Frequently Asked Questions

The comfort and opulence that accommodation on a superyacht can have to offer rivals that of the best hotels in the world, with the added element of 24 hours a day personalised service. Each individual charter yacht is different, and offers a wide range of amenities on-board. From movie theatres, spas and private beachclubs to jet skis and scuba diving equipment, along with an experienced crew that could include anyone from award winning Chefs to qualified beauty therapists, there is the perfect excuse to indulge or try something new. No-where else in the world can you experience watching a multi-coloured sunset from a top-deck Jacuzzi in the tranquility of the vast, open ocean before enjoying al-fresco dining with your family and friends under an endless star-strewn night sky.

You will ultimately need to choose the right broker, type of yacht, and itinerary to suit your needs. And this can seem quite complicated! However, once you get started in the right direction with a reputable broker, you will receive the advice you need to make the other decisions. 
First of all, browse our web site to start gathering information about all your yacht and destination options. Then, Fill Out Paperwork.. Once the ideal yacht is chosen for the dates you want, it will be reserved with a yacht charter contract between you and the charter yacht owner. Booking a yacht charter is different from reserving a plane ticket or villa! A standardized contract is drawn up, which we simplify by explaining to you in detail. The signed contract and 50% deposit will prevent anyone else from booking the yacht.
Prior to boarding the yacht, your charter specialist and the Captain and crew will prepare the yacht for your vacation. You will have filled out a preference sheet regarding food, wine, and activities (as well as your arrival/departure information). That way the yacht will be provisioned according to your preferred items. The Captain will prepare a draft itinerary for your yacht charter based on your thoughts and ideas.

In certain countries a Certificate of Competency is required to participate in watersports activities (jet skis, waverunners and other mechanically propelled watercraft). Please consider which members of your party will want to use the yacht's motorised water toys. If they do not have the required licences/certificates we can arrange for a instructor to come on board the yacht during the charter to issue a certificate. Please note that all tuition fees are for the charterer's account and availability of local instructors cannot be guaranteed. 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.

You can choose to charter the yacht for as long as you wish, depending of course on the yacht’s availability. Seven days is generally the minimum charter period accepted by yachts, but charters can be for any duration under or over seven days. Charters over seven days are calculated pro-rata against the weekly rate divided by seven and multiplied by the number of charter days. During low season periods and for a number of smaller yachts charters of less than seven days may be considered in which case the weekly rate is divided by six and multiplied by the number of days. A day charter would normally start in the morning and end either late afternoon or early evening.
High season rates apply to the most popular charter periods (July/August, Christmas/New Year,  events such as the Monaco Grand Prix and the Cannes Film Festival) and Low season rates apply to all other periods unless otherwise stipulated.

The charter fee generally covers only the hire of the yacht and crew, all other expenses are in addition to the charter fee. Rates do not include VAT, provisioning, fuel charges, electronic communications, canal fees, harbor dues, local taxes and specific marina fees. If embarkation and/or disembarkation take place at a different location from the yacht’s home port, delivery/return fees and expenses will also be charged.These additional expenses are covered by the Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA).

The Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA) is usually 30% of the weekly charter fee (sometimes 35% if the yacht burns a lot of fuel or if you intend to do more than about 4 hours of cruising per day).

The APA covers the cost of fuel, food, wines and liquors, dockage, communications, etc. Any APA not used will be returned  at the end of the charter. On the other hand, If the funds are not sufficient, the Captain will advise accordingly and bills will be settled upon disembarkation

All charters are subject to a fully executed contract. Once the availability of your chosen yacht has been verified, you will receive a Charter Agreement, with a request for a deposit to secure the booking. The Charter Agreement defines the terms and conditions, obligations and rights of each party.

A deposit of 50% of the total charter fee is required upon signature of the Charter Agreement in order to confirm your booking. The remaining 50%, plus an Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA), together with any VAT taxes, delivery/redelivery fees and any additionally agreed charges, is due one month before the charter commences.

Well before you board your yacht, we will ask you to complete a detailed questionnaire describing the preferences and special needs of all the members of your party, such as dietary or medical requirements, details of any allergies, and your sporting or entertainment requests. This will enable us and the crew of your chosen yacht to ensure that everything possible is done to make your charter a wonderful experience.

Most yachts are very welcoming to children and some are equipped with children in mind. However, a few yachts may stipulate a minimum age for children and/or have a requirement for a nanny to be on board during the charter. The crew cannot provide child minding or babysitting services.

Smoking is not permitted inside most yachts. However please consult us for verification, as this policy may vary on certain yachts. For safety reasons, smoking in cabins and staterooms is prohibited on all yachts. Some yachts will allow smoking in designated outdoor areas.

Although not mandatory, it is customary to leave a tip (gratuity) for the work of the crew at the end of a charter. We are recommend a tip between 5% and 15% of the charter fee depending on how satisfied you are with the service. These amounts should be given to the captain who will then allocate it to the crew.

Before charter starts we could create an ideal custom itinerary! You are in charge of the program so is up to you if you would like to replace one island with another or stay longer in an island that you enjoy more than expected.

All you have to do is to inform your captain on time so he will make the proper arrangements if necessary or organize the crew in case there are any provisions to be made.

We also ask Captain his feedback on the program and what he suggests, as he knows the best the specific destinations for each Islands and the small coves and beaches that you will be going. 

The beautiful part of Yachting is that you do as you please!

In the event of cancellation of the charter by the Charterer, for any reason, the following cancellation policy will apply depending on the time-interval between the booking confirmation and the cancellation date. As per the MYBA contract, if you decide to cancel your charter the owner may retain your deposit or the entire charter fee; this depends on the timing you will communicate your cancelation. If you cancel after you have submitted your deposit but before the final installment is due, the owner is entitled to retain your deposit. If you have already paid the entire charter fee, the owner is entitled to retain the full amount but will return the Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA). Should you decide to cancel your charter, please inform us as we can help liaise with the owner to find an alternative date for your charter. Also, keep in mind that different contracts have different cancellation policies.

When docked, the only real restriction is the size of the yacht. In general, a 40 metre yacht can host between 30 and 40 people.

Most yachts will stipulate only 12 passengers are allowed on board when sailing, due to International Marine regulations which consider a yacht with any more guests to be a passenger ship and therefore must comply with Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) conventions. These requirements are costly to implement, which is reflected in the charter fee of those licensed for more passengers.

Just let us know and we will work with the Captain and crew to have any arrangements taken care of!