Boatbookings outlines 5 main reasons to book your yacht charter now! With Charter protection policies, booking your bareboat charter has never been so easy!
Availability
Just like the supermarkets – the availability of the yachts is becoming less and less. Whether you are chartering a bareboat monohull in the BVI’s or a bareboat catamaran in Greece, most yacht charters scheduled for 2020 are now moving to 2021. This means if you want to charter in 2021 you have to book now! There will be a serious lack of availability during the early part of 2021 than compared to other years. Trust us, we can see all the yachts calendars!
Your first choice when it comes to yacht and destination
There are favorable weeks during the year which sees an increase in sailing charters such as the first two weeks of August in the Mediterranean, and the Christmas week in the BVI’s. These weeks are busy regardless, and as such 2021 will not only have the guests that want to charter during the year of 2021, you will also now see that all the guests that were previously booked in 2020 have moved their charter to 2021. This means that it will be increasingly hard to secure those best weeks of sailing in your desired location.
Discounts!
We all love a discount, by securing your yacht charter early you can benefit from various forms of early booking discounts. Most charter companies have specific covid19 policies meaning lower deposits and flexible rescheduling if your travel plans are affected by covid19.
Supporting the industry that you know and love
It is no shock that the travel industry has been severally affected, and was probably one of the first industries to really feel the hit of COVID19. By booking your yacht charter for 2021 or 2022, you are actively supporting an industry that relies on sailors and charterers from all over the globe. Without you, there is no industry.
Something to look forward to when the world returns back to normal
Sailors, charterers, and everyone at Boatbookings have one thing in common – a sense of adventure. The freedom to sail the seas and travel to some world-class destinations is our way of life. Staying home, and having our freedom taken away has his us all hard in different ways. By booking a risk-free charter it gives you something to look forward to, break up the day with some passage planning or speak to one of us today and bounce some ideas around!
Thinking about having a holiday on the water, or planning to upgrade on your Bahamas cruise? Read here!
Price
Roughly speaking, you are looking roughly between £750 – £2,000 per cabin, 7 days, for a cruise liner. If you are going away with family, this could amount up to £2,250 – £6,000 – before you even start to factor in the extortionate dinner prices, and excursions.
For £6,000 you can charter a 2019 Catamaran with a skipper and have the yacht to yourselves. Of course, there are other costs to factor in but as a whole, when wanting to have a holiday on the water with the family, a private charter is more often than not, a better choice economically compared to a cruise liner.
Itinerary
Cruise liners are very good at having a set itinerary. You know where you will be on what day, and at what port. Due to the size, and with the number of bodies on board, it is imperative that they stick to a schedule (yes they leave people behind if they are not on board!)
Cruise liners are absolutely huge, often referred to as ‘death’ by sailors sailing past them and can pretty much go through any weather (within reason) allowing them to stick to their schedule.
Now, I don’t know about you, but I’d say I stick to a holiday itinerary about 40% of the time. I always seem to discover parts that I would like to explore more – with a private charter, it gives you the flexibility to do so. On your valuable week off from work, do you really want your week to be so structured to the minute? The answer is probably no…
Food and drink
How can I put this politely….. there are roughly 3000+ guests on one cruise ship, so expect mass-produced, soulless food. Now if that’s your cup of tea – great!!! A cruise is for you. If you, however, want personalised meals, often made with local produce, in a local way then a private charter is for you. The private charter chef will have received your preference sheets and created a bespoke menu based on your dietary requirements, likes, dislikes, allergies etc. Why would you ever opt for anything less?!
Comfort and atmosphere
Cruise liners, similarly referred to as a hotel on water, really does equate to what you pay for. The interior rooms are like a small motel, while the suites offer a more luxurious vibe (they do come with a hefty price tag). On a yachting vacation, regardless of it being a private charter or a cruise, you won’t really spend a lot of room in the bedroom. However, you will spend a lot of your time on the decks. If this is on a private charter, there is no better place to hang out than on the bow, or flybridge (if your yacht has one). On a cruise liner, you have the inside entertainment areas and outside areas such as the swimming pool. The seating works just like a hotel -first come first serve with 8 am sprints needed to ensure you get a place around the pool.
