Taking the Kids on Charter

Posted on January 30, 2011 by charterking

Some of my clients who are parents of younger kids, pre-teens and teenagers often express reservations about taking the kids on charter: “it would be a nice relaxing vacation for us but what will the kids do?” Other times it’s the kids themselves who express the age old: “how boring can you get, that’s for old people” or “can I stay in touch with my friends on FaceBook?” or “Do they have Video Games or Movies on board?” Of course, it is a family vacation and everyone should have a great time, not just the parents.

So at the risk of offending the worlds youth, I thought I’d lay out a few observations of my own as to how and what young people do while they’re on charter and their past reactions to the experience.  Here are the things young people do while they are on vacation on a charter yacht.

1. If you’re careful to book a charter yacht with a good selection of water-toys, the most favored activity seems to be wake boarding from the dinghy. Look for boats that have wake-boards, wind-surfers, water skis and kayaks. If water skiing is important, check out the HP of the outboard engine on the dinghy (you’ll find this information in the “specifications” section of the boat’s e-brochure. If the dinghy hp is under 40, it’s performance with water-skis will be suspect – something around 60 to 75 hp is optimal.

2. The second most popular activity seems to be snorkeling (with or without parents in tow), the thrill of exploring all the nooks and crannies underwater in the clear waters of the Caribbean is fantastic for all ages. The BVI and the Caribbean in general has an incredible array of special places to snorkel.  A knowledgeable and experienced charter captain will know all these special places. For example, one of my favorite snorkeling places in the BVI are the Indians off Norman Cay. The water is very clear and there is a wall on the South side with marvelous corals and brightly colored fish of all sizes and shapes. Make sure you buy one of those nifty little laminated cards with pictures of the local tropical fish and their names.

3. SCUBA diving:  pre-teens and teenagers who have not dived before can take a “resort” SCUBA diving course on a charter yacht that and offers diving and has an instructor on board . Not all boats offer on-board diving, but if this is something you feel comfortable with, make sure you charter a boat that offers on-board diving WITH THE RESORT COURSE experience.  Boats that do not offer diving can always arrange “rendez-vous” dives with a local dive-shop close to wherever you happen to be anchoring or mooring.  See our dedicated article on diving and fishing in this blog.

4. Exploring and hiking on land. There are so many things to do and see on the water, it’s easy to forget the great stuff on land. The ruins of old sugar plantations, for example that go back to the days of slavery; walking along deserted beaches and collecting shells and flotsam. The Caves on Norman Island and the Baths on Virgin Gorda Island. The hiking trails in the National Park on St. John that take you through almost jungle-like conditions where you can see the wild Mongooses (Mongeese?) and Wild donkeys. The huge multi-colored chameleon-like lizards.

5. Learning to sail and handle a boat. Most captains will be happy to let you or the kids, handle the wheel from time to time and also learn the basics of sailing, picking up a mooring ball or even anchoring. The dinghy is always a source of fun for the kids – with some elementary instruction, dinghys can be great fun.  Not all boats allow you to do this but if you’re interested in these basic nautical activities, choose a boat that does. Ask your broker.

Notwithstanding, all the outside activities, the majority of charter yachts now come equipped with their own state-of-the-art Internet hot-spots and I-pod connections and even local TV. The larger motor-yachts can access, via satellite, most TV channels in the world.  See our article on phone and wireless connections in this blog.  Most yachts and cats also have an incredible selection of modern movies, music and games for all ages.

In spite of the array of inside activities available, somehow I think the kids will go to bed every evening too tired to use them. Still worried? Let me know how it goes after the charter, I’d love to see the pictures and the video with the snores…!!  For more information on the different yachts and activities available check the website.

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Charter Rates: High Season? Low Season?

Posted on January 23, 2011 by charterking

Moorings 4600 under sail

Many of our first time charter clients get confused with the High Season and Low season charter rates shown on our websites. Truthfully there is little rhyme but good reason for the rate structures. They vary with the type of charter and the climate at the destination.

CREWED YACHTS / CATS CARIBBEAN
There is no seasonal rate i.e. winter / summer. There is however a holiday season rate with a premium of between 10 – 20% for Christmas and New Year charters. The rest of the year is at the same rate. This is because Caribbean rates are generally “inclusive” of meals and beverages and the yacht’s costs vary with the number of guests. Therefore, the published rates that are shown as “High” or “Low” refer to the number of guests on board with the lowest being for 2 guests or whatever minimum has been established, and the high rate for the max number of guests: 6, 8, 10, 12, etc.

