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A Beginner’s Guide on How to Charter a Yacht: 5 Top Tips
Charter a Yacht
We’ve all seen or heard about the glamorous TV shows that portray what it’s like to charter a yacht — whether it’s around the Caribbean or the Mediterranean. But is it the same in real life and how do you go about finding the right yacht, for the right price, so you, too, can have a little taste of the high life?
If you’re completely new to the world of yachting and want to plan the trip of a lifetime, here’s what you need to know about chartering the yacht of your dreams.
1. A Charter Broker Makes All the Difference
If you have no idea where to start, a charter broker can make your experience that much more streamlined. It’s their job to match you up with the best yacht and crew, according to your budget and travel preferences.
If you’re looking for a charter broker, you could consult a professional body such as the MYBA, The World Yachting Association. Or, quite simply, ask for a referral from a family or friends who might have chartered their own yacht before — this is actually the better option of the two.
Once you’ve secured a broker, meet with them and review your budget and preferences in as much detail as possible. Tell them about your dietary requirements, likes, dislikes, personal interests, hobbies, and the other people joining you on the trip. The more detail, the better!
This way, they can put together an ideal private yacht charter that’s worth every single penny like https://www.fancyboatsibiza.com/.
2. Be Prepared to Spend
Okay, so it’s no secret that hiring a private yacht is no cheap endeavor. In fact, it might be one of the priciest vacations you ever plan. But if you’ve saved and prepared for the trip, you probably already know this.
If you’re wondering what the average cost is, be prepared to spend in the region of $40,000 per week for a yacht that can sleep up to 6 people. That’s an 82-foot yacht. But keep in mind that this is generally a flat rate for the yacht that includes the hire of the boat, the crew, and insurance. It’s not inclusive of food, drinks, fuel, dockage, and other activities. Or the crew tip, either!
With this in mind, it’s a good idea to budget an extra 30 percent on top of the base price for the charter. Then, there’s the crew tip. The expected amount is around 10-20 percent of the charter fee.
3. Choose Your Destinations Wisely
If you’re a first-timer, it’s best to avoid destinations that are particularly hard to get to, i.e. remote places. The main reason for this is that it can eat away at valuable charter time, including long days of sailing which could remove some of the fun from chartering your own yacht.
Some classic destinations include the Caribbean and the Mediterranean because of the close proximity of islands and different ports to each other. This means that you can hop on and hop off your charter yacht and spend time exploring new places while enjoying the pleasure of cruising the open seas.
These regions also offer safer, steadier weather conditions, as well as well-known anchorage and docking grounds, making your charter less risky, and less expensive in the long run!
4. The Yacht Crew Are Key to Your Experience
While much of the focus is on the yacht that you charter, nothing can derail your experience faster than an inexperienced, unprofessional charter crew. The yacht crew is absolutely integral to the overall cruise experience you have. They determine whether you have a great charter or an average one.
Most yacht crews of today are very versatile. Some yachts might offer a plethora of different types of specialties, such as a yoga or Pilates instructor, a personal sommelier, a personal trainer — you name it. This depends on the yacht you choose and your preferences.
It’s the crew that has all the knowledge of the local area, the best places to eat, and explore, too. So, before you decide on a yacht, make sure you take a close look at the crew it offers, their experience, and what you can expect from them.
5. Carefully Consider Who You Want to Cruise With
This is one of those cruise considerations that many people tend to glaze over. But who do you really want to spend all that time at sea with, in close quarters, on a yacht? Remember that when you step onto that vessel, there’s nowhere else to go until you reach the next port, so you better get along with the people you choose to cruise with.
Yacht cruising is also a very specific type of vacation. It involves plenty of downtime and relaxation, with a touch of exploration and indulgence thrown in. It’s a good idea to ensure that the people you invite on your charter are on the same page as you. They should be happy to partake in and enjoy this type of vacation.
Yachting is also intimate and exclusive. You’ll be spending a lot of time with your fellow cruise mates in close proximity, so make sure you all have a good relationship and balance out each other’s energy.
Travel Expertise, Just a Click Away
In order to charter a yacht and make the most of the experience, it’s imperative that you do your homework first. You’ll most likely spend a good amount of money on this type of vacation, but if you charter wisely, it doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg for a mediocre experience.
Looking for travel tips like this? Be sure to explore the rest of this blog for your fix!
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