BVI Crewed Yacht Charters

Posted on July 25, 2011 by charterking

Here’s a compendium of questions that we are frequently asked about chartering a crewed yacht or catamaran in the British Virgin Islands. I’m reproducing some of these in this blog format so customers can have a document to print out that answers most questions.

1. High Season – Low Season – in the Caribbean there are no defined seasons so the High / Low season pricing shown refers to the number of people on board. Since the charters are inclusive of meals and beverages, the low rate is for the minimum number of guests and the high rate for the maximum number of guests on board. The only exception to this is the Christmas / New Year holiday season that will have a 10% to 15% premium. The rest of the year there is no change. Notwithstanding, during the hurricane months of late summer, it is sometimes possible to negotiate a rate with the owner if the bookings are slow. I will be happy to do this for you after you have chosen a boat or boats from the long list into a short list.

2. April and May are very nice months and unlikely to have any special offers or discounts, September / October may be more negotiable price-wise but this is right in the middle of the hurricane season. A word about hurricanes: If you book a charter in the hurricane season there will usually be a “rain-check” clause or addendum to the contract so that you can re-schedule for up to 12 months from the date of the original charter if there is a named storm on a track to the BVI or close. Also, if you book for a summer charter it’s wise to take out trip cancellation insurance. We offer some neat packages from Travel Guard that you can see, get a quote and purchase on-line.

3. There are no hidden costs or extra fees. The boats are normally chartered on an “inclusive” basis which includes all meals snacks and beverages. You can book for a week or more. If you book less than a week there may be a 10% surcharge. The rates shown are for one week comprising 7 nights and 8 days. The charter fee does NOT cover: Airfares, land transportation, dockage or marina fees other than the pick up and drop-off locations, fine wines or exotic liqueurs. You will need to take GRATUITY into consideration however, this is normally 10% to 15% of the base charter rate, depending on service  and payable in cash to the skipper when you leave the boat. This is discretionary but customary. If the boat you choose is USVI based they may charge you the BVI cruising taxes and National Park Fees. However, in the scheme of things this is a relatively modest expense of about $4.00 per person per day + a flat fee for the boat depending on length. Total about $100 to $150. Most charter boats anchor out in the many different bays and anchorages. There are also moorings balls available at a cost of about $20 per night. The captain may ask you if you’d like to be on a mooring ball (these are generally placed in the best locations in the anchorages) and if you’d like to be closer in, or if the sea is a little bumpy it may be wise to use a mooring ball. Many BVI based boats will already have the BVI tax thing taken care of.

4. After you choose a yacht or catamaran that you feel comfortable with (and I feel comfortable with, since I know most of the boats and their crews), I will put a “hold” on the boat of your choice. This hold is basically a 7 day right of first refusal that gives me time to draw up the contract, email it to you, get it signed by you, and receive a deposit from you. Once I have a signed contract and a deposit the boat is YOURS and the deposit is non-refundable. 60 days before the start of your charter you should be ready to remit the balance of the funds. If you book more than 6 months away from the actual charter date, we can get away with 25% deposit. A second deposit would be due at the 6 month mark, and the balance as I mentioned before, 60 days before the charter date. If you book within 6 months of the charter date I’ll need a 50% deposit.

5. About a week or two before the charter date, you will have an opportunity to talk to either the captain or the chef (many times these are husband / wife or boyfriend / girlfriend teams where she does most of the customer contact). If you like a boat but would like to talk to the crew before committing, I can arrange that as well.

6. About 30 days before your charter date, I send you what is called a Preference Sheet. This will give me and the crew a much better idea of your likes and dislikes and will provide a blueprint for the crew to provision the boat accordingly. It usual for you, the skipper and the chef to have a conversation regarding the preferences after they have this document in their hands and they will probably have questions.  So you can expect a call from the crew at this point. A note about bringing liquor on-board but since this is included in your inclusive price, there’s really no need. liquor is cheap and plentiful in the islands.