CREWED YACHTS / CATS MEDITERRANEAN
Med rates are generally “non-inclusive” of meals and beverages and are quoted with a base rate for the boat plus expenses. The complete Mediterranean rate structure is explained in a separate article in this blog.  In the Med, there are either two or three seasons. Because it is essentially a summer time vacation, the high season is July and August which are the warmest and most popular months. The middle season, is generally June and September, and the low season is everything else. Some yachts use only a two season rate structure with July and August as high and everything else as low.

BAREBOATS / MEDITERRANEAN
Because of the short sailing season from May to September (sometimes mid-October), the bareboat rates tend to follow the same pattern as the crewed yacht rates. July and August are the highest and there is a mid season that includes May, June and September, the lowest rates would be from October to April. I wouldn’t recommend winter charters in the Med anyway…!!

BAREBOATS / CARIBBEAN
Most bareboat companies use a tiered rate structure with 4 “quadrants” and different pricing for each of the four quadrants.  The Holiday Season during December and part of January  has the highest rate and the Summertime, usually between June and October, has the lowest. There are two more intermediate rates, one that spans the popular time of Spring Break and Easter, and the other that starts in November and ends before the Christmas season.

BAREBOATS / BAHAMAS
The Bahamas bareboat rate structure is the reverse of the Caribbean proper. The highest rates are in the Summer and the Lowest in winter. This is because the Bahamas are much further North, and it gets quite chilly in winter, more or less like Florida. In spite of the hurricane season that starts in June, Bahamas rates are highest in July August and September

All this get even more complicated because individual boat owners and bareboat companies can set their own months and dates within months for moving from one season to another.

Yes,  all this sounds a little confusing, but all will become clear with a little help from your favorite friendly charter broker or booking agent.  For assistance with Med charters please visit us here. or for help with Caribbean charters, click here and for bareboat rates and general bareboat searches, click here.

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BVI Diving and Fishing

Posted on January 11, 2011 by charterking

Many of our charter guests like to snorkel, SCUBA dive and fish from their charter yachts. I get many inquiries about these activities and I thought I get some information together and put it all in one place so people can browse this article at their leisure. Although this information is primarily for the BVI and the USVI, it’s also valid for many of the other Caribbean islands.

Snorkeling, of course, is a no-brainer. You don’t need any special permits or certificates to go snorkeling, suffice to say, however, that snorkeling masks available from charter companies and charter boats are not always top quality. If it’s important for you to have a really good diving mask, bring your own. If you’re a scuba diver, bring your own regulator too. snorkels and fins are not such a big issue, you can live with floppy fins and straight-through tube snorkels.

Scuba diving is a different matter altogether, let’s talk diving on charter yachts.  Some charter yachts offer on-board diving, others offer rendez-vous diving. The difference is that the yachts or cats that offer on-board diving have the right insurance and have a master diver or diving instructor on board; some offer the equipment too. This is expensive stuff and on-board diving boats usually charge a premium either baked into the price or they charge for each dive. Rendez-vous diving requires none of this. It simply means that the captain will organize, usually via VHF radio or by phone, for a local dive shop to pick the divers up off the yacht, take them diving and drop them off back at the yacht afterwards.  The client pays for this separately to the dive shop. There are several extremely reputable dive shops scattered throughout the islands, only a phone call away – as an example, check out  www.divebvi.com for valuable information.

Some boats have air compressors on-board but it’s not really important if they have one or not. Frankly they are quite noisy and the last thing you need on vacation is a constant chugging in the background morning, noon and night. The captains of the boats that do not have compressors, go ashore in the dinghy and swap out their spent tanks for fresh ones at the many local dive shops along the route so that the divers aboard always have full tanks available.

Let’s talk briefly about Certification. All divers that wish to use the services of a charter yacht that offers on board diving need to be certified and carrying a PADI or NAWI card. Many clients ask me if it is possible to get SCUBA certification while they are on charter. Well, yes, it is possible, but you should get the basics and the bookwork out of the way before you go. Use your charter vacation for the final open ocean dives and the on-board instructor (make sure there is one on board!) can give you a certificate of completion. DON’T attempt to start your scuba diving course while on-board and complete it in a week.  It also wouldn’t be fair to the other guests on board since you’d be taking the captain or mates time up when they should looking after ALL the guests and not just the student diver.

