We've decided to go on a yacht charter but don't know what the next step is. How do we go about booking our yacht and itinerary?

Editorial Team

There are a few core things to do before you get to the booking stage.

First you need to decide when and where you want to go cruising – at least your starting point and port of disembarkation. This is because the range of superyachts you can select will depend on the broad location of your charter — if you choose a charter yacht that has to cross the ocean to get to you for your charter, you will have to pay what is called « position charges », which includes the time and fuel spent to reach where you want to be.

You can then start looking for a selection of yachts that fit your budget and preferences (sailing or motor yacht, size and capacity,…) and Yacht Charter Fleet is obviously the ideal platform to do so.

Once you have cast your eyes on some superyachts, you will need to check their availability over your holiday time, as some may be already booked. This is where charter brokers come into the picture. They will help you sort things out and finalise an agreement with the superyacht of your choice, whilst working on your itinerary at the same time, and advising you on those points as well — for inexperienced charterers, nautical distances are usually not very telling, and your broker will tell you if your dream itinerary is actually feasible or not.

Once everything is agreed, your broker will put the contrat together and the booking will be effective once the paperwork has been signed by the yacht owning company and yourself, and the first deposit or charter instalment put in escrow.