For the nouveau riche, the idea of taking a private yacht charter vacation is both casual and routine: “Honey, should we go to the chalet in the Alps this weekend, or spend a few days boating around St Barts?”
For the rest of us working-class types, a boating holiday is something we plan far in advance. Specifically squirreling away our pennies to pay for this special experience. Regardless of crewed yacht in the islands of the Caribbean or a do-it-yourself Florida Keys bareboat charter.
When affordability and value matter, it’s important to lock in a great charter price and not get blindsided by unexpected cash outlays.
Here are three pitfalls that can put a crimp on your charter budget – along with some helpful advice from Jana Sheeder, President of 1-800 Yacht Charters. Avoid or mitigate these expenses, and it will be smooth sailing.
The idea of an “all-inclusive” charter rate is a bit of a misnomer. Many Caribbean-based charter yachts offer all–inclusive rates, but carefully read the small print on your charter agreement. One item that is rarely included is the cost associated with using the yacht’s onboard communications system. This includes cellular phones and internet connectivity.
Unlike back home, cellular and internet service is very expensive in the Caribbean – often $1 or more per minute. With the whole family logging on to check emails, staying in touch with the office, friends, and family adds up quickly – you can easily incur communication fees of $500 or more in a week’s time.
Jana’s Tip – “Limit everyone’s online time to a few minutes a day. Better yet, turn off the cellphones, laptops, and get ‘un-connected.’ The whole point of a yachting vacation is to spend quality time with one another and to become immersed in the local culture and nature. Take a break from technology and enjoy your vacation!”
Many all-inclusive yachts offer a “ship’s bar” in the cost of the charter. This means the yacht will provide beer, house-quality wine, and some hard alcohol. But beware – if you request certain top-shelf brands or vintage wines and champagnes, you could be in for a rude awakening when your skipper hands you an invoice for, “special requests” at the conclusion of your charter. While some islands offer duty-free alcohol, this is not for local consumption, and premium brands in the islands are often 3 to 4 times as expensive as the same brands back home.
Jana’s Tip – “Unless you absolutely must have your hand-brewed artisan ale, or a special single malt whiskey from some remote bog in Scotland, enjoy the house brands for a few days – especially the local island concoctions like Rum Runners and Pina Coladas.”
One of the great joys of a Virgin Islands yacht charter vacation is the flexibility – you can come and go as you please, when you please – all at your own pace. Sometimes, charterers decide to conclude their charter in a different place than where they started. Your trip might commence in St. Thomas, USVI, for example, but you’ve looked at a map and feel an adventurous cruise concluding in St. Martin sounds like fun. It is YOUR yacht for the charter – everything’s up to you!
Most yacht owners and crews are more than happy to accommodate your wishes for everything – after all, this is your fully-customized vacation. However, there could be a hefty cost to end in a port other than where you began your odyssey, and if you’re not careful, you could be left footing a “delivery” bill.
The technical term is “re-positioning” – the cost of fuel and crew salary to return the yacht, after the charter has concluded, back to its home port. Depending upon how many days it takes the crew to return the yacht to its homeport, you could be looking at a fee as low as $500 to as high as $1000 for a sailboat, and double that for a motoryacht.
Jana’s Tip – “ask your charter broker before signing your charter agreement if there will be any delivery fees if you end in a port other than where you began your trip. If there is a fee, ask your broker to approach the yacht owner and see if the fee can be reduced, or even waived. Oftentimes, owners will absorb the cost of re-positioning, in order to secure your business.”
In conclusion, avoiding these budget-blowing pitfalls can save hundreds of dollars. This keeps your trip as it should be. It is a memorable experience to cherish for a lifetime.
What questions do you have about the costs of yacht charter vacations? We’d also love to hear about your experiences when chartering! Please comment below!
This entry was posted in Yacht Charter News Frequently Asked Questions Educational and tagged pitfalls to avoid, repositioning fees, delivery fees, top shelf alcohol, cellphone charges on a yacht, extra costs on a yacht charter, president of 1-800 Yacht Charters, 1800yachtcharters.com, Jana Sheeder, technology vacation, virgin islands yacht charter, boating around st. barts, costs of yacht charter, caribbean yacht charter
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HOW TO FIND THE BEST YACHT CHARTER PRICEFinding the best prices for crewed catamaran charters and super yacht charters has never been easier. Travelers looking for exceptional value at sea can turn to a new webpage offered by 1-800 Yacht Charters.
