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Considering or intrigued by the idea of chartering a yacht just for yourself, friends and family?
Start by reading our Guide to Superyacht Charter below and then call or email us anytime to learn more.
Here at Bluewater, we take pleasure in advising those who are unfamiliar with, but curious about the world of yacht charter.
We often hear from families and groups of friends who have toyed with the idea of chartering a yacht but never knew where to start, or how much it might potentially cost. If you too would like to know more about how it all works, then read on to discover the first chapter in our ‘Newcomer’s Guide’ and start planning with our expert Charter Brokers!
Superyacht charter is often viewed as an inaccessible luxury, reserved only for celebrities, millionaires, and royalty. Whilst of course many A-listers can be found being ‘papped’ on the bow of a yacht, a large majority of our clients come from a wider audience and are simply looking to indulge a little, especially when it comes to their holidays and precious family time.
The first step to understanding what you can charter, where and for how long, starts with an email or call to any of the friendly team at Bluewater. We will establish a rough budget for your group (you have the option to split the final bill unless one person is treating the whole group) and discuss what your budget will get you, and where. There are certain parts of the Mediterranean, such as Greece and Turkey which generally offer fantastic value for money – or you may have your heart set on the Amalfi Coast, or the Monaco Grand Prix, or The Bahamas. Whichever destination you are dreaming of, we will set to work compiling a list of yachts that fit your wish-list, with prices laid out clearly.
You can charter a yacht anywhere from a day to weeks or even months on end. Most day charters tend to be on yachts around the 20-30 metre length range, as many of the larger yacht owners will insist on a minimum of a week, especially in high season (generally July and August) or over the holiday period at the end of the year. There are always exceptions such as events like the Monaco Grand Prix, or sometimes even the Cannes Film Festival.
The charter fee (rental cost) for a yacht charter can range anywhere from 3,000 Euros up into the millions. Yes, we did say millions. The most expensive charter yacht on record so far has been 4 million Euros per week. On top of your charter fee (which pays for the vessel and the crew, which come as standard) you will pay the VAT of the country you are chartering in when applicable. At time of writing, French VAT is 20%, Italian is 22% and Croatia is 13%, for example. Your Charter Specialist can advise exactly what you’ll have to pay in which country.
The location in which you wish to charter will effect which yachts are available to you. We will pick out the ones that are already in or close to that area, or if you don’t mind paying for the delivery fuel costs, we can arrange for a yacht to travel to your preferred location. The world really is your oyster!
The final main cost to consider is what we lovingly refer to as APA, which stands for ‘Advanced Provisioning Allowance’. This is essentially your spending pot from which you fund all the other costs of your yachting holiday, such as the food and drink you order, the marina berthing fees, fuel costs, etc., etc. APA is usually calculated at around 30-35% of the net charter fee depending on factors such as how fuel thirsty your yacht is. Your Captain will generally act as your accountant for your holiday, updating you on how much you have spent and providing receipts and invoices for all expenditure.
Any APA which remains unspent at the end of your charter is returned to you, although some guests prefer to leave it as the crew tip which generally runs at around 10-20% of the charter fee, depending how awesome you think your crew have been. Likewise, if you overspend on the APA you will be expected to pay the difference before disembarking the yacht.
Once you have decided on which stunning yacht to charter, and where, your Specialist will go about negotiating rates and contract details on your behalf. The standard contract used is the MYBA Charter Agreement which is 8 pages long and covers things like cancellation, if you can smoke on board, where you will start and finish your charter, along with everything in between. You can also currently expect to see a COVID 19 addendum to your contract which generally serves to protect you from unforeseen Covid-related travel restrictions and allows you to reschedule at a mutually agreeable date, usually within a 12 month period.
Payment for your charter is normally paid in 2 instalments, depending on how far away your date of embarkation is. Your funds are held safely by a stakeholder named on the contract until you have happily completed your charter with no hiccups.
Once the paperwork bit is finished, we start preparing the more exciting things with you, like your preferences. We will send you a ‘preference sheet’ which can be as detailed as you like (in fact the more detail the better); describing what brands of drink you want on board, what kind of menus you wish to experience, if you prefer a green smoothie in the morning or a buck’s fizz; all the important stuff. Yacht chefs are very used to catering for allergies, intolerances, special diets, and they are more than happy to rustle up birthday cakes, special anniversary dinners or just a good old pizza for the kids.
We will also start to hone down your itinerary; that is, where you wish to cruise. Your Charter Specialist and your Captain, who you’ll be put in touch with, will all have their own favourite suggestions for you, but this is your holiday, so if you wish to stay an unexpected extra day in Capri because you’ve fallen in love with La Fontelina then you’re the boss – weather and practicalities willing.
Another hidden upside of yacht charter is that your Crew and Bluewater Charter Specialist will act as your concierge before and during your holiday. We utilise our relationships with the exclusive beach clubs and restaurants to ensure you can grab that hard-to-book front row lounger or sea view table. We are happy to book your reservations for you and arrange any transfers needed to get you where you are going – it is all part of the VIP service that you can expect when chartering.
What you do with your time while on board is entirely up to you (as long as it’s legal!) – this is essentially your own private floating hotel – so if you want to snooze on a sun lounger with a cocktail in hand all day, or play with the water toys for hours on end, your wish is our command! We can also provide onshore recommendations and of course you’ll do your own research too, so if you want to visit specific castle ruins or spend a day hiking Mount Vesuvius (we find the helicopter tour less challenging), then simply email us your wish list and watch it become a reality.
Yacht charter is essentially a way to build your own holiday, with constant travel built in for those who wish, whilst keeping the same luxurious bed. Our clients are delighted by their experiences year after year and our doors are wide open to anyone who is intrigued or interested in finding out more or ready to give yacht charter a try.
Contact us today for a quick chat or long discussion, referencing ‘Newcomer’s Guide’.