Now, what CAN be done, if you have never done scuba diving before, and you are on a charter yacht that has an  instructor on board (as opposed to a Master Diver),  is to take what is known as a RESORT course.  This is an introductory course where you only go to one atmosphere (33 ft or less) which is not dangerous, but you would use all the gear and the instructor would be by your side all the time. This is a great way to see if you really like the diving experience and is certainly a motivation to take the complete course when you return home.

A word about fishing now: fishing in the Virgin Islands, both US and British, require permits, see http://bit.ly/f04Ivx . The BVI especially is extremely sensitive about fishing of any kind and the catching or removal of any species being restricted to locally born Virgin Islanders unless you obtain a permit.  Many boats do carry rods and light tackle, however it’s best to discuss fishing of any kind with your captain and to clearly state your interest in fishing on the Preference Sheets that we send to you 30 days before the charter. You will have to apply for your permit in person however.

For all your BVI diving and yacht charter requirements please visit our specialized BVI website OR if you are looking for a bareboat and wish to dive off a bareboat and rent equipment from a local  dive-shop, please visit our specialized bareboat website to find the perfect bareboat.

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Charter Gulet CLARISSA

Posted on January 5, 2011 by charterking

Clarissa under sail in Marmaris, Turkey

Spices in Dalaman, Turkey

Meza in Bodrum

Aft-Deck Table

The Pavlous on CLARISSA
Book this beautiful Turkish Gulet

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Charter Yacht SABORE

Posted on January 3, 2011 by charterking

The Catamaran

The Crew

The Murphy crowd..!!

See the Website at http://www.sailsabore.com/

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Charter Itineraries

Posted on December 27, 2010 by charterking

Most of my new clients ask me about an itinerary for their charter, and yes, we do have an incredible number of “stock” itineraries on our files that take you from point a) to point b) and then on to point c) etc. Unfortunately, boats and yachts also have to deal with the weather, the wind direction, the direction of the ocean currents and the state of the seas at any given geographical  position and time of year.

My first answer to an itinerary question is usually “you’ll need to discuss this with the captain when you board the vessel – he will know the weather forecast, wind direction, etc. and most importantly, he / she’s the guy that has to get you to where you want to go safely and comfortably “.

This is the reality when you’re on charter. Certainly as charter brokers, we can help you with a list of great destinations, must-see places and where the best diving, snorkeling and shopping places are BUT in the final analysis, the captain will be the guy that makes the ultimate decisions as to the where it is PRACTICAL and SAFE and COMFORTABLE to go.

Talking of practicality, it’s probably best to actually make a list of activities that you and your friends and family like to do when you’re on vacation, then make a list of places you’d like to see while on charter and let the captain make his own mind up as to where and in what order to see them.

Much of this information can be submitted on the PREFERENCE SHEETS that we send you about 30 days before the charter. These sheets detail your groups preferred activities, your food and beverage preferences and other details. If you have specific locations you’d like to visit, they can be shared at the same time. You should also share them with your charter broker when you book the charter, so we can pick the best starting and ending locations for your cruise.

As I mentioned earlier, we do have a really good collection of stock or standard itineraries that we recommend for almost any charter destination in the world and we can email these to you any time during the booking process.  If you’re a bare-boater or a crewed yacht person, just drop us a line.

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6 Best Yacht Charter Tips Ever

Posted on December 16, 2010 by charterking

Many of my clients have not chartered before and some wind up with a lesser vacation experience than originally envisioned. This is basically a tragedy since chartering a yacht or catamaran is not inexpensive and I simply hate for people to NOT get their money’s worth. With this in mind, I have put together a first timer’s guide with some easy steps to the perfect charter. i.e the right boat in the right place at the right time, and at the right price.

1. Find a knowledgeable charter broker or booking agent that you trust. Find someone who is a member of of one of the major industry associations like CYBA, MYBA, FYBA or AYCA.  These organizations tend to screen the applicants pretty thoroughly before allowing them to become members and also require annual attendance at charter yacht shows. Be as detailed and frank as possible with your broker as far as your expectations, preferred activities, food and beverage preferences, special guest requirements and anything else that will have an impact on your vacation. Your broker should have access to ALL the charter yachts in a specific destination; using more than one broker creates a lot of confusion. Best idea is to develop a relationship with your charter broker that hopefully can continue over the years.  Be honest about your vacation budget, we can assist you better if we know what we’re working with.

2.  Book early, between 6 months or even a year ahead of your vacation. This way you’ll get first pick on the best yachts and catamarans. The early bird catches the worm.