7. Charters run from 12:00 noon on the first day to 12:00 noon on the 8th day. Many of my clients like to arrive a day or so before the charter and spend the night at a hotel either in St. Thomas or Tortola. Sometimes and depending on the boat, you can make arrangements for a late arrival and “sleepaboard” the boat the night before your charter begins. Other boats however discourage this since they use the day before and the morning of your charter to provision and clean up everything so the boat is spick and span for your arrival.

8. Last but not least, everyone will need a passport. Best to fly into St. Thomas (STT) that has direct major carrier access from many major US cities. Spirit Air is always a favorite of ours. If your boat can only pick up in Tortola, you should take the ferry from Red Hook ,St. Thomas, to West End, Tortola which is a 30 minute ride. Here is the link to the ferry schedules.

 

 


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Honeymoon on a Yacht

Posted on July 12, 2011 by charterking

Honeymoons in the CaribbeanA honeymoon or Luna de Miel as they say in Spanish should be memorable, exciting and romantic. Made up of all those little moments that last a lifetime in your memories. How to achieve that? Well, one idea that comes to mind is to take a trip on a private yacht in the Caribbean or the Mediterranean, depending on the time of year. The Caribbean is great all year round but the Mediterranean really comes into it’s own late May through to September. Let’s take each destination and talk about it a little.

Caribbean:
What immediately comes to mind are white sandy beaches, crystal clear turquoise waters and swaying palms in a light tropical breeze. That is the Caribbean that dreams are made of and that is THE CARIBBEAN.

We can arrange to have you picked up off your flight into Road Town on the island of Tortola and taken to the marina to board your yacht. Many choices of yachts for many budgets. This is something that can fit everyone’s budget and is not just for the “rich and famous” anymore. There are two passenger sailing yachts with queen size cabins and private bathrooms equipped with flat screen T.V.’s  and movie selections; DVD and CD players with assorted music selections to suit everyone to large and opulent power yachts with every luxury imaginable on a yacht. Even a jacuzzi is possible. But, no matter what your budget you will enjoy the services of a great Chef who will prepare food to your personal liking. The bar will be stocked with your favorite beverages and all snacks and soft drinks will be added according to your taste. It would be fair to say that in the Caribbean you could pay from approximately $7,500 upwards for a week of luxury with all inclusive food and drinks; Captain and Chef/First Mate. And how about a bottle of champagne on ice for your first night aboard paired with strawberries dipped in chocolate? The Bahamas is also a great honeymoon location for sailing and motor yachts, however you need to be careful of the weather in Winter since it can get chilly.

Mediterranean:
This is an entirely different experience. Still romantic and memorable but different. The main difference is the color of the water. It is deep blue. In many locations, like the Turkish Coast for example, the water laps gently onto a half mooned shaped beach with towering hills behind dotted with the greenest of pine trees stretching up into the sky.  Your private yacht can anchor in most of these bays and you can enjoy a beautiful dinner prepared by your private Chef and served Al Fresco on the aft deck where you can enjoy the view.
Distances between locations are a little longer than in the Caribbean but still close enough to be in a different location every night if needed.
There are many different cruising grounds in the Mediterranean and you can choose how you want to spend your honeymoon. Do you want to go ashore and walk through local villages and eat dinner in a local restaurant? Are you looking for glitzy night life that you will find along the French Riviera or the Italian Riviera or do you want quiet places off the beaten track?

One thing that is certain is that a honeymoon spent cruising on the beautiful waters of the Caribbean or the Mediterranean on a private yacht with your private chef and crew is one of life’s greatest joys and is now affordable for most of us. You too can now enjoy a week living like Royalty and being pampered at every turn.
Contact charters@Americanyacht.net  for further details and complete pricing for your Honeymoon – Luna de Miel – Lua de Mel  If you’d like to look at some possible boats or yachts for your honeymoon check our website search engine.

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Greek Island Itineraries

Posted on May 23, 2011 by admin

Many of my clients tell me: “Wow, we’ve been dreaming of a Greek Island cruise all our lives and we’d like a week’s charter in the islands and we’d basically like to see everything…!!”

