Frequently Asked Questions

Unless otherwise specified-Caribbean Standard All-Inclusive Charters include the following:

• Standard check-in/check-out of 12pm
• Light daily housekeeping
• Breakfast, lunch, canapés/afternoon tea, dinner and snacks
• Standard ship’s bar: vodka, gin, rum, whiskey, tequila, triple sec, mixers, local beers, table wine and water/coffee/tea and soft drinks
• Stereo with MP3/iPhone connection with indoor/outdoor speakers; 3G/4G Wi-Fi access point
• Snorkeling equipment, fishing gear, kayaks, dingy tender with outboard motors
• Water toys such as floating islands, and air mattresses
• Separate bathroom and living quarters for crew
• Reputable and licensed crew who have local knowledge of waters and are able to adjust menus based on guest’s preferences and dietary restrictions
• Operating expenses including: use of air conditioning, fuel, water, sailing permits/taxes, local taxes and crew wages

What Is Not Included in Standard All-Inclusive Charters:

• Gratuity for crew. Gratuity is at guest discretion and is typically between 15-20%
• Meals and beverages at restaurants and bars
• Rendezvous diving, ASA sailing certification courses and any other offshore excursions
• Premium wines and spirits

Half-board generally includes all standard inclusions but half the meals. For a 7 night charter this typically includes: All breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 dinners. Another meal option which is gaining popularity is Local Fare. Local Fare includes: All breakfasts, 5 lunches and 6 dinners. Half board and Local Fare are available for some yachts. We will discuss in further detail if this is a good option for you.

Sleep aboard is a great option to consider if you are arriving to the island later in the afternoon. A typical sleep aboard offers: Check-in after 4pm, and a welcome cocktail. The guest unpacks and has dinner in the marina at guest expense. The group sleeps in the marina and get underway the following morning. Continental breakfast or full breakfast is usually included. Sleep aboard rates vary and not all boats offer this. If you are interested in this option, we will confirm the rate and availability early in the booking process.

Med Term pricing is cost (cost of the boat) + VAT (country tax) + APA (operating and provisioning expenses). The cost is the weekly rate for the charter. The VAT and APA are calculated on the cost of the boat and paid in addition to that base price. The APA covers: fuel, water, food, licenses, alcohol, and any specific items you would like provided to you. APA money that is not used for provisioning would be reimbursed to you- or, if you spend over the amount, they would charge you. The Captain keeps track of expenses and would let you know if you’re reaching your APA limit. This is the industry standard for the region.

Caribbean Terms or Caribbean Inclusions refer to all-inclusive rates. These boats are typically catamarans and monohulls and are found in the Caribbean.

Most (but not all) motor-yachts and sailing vessels in the Med are Med Rate terms.

The yachts featured on our website will specifically state which type of pricing they offer.

It costs you-(the guest) nothing. Our fees are preset and-negotiated with owners of the boats and the management companies. Set up similar to a real estate brokerage-we work for the client-YOU and have access to a variety of boats that we tour annually. We get paid direct from the boat owners and management companies. We advocate on your behalf in an effort to provide you the best rate possible.

While some owners operate as crew for their boats, this is not always the best option. By booking with a charter broker, you are ensuring that you are going to get a customized sailing vacation for you, and not feel you are simply a guest on someone else’s boat. We work with reputable owner operators who provide the same level of service as other crewed yachts. These boats that are booked through brokers are toured and inspected annually to ensure the boats are operating as advertised.

While I typically recommend trip insurance for trips that are a dollar amount over $10,000, there are additional factors that I like to remind all clients of. Questions you should ask yourself…. Is this going to be a financial hardship if I need to cancel? Do I have friends or family with medical issues that could impact my trip plans? Am I prepared to lose my deposit (or full amount paid) if I need to cancel at the last minute? If you answered yes to any of the questions above, trip insurance might be something to consider. There are several options and packages available. We can send you several quotes so you can find the option that best suits your needs. Once a trip is booked, we can provide a free quote for you and can purchase this on your behalf. Once you have chosen your trip insurance package, you will receive a printable insurance card which you will take with you for your trip. Your coverage depends on the package you choose. Pricing varies depending on the package, the total trip of the cost as well as the age of the traveler and state they reside. At this time, trip insurance is only available to residents of the United States. We can provide some links and referrals for Canadian and UK citizens. Travel Tip: Many credit card companies offer trip insurance if you use their credit card to book a trip. We recommend you check with your credit card company to see if this is an option PRIOR to purchasing trip insurance.

As a boutique charter company we specialize in taking the time to review and consider all available options before making a recommendation to you. This typically means multiple email exchanges or phone calls prior to placing a hold or sending out a contract. We remain available and make every effort to respond to all questions in a timely manner-usually within a few hours of contacting us. While we can book a boat for you very quickly, we also want to ensure it’s the right boat for you.

In a era where online booking, automated payment processing and very little personal involvement is involved in our day to day lives, automation does not translate in the charter yachting industry. That is why you will not find a “Book Now” or “Book Online” button anywhere on this website. Quite simply, we believe differently.

We know you have a lot of options, which is why we treat every client as they are the only client.

Please visit our How To Book section of the What We Do page for booking process.

We happily work with all qualified travel agents and offer commission. We typically suggest a 10-15 minute phone call to explain how the booking process works. Please CONTACT US for more details.