Yacht Charter FAQ

Some of the more common activities that yacht charter guests might enjoy include scuba diving-this may be onboard or rendezvous diving depending on the yacht insurance, charter contract and local regulations etc., kayaking, jet skiing, water skiing, wakeboarding, parasailing, snorkelling, swimming, sunbathing, dining, night clubbing, tramping, shopping, fishing, sailing-indeed the list goes on depending on your charter location.

There are two types of pricing for crewed yacht charters: either ‘all-inclusive’ or ‘plus expenses’.

All-inclusive usually means the charter fee will include captain and crew service, meals, standard ship’s bar, fuel and all expenses related to the running of the vessel and use of onboard sports equipment. Items not usually included in the charter fee are optional crew gratuities, diving, diving equipment, premium drinks and fine wines, excessive alcohol consumption, off-yacht excursions, mooring fees, cruising taxes and permits, telephone, airport transfers, or similar expenses by the Charterer.

“Plus expenses” (the most common on luxury motor yacht charters) means that items such as catering, fuel, communications etc. are not included in the charter rate. Your actual charter expenses will be billed at cost with an APA added to your base charter fee to cover your expenses. Expenses are estimated to be 25-30% of base charter fee, although this can be more or less depending on individual requirements. The Captain will be accountable for these expenses, providing receipts where possible. Should you run more than the estimated expense allowance provided- say ordering extremely expensive items, staying in expensive ports or cruising excessively-then additional payment will be expected during your charter. Conversely, any unspent APA will be refunded to you at the end of the charter. Please note also that it is customary for a crew gratuity of approximately 10-15% of the charter rate to be paid, although this is left to the discretion of the crew.

Under WMT (Western Mediterranean Terms) charter rates include: fully equipped yacht rental, crew, yacht insurance, crew catering.Charter rates do not include: fuel for the yacht (main engines and generators), for tenders and water toys; guests’ food and drink; port fees (boarding fee, passenger tax, etc.) and taxes if any; water and electricity on land; personal laundry; personal communication costs (including Wi-Fi) and anything not mentioned under “Rates Include”.

Under SEMT or EMT (Standard Eastern Mediterranean Terms), charter rates include: rental of a fully equipped yacht, crew, insurance, crew food, fuel for 4 or 5 hours per day, port fees and taxes if any, except canal dues. Often, but not always, prices include water and electricity.Prices do not include: fuel for the yacht for more than 4 or 5 hours per day, fuel for tenders, generator(s) and water toys, private marina fees, guest’s food and drink, communication costs and personal laundry.

Under SCT (Standard Caribbean Terms) charter rates include: fully equipped yacht rental, crew, insurance, guests’ meals, crew’s meals, fuel for a number of hours, often changing from one yacht to another. Charter rates do not include: beverages, personal communication costs, personal laundry and harbour fees.

APA stands for Advance Provisioning Allowance. The APA essentially sets up a bank account for the yacht’s crew to provision on your behalf.The main provisioning items are fuel, food, drinks and harbour fees.Normally a percentage is added to the base charter fee – depending on the type of boat and therefore fuel consumption/cost. For sailing yachts you can expect to pay 20 to 25%, for motor yachts 30 to 35% and sometimes more for large open yachts such as Mangusta or Leopard.You will pay this with your final charter payment. The captain is required to keep all receipts and balance the account for you and you can check the level of expenditure at any time during the charter. At the end of the charter the captain will give you a full statement of your expenses and any unused amounts will be refunded.There are no mark-ups on the APA – all funds go directly into the purchase of fuel, food, etc.

Yes, in cases where the charter of a yacht involves Charterminute SARL. KYC stands for ‘Know Your Customer’. KYC verification means verification of the identity of a customer. Evidence against money laundering requires proof of identity and residence. That could be a passport or some other government issued ID and a utility bill or similar. Originals or certified copies can be sighted.

The information is only required to be obtained because of international anti-money laundering regulations.

In most instances, you will be required to pay 50% of the total charter fee on signing of this Charter Agreement and against the invoice for such, by bank transfer. The balance of 50% of the charter fee plus APA and if applicable, taxes, delivery charges and security deposit are due one month in advance prior to the start of your charter.

Most yachts welcome children, and some are even set up with children in mind.

However, some may have a minimum age for children and/or require a nanny to be on board during the charter. The crew cannot provide babysitting services.

The majority of the boats do not accept pets on board, few exceptions: for more detailed information please contact us.

Smoking inside a yacht is prohibited. For safety reasons, all yachts strictly forbid smoking in the cabins and staterooms. Some yachts allow smoking only in certain areas outdoors.

Of course: your charter broker will ask you to complete a detailed questionnaire (Preference Sheet) describing the food and beverage preferences and special needs of all members of your party, together with any dietary or medical requirements.

Captains do allow Personal Watercraft (Jet Skis, Waverunners, etc.), though access may be limited to certain areas, and guests will also be required to possess an appropriate operating licence. Please check with Charterminute first for any guidelines or if you have any specific requirements in this regard.

Communications equipment onboard could include Wi-Fi, on-board telephone, and email access to allow one to stay in touch with the home office easily and efficiently. While most yachts have normal wireless access and service, it does get spotty; sometimes, certain areas cannot guarantee it. Any guest anticipating regular use of the internet or requiring high bandwidth during their charter should do so in advance of boarding, as upgrades are subject to availability.

While organizing your yacht trip, it is also wise for you to acquire protection for the chance of the vacation being cut short or just being canceled for any reason. Hence, this insurance is specially designed to guard your asset in case of a plain sailing – like getting sick, a family emergency, or even as nasty weather that kills your destination.

Check that each person on the charter has their own accident and medical insurance. In addition, it is wise to provide coverage to the property you possess by theft, loss, or damage. Another coverage is Charterer’s Liability which secure you if accidents happen or something gets damaged during your time on the yacht.

As unessential as it may seem, a good understanding of the advantages of insurance is really the ticket to your mental peace and a half-price headache if things go wrong. Think of yourself as well, you will be much more at peace and free from worries about any unforeseen incidents.

As with any holiday it pays to remember you are a guest in another country and culture .

Our top 10 do’s and don’ts
1. Do Respect the crew and keep them informed

2. Do respect the barefoot rule on board.

3. Anticipate crew cleaning times

4. Be flexible with your itinerary (depending on the weather)

5. Fill in the preference form in advance

6. Don’t pollute the sea and don’t waste fresh water

7. Don’t expect the crew to babysit your children.

8. Don’t do anything illegal – drugs, weapons.

9. Don’t violate the smoking policy

10. Don’t enter crew areas without permission

By Maritime regulations, yachts are limited to 12 guests. However, there is a degree of flexibility: in France, for example, maxi catamarans can cruise near the coast with more than 180 guests.

In addition, some superyachts can accommodate more than 12 guests: contact us for more information.

Streets shoes, like boots or high heels, are strictly not allowed onboard any yacht as it will damage the decks, floors and soil carpets and other décor. The no footwear rule is hence very much implemented onboard regularly.

Short answer for crewed yacht charter: no.

The majority of the yachts can take 8/10 guests in 4/5 cabins; some rare mega yacht may accommodate 16 guests. Mini cruise ships -for example RM Elegant- take on board up to 30 guests.

Your booking will go ahead even if it’s raining. Large yachts come with jacuzzi, cinema, gym, and such, and shopping is not forbidden. Your crew will advise you accordingly.