It’s really easy to forget that the Greek Islands encompass an enormous area in the Aegean sea and also the Ionian Sea on the Western side of the Greek mainland. A week’s charter in the Greek islands is best if you restrict your itinerary to one of these groups, you can maybe do two groups of islands in 2 weeks but, to try and cover too much ground in too short a time is not a good plan.

The main groups of islands in Greece are conveniently grouped as follows:

1. The Cyclades group of islands; right in the middle of the Aegean sea and unprotected from the July Meltemi wind, home to the familiar-sounding and popular islands of Mykonos, Santorini, etc.  In good weather, they are accessible from Athens (Piraeus) and back in a week. Santorini is further away and better seen by ferry from Mykonos.

2. The Saronic Gulf Islands; Aegina, Poros, Spetses and Hydra and neighboring mainland villages and hot spots. This is an excellent PLAN B if you wanted to visit the Cyclades to check out Mykonos or Santorini  and the weather is not favorable.  These islands are not as well known but are very popular for local Greeks from Athens when they go on holiday.

3. The Dodecanese group of islands that are close to the Turkish coastline. These are Samos, Kos, Symi, Rhodes and Kastellorizo.  Charters taken in this area can zig-zag back and forth between the Greek Islands and the Turkish towns and villages like Bodrum, Marmaris, Gocek and Fethiye. This makes for a very interesting charter with an opportunity to take advantage of the food and culture of two very separate and fascinating countries.

4. The Sporades group of islands, North of Athens and Northwest of the Cyclades, are more protected than the Cyclades in the summer Meltemi months of July and August.

5. The Ionian Group of Islands on the West coats of mainland Greece, some are very well known such as Corfu, Cephalonia (remember the movie “Captain Corelli’s Mandolin”), and Scorpios which was Aristotle Onassis’ private island. This is usually a stand-alone week or 10 day charter with a culture and scenery that is quite different and unique.

6. You can also choose to visit the island of Crete, which due to the distance from Athens, is usually a stand-alone charter that can move you from village to village around this historical island.

Do’s and don’ts:  Do select the best time of year for your Greek Island charter – May and June  are nice months but the water is still a bit cool. July and August are hot and windy, crowded and expensive and you’ll find half of Europe vacationing in the islands during those months. September is arguably the best month and the first half of October is still OK.  Don’t even consider a charter or cruise outside of these months. Don’t try to cover too much real estate during your charter, you’ll spend too much time sailing and less time exploring the different islands.

Do consider a sailing vessel. a nice sailing catamaran is an excellent alternative to a motor yacht and much less expensive. The price of fuel in Greece  and all of Europe for that matter, is very high and can reach up to $8.00 a gallon in some places. If you consider that some large motor yachts consume more than 100 gallons an hour, things can get out of hand.

Most of our sailing catamarans both fully crewed and bareboats, can offer a very rich and fulfilling charter experience. Do check out our website for the latest and best yachts in the Greek Islands.

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Event on a Yacht in South Florida

Posted on April 28, 2011 by charterking

If you are planning a special event in Miami, Miami Beach or Fort Lauderdale or, basically, from Palm Beach Southwards you should seriously consider one of our special party yachts for your event. We have boats of all sizes and shapes with capacity from 2 guests to 500.  The best of South Florida is always enhanced when seeing it from the water and our specialized vessels are all commercially certified by the US Coast Guard and our pricing is very competitive with land based venues. The advantage is that, between American Yacht and each boats professional staff, we can package each event to include everything you’ll need for that special occasion. No surprises and no hidden extra fees.

We have a very distinguished clientele that includes some of the most important Fortune 500 companies, professional sports celebrities, recording stars, pillars of the local community and everyday folk like you and I.  Collectively, we have booked corporate award ceremonies, new product introductions, distributor dinners, wedding ceremonies and receptions of all shapes and sizes, rehearsal dinners, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, Birthdays, and bachelor parties.

