Anti-COVID restrictions have been lifted in most countries, now it's time to think about traveling. Few vacations can match the luxury and pleasure of a yacht charter. If you are chartering a yacht for the first time, it is important to know the basic details that you should immediately pay attention to and discuss with your charter broker in order to ensure that you have the perfect holiday on board.
1. Plan and book ahead
Back in coronavirus year 2020, many brokers were predicting a charter boom, especially in the superyacht segment, once restrictions were lifted. Even before, the best and newest yachts were always booked quickly, especially in the high season. During the pandemic, many had to give up travel, so now the demand has increased even more.
If you want the widest possible choice, look for and book a yacht in advance. Previously, 4-6 months in advance was enough, now it is better to start searching for options even earlier: ideally, a year in advance, for the next season.
2. Your broker: verify and trust
There is plenty of brokerage companies in the world - both international and local, so it makes sense to spend time on online research and communication. Ideally, if the broker speaks the same language with you - there are many nuances in a yacht charter that need to be explained. Reliable and qualified brokers are usually members of the MYBA or IYBA associations and have an impeccable reputation in the yachting community. Make sure your broker knows the yacht, its crew, its capabilities well and is willing to give you much more information than you can find on the Internet. Qualified international brokers have access to a larger number of charter yachts, regularly attend boat shows, and personally know the yachts themselves and their captains. If the broker suits you, it is important to trust his experience and let him offer you the best options for yachts and itineraries. And this leads to the next rule...
3. Flexibility and optimization
When planning a charter, do not focus in advance on a single yacht or a specific region - this narrows down the options. It is better to tell the broker what you expect from your vacation in detail - from the daily routine to food preferences and communication style with the team. This will allow the broker to select the best yacht for you.
The yacht charter itinerary is also very important. This will allow you not only to get the best experience, but also to optimize the cost of the charter by reducing taxes. The amount of the charter tax depends on many factors: the place where the charter starts / ends, the time spent in the territorial waters of a particular country, the place where you refuel and purchase provisions, etc. A qualified broker knows these nuances and will help to make the best route.
4. All about finance
The cost of a charter per week is not yet the final cost of a charter. If you are chartering a yacht for the first time, it is important to discuss all these details with the broker. Almost always, food and drinks on board, fuel, port fees, etc. are added to the charter price. All this is included in an additional fee - APA (Advanced Provisioning Allowance), which is paid before the start of the charter. At the end of the charter, a settlement is made, and the client either receives back the unspent funds or pays the missing amount. Another expense item is crew tips, which the broker will inform you about. This is a common practice and should not be broken, especially if the crew has gone to great lengths to ensure that your experience on board is perfect. The tip is usually 10% of the charter price.
5. Pay attention to the crew of the yacht
This should be done at the planning stage, as the crew is no less important than the yacht itself. It depends on the team how guests will feel on board and how interesting their stay will be. Moreover, the choice of the yacht itself often depends on this, so it is important to inform the broker about your wishes in advance. For example, if on board you need a chef who can cook especially gourmet food and is familiar with the necessary diets, or an instructor in certain water sports or a beautician.
The crew on board tries to do their job as discreetly as possible for the guests, but this does not mean that you do not need to communicate with the crew. This will help make your charter better and more interesting. Feel free to share your wishes and ideas: the crew is interested in customer satisfaction. Indeed, the charter itinerary is usually planned in advance, but knowing the local features well, the team can offer you a lot of interesting things - a "secret" bay, a barbecue on a cozy beach, an amazing restaurant ... Captains love to share their secrets with guests.
