When is the high season and low season?
A great question.
There is no industry standard, each yacht has it’s own seasons.
Please inquire with a specific yacht do get season ranges and dates.
When is the ideal time to start looking for a yacht charter?
First, we see a lot of guests, often first time charterers, applying the concepts from vacation/villa rentals to yacht charters.
Waiting for the last minute deal is not a good idea (the chance you’ll get the type of boat, port, and budget on your dates is minimal).
Yacht charters are a seller’s market. The best yachts are usually booked 6 months+ in advance.
1 year ahead makes it possible to select from almost all yachts available (there are charters for Summer/Winter 2020 being signed late 2018).
With 1 year ahead, there is plenty of time to make a decision. With 3 months ahead, there are often situations, where the group communicates about a particular yacht or multiple yachts for a few days. Finally, when ready to place an option, the yacht is no longer available (placing an option is usually for the purpose of signing the contract, not making a decision).
Final Payment and Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA)
The balance of your payment is normally due 60 days prior to the charter. You will also be asked to send funds to cover the APA, if that is the terms of your agreement. All charter costs must be reconciled before you disembark from the vessel.
Are food, drink and fuel typically part of the charter price per week I see on your site?
The prices on the site are the base prices. For crewed yachts, there is a 20%-30% APA (advance provisioning allowance) added on top – specifically to cover food and fees. If applicable, VAT is added on top as well.
Why are the prices of yachts shown excluding VAT and APA?
The prices of the yachts do not include VAT (Value Added Tax) and APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance). This is because the amounts differ from yacht to yacht, and might even be different for an individual yacht within the season. Please inquire and we will provide specific details of the yacht and dates. As a guide, the VAT is usually 12%.
Advance Provisioning Allowance – called the APA is calculated as a percentage of the charter fee and varies per yacht type, itinerary and possible charter requests and requirements.
The Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA) is designed to cover the operating expenses of a yacht charter. These expenses may include fuel (for the main engines of the yacht, the generators, her tenders and motorized water toys), food, drinks, land services, electronic communications, canal fees, harbor dues, local taxes and marina fees. Depending on the number of guests, type of yacht and duration of the charter, the APA will vary.
A 20% to 35% down payment of the total of the APA is prepaid by the charterer. Your yacht will be fully fueled and provisioned according to your preferences when you step on board. An up-to-date summary of accounts is available on request during your charter. The Captain will notify you if you are close to surpassing the pre-paid APA funds during your charter. In this case, additional funds are required. At the end of your charter, your Captain will present a full set of accounts for your review.
Please carefully review the statement before signing off on it.
All outstanding bills are settled in cash before final disembarkation. Of course, any remaining credit at the end of your charter will be reimbursed to you in full. If there are any bank charges, these are deducted from the APA.
What does a crew vs just a captain consist of on a yacht charter?
The captain is solely responsible for the navigation of the boat. On a captain only charter, most tasks including meals preparation, are left with the guests. A crewed charter will include at least 1 stewardess/chef. With crewed charters, being a guest is a hands-off experience and it’s a huge step up in comfort. Always choose a crewed charter, if within your budget. If not, consult with our broker, perhaps you’d consider another location.
What is the policy on yacht charter cancellation due to weather?
That differs based on contract and boat. The purchase of trip, health, accident, baggage and cancellation insurance is highly recommended and will be offered by a senior broker with a specific boat.
Do you do bareboat as well as crewed charters.
Sure. We can assist with your bareboat requests as well. Just tell us what you’re looking for – type of yacht, budget, number of guests, and we’ll provide the best options for your dates!