1-800 Yacht Charters, known for offering the newest and largest yachts in the world’s best destinations, has created a web page featuring seasonal last minute specials, free days onboard, and exclusive deep discounts. Specials are available for select catamarans, sailboats, and motor yachts…RIGHT NOW!
The company’s President, Jana Sheeder, feels the time is right to go beyond “selling” charter vacations.
“The dynamics of our global economy are evolving,” says Sheeder. “We continue to see the weakening of the value of the dollar against the euro. This means travel to Europe continues to become more expensive for Americans.“
Sheeder continues,
“Many of our yachts transact in Euros. By focusing on value, we can offer savvy travelers an opportunity to mitigate the effects of a surging euro. Offering deep discounts and free, extra days onboard helps offset the gap between our US currency and that of the European Union.“
The new web page displays a dozen or so yachts, both in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, offering significant savings for rentals; for example, at 311 feet 8 inches (95 meters) in length, motor yacht INDIAN EMPRESS is one of the largest yachts in the world. Her weekly rental rate is €600,000. Sheeder is offering a rate reduction of €200,000 per week for summer 2011 bookings.
“Saving almost 25% helps offset the nearly 35% currency premium between the dollar and the euro,” states Sheeder.
The discounts also apply to more affordable yachts as well. The 60′ catamaran NIRVANA is currently based in the Caribbean and can accommodate a group of 8 to 10 family and friends. Her regular rate is €13,300 per week, but for remaining available dates in February and March, the rental rate is slashed by 15%.
The specials are updated frequently, so visitors to the company’s website are encouraged to BOOKMARK THE www.1800yachtcharters.com SITE and check back often for more great offers!
This entry was posted in Yacht Charter Special Offers and tagged Indian Empress, yacht charter discounts, special rates, Nirvana, website, largest yachts, 1800yachtcharters, newest yachts, 1800yachtcharters.com, catamaran yacht charter, yacht charter specials
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The week of February 14-20 is your chance to ramp up the idea of “being kind” as the world celebrates Random Acts of Kindness Week, 2016. Let’s extend Random Acts of Kindness Week!!!
Created by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, the week-long event is a way for all of us to “…step up your acts of kindness, be loud with your generosity, and commit to being a better person throughout the year. We believe kindness is a daily practice, but this is a week to celebrate and inspire others to join you.”
There are soooo many things we can do, and sooo many ways to get involved. All it takes is a bit of time — and a big heart!
From yesterday:
We were inspecting private yacht charter vessels at the inaugural Superyacht Miami Show, when I noticed our company President, Jana Sheeder, bent over picking something up on the docks. A few minutes later, I saw her do it again. I asked her what she was doing, and she proceeded to lay a handful of objects out on the dock for us to see. It was small items of debris – a used book of matches, some plastic, a metal bolt, and more. “Any of these objects could end up in the water, possibly harming the marine environment or adding to our problems with plastic pollution at sea. It only took a couple of moments to stop and pick these items up and try to make a difference.”
Suddenly, I found myself looking down as I walked along the dock, hoping I too could “chip in” and do my small part… Generosity and kindness are contagious, and it feels so good to do random things for others and for our community!
Need a little more motivation to jump feet-first into Random Act of Kindness Week? Sign the online “Kindness Pledge,” and you’ll be on your way to inspire others to do their part in making a kinder world for everyone.
SIGN the pledge here: https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/rakweek2016#pledge-form
We’d love to hear your suggestions of Random Acts of Kindness. Please leave them in the comments section for others to follow your lead in kind acts!
Have a kinder, generous week everyone… Thank you for making a difference and for being the change with us!
