Yacht chartering is when someone rents out a yacht for an extended period of time. They either rent it out themselves, or they find someone to do it for them. There are two main types of charter: bareboat charter and crewed charter. Both are interesting and rewarding, but they can also be challenging and expensive if you aren’t careful.
Before you go ahead and sign up with a yacht charter company, make sure you know everything about this niche. This article will give you everything you need to know about yacht charters in general, as well as the specific challenges and rewards that come along with them.
What is a yacht charter?
Yacht chartering is when someone rents out a yacht for an extended period of time. They either rent it out themselves, or they find someone to do it for them. This is a fairly popular niche as there are many benefits to it. Yacht chartering is generally more flexible than other forms of chartering as you aren’t tied to a set date.
Instead, you’ll be able to choose the time you’d like the yacht to be available for you, and you can change that time as often as you’d like. The second main benefit of yacht chartering is the flexibility in terms of who you can charter with. With just a few phone calls, you can select from a large number of suppliers and choose the one that fits your needs best. This flexibility also extends to the type of yacht you can choose from as well.
Bareboat Charter
If someone rents out their yacht for your exclusive use, you are generally signing a “bareboat charter.” The bareboat charter company owns the yacht and you’ll be on board when they’re available for you to use. Most bareboat charters are for a fraction of a year at a time. There is no set start and end date, and the company will only let you use the yacht as much as you’d like. Depending on the contract you enter into with the company, you may be required to make payments to them as well.
Crewed Charter
Crewed chartering refers to when a charter boat company hires a captain and crew to look after a boat that you’re renting. Like bareboat chartering, this is for a fixed period of time. However, you’ll have a set schedule for when you can use the boat and the company will be the ones handling the charter paperwork.
Crewed chartering is the most common form of chartering, and it’s also the most straightforward. You have a set schedule for when you can rent the boat, and there’s less risk of getting scammed. However, it isn’t as flexible as bareboat chartering. You also have a set schedule for when you can use the boat and less freedom to change that schedule as you’d like.
Pros of Yacht Chartering
- Flexible – While yacht chartering is less flexible than other forms of chartering, it’s still more flexible than other types of travel.
- Variety – Just like how you can choose where you want to go when you travel, you can also choose the type of charter you want when you charter a yacht.
- Safety – A yacht is a much safer way to travel compared to a rental car, as it’s much more difficult to drive a boat than drive a car.
- Privacy – Since there will be fewer people on the yacht than on a cruise ship or cruise bus, you’ll have more privacy than when you’re on a cruise or bus tour.
- Opportunity – You can often get a better deal on a yacht charter than you would on a cruise. However, you’d have a very hard time getting a good deal on a cruise or bus tour.
Cons of Yacht Chartering
- Expense – Since you don’t have anything set in stone, you have to pay for the yacht upfront and keep it maintained yourself. This can quickly add up.
- Less Flexible – With a yacht charter, you have a set schedule for when you can use the boat, so you don’t have as much flexibility as you do with bareboat or crewed chartering.
- Less Privacy – With a cruise or bus tour, you can go to a private room and only see other passengers. With a yacht charter, you’ll be sharing a boat with other charter guests.
- Less Opportunity – Since you have to pay upfront for a yacht, there is a much higher chance that you’ll run out of money if you charter for too long.
Conclusion
Chartering a yacht is a great way to travel if you want to be flexible and have the opportunity to travel in style. There are many benefits to chartering a yacht, such as the opportunity to be more flexible with your travel schedule, the ability to travel in style, and the high level of safety that comes with being on the sea. Yacht chartering is also more expensive than most other forms of chartering, but it is still an option if you want to experience the joy of sailing on a yacht.
