Top tips for a first superyacht charter

When you first approach a superyacht, whether by car to a quay or by luxury tender to the middle of a stunning anchorage, there’s nothing quite like the feeling. With a professional crew whose sole focus is your pure enjoyment, and all the facilities of a luxury villa, a seven-star hotel and a watersports resort combined into the most extraordinary piece of design and engineering most of us will ever see, a superyacht holiday with family and friends can deliver the most unique and bespoke of experiences and create memories that will last a lifetime. The adventure and relaxtion a yacht offers can also be your first taste of the superyachting good life – whether you decide to try yacht chartering again or maybe take the plunge into yacht ownership.

“A superyacht charter is like no other holiday you have had,” says Catherine Wilson, a New York-based charter broker for brokerage house Burgess. “Everything is tailored to you and your guests, from food preferences (with your own personal chef) to even the itinerary. Between yourself, the captain and your charter broker you will plan your perfect trip – and if you turn up at a port and the weather isn’t quite what you wanted, well, then you can just move on. A superyacht charter is just like renting a private island, but this island can move.”

That’s not all. “The crew are solely focused on you as guests on board the yacht – you’re not just going to a hotel’s restaurant and ordering from a menu. It’s the ultimate way of being bespoke,” adds Rupert Wakeley, senior charter broker at TJB Super Yachts. “And you see a country in a way you never could from a hotel, and you’re seeing places that are inaccessible by any other means. Finally,” he says, “there’s the privacy a superyacht offers.”

If the idea of chartering a superyacht is tempting but it’s something you’ve never done before – or perhaps you’ve never even set foot on a yacht before – it can be a daunting proposition. How do you choose which yacht, and where should you go? What’s included in the fee and what is extra? Are superyachts safe and, perhaps most importantly, will I feel seasick? Thankfully, for those who want a taste of the superyachting good life there are experts who can help – and who can make the whole process seamless. Here are some tips from charter brokers on how to get started, and some answers to common first-timer questions.

Do I need a charter broker, and how do I find one?

If you’re not sure where to get started, a charter broker will be able to help with professional advice, because there isn’t always one answer. It depends entirely on the party, and what you’re looking for in a charter holiday and as amenities on the yacht. Remember, a superyacht charter is a tailored experience.

“If there is a particular destination and time you are looking for your charter broker will source a number of suitable yachts for you to choose from,” Wilson advises. “The broker would have handpicked these yachts based on your criteria, taking into account age ranges of the party, activities, whether the yacht is family-friendly or even if you are planning a big celebration. They will also know the crew on each yacht so they can select the best match.

“It all starts with understanding the client or the group of people coming on board,” Says Wakeley. “And thinking about what they are after – are you looking for pure seclusion and going to hidden beaches and coves, or do you want to be on the dock every night? Sometimes you may have a destination in mind already, for which an experienced broker can then recommend the best yachts for your needs. Sometimes for a first-time charter we might recommend particular destinations that serve as a great introduction to what superyacht charter is all about.”

How do you know it’s for you?

The idea of spending a week or two on a yacht can also bring with it certain concerns. Will it be comfortable, how much motion is there and will it feel safe? Fortunately, modern superyachts are not only built to the very highest standards of luxury, they are also built to the very highest standards of safety. What’s more, your broker can select only yachts that have stabilizers for you. Which counteract the rolling motion under way and at anchor and can therefore mitigate any potential for seasickness. Further, the total flexibility of a superyacht charter means you can enjoy the yacht in the way that suits you.

For Wakeley, the stabiliser technology that keeps a motor yacht level and more-or-less still in the waves is one aspect, but there are also alternative types of vessel that might suit. “There are some incredible catamarans now,” he advises, “and a catamaran is like being on your own moving villa because they are absolutely huge and they are super stable – they can be a great platform to get started on.”

“A yachting holiday allows the best of both worlds,” adds Wilson. “You can spend all your time onboard or you can island-hop and spend your days ashore. You can use the yacht as your own private beach – sunbathe, and then get the watertoys out before an alfresco lunch on deck, or you can take the yacht’s tender and head into port to explore. The tender will be at your beck and call too.”

What is included in the charter fee?

While charter rates vary from high to low season and from yacht to yacht, they essentially are structured the same way. As Wilson points out, the fee includes the hire of the vessel, all amenities on board including the watertoys, and the crew. VAT or tax will be charted on the charter fee depending on your country of embarkation. There’s also what’s known as the advance provisioning allowance – or APA – which is essentially your onboard expense account. For all operating expenses incurred while on the yacht such as food and drinks, fuel, port and agency fees.

“The APA is collected as between 30-40% of the charter fee, and a crew gratuity is also recommended between 10-20% of the charter fee based on your experience on board,” says Wilson. “If there is a balance remaining in the APA at the end of the charter, most clients put this toward the gratuity. Also, a preference form will be provided prior to your charter. Which covers everything from dietary restrictions to beverage requests and even how you like your coffees in the morning.” The more detail provided, she says, the better prepared the crew will be for your time on board.

“All the food, fuel and any other costs are all charged without mark-up,” adds Wakeley. “The APA is there simply to cover any and all ad hoc expenses. Essentially it’s there to make your holiday as relaxing as possible, because when you’re on board you don’t need to reach into your pocket at all. It’s also a very fair way of setting costs, because if you eat dinner ashore every night, you’re not going to be charged the costs for dinner on board.”

How accessible is charter and how important is the broker?

We’ve all seen the headlines of superyachts that reportedly cost hundreds of millions to build and are chartering for millions of dollars. But the truth is that there are only a tiny number of these giants. The vast majority of the superyacht fleet comprises yachts at the smaller end of the scale, starting at around 30 metres in length. This also translates into superyacht charter being a much more accessible proposition than most people realise.

As Wilson points out, chartering a 30 metre yacht can start at around €50,000. Which split between three or four couples, for example, is comparable to many villa rentals or high-end hotel stays. Wakeley adds that entry-level charters on a yacht large enough to give you a taste of the superyachting good life can start from as little as €25,000 per week.

“There are 2,000 superyachts in charter, and it’s our job as brokers to understand what a client’s needs are and which one will work for them.” Says Wakeley, adding that it’s also important not to try to create too intense an itinerary for your first charter, so you can enjoy the complete flexibility a superyacht offers.

“A superyacht charter is an expensive holiday and therefore it is extremely important that it runs smoothly,” Wilson advises. “There are many factors to figure into the experience. By choosing a reputable and knowledgeable broker to assist you through the process can mitigate a lot of potential issues. A broker spends their time researching the yachts spending time with the crew and are experts in negotiating the best deals. And if you are wondering if you will like it, the best thing to do is try it,” she concludes. “Most people never look back!”