Why should you consider a $30,000 or more yacht charter?

Luxury boat rental and charter rates increase with a higher quality of service and features. Most often, the more spacious, luxurious, and prestigious the yacht is, the higher the price. Age of the yacht, size, number of decks, date of recent refit, the experience of the crew and chef, and onboard toy and amenity inventory. And sometimes, how motivated the owners are to have charters. Other factors influencing the charter rate are the type of yacht: is it a motor yacht, a sailing multihull, or a power catamaran.

Things to consider for your yacht rental

Cuisine – are you a foodie?

Chefs aboard these vessels often go through culinary training to give you the ‘next level experience’ in fine dining. They customize menus for each yacht charter to give you an amazing culinary experience. Many offer a wide variety of cuisines, including American, Italian, Japanese, French, and Chinese, as well as local fare.

Space- how much space do you prefer in your cabin or salon?

As the yacht increases in size, the space offers more comfortable and aesthetic lounging areas and bedrooms. The amount of space you prefer in your cabin or salon is important to consider when choosing a luxury yacht charter.

Water Toys- do you want sea doos or a water slide?

These yachts can often include a hot tub onboard and a masseuse in some cases. Yacht charters provide an opportunity to enjoy all the amenities that a five-star hotel would have without the hassle of having to leave the yacht. If you’re looking for a relaxing vacation, a yacht charter may be just the thing.

Higher-end wine and liquor options-

Although this can be accommodated at any yacht price point, it will be for an extra fee to you; most often, these yachts will have higher-end alcohol options.

As the price increases, the yacht is substantially larger and often has crews of three to five or more, which is not only very expensive but a serious time commitment.

We can break the groups into three sub-groups: luxury, super-luxury, and unique experiences.

That’s why the best (and time-saving) way to find the right yacht for your budget, personality, and style is to work with a charter broker.

What can be included in a luxury yacht rental price?

The base price of a yacht charter given is usually the weekly rate, excluding expenses and tax, unless all-inclusive. It covers 60% to 80% of the final price and refers to the cost of the yacht itself, its insurance, all its equipment and toys, the crew salary, and services during the whole charter duration.

Do destinations affect yacht charter fees?

A yacht charter price depends as well on the destination and is subject to supply and demand.

In regions offering large crewed yacht charter fleets like the British Virgin Islands, the Mediterranean, and the Bahamas, luxury yacht charter costs are more attractive due to higher competition.

Taxes and VAT also need to be applied to the yacht charter costs depending on chartering destination.

In the Bahamas and the Med, chartering a commercial vessel is an economic activity and is subject to VAT.

The VAT rate is in addition to the charter fee. It is due in the country where the charter starts. The cost of VAT will fluctuate depending on where you charter.

Consider in your yacht charter expenses: Crew gratuity

During a crewed boat rental, your crew is almost 24/7 at your service to deliver the best possible experience. It is customary to leave them a tip at the end of your charter to thank them for their service.

Tipping on a yacht charter depends on the destination. In the Mediterranean, you can tip 10-15% of your weekly charter fee, excluding expenses and taxes, while in the Caribbean, a 15-20% tip is more common, although there has been some debate as to the proper Caribbean tip amount. You should always leave a tip scaled up or down to how you feel your level of service received was.

You can hand your tip in cash to your captain in an envelope on the last day of your charter. It will be up to the captain to split the tip among the different crew members. However, these days, with many ways to send a payment, crews often accept Venmo, Paypal, and checks. If you do not want to lug around cash, you can also send your crew tip in advance with your final payment to your broker, who will ensure it is delivered once you disembark.