Although we are primarily focused on yachts and the water, we can also provide many of the ancillary services that go along with the ceremony itself like flowers and flower arrangements, special linens and custom wedding cakes. We regularly provide other types of entertainment like casino tables, cigar rollers, caricaturists, hand-writing analysts, mentalists,  dancers, bands and DJ’s. Photography service can also be included but we prefer to give you a few vendors that we know and trust and let you make this decision. Especially for a wedding. The photographer is an important part of the whole thing as he will record your special day for posterity.

We can also organize yachts and sailing catamarans that can provide outside activities on the water such as wave runners and other water toys that can rendez-vous with our yachts and allow guests to take full advantage of Florida’s fabulous weather and warm clear waters. For those who like to go fishing we have a superb fleet of fishing yachts with Miami’s finest Captains who will practically guarantee a “catch” when you go out. Great pricing that will include lunch and a large cooler full of beers, sodas, waters and juices. If it can be done on the water then we can do it!

Booking your event with us on the water offers you two great advantages over land-based venues:

1. A one stop shop for your whole event – much the same as a Destination Management Company (DMC) would do for you. We’ll take care of the whole event for you from start to finish. We consider ourselves a “boutique destination management company” offering superb customer satisfaction to all our clients – big or small budgets.

2. You will take advantage of the best that South Florida has to offer, the fabulous backdrop views of Miami or Fort Lauderdale in the evening, tropical sunsets, warm weather and clear waters. It’s ALWAYS better on the water in Florida…!!

Please visit our very detailed website or call us at 305-758-2500 for a whole array of services that we can offer you in South Forida.

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Tipping Guidelines for Yacht Charters

Posted on March 31, 2011 by charterking

Wow, am I walking straight into the lion’s jaws, or what? Tipping has been an ongoing topic of discussion between Captains, Crews, Clearing Houses, Management Companies and Charter Booking Agents and Brokers for decades. Recently, with the recession, it has become a hot topic and, as usual, will not be resolved this year either. This is because there is no really comprehensive answer possible.

Tipping is customer driven. There are guidelines, of course but in the final analysis A TIP IS A TIP. It’s not part of the crew’s salary and nor should it be. The crew is paid a salary and tips should fall into the “nice-to-have” department. The amount of the tip will depend on the level of service that the customer feels they deserve and usually involves a consideration of services rendered above and beyond the call of duty.

None of this, however, interests my readers — I called this a guide and I’ll take responsibility for that title, so here goes: first though, there are regional guidelines so generally speaking in the CARIBBEAN, charterers should seriously consider between 10% and 15% of the base charter rate. In the MEDITERRANEAN, it is customary to leave between 5% and 10% of the base charter rate.

The gratuity should be in cash and paid to the captain, he will distribute the gratuity to the other crew members. It does not matter whether the crew are the owner/operators of the boat – chartering is more of a lifestyle choice and doesn’t provide great ROI’s so an owner /operator will appreciate a tip for good service just as much as a salaried crew member.

Leaving a handsome gratuity in the case of larger yachts with more expensive base rates can involve quite a lot of cash that many charterers prefer not to carry with them. The best option is to leave a lump sum of, say, 15% or 20% of the base charter rate in escrow with your Charter Booking Agent or Broker. After your charter has ended, you can simply email, your broker to release all or part of the funds to the boat as a gratuity.  Most brokers will be happy to perform this service.

When booking term charters it is very important that the tipping standard for the region of charter is discussed. So that if a client has a budget of $10,000 for his/her vacation it is understood that they should look for a yacht in the $8,500 – $9,000 range because with a tip added it will then be $10,000. Most charters of this nature are booked through a yacht charter broker and it is the brokers fiduciary responsibility to discuss with a client what extra fees can be expected.

Now there is another area of yacht charter to think about and that is Event Charters. In South Florida and New York there are many party boats that can hold from 2 guests to 500 guests and which are booked for weddings, corporate and all other social events. Tipping is also an expected part of the charter. There are no standards  here to go by except to advise a client that it is discretionary and should be based on level of service experienced.  Some calculate this by the number of crew on board and allocate X amount per crew member. Some yachts calculate this tip at a rate of $5 per guest. So if you have 50 guests then a tip of $250 would be appropriate. Again if the level of service is outstanding then feel free to leave a bigger amount.

