Chartering a Superyacht
More and more yacht enthusiasts are considering a superyacht charter as the ultimate vacation experience. We take a look at what is involved and why 2020 could be the year to push the boat out.
On the ocean waves, the options for truly getting away from it all with a group of family and friends, makes a superyacht a dream prospect. Unlike the many luxury land-based retreats, time at sea appeals to a group of different ages, wants and needs. It offers an unmatched personal service, can cater to everyone regardless of what they enjoy, offers the opportunity to move from place to place with all the logistics taken care of, and - given the size and scale of the average superyacht - ensures each member of your party is blessed with plenty of their own personal space. Bliss.
As an industry sector, chartering is as old as the era of large yachts—the then Edward VIII and Mrs Simpson spent a summer on charter in the Adriatic in the 1930s to avoid the royal gossips—but it is only relatively recently that the sector has properly matured. Celebrity owners hire out their own incredible yachts - Bono, Beyoncé and Simon Cowell are just some of the wealthiest who rent for charter - which has added a glitzy, ritzy A-list cache to the whole charter sector. The growth in the number of yachts of more than 30m has steadily accelerated since 2000, and that means there is
more choice for the client. It also means that you may get to sip Champagne in Beyoncé’s lounger whilst on vacation, or enjoy the kudos of taking a dip in Simon Cowell’s spa.
A number of brokerage houses are responsible for maintaining standards throughout the industry, with each competing against each other to get the prime listings from the yacht owning elite. The standards of professionalism in the industry, from the captain and crew through to the management team, are higher than they have ever been. The choice of yachts is also incredible with all sizes and all locations up for grabs.
As a rule of thumb, the following apply:
Yachts up to 40m can sleep 6- 12 guests. Yachts over 40m usually sleep 12 guests but have more facilities and larger entertainment spaces
Motor yachts are the most type of common charter vessels with sailing boats a specialist niche.
Superyachts may have similar layouts but consider the subtle differences that matter, such as the deck, the lower deck beach club that keeps you as close to the water as possible, the bar, gym, spa, sauna, massage room and toys that could include jet skis, kayaks and towable inflatables.
Whichever size of yacht you choose, the living space needs to be a design you can live with on holiday without giving you a migraine. Whichever you pick will be beautifully styled and immaculately finished. The yacht’s audio-visual system will usually offer home cinema quality, piped to every cabin - but if you are keen to gather to watch a movie together, it is worth checking there is a media area in one of the main salons.
Each Charter week has a base cost and your broker will confirm all additional costs in a breakdown of what provisions, berthing and fuel will be. Tipping is expected - it is not an optional extra - and at the end of the Charter it is customary to hand the captain around 10% of the base cost in cash to be distributed among the crew. One thing is certain, guests on superyachts can pretty much guarantee they will be surrounded by the world’s wealthiest people. The rates support this one-week charter during the high season in winter costing €635,000 (£550,000) excluding food, drink, fuel and staff gratuities in a vessel that has a sales value of around €68million (£58 million). Even the super-rich consider this kind of expenditure carefully - after all, yachting is a pure plaything, the ultimate reward for all the hard work and late nights on the road to success. With a total value of €3.4 billion, around 400 superyachts sold worldwide in the last few years. Today there are an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 superyachts afloat, of which about 1,500 can be chartered - the income is a valuable way of offsetting the annual costs of yacht-owning, even for the most fabulously wealthy.
Winter in the Caribbean is a busy season for superyacht charters so it pays to book ahead. Once you have firmed up numbers and have a travel date it is wise to approach a charter broker at the earliest opportunity. The broker will then access details of the yachts available and will start narrowing down preferences and styles.
Be warned, life aboard a superyacht is likely to spoil you forever - it is more opulent with a higher level of comfort than the finest hotel, has the most resplendent ever-changing views, benefits from impeccable service and is utterly seductive. Yacht charters keep small children amused, teens happy, parents relaxed and older relatives occupied in a way that no other style of holiday can. Sure, there is a price tag - but the experience you gain is priceless.
Tips on how to have the best time on your Superyacht Charter
Get some advice from the International Yacht Brokers Association https://iyba.yachts
Carefully consider where in the Caribbean you would you like to go and when
Decide what toys you need, from personal submarines and scuba gear to inflatable slides.
Where you go and what you do will impact the choice of speed, size, draft depth, and flag
Most yachts sleep 12 but don’t forget to include your PA, babysitter, or security guards
Consider the type of crew - some can teach yoga, mix cocktails and give massages
Privacy is never an issue as many crew members are asked to sign an NDA
personalisation will be part of the package - favourite foods, drinks, music choices and entertainment choices
