| Super Yachts, generally defined as luxury yachts | | | | crews are traditional and formal, some more relaxed |
| over 80 feet in length, are the equivalent of floating | | | | and fun loving. Your charter broker will be able to |
| private five star hotels, with no expense spared. | | | | provide you with a crew profile, and in many cases |
| Today's Super Yachts offer high speed Internet | | | | will have already met them in person and can tell you |
| connections, Plasma Screen TVs with satellite video | | | | if the crew is a good fit for your needs. |
| on demand, superb chefs that cook to your exact | | | | Charter costs. |
| specifications, all the water "toys" such as jet skis, | | | | The general charter fee you pay rents you the boat |
| water skiing, scuba gear and wind surfers. Their | | | | and the services of the crew for your stated charter |
| interiors are often created by name designers, and | | | | period. Unless stated otherwise, Food, drink, and fuel |
| offer rooms for every need - offices, kids rooms | | | | will be extra. There will normally be mooring fees and |
| (with Nanny's quarters, of course), glorious master | | | | possibly fees for scuba, water toys and |
| suites, separate decks for sunning, hot tubbing, and | | | | communications. To facilitate this process and build |
| dining, and lavishly appointed salons and dining rooms. | | | | trust, the industry has developed the Advance |
| Crew members often outnumber guests and offer | | | | Provisioning Allowance (APA) system. The Charter |
| unending hospitality. Some Super Yachts even have | | | | Operator estimates the expenses that will be |
| their own beauticians, masseuses and SCUBA diving | | | | incurred, depending on your itinerary (usually 20% to |
| instructors. | | | | 30% of the charter fee) which is paid by you up |
| All this luxury usually floats in one of the world's | | | | front. This provides a bank account for the Captain, |
| paradises, be it the Caribbean Islands, the French or | | | | who makes expenditures on your behalf and keeps |
| Italian Riviera, Sardinia, Greece, Spain or lesser known | | | | accurate records. At the end of the charter, they will |
| but equally enchanting areas of Asia, Australia, South | | | | refund you the difference, or ask you to pay more |
| America or Africa. It is common for a Super Yacht to | | | | to cover any shortfall. |
| spend the summer in Mediterranean hot spots and | | | | Tipping is not obligatory, but common practice on |
| then cross the Atlantic to the Caribbean for the | | | | Super Yachts - normally 5% - 20% of the charter |
| winter, to hop between St Barts, St Lucia, St Martin, | | | | price on a sliding scale depending on how great you |
| Martinique and/or the Grenadines. | | | | thought the crew was. |
| All of this luxury can also be yours. The Super Yacht | | | | Normally, you will be asked to pay 1/2 of the charter |
| charter market is growing fast, with more and more | | | | fee upon signature, and 1/2 approximately 30 days |
| gorgeous yachts being launched every year. You | | | | before the charter. For obvious reasons, the charter |
| don't have to be named Onassis or Armani to be on | | | | will not begin until all payments are made. |
| their boats! And the costs need not be only for the | | | | Other Useful Information. |
| super rich. If you divide the price of a Super Yacht | | | | One you've booked, you will normally be asked to fill |
| by two or three couples, often the prices work out | | | | out a passenger list (with people's likes and dislikes, |
| the equivalent to what you would spend at a Five | | | | allergies, and any special needs), desired itinerary |
| Star Resort. | | | | form and provisioning requests. Please fill these out |
| Chartering a Super Yacht | | | | and return as soon as you can - they're critical to |
| Many people are a bit intimidated about chartering a | | | | your overall satisfaction. |
| Super Yacht - there are lots of terms and customs | | | | Super Yachts normally use a MYBA (Mediterranean |
| that they don't understand. But there is no need to | | | | Yacht Brokers Association) contract that is designed |
| be! Chartering a Super Yacht is really no different | | | | to standardise charter terms and protect both the |
| than booking a luxury hotel, in fact it's easier because | | | | Charterer and Owner. It has standard protections and |
| your broker will do the work for you (for no charge)! | | | | escalation clauses in case there are problems. Your |
| Here are some tips about chartering a Super Yacht: | | | | broker can send you one prior to making decisions if |