As stated above in the first paragraph there is no hard and fast rule for tipping. Gratuity should not be expected. It is up to the Charterer to decide on this.

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Wedding on a Yacht – 5 Easy Steps

Posted on March 15, 2011 by charterking

 

1. Consultation with Yacht Charter Agent/Wedding Specialist
The initial consultation will generally take place over the phone or via email after visiting our website. It is the time when the wedding specialist will ask the right questions and listen to the client to determine what type of event she/he is looking for. A list of typical questions follows this article.

2. Selection of Yachts
Based on the initial phone or email “conversations” yachts will be selected by the wedding specialist that best suit the bride’s requirements. Detailed proposals will be put together and sent by email for review. These will be all inclusive proposals with no hidden fees and no unexplained charges.

3. Private Yacht Tours
When possible, if the bride is local, or if she is coming into town, a private tour of the suggested yachts will be arranged. The wedding specialist will accompany the bride to answer any questions that may arise.

4. Assessing the Yachts
Make sure that all questions are answered on each and every suggested yacht. Finding other possible yachts if needed. Discuss the positive and negative aspects of each yacht as it pertains to each bride.

5. Securing the Yacht of your choice
Once all questions have been answered and a yacht has been selected and that yacht is available on the chosen date a contract will be prepared. Once signed by the bride and the yacht or yacht’s agent the date is secured and a deposit is made to guarantee the yacht and the date.

QUESTIONS THAT SHOULD BE ASKED IN THE FIRST CONVERSATION OR EMAIL RESPONSE FROM THE WEDDING SPECIALIST

1.What is the date of your wedding?
2. Will you want to have the ceremony onboard the yacht?3. What is your preferred location – Miami, Fort Lauderdale or other?
4. Are you flexible with your date or is this immovable?
5. How many guests are you expecting?
6. How many guests will be children and/or infants?
7. What type of dinner service do you think you will need – buffet or formal plated?
8. Do you want a full open bar? A beer wine and soda bar? Or a Non alcoholic bar?
9. Do you need us to book the entertainment? DJ or Live Band?
10. When can we meet?

Most important of all is to feel that you have chosen the right person to work with to make your Special Day just that – SPECIAL.

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The Cruise Ship Experience

Posted on February 21, 2011 by charterking

CRUISING MADE SIMPLE

“The Journey is the Destination” but sometimes we need a little help in deciding how to start our journey. Getting to your destination is all part of the fun in cruising on a cruise ship. You unpack once only and every day you will wake up in a different port.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE PERFECT CRUISE

First of all leave plenty of time to look at options. You will always see last minute deals but if possible book at least one year ahead (per most travel experts). Start by thinking of what you want to do or not do on your cruise vacation. Use an agent. He/She should ask you about budget and what interests you and the rest of your party have. You can also search on line and narrow your choices down by choosing destination or cruise line or departure port. For those who are internet junkies this is the way to go but for those who want to talk to a real person – call or email an agent. Check out cruising website and one of our agents will be only too happy to assist you.

NEW TO CRUISING

If you have never cruised before then use a travel agent or cruise ship specialist. You may find that a professional can get you upgrades and added values which are not available when booking online. Professionals have leverage with certain cruise lines. A professional cruise ship specialist can match a cruise to your budge and your preferences.

READY TO BOOK

You have several options when it comes to booking a cruise. Book yourself, online or go directly to a cruise line or call/email an agent. The latter is the best course as this person can guide you to the right choices for yourself and he/she bears no allegiance to any one cruise line. You will get unbiased answers. A specialist may also be able to book you on a cruise that is offering group rates or maybe get you preferred pricing. This is your one stop shop for unbiased but qualified advice and assistance.

