ABOUT CREWED YACHT CHARTERS

A crewed yacht is one that has a permanent crew on board, which can range from just a captain to a more complete crew such as a captain, cook/stewardess, or additional crew members. Generally, the larger or more luxurious the yacht, the more crew members are on board, providing an even more exclusive service for clients.

When it comes to pricing for crewed yachts, there are two main options:

All-inclusive: This formula typically includes fuel, meals, drinks (standard bar, with premium wines and spirits charged as extras), water toys like kayaks, paddleboards, etc., and permits for entry into national parks. It does not include tips for the crew (usually 10-20% of the charter price, at the client’s discretion), diving, phone expenses, excess alcohol consumption, excursions off the yacht, moorings, or transport from the airport to the yacht. This option is commonly used for crewed catamarans and sailboats in the Caribbean.

Charter price plus expenses: In this case, the price only covers the yacht rental, the crew, and yacht liability insurance. All other expenses such as meals, drinks, fuel (for both the yacht and generators), water toys, navigation permits, moorings, and park entry fees are charged separately. To cover these expenses, an Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA) is paid with the second charter payment (usually 30 days before departure) and is typically 25% to 35% of the charter price. (More information about the APA can be found in our Frequently Asked Questions section). In the Mediterranean, the yacht price must be increased by the applicable VAT of the country where you are sailing. Additionally, it is customary to leave a tip for the crew at the end of the charter holiday.

CREWED YACHT CHARTER PROCESS

• Choosing the yacht: Once you've chosen the yacht you'd like to charter, we put the yacht on hold in your name, ensuring it’s reserved while we finalize the necessary arrangements.

• Contract and payments: We send you the contract with a payment schedule and instructions. Generally, payments are made in two installments: the first payment is a 50% deposit along with the signed contract, and the second payment is due 30 to 45 days before boarding.

• Preference sheet: After the reservation is confirmed with the first payment, we send a preference sheet for you to fill out. This allows you to specify your preferences for food, drinks, activities, allergies, and any special requests for your group. The more information you provide, the better prepared the crew will be to meet your expectations. We recommend submitting the preference sheet at least a month and a half before the charter to ensure everything is properly arranged, especially in remote areas where provisioning can be more difficult.

• Preparation with the captain: As the departure date approaches, the captain will contact you to introduce himself, discuss the itinerary, activities, menus, and the meeting point.

• Follow-up: After boarding, we will reach out to ensure everything went smoothly. We’ll also check in during and after your trip to make sure your experience met your expectations and to gather your feedback about the yacht, the crew, and the destination. Don’t worry, we’ll be guiding you through the whole process.

Common contracts  The most common contracts for crewed yacht charters are the MYBA Contract (Worldwide Yachting Association, formerly known as the Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association) and CYBA Contract (Charter Yacht Brokers Association).