their opinion.
   • Yacht brokers are paid on commission by the yacht's owner. In most cases, you will not have to pay the broker.
3. Review the selection of boats. Once you have found the broker, they will send you a list of boats that fit your budget and travel plans. Go through each boat carefully. Once you have chosen a few you like, call your broker and ask questions about each vessel. Some questions you may want to ask include:
   • What is the safety record of this boat?
   • What kind of insurance does the boat have?
   • What will happen if the boat breaks down or becomes unavailable before my trip?
   • What is the smoking policy on board?
   • What is the pet policy?
   • Is this crew good with children?
   • Do you have a certified dive master on board if I want to go Scuba diving?
4. Agree to the Charter Hire fee. The Charter Hire is the base price of the boat, which covers the cost of the crew and the use of the boat. These fees can vary based on the owner, model of ship, crew size, and amenities of the ship.
   • The charter can cost anywhere from $25,000 to $1,000,000 USD a week.
5. Go through the Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA). This document lists everything consumable on the yacht. The APA covers all fuel, food, and custom duties that you are responsible for. Read through the APA carefully. Ask your broker about any fees you don’t understand.
   • If there is anything you want added to the food or drink provisions, let your broker know. They can add it to the list so that the yacht has it stocked and ready for your trip.
   • In some cases, you will be refunded part of your APA if you don’t use up all of the money for your trip. On the other hand, if you run over the budget of the APA, you will be expected to pay the captain immediately for any required costs.
6. Sign the charter contract. This contract is known as the charter-party, and it will contain both the Charter Hire and the APA. Once you have approved the details, sign the contract and send it back to your broker. Your broker will finish the documentation for your journey with the boat’s owner.
   • The contract should state what will happen in all situations, including the boat breaking down or weather delays. If they don’t, ask your broker to include these details into the contract before you sign it.
7. Pay a deposit on the yacht. Once you sign the charter contract, you must put down a deposit on the boat. This is usually 50% of the trip’s cost. Talk to your yacht broker to determine the most convenient method of payment.

Going on Your Trip

1. Book airfare and hotels for the beginning and end of the trip. Plan to travel to the city where the yacht is docked, either by plane or other mode of transportation. If you need to, reserve a hotel for the night before your journey and the night after you return.
   • Some yacht brokers will have in-house travel agents to help you plan this part of your trip. If they don't, use your own travel agent or book online directly through the airline.
2. Bring a passport for an international journey. If you are traveling internationally, make sure you have a passport. When you dock in a new country, the customs agents will come on board. The captain will present the proper documents and clear the boat. You will present your passport and, if needed, the visa for entry into the country.
   • In most cases, the captain will collect all passports and clear everyone on board. Alternatively, you may need to follow the captain to the customs office on land.
   • Remember that you are responsible for any customs, duties, and taxes owed to agents when you enter a new country. These fees should be included in your APA.
3. Pack everything you will need while on your trip. Your yacht will likely dock a few times on land, but it still a good idea to pack everything you’ll need ahead of time. That said, space can be tight in the cabin, so avoid bringing too much. Some things you may want to bring include:
   • Clothes
   • Swimming gear
   • Non-slip shoes with rubber soles
   • Sunglasses
   • Toiletries, like soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, and sunscreen
   • Chargers
   • Foreign currency if you’re traveling abroad
   • Medication, including anti-seasickness medicine, like dramamine
4. Prepare for bad weather just in case. The weather can sometimes be unpredictable at sea. While many yachts can survive storms easily, make sure you’re aware of any bad weather that might cause delays. Plan activities you can do inside of the cabin just in case it rains or becomes stormy while you're sailing.
   • For example, if there’s a TV on board, bring movies to watch or pack some board games for entertainment.
   • If you’re planning on chartering a yacht during hurricane season (June to November), ask your broker what will happen if a hurricane is due to hit during your planned journey.

Tips

• Not all large boats are necessarily yachts. If you’re just looking to go on a fishing trip or to sail around for a few days, consider a sailboat, catamaran, or fishing boat.
• Keep in mind that most yachts are privately owned. Fees and amenities can vary significantly between 1 owner and another.

Related Articles

• Start a Yacht Charter Business
• Plan a Family Vacation

References

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