TIPPING ON YOUR CRUISE

In many cases you can include the tips in your final balance so that you have nothing to think about while on your cruise except to have fun. Whenever looking at the cost of a cruise you need to remember to consider the gratuities. The amounts vary from cruise line to cruise line. Take a look at this site for more information www.cruisetip.tpkeller.com

If you pre-pay your tips it will be based on a per person/day service charge. If you choose to pay at the end of your cruise it will appear on your account reconciliation. On many luxury cruise lines there is a no tipping policy, however, remember that the tip has been added into the overall cost of your cruise. It is up to the individual to add more to this at the end of the cruise.

WHAT ABOUT RIVER CRUISING

River Cruising is very popular in Europe and Russia. The river boats can stop at smaller ports not accessible to the larger cruise ships. This type of cruising is more suited to the well seasoned traveler who wants a more leisurely pace with more intimate dining rooms featuring regional foods and wines.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Always a good idea, especially if traveling in hurricane season. Policies range but most will cover medical reasons for canceling or lost baggage. Some will offer accommodation benefits in case of a trip interruption. Sometimes unexpected events happen and you need to be sure that you will be reimbursed for a cancelled trip. Protect your investment. Use a well know third party for this such as Travel Guard.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Fares usually include accommodations and meals but not alcoholic beverages, entertainment or shipboard activities. Typically the higher price of the cruise the more benefits you get. For example wine with dinner, a butler or a guided shore excursion. On most cruises you will have an onboard account secured by your credit card which is used to bill your onboard expenses. These expenses could include shopping, casino, spa treatments or gratuities. No need to carry a wallet around with you or any cash. Wise to try and keep a mental tab of what you are spending, so that you do not have too big a surprise at the end of the cruise.

INSIDE CABIN TIP

The inside cabins are usually 200 sq ft or less and can feel very claustrophobic. If budget allows choose at the minimum a room with a porthole. If you are going to spend a lot of time in your cabin an “inside”  room would be very cramped. However, these cabins also cost the least amount.

MORE CABIN TIPS

No matter your budget there is a cabin waiting for you. Cabins in the mid-ship or on a lower deck offer smoother sailing in rougher seas. If you are cruising one way then try and get a cabin on the shore side so that you can see the most of passing scenery. For a special trip or a romantic get-away book a balcony state room or a suite to really enjoy the panoramic views.

AFTER HOURS

For late night eating or snacking many large cruise ships offer snack bars, cafes, bistros, pizzerias or room service. Some have a midnight buffet. If you know you get hungry late at night or are a late eater anyway, then look for these amenities when booking your cruise.

Most of these tips can be found in the Travel Smith catalog which is great collection of cruise wear and travel clothes. Visit www.travelsmith.com for all your travel clothes and visit our specialized website for all your cruising requirements.

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5 Packing Tips for Charters

Posted on February 19, 2011 by charterking

GOING ON A YACHT VACATION IN THE CARIBBEAN?  5 THINGS THAT WOMEN SHOULD KNOW!

  • First of all whatever you are thinking of packing is too much
  • You can never have enough swim wear
  • You will never wear those sexy stiletto sandals that you paid a fortune for
  • Leave most of your make-up at home as once you have that healthy glow of being in the sun you will need very little in the evening to enhance your looks
  • Take plenty of moisturizing lotion and use it every night to replace what the sun has taken out

Let’s take packing as this probably gives most of us women the most headaches – how many times have you packed your bags then had another thought, so added another dress (just in case)? How many times have you added yet another pair of shoes to your carry on (just in case)?

Weather permitting, and it will be very unusual for it not be, you will wear swim wear every day with a cover-up to go ashore. The local people of the islands are very conservative and they may smile at you in your string bikini as you walk towards that casual restaurant for a drink or lunch, but, they will be offended. Walk the beaches in your swim suits but please remember to cover up when going to local restaurants or walking in the streets.

So what should be in your bags?

