Planning and Booking the Perfect Yacht Vacation

Now you’ve decided to head on a luxury yacht charter, what next? It’s important to start planning in plenty of time, to ensure you get the most out of your charter vacation.

In this article, we go through the important stages of planning, booking and paying for your perfect charter vacation. Here, we explain the role of a charter broker, the important legal agreements, and how your captain and crew will ensure your vacation is as individual as you are.

Choose your dream yacht.

Whether seeking an expedition, sailing or motor yacht, there’s a huge selection of vessels to choose from, and we’ve rounded up the world’s best in one place. Whether you’re heading on a romantic getaway, family vacation, or are planning a corporate event, you’ll want to choose a yacht that best fits your individual needs.

A great starting point is to browse our extensive yacht guide, complete with individual particulars and extensive imagery. This should give you a better idea of the kind of yachts available, and help you to find the one that’s most suitable. It can be helpful to create a list of your individual requirements, and to always check the layout and accommodation arrangements of each yacht carefully.

Instruct a charter broker.

Once you’ve worked your way through the shortlist, and arrived at your dream yacht, it’s time to contact a charter broker. They’ll do the hard work for you, handling the contracts and costs, and ensuring all the necessary paperwork is completed. It’s worth pointing out that this service is completely free, with fees paid by the owner of the yacht. Don’t worry if you still can’t decide which yacht is right for you, a charter broker will be happy to advise further, based on your requirements.

It’s a great idea to inform your charter broker of any particular activities you’d like to enjoy, the locations you’d most like to see, and any special dietary requirements you may have.

Planning your itinerary.

Your tailor-made itinerary is an essential part of the planning process. While you’ll be able to get lots of handy advice from your charter broker, be sure to name your preferences, likes and dislikes too, to ensure you get the most out of your experience. Whether you’re seeking the white water thrills of New Zealand, the serenity of the Caribbean, or the summer heat of the Mediterranean, the world is your oyster.

 State your preferences.

Luxury yacht charters are individual, and as such you’ll be asked to complete a preferences form before you sail. This is a great chance to tell the crew about your individual requirements, likes and dislikes, and to enable your crew to provide the world-class service, luxury charter vacations are so famous for.

The form will ask questions around food preferences, medical issues, travel reservations, and wine tastes, as well as asking for your confirmed guest list. It will be handed to your captain ahead of your arrival, to enable the crew to purchase special foods, book berths, and organize planned activities.

Sign your charter agreement.

The next part of the process is to check the particulars and sign your charter agreement. Your charter broker will compile this document, confirming your chosen yacht, destinations, travel dates, and cost. There are several types of charter agreements, with the Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association (MYBA) agreement being the most common. The first payment will also be required at this stage, and while this is generally 50% of the fee, this could vary according to your charter broker and agreement type.

Pay the Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA) & your final balance.

This is an additional fee of around 30% of the charter fee cost, paid to cover fuel, food and provision costs. Your crew will use this APA to purchase the necessary items ahead of your arrival. Berth and mooring fees may also be included in this APA fee, according to your planned destination and the time of year.

You’ll pay the final outstanding balance of your charter fee, along with the APA, one month before you’re due to depart.

Look forward to your vacation.

That’s it. You’re all booked, and your dream vacation is paid for. Now you can sit back, relax, and look forward to sailing in style around your dream destination.