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How to Avoid a Yacht Charter “Vacation From Hell”

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THE SITUATION

Recently, fitness expert Jillian Michaels took to social media.  This to recount what she described as a disastrous Italy private luxury yacht charter vacation.  (No, it was not our charter.) She detailed arriving to find the yacht, “…not only filthy, but it had no hot water, no air con when not docked, no wifi, partial electricity, it was clearly in total disrepair.”  Via Facebook, the fitness guru warned her social media followers to beware of online scams. “These scams are becoming extremely prevalent…so be careful when you are dealing with rentals of any kind,” she wrote.

Michaels’ online posts were picked up by mainstream media.  Television’s syndicated newsmagazine, “Inside Edition” even cover it.

Collage of photos of crew members on a yacht, Jillian Michaels, and a private Italian charteryacht

 

Michaels’ comments lead us to two points:

*Was this a scam?  In our opinion – NO.

*Could more have been done to avoid what the press has coined as a “Vacation from Hell?”   ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!

 

SCAM?

“I’m confident this is not scam,” states yacht charter maven Jana Sheeder, President of 1-800 Yacht Charters. Hers is a company that specializes in discreet private luxury yacht charter vacations for celebrities and UHNW.

“While we were not involved in Ms. Michael’s charter, the client did use a professional charter broker from a well-known company – a competitor of ours with lots of experience and a solid standing in our industry.”   

In fact, that charter broker’s actions were scrutinized by the Ethics Committee of the Charter Yacht Brokers Association.  The Committee unanimously found the broker acted in good faith and did not commit any ethics violations.

Clearly, however, something went awry for the charter to end after just 4 days of an expected 12 day  trip.  Exactly what happened is still not clear.  Both sides are pointing the finger at each other. Michaels feels she was duped.  The charter brokerage asserts Michaels was in violation of her charter agreement.

 

HOW TO AVOID BUYER’S REMORSE

If the yacht was, as Michaels asserts, “…in disrepair,” it needs addressing.  The question that must be asked is, what more can a prospective yacht charter customer do to ensure the yacht is fully operational and what we refer to in the industry as, “charter ready?”

Sheeder suggests two easy steps.

 

First, ASK FOR A CHECKLIST.   This list attests all electrical and mechanical components required for a successful charter are fully-operational.  “We have a simple checklist similar to a pre-flight checklist used by a pilot to make sure a plane is safe and ready for takeoff,” says Sheeder.  “In essence, we are directly asking the Captain of the yacht prior to the execution of the charter agreement to confirm the yacht is in Bristol  (clean) condition, that the watertoys  (waverunners, tender, etc.) are fully-operational, the yacht’s generators and central air conditioning system are working correctly, etc.  We even directly ask if there are any foul odors emanating from the toilets and bilges, or fumes from the engine room.”

 

WHAT SHEEDER DOES NEXT

Sheeder reviews the checklist results. She informs the client of any issues.  She confirms the timeframe required to make any necessary repairs.

“If we, together with the client, are not completely                 comfortable with the situation or the crew’s ability to guarantee an exceptional private yacht charter experience, we move on and look for another yacht.”

Sheeder revisits the checklist with the captain three or four days prior to the charter to see if any last minute problems have occurred. “Yachts are complex, mechanical vessels with many moving parts that can develop problems  – just like an automobile.  Many problems are eliminated or minimized by ongoing maintenance, but sometimes, things break unexpectedly.  By checking prior to the charter, we can inform the client of the situation as well as estimate the time it will take to make the needed repairs.  Most situations are minor and the charter can proceed with no unexpected ‘surprises’ for the client and their guests.”

 

ADDITIONAL SAFEGUARDS

Second, REQUEST REALTIME VIDEO/CURRENT PHOTOS. 

Many charter brochures feature beautiful photos or videos of the charter yacht.  But do the photos contain dates?  Is the video current?  How do you know?

Sheeder suggests using current technology apps to make certain what you see is what you get.  “We try to personally inspect the yachts we recommend to our clients, but a lot can change from the time we saw the yacht at a boat show or a private viewing, and the time the client charters the vessel,” says Sheeder.  “We have our online charter brochures date coded in our computer. If the images are old, we reach out to the yacht owner and his management team and request current photos.  Even casual videos shot on cellphones can capture the overall condition of the boat, and most crews are eager to show their vessel in the best possible light.”  Ask questions.  We are at your service.