The bottom line
If you want to get up close and personal with the desired country that you visit, a private charter is for you. The flexibility and adaptability to your needs surpass anything that cruise liners could ever give you. To find out more, chat to one of us today!
So, you’ve just passed your skipperqualification and you’re looking for somewhere to test out your new skills. The only things is; where?! Seeing as 71% of the world is covered in water you have a lot of choices, but it’s making the right choice that will better your first experience as a skipper.
Number 1. The Ionian, Greece. (July and August).
Foki Bay, Ionian.
The Ionian is the perfect place to shake out the sails on your own! With protected anchorages and steady calm winds during the high season, it’s the perfect alternative to the Cyclades.
Most of the sailing is done by line of sight, so don’t worry too much if your chart reading isn’t slick yet.
Various anchorages offering great holding and even better protection from prevailing winds.
There are many town quays which means free moorings! If you cant get onto that, then you can always moor up to a restaurant for a free night. (You will have to eat in the restaurant).
Winds are very consistant F1/2 in the morning F2/3 in the afternoon and 90% of the time they will be north westerlies.
The Ionian is less saturated with yachts compared to the Cyclades meaning maneuvering/mooring is less stressful.
Number 2. French Riviera, France. (June and September).
Protected anchorages between the Porquerolles islands. The water around there is similar to the Caribbean!
June and September is less crowded and less competition with the big superyachts
Enjoy beautiful french cuisine along the Cote d’Azur.
Number 3. Split, Croatia. (June and September).
Plakinski Islands
Croatia is becoming one of the fastest-growing yachting areas in the world and it’s not hard to understand why. The island-hopping, line of sight sailing and picturesque anchorages creates a perfect place for you to test out your new skills.
Steady winds throughout the morning and afternoons
Warm weather, and ever warmer seas!
Easy anchoring, with mooring buoys at almost every anchorage.
Island hopping sailing, so you are able to do short stints and no exhaust your new crew.
If you are a newly qualified skipper, and need some advice on sailing locations do not hesitate to get in contact with us. We are all sailors, and travel experts, this means we are better to advise on your perfect charter holiday!
Whether you decide to embark on your superyacht charter on the French Riviera or the adventure of a lifetime on a sailing yacht in the Caribbean, your charter will be the ultimate week of luxury living. If being on a yacht itself is not enough to make you feel chic, it is also important to look the part on your yacht charter. All yachts have their own sense of dress code so you need to pack the right outfits for your location and importantly for your boat. The tip is to stay warm, safe and stylish, whilst simultaneously matching the style of your yacht.
Classic Yacht Charter
This charter is the definition of chic. Channel your inner Brigitte Bardot onboard a classic yacht. You need to match the teak decks onboard. Think of watching Les Voiles De St Tropez or visiting a remote Caribbean island for inspiration.
The packing essentials:
The Ralph Lauren cruise collections, including the iconic blue shirt and a Breton, blue striped jumper.
A Breton stripe just won’t cut it for your superyacht charter on the French Riviera. Ensure to pack long dresses and bohemian beachwear for the many beach clubs in the South of France.
Vilebrequin swim shorts
Chanel Espadrilles for shoreside time
Celine Maxi Dresses for evening attire
White dresses/ trousers to broadcast bronzed skin.
Bareboat charter in the Med
The North Face Duffel Bag
Oakley shades
Sebago Deck Shoes
Caribbean Sailing
Whether you’re island hopping in the British Virgin Islands or hiking in the French Caribbean. The Caribbean requires a very varied wardrobe. Be sure to bring a light jacket as temperatures during the night can drop quite low! The sun is very strong, covering up as much as possible in the Caribbean is recommended.
Statement bikinis- swimwear is the most crucial outfit of the Caribbean charter. The Amenipah shell bikini is a must for the charter.
Hiking boots
The Caribbean, floral cover-ups for beach clubs.
A light jacket for cooler evenings. The Caribbean does also tends to be very casual, especially at night.
Regatta Yacht Charter
Dubarry boots for the bow.
