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Private yacht charter is the most personalized style of vacation on the planet, and for the past few generations, only the world's wealthiest people have known it. Sure, the rest of us sometimes catch a glimpse of sleek white hulls from our resort balconies in St. Tropez or on Sint Maarten, but for the most part, the insider's view has been as shrouded as whatever it is going on behind those darkened windows we watch cruise by. |
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That is, until now. During the past few decades, the charter industry has quietly but steadily expanded into a marketplace with thousands of yachts vying for vacation bookings. Whether you want to spend $2,500 or $25,000 or $250,000 on a weeklong trip, yachts are competing for your business in more places than ever before—and in ways that can make for the most memorable family vacations of a lifetime.
Forget about crowded buffets and itineraries set in stone; think about setting your own course every hour of every day (and eating every gourmet course your private chef prepares along the way).Add to that the fun of you and your children—and even your children's children, too—playing without another person in sight amid warm Bahamian waters, or feeding bald eagles from a skiff in the Pacific Northwest, or tracing America's history after landing as the Pilgrims did along the New England coast. All of it can be done through luxury yacht charter, often for the same per-person price as a high-end resort or cruise ship suite. |
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Welcome to the best-kept secret in travel. |
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THE BASICS |
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Charter yachts come in all shapes and sizes. Bigger boats tend to be more expensive than smaller boats, and motoryachts usually cost more than sailing yachts. The ratio of crew to guests also affects the rate (some yachts have one-to-one service or better), and the destination and season are factors, as well. Christmas and New Year's are the priciest weeks in the Caribbean—and most published rates do not include fuel, food, dockage, or gratuity. Figure your total trip cost at one-third to one-half again the rates you are quoted. With so many variables, it can be hard for beginners to get started. Your best bet is to select a general destination the Bahamas, New England, the Mediterranean and then let a broker recommend a yacht with an itinerary that suits you. |
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Any broker can book any yacht, but as with real-estate agents, some brokers are better than others.Look for those who are members of the main professional organizations: CYBA (Caribbean Yacht Brokers Association) or MYBA (Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association). Many of these brokers travel worldwide on a monthly basis to inspect boats, see itineraries firsthand, and ensure that crew are performing professionally. |
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You'll need to know how many people will be in your party—six to ten is ideal, but smaller and bigger groups can be accommodated—and what those people like to do. If it's an active group, the broker will steer you toward a yacht that carries lots of water toys. If it's a group of homebodies, the broker may find you a yacht with a state-of-the-art theater system. If your group has a combination of personalities, a good broker can pair you with a yacht that will satisfy everyone.
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Be honest about your expectations, and you will enjoy experiences you've never dreamed possible. The following three charters are good examples of what's out there.
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JOANNE IN THE BAHAMAS |
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The King of Spain is a speed demon. Hence the military-issue engines aboard the 120-foot Joanne , which he sold a few years ago to its current American owner. Joanne is one of the fastest charter yachts in the world, which makes her ideal for first-time guests in the Bahamas. The islands there are farther apart than in, say, the Virgin Islands, but since Joanne has a top speed of a whopping 42 knots, guests spend less time getting from beach to beach and more time enjoying picnics ashore.
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Aboard Joanne are two staterooms with queen-size berths, plus two staterooms with twin berths. That makes her perfect for two couples with children who want to try charter while splitting the bill, since both families have identical accommodations. Joanne 's finest attribute, though, is her unique jet-drive propulsion system.
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In addition to allowing for fast cruising, it gives her a much shallower draft than other motoryachts her size—and lets her cruise parts of the Bahamas where few other boats (and certainly no cruise ships) can go. Her rate is $44,900 per week.
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ENDURANCE IN VANCOUVER |
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Don't let the rugged exterior on the 85-foot Endurance fool you. Inside, this yacht offers the same level of luxury you'll find aboard sleek white designs—which, quite frankly, aren't built to handle the kind of cruising Endurance provides safely and comfortably along remote stretches in the Pacific Northwest .
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Endurance charters as part of a soft-adventure surf-and-turf package. Her owners also own the Eagle Nook Resort, a stunning 70-acre lodge on the west coast of Vancouver Island that's accessible only by seaplane or boat. For $9,950 per person, six guests can enjoy a week aboard the yacht cruising through the San Juan Islands, up to the city of Victoria in British Columbia, and then to Eagle Nook.
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There, guests spend a week enjoying bald eagles, helicopter rides, kayaking, salmon fishing, and whale-watching by day—with gourmet food and spa treatments by night. For many new charter guests, this type of surf-and-turf package is ideal. It allows a taste of the charter experience with time ashore for nervous first-time boaters.
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One of the best values in yacht charter is the 120-foot Sovereign , which takes 12 guests at a rate of $55,000 per week—half of what many other 12-guest yachts charge. Her interior is perfectly designed for large families, with a master suite on the main deck (for grandparents), queen-berth staterooms amidships one deck down (for parents) and twin-berth staterooms down a separate staircase aft (for grandchildren).
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Of course, Sovereign also provides the amenities you'll find aboard other luxury yachts, but this itinerary is for anyone who wants a little learning mixed in with his lounging. |
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Kim Kavin, editor of www.CharterWave.com
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