Swim wear
Cover Ups
A couple of pretty sun-dresses for going ashore for dinner
Thong sandals or dressy flat sandals
Shorts and tee-shirts
Straw Hat with a large brim to protect from too much sun
A light jacket or cardigan just in case and in places where the A/C may be too high
Reading material for relaxing on the beach or on the yacht – not a great selection of magazines or books once you leave the main towns like Road Town in the BVI

The tranquility of the pace of life in the Caribbean has a tendency to make people feel “lazy” in the sense that you really enjoy just relaxing in a hammock or on a sun pad on the front of the yacht; sipping a cool drink and swaying gently in the breeze. After two days of being lulled by the motion of the yacht and the beauty of your surroundings you will not think of wearing anything but a swimsuit for the rest of your vacation. Clothes become an unwanted luxury. Many guests throw on a sundress over their swim suits in the evening to go and dance on the beach or eat at a restaurant.

There are a few places where you may want to “dress” but again a nice sun-dress with a pair of flat sandals or pretty thong sandals will work. It is actually easier for women than men. There a few places in the islands, like Peter Island Resort, where men will be expected to wear long pants for dinner. But you can choose to avoid these places. The key to successful packing is to think about what you might like to do ashore before you go. Will you want to stop for dinner one night at a formal high end restaurant? Or do you want to simply go ashore in the dinghy in a sun-dress and eat at a beach restaurant? The reason I suggest no high heels is easy really – have you ever tried getting into a dinghy in heels and had the Captain yelling at you or tried to put them on while standing in sand and then walking like a pregnant duck to the restaurant. Suddenly they lose that sexy image! Even in you pull ashore onto a concrete landing stage you may probably still have to negotiate sand somewhere. And most landing stages are wooden. So you can imaging your heel sticking in the cracking while you continue forward ….. believe me I have seen this and I have done this before I saw the sense of leaving them behind. Barefoot is best in many places.

These are just my ideas based on the many packing mistakes I have made over the years.  Experience has taught me that on a yacht vacation in the Caribbean I only need swim wear and cover ups with maybe one nice dress for going ashore. But like most women I can tend to forget all that I know and I still end up bringing home clothes that I had neatly ironed only to throw them straight back into the laundry without them ever seeing the light of day!

So I guess my motto is, in the infamous words of Coco Chanel “Less is more”! Bon Voyage!!!

Gail King for American Yacht Company

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Yachting on the French Riviera

Posted on February 14, 2011 by charterking
The French Riviera is a haven for those seeking luxury and splendor. A yachting experience is the perfect way to see this amazing part of the world and take a trip through some of the most fabulous places the Riviera has to offer.
It is possible to sail the French Riviera throughout the year due to the mild weather conditions and favorable winds that prevail in the area, but the recognized yachting season runs between April and October. If you charter a yacht during the high summer season of July and August you can expect fantastic weather with plenty of sun and light winds. This is also the most popular time to charter a yacht in the south of France and the Riviera becomes extremely busy.
Embark on a French Riviera yachting trip on either side of the high season and you might avoid some of the crowds. The weather conditions are still great but you won`t be battling to go ashore from your yacht among so many tourists.
The luxury cruising season starts with the Cannes film festival and Monaco Grand Prix and these are two of the most popular locations along the French Riviera to charter a yacht.  St Tropez and Monaco are also top spots for luxury yacht chartering among those seeking some rest and relaxation in the lap of luxury.
You can choose from a huge range of different types of charter depending on your budget, needs and ability if you intend to take a hands-on approach. Bare boat charters are a popular choice but if you want a luxurious charter with all the trimmings, crewed and skippered charters could be what you prefer. Other types of boat available are catamarans and sailboats.
Favored by celebrities and those seeking the ultimate charter experience, super yachts and mega yachts can be chartered almost everywhere along the length of the French Riviera and they are particularly popular during the Cannes film festival and Monaco Grand Prix.
Monaco and Cannes are home to some of the world`s finest super yachts and Antibes now has the largest marina along the Riviera and so you can expect to find a fantastic choice of the very best charters available. This stretch is also host to a great selection of powerboats, luxury yachts of all shapes and sizes, plus motorboats and charters to suit sailors, tourists and visitors no matter what they are looking for.
Yachting on the French Riviera is increasing in popularity all the time and the competition to provide the best experience for clients is very competitive in the yacht charter business. This means that standards are exceptionally high and you can shop around to compare itineraries and extras to find your perfect yachting trip on the French Riviera.
As with most types of holiday booking, discounts and savings can be found if you shop around. Yacht charters are often best booked well in advance due to their popularity, but you can also sometimes find late deals or reduced rates for group bookings if you look around specialist websites.
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Charter a Yacht in Turkey

