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For many, sailing the deep, blue waters
of the ocean on vacation is a dream come true. While some prefer a great
cruise ship, others prefer a small, private yacht charter.
Rugged individuals with sailing experience might even charter a yacht
without and crew and do all the work themselves. Regardless of your
preference, the key to finding that great yacht charter vacation that
fits your dreams is doing some homework. The following considerations
will help you book the perfect charter.
Where do you want to go?
Destination is paramount. Just about anywhere there’s a body of water,
there’s a charter company. Popular locations include Alaska, the
Caribbean, Florida, California, and Europe. First decide on your
destination, then look up charter companies in that area.
What is the purpose of your trip?
Do you simply want to relax, sunbathe, and enjoy the sailing experience?
Do you want to fish, engage in a sport, or do a lot of shopping? Do you
want to attend a special yearly festival in a port of call? Do you want
to make many stops and explore the local culture of different towns?
List all the things you want to do. This is essential to choosing a
charter with a route, itinerary, and the equipment to make your yacht
charter vacation perfect.
How long do you want to be out to sea?
You can book anything from one day to overnight to a week or two. It’s
vital to have this information in advance before booking your cruise.
How many people will be going on the cruise?
Just you, or you and a signification other? The whole family? A big
party with all your friends and their friends? You must know the exact
number of people who will be going on the charter, as this will
determine the size of boat. Each boat can accommodate only so many
people. To ensure availability of the boat you need, the boat captain
must have the number of people who will be going on the cruise before he
can book the trip.
Once you know your destination, what you want to do on your trip, and
who will be going with you, you can begin searching for a charter
company. You’ll want to explore all the companies in the area you plan
to visit and compare prices and packages. You’ll want to know about all
the features included in a package and what is expected of passengers.
For example, if a sailing charter relies on passengers to help with the
sailing, and this doesn’t sound like fun to you, you’ll know to consider
another company.
Before booking a charter trip with a particular company, do the
following:
- Compare prices. Shop around! You
might find a special deal.
- Read each package offer carefully.
Is food included, or will you have to pay extra? What kinds of
equipment are on board? Some include fishing gear and entertainment.
What about scuba gear? What, exactly, is on the itinerary? Does it
include trips to different ports? Be sure that you know exactly what
is included in the package and what is not.
- Know what you need to pack and bring
with you. Unless you are going on a huge cruise line, you may need
to bring some special things with you. Some small charter trips
require passengers to actively participate in the sailing process.
If so, you may want to pack some work clothes, a rain suit, and a
pair of gloves. Showing up in captain's attire for a working trip
wouldn’t do.
- Find out what amenities will be on
board the boat. You’ll want to know if the price includes a
well-stocked boat or a basic boat stripped of all life's little
luxuries. If you’re bringing the whole family along, a basic boat
might not be what you’re looking for.
- Research the charter company and
captain. Does the company have a reputation of reliability? What is
the captain’s safety record and how many years has he been sailing?
You certainly want to go to sea with a captain who knows his or her
stuff and the waters in the area where you'll be sailing. This is
especially true if the waters in the area are treacherous, but
things can happen anywhere.
If you want to get away from it all
but not do it with a thousand other people, as on an ordinary
cruise, a yacht charter cruise is a great idea. You might remember,
however, that the luxuries and extras on a regular cruise are not
likely to be present and that you might even find yourself doing a
little sailing. A yacht charter cruise just might be the perfect
vacation experience for you.
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