Helly Hansen Jackets
Sail personalised Quba Sails Duffel Bag
Knee pads
Sun Protected clothing with UV and plenty of suncream.
Contact one of the Boatbookings Yacht Charter Brokers to plan your sailing vacation today.
1- Bring a hard copy of your sailing certifications.
A hard copy of the relevant sailing certifications is due upon embarkation of the yacht in any country. If you cannot bring the sailing certifications with you, you may not be allowed on the boat.
Note that the specifications for sailing certifications vary from
country to country.
European requirements for a yacht charter:
Croatia: Day Skipper/ ICC/ International equivalent + valid VHF licence for smaller catamarans and most monohulls. For larger catamarans in Croatia, the yacht master certification is sometimes required. Greece:
Caribbean: Detailed sailing resume with charter experience on similar sized vessels.
Asia: Detailed resume alongside qualifications in certain areas.
Bring soft bag luggage onto the boat.
This is not a mandatory requirement for a bareboat charter however it certainly helps with space onboard. Typically on a monohull or a catamaran, the cabins are not oversized so taking a soft bag does help with storage onboard. It also saves the decks and prevents any harm or damage being caused to the boat.
3- Be aware of extra costs
The bareboat concept is essentially just the boat. Other costs such as cleaning, a starter pack, and a handling fee are usually covered in the charter fee. Mooring fees differ from port to port however can range for a bareboat from €25- €60 per night. These are payable in cash on spot so remember to take cash with you.
4- If you have chosen a skipper- trust the skipper’s knowledge.
Although your broker can give you an insight into the best boats, destinations, restaurants, bars and sailing grounds for your charter the skipper is the best person for itinerary discussion. Upon embarkation, you will be given both a safety briefing and an itinerary briefing for the charter. Be aware that a 10% gratuity of the charter fee is usually given at the client’s discretion.
5- All bareboat charters in the Mediterranean
run on a Saturday – Saturday basis. This is not the same for the Americas, the
Caribbean or Asia.
Most of the boats are chartered on a back to back basis throughout the summer (high) season in the Mediterranean. Embarkation time is at 1700H to set sail the following morning. Disembarkation is usually early morning and requires the charter vessel to be back in port the prior evening.
Mediterranean charters also solely run on a weekly basis and cannot do 10-day charters in high season. Most reputable yacht charter bases only run charters on a Saturday- Saturday basis.
In the Caribbean and Asia, charters do not run on a Saturday- Saturday basis. You can rent a boat for any period of time in these charter destinations.
6- Using the base manager as a go-to throughout
the week.
The base managers are always a phone call away throughout the week. If you require any assistance with regards to the boat, breakdowns and general maintenance issues throughout the week keep the base manager as your first port of call. Upon embarkation, if any issues are encountered, the base manager must be made aware of this.
7- Reserving moorings for the charter.
This is up to you to organise if you have specific marinas you wish to stay in. In the majority of cases, you can just check-in and out of the marinas however, it is sometimes recommended to reserve a berthing spot. Marinas in Croatia are continuously busier and you need to be there pretty early on in the day to get a spot in your preferred marina.
8- Transportation to and from the boat.
Boatbookings can only assist with this service if the base provides it. The Boatbookings charter brokers organise the boat, not the transportation to and from the boat for bareboat charters. Taxis are always available from the airport and some locations have UBER as an option.
Uber is a great option in the South of France and Croatia for your yacht charter. Be sure to check out Uber Boat in Croatia and to look at Uber Copter in the South of France to get you to your charter.
9- Provisions
Some bases provide the service to do online provisioning prior to embarkation. This is not always the case and varies on a base-base basis. There is always the option of heading to a supermarket prior to embarkation on the yacht. It is advisable to buy basic provisions such as sunscreen, toilet roll, cleaning products, drinking water, and dry foods.
10- Take photographs and make memories for a lifetime.
Catch sunsets, swim in the clearest waters in the world and make memories with friends and family that are unforgettable. No matter what size the boat is, the waters and destinations are all the same and pave for the best holiday that the globe has to offer. Be sure to invest in an underwater GoPro before heading on the charter.
Get in touch today for any bareboat/crewed charter requests.