3. Pick the right time of year for your destination of choice. DON’T book the Med in Winter or early spring; best Mediterranean months are late May, June and September; July and August are nice and warm but crowded with European holidaymakers and the prices of everything go through the roof.  The Caribbean is good any time of year.

4. Look carefully at the crew profile.  The crew is arguably the most important factor for an excellent charter. A boat can be a very small place to spend a week with strangers (this goes for the guests you bring with you as well..!!) with whom you have nothing in common. Granted, most crews are trained professionals who can adapt to most situations, but your charter broker has a MAJOR role to play in this decision – he /she should know the crews and should be able do a reasonable job of matching up guests with the right crew. Now, we are not infallible, but we can cut down the odds….. I generally do not offer boats and crews that I have not inspected personally and if I do NOT know the crew or the boat, I will always tell my clients. Sometimes it is inevitable however, especially for late bookings on popular holiday weeks to provide the clients with all the available boats. Not all unbooked boats and less-popular boats are under par. If the boat is new to charter, it may not be as well known as others that are booked regularly, OR maybe there has been a cancellation.

5. Check the age of the yacht and look at the “re-fits” she has had.  A good re-fit can bring an older boat back to almost new. Although boats have a MUCH LONGER life span than, say automobiles, after 20 years or so they can develop unpleasant odors from the bilges.  Check the boat’s water-toy inventory and if you are an avid SCUBA diver make sure the boat offers on-board diving services.

6. Inquire about Trip Cancellation Insurance. After you’ve paid your deposit and signed the charter contract, deposits and generally all funds paid are non refundable.  Trip cancellation insurance is usually available to protect you against these eventualities. Ask your charter broker.

Please contact us if you have a charter requirement, we love giving our clients and guests the best vacation in the world.

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BVI Phone and Internet Access

Posted on December 15, 2010 by charterking

Continuing with our series of posts that address things that people write to us about, and probably a lot of stuff you don’t need or never wanted to know either.  Let me now address the issue of phone communications and Internet access while on a chartered yacht or catamaran in the BVI. People are divided into two groups, a lot of my clients, mostly Europeans, simply leave the outside world to itself and DON’T WANT TO KNOW what’s going on in the workplace. Others, mostly Americans, feel the need to be on top of things ALL THE TIME and the kids simply have to have FACEBOOK with them on charter or they feel abandoned.  Cultural wars.

So, in order to keep everyone happy, here’s the skinny on phones and Internet access in the BVI. This is different from the USVI where US cell phones with major carrier contracts work fairly well. In fact, so long are you are in “line-of-sight” with the communications tower on the highest point of St. John in the USVI, you’ll get a signal.

The BVI has a quasi monopoly in communications that is a relic from the past: the BVI Cable and Wireless Company but they are VERY GOOD at blocking signals, and charging outrageous fees if you use your US based cell phone in roaming mode in the Islands.  So my advise is DON’T use your US cell phone in Tortola. Period.

Here are some solutions:

1. Rent a local phone. If you’re a bare-boater,  ask your charter operator if you can rent a phone from them Some even provide one for free but you have to pay for the calls.  It will come with a prepaid $10 on it that will last for a few minutes but you’ll have to call in and put some more loot on it before you can do some serious talking. This is still expensive but it’s cheaper than using your US cell phone.  There is a company in the BVI called Renport, contact them by calling (561) 847-3447.

2. You can also rent a laptop card to access the Internet while you are on charter, again, Renport offers this service.

3. Now, if you are chartering a larger motor yacht or catamaran, it probable that the yacht itself offers this service for free (included in your charter fee).  Most of the more recent- vintage vessels now have a LAN (local area network) on board and you may be able to use the SKYPE phone service via the on-board Internet.  You need to download Skype onto your laptop if you do not already subscribe to this service. This is arguably the best solution.

4. If all else fails, there are plenty of WiFi hot-spots around the islands, including Village Cay Marina and Soper’s Hole on the West End.

5. A word of warning, BVI phones do not work in the USVI and vice versa, if you need to communicate from both areas, get a BVI phone for the BVI and use your own US cell phone from the USVI. Some companies bill you for roaming in the USVI and others do not; so check with your carrier.

6. Some US carriers (AT&T) for example offer a temporary international roaming package that you can purchase before you leave and discontinue when you return to the US. This will resolve the issue of using your own cell phone in the BVI BUT you have still spent money on the package.

In summary, it’s not perfect yet and it’s a moving target BUT it’s a lot easier to communicate with office or family from the BVI now than it ever was – but it’s going to cost you either way..!!

For more information and availability of BVI charter yachts and catamarans visit our website.