| Plan your holiday or event. | | | | you want to familiarise yourself with the terms. |
| The most important thing you can do for us is to | | | | You should also know that, once booked, you have |
| give your broker as much firm detail as possible for | | | | signed a legally binding contract. You are obligated by |
| what you are looking for. The "W"s come to mind: | | | | law to pay the entire charter amount regardless of |
| Who will be going (how many cabins required, | | | | whether you actually board the yacht. In exceptional |
| children, etc.) | | | | cases, you may be able to cancel, but monies will be |
| Where do you want to charter (where will you be | | | | refunded only if the yacht can be chartered to |
| flying into, sites you want to see), | | | | another client. Because of this, many clients purchase |
| What type of yacht do you want - Motor, Sail, | | | | insurance against cancellation. |
| Classic, Modern | | | | Yacht Types |
| What is your general budget; | | | | Motor yachts are generally categorised by Length |
| Why are you chartering - Holiday, Event, Family | | | | (30, 40, 50 meter), number of cabins, manufacturer |
| Gathering, Business Meeting. | | | | (Benetti, Feadship, Sunseeker, Dubois, Rodriguez) and |
| The more of the above questions you can answer, | | | | propulsion type (sail vs. motor). A S/Y is a Sailing |
| the better the broker will be able to find you the | | | | Yacht, a M/Y is a motor yacht. Each manufacturer |
| perfect boat. | | | | has its own style, from a Rodriguez sleek Mangusta |
| Book Early. | | | | to the classic looks of a Benetti. |
| The best Yachts are booked 6 months or more in | | | | Charter Locations |
| advance. If you want a summer holiday charter in the | | | | You can charter a Super Yacht on virtually any sea. |
| Mediterranean you should start thinking about it in | | | | The standard cruising areas for these Yachts tend to |
| November and try to book by the end of January. If | | | | be the Western Mediteranean, normally starting from |
| you're looking for a winter holiday in the Caribbean it's | | | | one of the famous French Riviera ports such as |
| best to plan it during the summer. | | | | Cannes, Antibes, St Tropez or Monaco. Corsica and |
| Look at Several Alternatives and Ask Questions. | | | | Sardinia are hugely popular cruising areas, as is the |
| This is the fun part! First, familiarize yourself with the | | | | lovely Italian Riviera. Naples/Amalfi Coast, Capri and |
| types of yachts available by surfing some of the | | | | the beautiful island of Sicily are also popular if you |
| more popular yacht charter web sites. You'll soon | | | | want an Italian flavor. To the West, you have the |
| spot the types of yachts that appeal to you (sailing | | | | Spanish destinations including Barcelona, the Balearic |
| vs motor, classic vs chic, etc.) and the costs that are | | | | Islands of Mallorca and Ibiza and the Costa del Sol. |
| associated with these choices. Then look for a | | | | Crusing the Greek Islands provides a the famous |
| broker who you like working with (you should get | | | | mixture of beauty, history, culture, food and |
| GREAT service from an online broker, or switch to | | | | tranquility, and Croatia is the up-and-coming hot |
| someone else). The broker will normally provide you | | | | Mediterranean destination with its hundreds of |
| with online brochures of 4-5 yachts that meet your | | | | beautiful and secluded islands. |
| criteria. This is the time to dream, ask questions, and | | | | A SuperYacht holiday in the Caribbean or Bahamas is |
| make sure you are getting the yacht you desire. | | | | also legendary. Hot spots these days are St Barth's, |
| Your broker can often visit the yacht and speak with | | | | Anguilla, St Martin, and Barbados. We're also seeing |
| the crew, and help you plan your itinerary or assure | | | | many more exotic locations - Alaska Wildlife |
| that the crew understands your specific needs. No | | | | Adventures, Patagonia, the Great Barrier Reef, the |
| question is too small - you are making a substantial | | | | Galapagos, even Antartica. Your broker can arrange |
| purchase so make sure you get exactly what you | | | | an itinerary for any of the above destinations, on a |
| want! | | | | yacht that is specially selected for your needs. |
| The Crew makes the Charter. | | | | If you'd like to learn more about Super Yacht |
| Even if you find the perfect yacht, it's the crew that | | | | Charter, feel free to contact the friendly yacht |
| makes for the most spectacular charters. Some | | | | charter agents at or any broker of your choice. |