 

APPS THAT WILL HELP YOU

Sheeder also recommends apps like Apple’s FaceTime for iPhones, and Facebook Messenger and Google Duo for Android phones.

“Short of the client’s inspecting the yacht themselves, there’s nothing better than a live video feed, with a real-time conversation with the crew, as they walk through and film the yacht and the client watches live.”    

 

 

PROBING QUESTIONS

So you are considering a private luxury yacht charter for your next vacation.  First, probe beyond the tantalizing online yacht brochure.  Second, ask your broker if they use a pre-charter checklist. Third, ask them to provide current photos or real-time streaming video of the yacht in its current condition.  If they do not or cannot, beware.  Consider hiring a broker who can go the extra step to protect your vacation investment.  Take these simple steps prior to arriving for your charter. You greatly minimize the chances of anything less than a memorable holiday at sea.

NOW WHAT?

Winter is just around the corner.  In addition to getting away, take advantage of pre-season specials on yachts. Those based in the sunny Bahamas, South Florida, and the Caribbean are ideal for your tropical sojourn.  Your private yacht charter holiday is only a phone call away.

 

HOW TO BOOK A YACHT CHARTER

In conclusion, call  1-800 YACHT CHARTERS [toll-free north America +1.800.922.4824 or international +1.305.253.7245] for more information, or email  info@1800yachtcharters.com  We are eager to plan The Superyacht Experience for you.

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Invest – Facebook Stock or Luxury Yacht Charter?

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Photograph of a sample Facebook Stock Certificate

Facebook Stock Certification sample

FACEBOOK PUBLIC STOCK OFFERING

Facebook fans everywhere are hoping to get in on this.  It is the hotly anticipated public stock offering.  To do so, they’ll need a Facebook friend or two at a VERY high level…or a lot of Benjamins.

 

GET IT AT THE OFFER PRICE?

Most folks will have difficulty getting it at the offer price. It is currently expected to be in the $28 to $35 a share range.   Unless you know the power players at Facebook, it will be tough.  You will probably need to have a large, active trading account with one of the big investment banks or brokerages.  That is, one of the groups directly involved in the stock sale.
 

NASDAQ: FB

For average people, this means waiting.  Waiting for the stock to begin trading after the initial offering.  This means once it is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the ticker symbol “FB.” That’s likely to happen Friday.  However, it might be best to fight the impulse and a wait a bit longer.  Doing it that way typically means paying much more for the stock. Heavy demand often skews the early stock price.  Early investors are then vulnerable to the risk of a big drop.

WHILE YOU ARE WAITING…

Our advice?  Be patient, and take the family on a quiet New England yacht charter vacation.  Spend a few days on a luxury sailing charter vessel or bareboat yacht.  Relax and remove yourself from the frenzy. Avoid the impulsive urge to buy a stock purely on hype.  More importantly, spend quality time with your family. Snap some pictures. View some precious moments that will be with you for a lifetime…

HOW TO SPEND MONEY WISELY

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Popular Website Recognizes 1-800 Yacht Charters for Outstanding Blog

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Top 30 Yacht Blogs on the Internet Award

TOP 30 BLOG

Feedspot, a 4-star rated RSS Reader, has selected the luxury yachting lifestyle blog of 1-800 Yacht Charters as one of the Top 30 Best Yacht Blogs on the Planet.  The company joins a distinguished list that includes Reddit, and the boating magazines, Yachting and Yachting World.

In recognizing 1-800 Yacht Charters, Anuj Agarwal, founder of Feedspot said,

“This is the most comprehensive list of best Yacht blogs on the internet and I’m honoured to have you as part of this!” 

THE SELECTION PROCESS

According to Agarwal, the top 30 sites are selected and ranked based on the following criteria. For instance,

  • Google reputation and Google search ranking
  • Influence and popularity on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites
  • Quality and consistency of posts
  • Feedspot’s editorial team’s and experts’ reviews

 

THE COMPANY PRESIDENT’S REACTION

In responding to the award, Jana Sheeder, the President of 1-800 Yacht Charters thanked Feedspot for the recognition.

