FAQs

The short answer is that it depends on where you go. Here is a breakdown:

• Caribbean –  95% of the catamarans in the Virgin Islands, Leeward and Windward Islands are all-inclusive. However, power yachts and some of the larger catamarans have a base charter fee plus APA. The only fee not included is crew gratuity which is optional but customary. Its 15-20% in the Caribbean. 
• Bahamas – Same as Caribbean pricing above, however, there is an additional 14% tax on all boats in the Bahamas. 
• Mediterranean- There is a base charter fee plus VAT and APA. VAT is a country tax which varies from 5.2% to 24% depending on the country. The other expense is APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance) which is designed to cover onboard expenses such as food, beverages, fuel, mooring/docking fees and taxi transfers.  The Captain will keep an accurate record of spending and at the end of the charter, you will be refunded or asked to pay the difference if additional operating costs are incurred. The only fee not included is crew gratuity which is optional but customary. Its 10-15% in the Mediterranean. 

It depends on where you go. 

In the Mediterranean, you are chartering the boat so whether it has 2 guests or 12 guests its the same cost to you, however, the APA will likely be lower as that amount is estimated based on a full boat. 

In the Caribbean, however, the boat will be less expensive for just 2 guests as the price is based on the number of guests. 

The APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance) covers the running expenses during your charter, such as fuel, food, drinks, and other costs. The Captain will monitor and provide updates on the spending throughout the trip. If the APA is exceeded, you’ll need to settle the additional amount at the end of the charter. If there is any remaining balance, it will be refunded to you or can be apply it towards the crew’s gratuity.

The yacht price is set by the owner and since all charter brokers have access to all the inventory, the price will be the same no matter which charter broker you work with. Boats do sometimes offer specials so always ask your broker if there are any boats offering discounts! 

For larger yachts over 50k/week in the Mediterranean, you can sometimes make an offer on a yacht that your broker can run by the owner for approval. This will depend on a number of factors including time of year and current booking calendar but is ultimately the owner’s discretion.

We offer three payment options: wire transfer, ACH, or credit card. Wire transfers are preferred for their speed and reliability.

USD Charters

• Preferred Option: Wire transfer, as it ensures immediate processing.
• ACH payments are also accepted and we will send a quickbooks link where you can enter your banking details.
• Credit Card: You may use a credit card for up to $10,000, but there is a 3% processing fee which the client is responsible for.

Euro Charters

• Preferred Option: Wire transfer in euros, which can be sent from your bank or through a free Wise account.
• ACH: Pay in USD, and we will convert the payment to euros at the current live exchange rate + 0.02 to cover conversion fees. Our rate is typically better than standard bank rates, but you can avoid these fees by using a Wise account to send euros via wire directly.
• Credit Card: You may use a credit card for up to $10,000, but there is a 3% processing fee which the client is responsible for. Same as above for the live exchange rate +0.02 for the conversion.

The earlier, the better! In the Mediterranean, some yachts offer early booking discounts, while others allow you to lock in the current year’s rates before next year’s prices are released—potentially saving you thousands.

Most charters are booked 6 to 12 months in advance to secure the ideal yacht and preferred dates. For Christmas and New Year’s charters, we highly recommend booking at least 12 months ahead, as most yachts are fully reserved by October.

The short answer is YES! The only time its not possible is if the boat doesnt have the room for the water toys you want to rent. For example its unlikely to be able to rent a jet ski if you are chartering a catamaran.

The itinerary is something you work on directly with the captain and it is tailored to your preferences (and the weather). Your broker will offer a suggested route, and once onboard, the Captain will finalize the plan based on your preferences and current weather conditions.

For the Mediterranean, high season is July & August which means the highest rates on boats. June & September is mid season and all other months are low season which still has great weather but cooler waters. This means the lowest rates on boats and thousands in cost savings. 

In the Caribbean, high season is Christmas and New Year. Other than that, pricing is the same year-round. 

No—working with multiple charter brokers is like working with two real estate agents on the same home search. All professional brokers have access to the same global fleet of yachts, so there’s no advantage to working with more than one.

The real difference between brokers is experience and firsthand knowledge. Some of us attend boat shows, personally inspect the yachts, meet the crew, and verify the boat’s condition. Others rely solely on online listings, which means they’re making recommendations without ever seeing the yacht in person.

Choosing the right broker isn’t about who has access to more boats—it’s about who knows the boats best and can match you with the right experience.

In most cases, a catamaran is the better choice within this budget. With a motor yacht, you’d likely be limited to older, smaller, or lower-tier yachts, whereas with a catamaran, you could charter a larger, newer, and more luxurious vessel.

The two biggest factors influencing cost are:

1. Age & Size – Newer and larger yachts are more expensive. For under $100,000, high-end catamarans are available, while motor yachts in this range tend to be smaller or older.
2. Fuel Consumption – Motor yachts burn significantly more fuel, which increases costs. Catamarans are more fuel-efficient, allowing you to get more value for your budget.

That said, we will always present the best available options based on your preferences, whether you prioritize space, comfort, or speed.

The capacity of each yacht is usually determined by its size and the number of cabins but on the majority of yachts, the legal limit for the amount of overnight guests is 12.  If you require a yacht that can accommodate a larger party, there are a few places in the world such as Turkey, Greece and Croatia that have larger occupancy boats. The other option is a flotilla which is where you charter multiple boats that travel in tandem together. 

Gratuity is customary and the amount depends on where you go. In the Caribbean its 15-20% of the charter fee and in the Mediterannean its 10-15% of the base charter rate (excluding the APA/VAT)

We use industry standard contracts that are issued by the regulatory bodies within the jurisdiction of the charter. If you decide to cancel your charter, the owner may keep any installments you have made thus far. If you have already paid the entire charter fee, the owner is entitled to retain the full amount but will return the Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA). We always recommend travel insurance in the event you need to cancel your charter.

While travel insurance is not mandatory, it is highly recommended. Travel insurance has three parts; Trip cancellation and interruption, medical and evacuation, and travel loss and delay coverage. Most people don’t realize that their health insurance plans do not cover them outside the USA. The other thing is if you need to cancel, travel insurance could reimburse you for all insured costs associated with your trip, depending on your reason for cancellation and the level of coverage you purchased. Lastly, if your trip gets delayed or your bags get lost or stolen, travel insurance could reimburse you for extra out-of-pocket expenses like additional accommodations, meals, clothing, and personal items. For more information we suggest looking at Yonder to compare plans: https://www.insureyonder.com/?aff_user=1389

Booking a yacht charter is a straightforward process:

1. Consultation – We discuss your group size, preferred destination, dates, and budget so we can narrow down the best options for your group.
2. Yacht Selection – We create a curated list of options based on your preferences and boats we have seen in person that we would recommend. Not all boats are held to the same maintenance standards!
3. Contract & Deposit – Once you choose a yacht, an industry-standard boilerplate contract is signed, and a 50% deposit (of the base charter fee) is required to secure the booking.
4. Final Payment & Preferences – The remaining balance and any APA are due 60 days before departure, along with a preference sheet, which captures all your preferences, likes and dislikes. We share the preference sheet with the crew so they can create a custom itinerary and menu to cater to your groups preferences.