Tips for First-Time Luxury Yacht Charterers

Tips for First-Time Luxury Yacht Charterers

Many people's lifetime dream is to go on a luxury yacht cruise with close friends or with the family. The feel of being out on the sea when the weather is glorious can be a memorable experience. You can experience this feeling, as there are luxury yacht charters available, which can take you to some of the most exciting destinations for a few days or longer. 

Chartering a luxury yacht

Even when you're going on a holiday, you should think of your safety and security while enjoying the things you love to do. When you charter a luxury yacht, you enjoy a high level of comfort and service.

If it's your first time to charter a luxury yacht, here are some helpful tips. 

  1. Find yacht charters

If you want to avoid crowds, it is better to look for private yacht charters. You can visit their fleet, see what they have to offer and get a feel for the real thing instead of just looking at pictures. Think of your safety and comfort. Ensure that the vessel is seaworthy, and the paint should not be cracked or peeling. Many boat and yacht owners use the right marine paint like Durabak boat paint to seal their sailing vessels properly. 

  1. Choose your destination

Several places are popular destinations of yacht travelers. Depending on where you are coming from, you have several choices, such as the British Virgin Islands, the Caribbean Islands, or the islands in the Mediterranean.

Some destinations, such as the Caribbean and the Bahamas, are great for the winter months. The rest is fun to visit in the summer.

  1. Know the right size of the vessel

Luxury yacht charter specialists suggest chartering a smaller yacht if you are a first-timer. The 112-foot Westport is a good choice. It has four staterooms, and the size is not overwhelming. This yacht is suitable for adults without children. Yacht sizes vary. Some are 80 feet long, while others can be as long as 300 feet or more. The maximum capacity of charter yachts is 12 persons. If you are vacationing with your friend or family, you can charter a modern motor yacht. But for yachting enthusiasts, a sailing yacht is ideal.

  1. Time your trip

Yachting has two seasons, summer and winter, so you should time your vacation well. May to October is summer season, with July and August as the peak months, where the rates are highest. Winter season covers the months of November to April. The holiday months until the New Year are the peak periods.

  1. Know the cost and length of charter

Charters typically last for seven to fourteen days. Yacht charters usually give a quote for one week. Prices vary from yacht to yacht. The rates you will receive include hiring the yacht and crew as well as the insurance of the owner. Your additional expenses will include fuel, dockage, food, taxes, VAT, as well as delivery or redelivery fees. To cover the costs, you need to pay upfront an Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA), which will be given to the yacht captain. When the trip ends, the captain will provide a detailed summary of all the expenses incurred. Any unspent funds will be refunded. 

Keep in mind that you should book well in advance, somewhere between six months and ten months.