This entry was posted in Educational Special Events and tagged Miami Boat Show, Miami Yacht Show, Giftivism and Generosity, Random Acts of Kindness Week, special events, RAK, Gratitude, Yachts Miami Beach Show, Superyacht Miami Show, Jana Sheeder, Miami Beach Boat Show, generosity, Watson Island, president of 1-800 Yacht Charters, Kindness Pledge, 1800yachtcharters.com, plastic pollution, protect the ocean, Do for others, protect wildlife, Random Acts of Kindness ideas
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We reflect upon the continued expansion of business from sailing yachts to motor yachts. Things change so much, and so do we. SailAway now cross-promotes its private yacht rental brand as 1-800-YACHT CHARTERS. To illustrate, all names are a part of The SailAway Group.
We began in the 1970’s as a business focused on luxury sailing charter vacations in the Virgin Islands. For instance, smaller boats (mostly sailboats), typical itineraries between the islands, smaller selection of watersports toys. SailAway Yacht Charter Consultants has grown into a web-based network of the newest and largest yachts, in the world’s best destinations, with charter personnel worldwide.
Company President, Jana Sheeder, has witnessed the change.
As a result, Sheeder explains,
“Our industry has not just grown – it has evolved. In the early years, the term ‘yacht charter‘ was synonymous with sailboat charters in the Virgin Islands. As the global economy expanded in the 90’s, the penchant for yacht owners to build larger and larger vessels reached a fevered pitch, especially in the motoryacht sector. These larger vessels had far greater capacity to carry more fuel and supplies and to cruise further than their predecessors.”
This entry was posted in Yacht Charter News Educational and tagged 1800yachtcharters, 1800yachtcharters.com, SailAway Yacht Charters, The SailAway Group, SailAway Yacht Charter Consultants, Jana Sheeder
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The most common “complaint” we hear from our repeat North American clients, is not really a complaint, but rather a pleading for, “More, more, more!” “We love the superyacht experience™,“ they say, “and we want MORE…find us more unique places to see, closer to home, and more things to do…” Where to cruise?
Private yacht charter aficionados seeking new places to cruise and explore in 2016. Our charter department has selected their 3 favorite “Under-the radar” cruising grounds in the western hemisphere.
Bet you didn’t know there are 34 islands off of Boston that are open for exploring? Yep, Beantown is a great stopover for anyone planning a New England yacht charter vacation. The Boston Harbor Shipyard and Marina is world-class and a great place for megayachts to dock. Have kids in your group? Take them to the Boston Children’s Museum (kids love this place – lots of interactive exhibits). Adults enjoy cocktails at ultra-upscale Strega Waterfront’s dockside bar. It overlooks Boston Harbor on Fan Pier in the beautiful Seaport district. Try the Silviano, made with Stoli and muddled blueberries. Make sure a crewmember drives your tender back to your yacht.
Any island or inlet north of Seattle is mesmerizing. We like the isolation of this rugged fjord on the Canadian side of the border. This place is all about mountains, wilderness and nature. Take note- this is not a destination for small boats. Strong winds can swirl down from the mountains into the inlet. Large yachts with stabilizers (think expedition yacht charter destination) are a must in our opinion. Putting up with the wind is well worth the natural beauty of this locale.
Don’t even to try to say, “Been there, done that” ‘cause we know you’re probably fibbing! A decades-old embargo between the USA and Cuban governments virtually shut off this island destination from the yacht charter marketplace. The proud, resilient Cuban people are eager to meet North Americans and share their beautiful country, artwork, and crafts. As travel regulations continue to loosen up, we anticipate charter questions. Charterers will want to explore the many bays and protected anchorages this island nation offers. Importantly, a well-stocked and provisioned megayacht is essential. The island’s marine infrastructure is nonexistent. The country’s economy, quite sadly, is a trainwreck.
What’s your favorite hidden gem dream yacht charter destination for a vacation in the western hemisphere? Share your favorite spot with us in the comment section below, and we’ll send you a complimentary eco–friendly tote bag – courtesy of 1-800 Yacht Charters. In conclusion, email your contact information to us at info@1800yachtcharters.com for your tote bag!
This entry was posted in Educational Destinations and tagged New England yacht charters, 1800yachtcharters.com, caribbean yacht charter, yacht charter new england, Bute Inlet British Columbia, Cuba, yacht charter Cuba, rent a private yacht in Cuba, Boston yacht charter, unique destinations
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