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Cruising Greece and Turkey

Posted on December 13, 2010 by admin


Let’s start by saying that if you are flying to Europe from the US then you should plan on arriving the day before your cruise begins and spending a night in a hotel in a place like Athens. Many places to eat but some of the best can be found in the Historic Plaka district where you can enjoy fabulous Greek wines and enjoy traditional Greek entertainment. The last time that I was in Athens I enjoyed a lovely dinner at an open air plaza with the Acropolis illuminated at the top of the hill. Breathtaking.
From Athens your cruise will begin in the port of Piraeus. You can easily travel by local bus to this bustling port or have the luxury of a taxi ride. I personally prefer the local transport but many feel more comfortable with their bags just taking a cab ride.
From Piraeus it is only a short cruise into Turkish waters where you could possibly dock in Istanbul – former capital of the Ottoman and Byzantine empires and history buffs will remember this as Constantinople. Minarets and domes fill the skyline of Istanbul. Leaving Istanbul it is quite likely that you will cruise into Greek waters and head for Mykonos in the Cylades. Famous for it’s whitewashed houses and windmills with blazing blue roofs the color of the sea. The Town is a maze of shops and restaurants in narrow streets.
Another great stop in the Greek islands is one of my favorite places, the island of Rhodes also known as the Island of Roses. In summer this is a favorite place for British tourists. It is worth the trouble to move off the waterfront and find traditional Greek Tavernas serving authentic food and wines.
One of the largest islands that you may visit in the Greek Islands is Santorini and this stop seems to be on most American agendas. Santorini is a spectacular destination, arguably the most spectacular in the Mediterranean but again this is subjective. The largest of the Greek Islands is Crete which is home to the Knossos excavations – the site of the Minoan Kingdom which dates back to 4000 BC.
Apart from all the marvelous sights and places of interest and fabulous shopping and eating that you can do, the Greek Islands and the Turkish coast offer breathtaking beaches. I particularly love the Turkish coastline with it’s pine studded hills and quiet coves where the water laps gently onto the sand. One of the great things about this region is that the water stays warm for swimming into September and that is the time that is the most peaceful. Very few tourists. A cruise in Greece and Turkey can be quite unforgettable and enchanting and you will most certainly want to return. For a complete guide to cruise ships and yacht charters please check our webpage.

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Turkish Gulet Charter

Posted on December 13, 2010 by charterking

Gulets are some of the most amazingly comfortable boats anywhere in the world. The word Gulet gave birth to the French “Golette” and the Spanish “Goleta”, the Italian Gulletta, and probably the English “Cutter”. There has been some discussion among academics as to whose loanword it really is, but it’s really unimportant where the word originated; suffice to say that these beautifully designed wooden sailing ships were originally built milleniums ago by the diverse peoples who plied the Eastern Mediterranean coastlines trading their wares. Today, the Bodrum Gulet is still a work of art, with hulls and decks made entirely of wood, except, of course for the mechanical and electrical bits that are state of the art. They have also evolved into “motor-sailers” as opposed to sailing vessels, so many Gulets have twin diesel engines that can propel them at about 8 to 12 knots. These days, they mainly sail down wind and definitely do not point well into the wind.

There is usually a spacious aft deck with a large table or tables where the guests eat their meals, There is usually a nice gathering space (good for cocktail hour) forward that is covered with an awning. Because the hulls and decks are made of wood, Gulets are amazingly cool inside even in the heat of the Mediterranean summer. Equally when it’s cooler outside, they will keep a nice toasty temperature inside.
The design of today’s Bodrum Gulet is straightforward. There is normally a huge master’s or owners cabin in the poop (aft) then a long corridor running down the center of the vessel with staterooms or cabins on each side. There are Gulets that can accommodate 6 or 8 passengers all the way up to 16 or 20 passengers. GUlets can be rented by the cabin or you can rent the whole boat. Renting a whole boat is called chartering and there are many different flavors of legal charter contracts depending on the jurisdiction, the flag she’s running under, her registration and the charter destination.
American Yacht Company specializes in chartering Gulets all over the Eastern med. We know most of the good gulets and their crews as well as the different destinations and itineraries. We also have representation in Turkey and Greece to help make your charter experience the least stressful as possible. After all, you’re there to enjoy and not to worry about transportation, or other special requests that you may have upon arrival at your destination.
As an example of some of the really amazing Gulets available please visit our picture gallery and see the Gulet CLARISSA and the Gulet IRAKLIS L .
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