Yacht chartering tips

There is no doubt that yacht chartering is a great way to enjoy a fantastic holiday, in some of the most beautiful locations in the world. At Royalty Yachts, we understand the many things there are to consider as you plan a vacation with yacht chartering. If you use a great broker, a yacht chartering vacation can be your dream vacation.

To assist you in choosing the right company here are a few guidelines:

• Use a reputable yacht charter boat broker; this means one that can provide you with professional and informative advice. Find and use a yacht charter broker that will give you the best in terms of their experience, professionalism and attention to your needs. They should have an extensive database from which to find the best yacht charter boats for the best value for you, using their experience and knowledge.
• Brokers are independent and generally represent a large number of charter boat operators, from all over the world. Therefore, they give unbiased advice. A good broker will be familiar with the boats, crews and destinations wherever they operate.
• With boat charter vacations, payment is often required months in advance. To ensure your funds are fully protected, your yacht charter broker should have a trust (escrow) account.
• Finally, your broker should be able to advise you on travel arrangements necessary to ensure your yacht charter vacation goes without a hitch. To allow for cleaning and preparation, operators set strict departure and arrival times for their boats. You will need to consider flight times, visas and, in some cases, onshore accommodation.

Most commonly asked questions about yacht charter vacations

Will I have to share a yacht with another group or people I don’t know?
No. True private yachts cannot be booked by the cabin. You hire the whole yacht and decide who comes on board with you for the trip.

A private yacht vacation sounds expensive. How can I afford it?
In fact, a family of four might actually pay less for a yacht charter than for a vacation on a cruise ship, and couples who travel on high-end cruise ships can often find bargains for cruises on private yachts when travelling with friends.

Will I need to know anything about sailing a boat?
No. Although you can learn if you like, and you can be captain if you wish to be, most private yacht charters provide a licensed captain and many come with a full crew to fulfill your every need.

Are smaller yachts as safe as big cruise ships?
In fact, private yachts are safer, for many reasons. Large cruise ships usually cruise from big tourist ports which attract pickpockets. On a private yacht the only people on board are your private crew (usually the owner’s own crew), you and your invited guests. Unlike big cruise ships, private yachts rarely travel where pirates do, and private yacht crews are trained to top international standards to deal with any (rare) emergency on board. It is also true that smaller yachts, with less people on board, are less prone to disease than larger ships. Finally, there is a lot less damage to the environment by a smaller yacht than by a large cruise ship.

If private yacht charter is so good, why does my travel agent not promote them?
It’s because a travel agent makes money from selling cruise ship vacations. Yacht charter is a specialized part of the travel industry, requiring expert knowledge, and travel agents cannot compete with professional brokers. To get the best from chartering a yacht, you need to go through a top professional broker like Royalty Yachts.