“There are hundreds of yachting-oriented websites and blogs, and to be selected for this award is truly an honor,” said Sheeder.  “Our goal was to go beyond just describing the yachts in our fleet, in order to share the joys of the yachting lifestyle with our readers.  We make it a point to cover diverse topics such as nautical fashion trends, travel tips, and last-minute vacation specials.  Our USP is ‘Delivering the Superyacht Experience™,’ and that process begins with reliable information.  Our blog is integral to that process.  We work hard on our content for our readers. We welcome their comments and suggestions as to topics for us to cover.”

 

ABOUT FEEDSPOT

Feedspot is a modern RSS Reader.

“If you’re trying to keep up with news and content on multiple web sites, you’re faced with the never ending task of visiting those sites to check for new content,” says Agarwal. “Feedspot allows you to put all of your reading in one location.”  Feedspot arranges their blog feeds in master categories such as Fashion, Education, Business, Health, Sports, and Culture.

 

FEEDSPOT GOLD

For advertisement-free reading, Feedspot offers their premier service, Feedspot Gold.  According to their website, this subscription-based service includes:

  • Realtime Updates in your Inbox — Get instant updates from your favorite sites right in your email inbox. You can even select specific sites for instant email notifications. This way you will never miss any important updates.
  • Search Inside Sites — Search for articles only within the sites you’ve added to your Feedspot account. It’s like your own personal search engine – unlike Google, which shows results from the entire web. Advanced search filters is an amazing way to find the content that matters to you.
  • Saved Searches — Use saved search features to find articles on specific subjects. Create special searches to find articles about your business, brand, and products, and save them for easy reuse.

Additionally,

  • Ad-free Feedspot — Advertisements are not shown to Feedspot Gold members.  Get an awesome reading experience – almost as good as The Superyacht Experience at 1-800 Yacht Charters!
  • Fast Updates — Get fast news updates from sites and blogs that update less frequently.
  • News Topics — Get latest relevant news articles based on topics you care about.
  • Local News — Read local news by simply typing in a city name or zipcode. You can create a local section for any city, state or country in the world and include thousands of sources.
  • Your Twitter Timeline on Feedspot — Lets you Read, Archive, and Search Your Personal Twitter Feed on Feedspot
  • Top Priority support

 

MOREOVER GOLD

  • Faster support response
  • Google Alerts — Google Alerts now support RSS feeds so that you can receive and view alerts right from your Feedspot account. Until now, alerts have been delivered via email only, but those days are over. Now your News, Web, Blog, Video, and Groups alerts are more easily accessible than ever.
  • Dropbox — Automatically backup all your Feedspot data including your feeds, favorite, and tagged articles to your Dropbox account so that you don’t have to worry about data loss.
  • Evernote — One-click save any article to your Evernote notebook.
  • RSS Feeds — Combine multiple RSS or atom feeds into one new RSS feed. Get RSS feed for your favorites, shared items, tags, and folders.
  • Facebook — One-click share any article to your Facebook account.  Come visit 1-800 Yacht Charters on Facebook, too! 
  • Twitter — One-click share any article to your Twitter account.
  • Pocket — One-click save any article to Pocket. Also lets you save to Instapaper and Readability
  • Buffer App — One-click add any article to your Buffer app queue.
  • YouTube Subscriptions — You can add all your favorite Youtube Channels or subscriptions into your Feedspot account and keep track of all your favorite videos from one place.
  • Customize Homepage — Lets you customize what you want to see by default on your Feedspot homepage. You can opt to see updates only from selected important sites on your homepage so that you read them first whenever you visit Feedspot.

 

HOW TO RENT A YACHT FROM A TOP COMPANY

In conclusion, it’s time to plan your private yacht charter vacation!  Do the warm waters of the Caribbean or the Bahamas sound intriguing?  Charter from 1-800 Yacht Charters today. The award-winning yacht charter company with a Best Price Guarantee and 6 Star Customer Service.  Contact us today to plan your Superyacht Experience!

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