Booking a yacht shouldn't feel more complicated than the vacation itself. Here's exactly how it goes, from your first message to stepping aboard.
Book a call or fill out the quote form with your dates, group size, destination, and a rough sense of budget.
Yachts I know and trust, matched to your group, not a list.
From the options I send, you choose the one that fits your trip.
Questions, adjustments, whatever you need before committing, we work it out together.
This officially reserves your yacht and takes it off the market for anyone else.
Itinerary, preferences, and every detail leading up to your trip.
Pricing depends on which of three charter styles fits your group.
What I specialize in, and the premium experience. Includes a professional captain, private chef, all meals, and a full bar, all built around your group. These yachts come fully stocked, with luxury linens, water toys, and the amenities aboard ready before you step on. The only additional cost is gratuity, 15-20% of the charter rate, paid directly to the crew. These are boats I've toured and crews I know personally, so I can tell you what a week aboard feels like before you book.
Includes your professional captain and standard yacht amenities. A chef can sometimes be added depending on the yacht. You provide your own provisions, though I make that easy, I can have a full grocery order delivered straight to the yacht and stowed before you board. Depending on the yacht, you may also cover fuel and mooring fees.
By special request only, most often for flotilla groups sailing multiple boats together. I can help source the right bareboat and find qualified crew if your group needs one. These come from the larger charter companies, so expect a stock boat rather than the linens and finishes of a crewed yacht, and you cover the running costs yourselves, provisions, fuel, cruising permits, insurance, mooring, and dockage.
Customary, not built into the rate. In the Caribbean it runs 15-20% of the full charter rate, in the Mediterranean it's typically 10-15%. Paid directly to the crew at the end of the week.
This is different from booking a cruise cabin or a hotel room. You're reserving an entire yacht, exclusively for your group, which means the boat is off the market for everyone else the moment you book it. Your deposit secures those dates and is non-refundable, regardless of the reason, personal cancellation, weather, flight delays, or anything else. The remaining balance is split into payments based on how far out you're booking, sometimes two, sometimes three or four, spaced out further the earlier you book. I'll lay out your exact schedule when I send your proposal.
Because the deposit is non-refundable, I highly recommend travel insurance for every charter. It's the best protection you have against the unexpected, and it's the same decision I'd make myself.
One thing that surprises people: this industry runs on wire transfers and checks, not credit cards. It's how yacht payments have always been handled, so plan on sending funds that way rather than putting a charter on a card.
Not with me. The yacht pays my commission, and the charter rate is the same whether you book direct or through me. What you get is a travel guru in your corner: I know the boats and crews, I shape your itinerary around how your group likes to travel, and the price doesn't change.
Depends on the charter style. Fully crewed includes a professional captain, private chef, all meals, and a full bar, with gratuity as the only add-on. Captain-only includes your skipper and standard yacht amenities, with food and fuel typically handled separately. Bareboat is by special request only.
Fully crewed is the full luxury experience, your captain and chef take care of everything. Captain-only means a professional skipper sails the boat while you handle your own food and drinks, though I help make provisioning easy. Bareboat means no crew at all, and it's reserved for special requests like flotilla groups.
Most crewed yachts are cabin-based, not bed-based. A yacht with 3 queen cabins typically sleeps 6, 4 cabins sleeps 8. Larger groups need a larger yacht, and I'll match you accordingly.
I'll help you build it based on where you want to go and how your group likes to travel. Your captain fine-tunes the route once you're aboard, since weather and conditions sometimes call for small changes.
None. Most charters are fully crewed, so a professional captain handles the sailing and you're a guest for the week. If a bareboat charter is more your speed, I can help with that too.
It depends on the yacht. There are ladders, dinghy transfers, and cabin stairs to consider. Tell me about any concerns upfront and I'll help find a yacht and setup that works.
Ideally three months to a year out. Holiday weeks and peak season go fast, and the earlier you book, the more yachts you'll have to choose from.
Your deposit is non-refundable no matter the reason. That's exactly why I recommend travel insurance for every charter, it protects you if plans change unexpectedly.
15 minutes, no pressure, just help finding the right fit.