Posted on February 13, 2011 by charterking

If you’ve DONE the usual Med stuff: the Caribbean, the French Riviera, the Greek Islands, Mikonos, Santorini; Italy’s Amalfi, the Cinque Terre and Sicily, maybe it’s time for a change of pace and TURKEY might have that little kick that will spice up your jaded so-called life. Yes, you may know that Turkey is a Muslim country, and that it’s close to the Middle East. By logical consequence it’s gotta be a dangerous place. Definitely unfriendly to Americans, especially Jews, Christians, etc. etc.. WRONG.

Turkey is a dynamic modern country with it’s roots steeped and closely linked to the Roman Empire, in fact it was  an integral part of the Roman Empire and after after the fall of the Roman Empire it morphed into Byzantium an empire that lasted more than 1000 years. Later it was occupied by the Muslim Ottomans who remained for 650 years and after World War I, under the rule of Mustafa Kemal it became the secular republic of Turkey in 1923.

I throw in this snippet of history, only to underline the origins and differences between Turkey and other “Middle Eastern” countries. If anything defines the Turks it is their pragmatism. They maintain excellent relations with both East and West and are currently negotiating their acceptance into the European Union. Although the majority of Turks are Muslims, there are active Christian and Jewish minorities.

This rich history makes Turkey a unique destination for visitors and frankly, all things being equal, why not do it on a charter yacht. Turkey’s Aegean Coast or the “Turkish Riviera” as it is often called, really encompasses the coastline between Kusadasi (from where you can visit Biblical Ephesus) and Kas which is close to Cyprus. The most popular yachting pick-up ports are Marmaris, Bodrum, Gocek and Fetihye.

The REALLY interesting part of this area is the fact that, due to their proximity, you can also include a few very interesting Greek Islands into this mix. The Greek islands along the Turkish coast are collectively called the Dodecanese Islands. Some of the must-sees along the coast are, from North to South, Samos, Patmos, Leros, Kalymnos, Kos, Symi, Rhodes; and the tiny island of Nisos.

So what I’m really saying, is that you can include several Greek Dodecanese islands in your Turkish coast charter and have the best of both cultures.  Not all of this can be done in a week – a two weeker is best and will give you a real flavor of the region. Marmaris has a terrific natural harbor and many charter yachts use this beautiful resort as a pick-up point for their guests.

How to get to the area from the US: you have a choice of flying into either Istanbul and taking a regional Turkish Airlines flight to either Bodrum or Dalaman airports OR flying into Athens and taking a  regional Greek flight (Aegean Air is great) to either Samos or Rhodes. Most charter yachts can pick up in either location.

From Europe: there are direct flights from many major cities directly into Rhodes and the Turkish airports.

Timing your visit: the Mediterranean is definitely for your summer months vacation or holiday. The summer season starts in May and runs through September.  Here are some words of wisdom. July and August are the warmest but also the most popular and crowded, Brits, Russians, Germans all invade Turkey and the Dodecanese during these months. Yachtsmen and charterers visiting in July and August also need to be careful with the Meltemi winds that blow from North West to South East and can stir up the seas quite uncomfortably. The best months for the region are therefore May, June and September. I especially like September when the waters are still warm from the summer and the crowds have gone home.

We can customize an itinerary for you that will include all the best places for your particular group or your family’s preferred activities and interests; plus we can offer the best sailing and motor yachts and Turkish Gulets.  There’s a lot more information on our Mediterranean website including a detailed map of the area. We’d love to help you put your sailing vacation together, our knowledgeable in-house specialists and our partners in Greece and Turkey are standing by..!!

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