Questions about Getting the Right Charter
Thinking about chartering a yacht and have some questions?
We can help! On this page you'll find many answers to questions you may have.
Contact us and let us answer all your questions.
Answers to common Questions
How do you pass the time on a yacht charter?
Consider your charter yacht as your traveling luxury home, where it can take you to various islands or ports where you can explore on land at your own pace. Consider it also your floating water sports platform from which you can swim, water ski, snorkel, each yacht prides itself on it's selection of water toys.
Consider it to have endless 360 degree views. Consider the answer to be, do what you want, when you want and at your own pace, the options are countless.
Where do yacht charters start and end?
Fully crewed Luxury yachts are available in all mjor cruising waters around the world, unlike cruise ships they do not limit themselves to fixed duration sailings so you can start a yacht charter when you want for as long as you want and it can begin and end where you want. We can help you plan suitable start and end destinations dependant on the part of world you are interested in.
What qualifications will I need?
You'll need to be able to relax and enjoy the best vacation experience you can imagine, the captain and crew will take care of everything else! Of course you’ll need your passport but that’s about it. You don’t have to go shopping for food and drinks, clean the yacht, cook your dinner or wash up! But you are required to have a good time!
Can I be reached while away?
Many larger yachts have SAT phone capability and many locations these days have cell coverage if you have A GSM phone. Some yachts also have Internet access via satellite. There are extra charges for this and cell coverage is limited as you know. Simply put if you are on a very remote idyllic anchorage with not a house or person in sight, you cell phone may not work. We can get you the yachts contact information to share with your family and friends before you leave.
How do I choose the right yacht?
That's where we can help, it's what we do better than anyone else.
This is what we do, this is all we do, and it just so happens that we do it extraordinarily well. In fact, no company caters to their clients in quite the way we do.
Imagine. Seven days a week, a trained and experienced charter specialist dedicated to serving you will be available to answer every question, and customize, plan, schedule and set into motion the vacation experience of a lifetime. They are available to you from your very first question to the end of your charter, you are their priority.
We inspect yachts every year and get to know the crews. We also travel to various destinations around the world to experience them ourselves. Before we can really help we'll have a few questions for you.
How you can help us
Who will be going with you?
The size and make up of your party will help us identify yachts with the right number and type of staterooms. Their ages and interests will help further to ensure the yacht is correctly equipped and crewed.
When will you be going?
The yachts are typically available on a weekly or daily basis with a large amount of flexibility on start dates and duration. Unlike vacation villas though, they do move around to meet the needs of their clients. If you have a set of dates or approximate dates as well as ideas for destinations, we will be able to find the yachts that are available when you want to travel and where you want to cruise. Some yachts and destinations can be very popular so it's best to plan as soon as you can; sometimes the best yachts are already pre booked a year in advance.
Motor Yacht or Sailing Yacht?
Motor yachts travel faster and tend to be larger, typically appealing to those who prefer a luxurious and elegant lifestyle. Sailing yachts, while also luxurious, typically accommodate fewer guests and more often appeal to those who have a romance with the sea and a relish to feel the wind and motion of the oceans. In some locations sailing yacht charters may be fully inclusive of meals and fuel, whereas for motor yachts meals and fuel typically would be in addition to the base charter fee.
How much is your total budget?
Knowing how much you want to spend is the last element to help us find the ideal yacht for you. Your budget should include everything except the travel costs to your destination; i.e. it should cover accommodations, meals, beverages, and associated gratuities for all in your party.
How we help you
International Yacht Charter Group does not represent a limited set of charter yachts. We have access to countless charter yachts worldwide and have the largest selection available for you to browse online.
We will listen to your needs, usually talking to you by phone to get to know you better and to learn what you are looking for. After researching and discussing options with the management of possible yachts to find you the very best choices, we typically would then present you with the full details of a number of available yachts.
Once you have reviewed the initial suggestions, we will explain the terms of each and then identify further choices based on your feedback until we find your ideal charter yacht. We personally visit many yachts during each year in different charter destinations to ensure we have the fullest knowledge of the worldwide fleet for our clients.
We'll help you plan where to go, communicate to the crew your preferences, and remain available to you throughout the planning process until your charter ends.
We are happy to work with our clients over several days or several months until we find just the right yacht for you.
What happens once the ideal yacht is chosen?
How do we reserve the yacht?
All yachts are booked using one of several types of Charter Agreement. The terms may seem overwhelming at first, but we are there to explain the process and ensure that you are satisfied with the terms. Any and all questions you may have of the Captain or owner of the yacht will be answered.
How much is the deposit?
Once you are ready to sign the agreement, you will be asked for a 50% down payment. This, with the fully signed agreement, constitutes a confirmed booking of the yacht.
Can I choose the food?
You will be sent a fairly detailed questionnaire asking you about your preferences for food, beverages and any dietary or medical needs you or someone in your party may have. This is critical so that your crew will have the yacht ready and provisioned, with everything customized for you to enjoy the perfect charter.
When do I have to make the final payment?
Final payment and usually your APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance) are due thirty days prior to departure. The APA is based on your cruising plans discussed during the selection process. If it is listed in the terms on your charter agreement, you will be asked to send funds to cover this at the same time as your final payment. During your charter the Captain will monitor outgoings and reconcile actual expenses against these advance funds for you at the end of your charter or shortly afterwards.
What if I have to cancel?
The charter agreement will document what happens in various circumstances if the charter is cancelled. Cancellation insurance is available to protect your funds should unforeseen circumstances prevent or cut short your charter. Ask our charter professional about these options as you complete your charter selection.
The Captain's Responsibilities
A luxury yacht charter is customized to your needs. The Captain will always try to comply with your wishes and he may be able to present various possibilities, when available, to meet your needs. However, his primary responsibility is for the safety of his passengers and the yacht and, should a circumstance arise, he has the final decision on safety issues.
Gratuities
At the end of every charter, at your discretion, it is customary to tip the Captain and crew. If you have had a wonderful time and think it was as a result of long hours and attention to detail by the crew, then 15% of the base charter fee may be fair. Exceptional service often warrants 20% or higher, at your discretion.
Contact us now with any other question you have or just to see if we can help you!
When considering a yacht charter,
International Yacht Charter Group is the only company you need. You tell us your needs and how many guests, we provide you with the widest range and selection of charter yachts with the finest customer service anywhere in the world. One call to International Yacht Charter Group does it all.
Booking for next year or next week, any type of yacht, and anywhere in the world we can find the right yacht for you:
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International Yacht Charter Group is the only complete yacht charter company you will ever need. Call us, see what the very best service is really like.