The sun in your face. Wine glass in hand. Seagulls in the background, and a cool ocean breeze drifting by.
This in the company of your loved ones is what a good holiday looks like—the perfect escape on a yacht.
Wait a minute, do you have a yacht? Neither do I. But that shouldn’t stop us from enjoying a yacht cruise. If we cannot buy one, we can undoubtedly charter (rent) one. While chartering a yacht is much easier than owning one, it is certainly no walk in the park.
If you want a carefree yacht chartering experience – without worrying about the details – you should definitely look up Salamander Voyages. Not many companies combine affordability and a unique customer experience as well as they do.
If you’re interested in the world of yacht charters and how they work, we’ll be discussing factors that affect affordability below.
Salamander Voyages – Type of charter
The first step in chartering the yacht of your dreams is knowing which type of charter fits your budget.
(a) Bareboat: This is similar to your everyday boat rental. This charter type gives you access to the yacht only. The onus is on you to captain the vessel or hire a crew. You must also foot all the bills, like food, fuel, and other expenses.
(b) Cabin: Instead of the entire boat, you charter only one room with this option. This is the best choice if you want to enjoy a yachting experience on a budget without being your own captain. Think of it as the yachting version of a small group tour.
(c) Crewed: This is the complete package – the ultimate yachting option. It’s a full-service charter with a crew and provisions readied for you. And it is -not surprisingly- the costliest of the three options.
Salamander Voyages – The Yacht
The most important factor in the cost of the yacht charter is the yacht itself. The size, design, type, and sometimes, the age of the yacht can skyrocket the price.
For example, a week’s charter in the Caribbean aboard the Laurentia, a 180.5 ft yacht costs a minimum of $450,000. In comparison, spending the same time on a smaller vessel, Home 163 ft, built by the same Dutch shipyard Heesen, would cost you more than $200,000 less.
Costlier yacht charters are affected by factors like reputation, the number of cabins, and guest capacity. Reputation is important in the sense that if Jay Z chartered the yacht for Beyonce’s birthday last month, the charter price is sure to go up.
Additionally, the yacht type determines how much you pay. Common options are motor yachts, open yachts, sportfishing, sailing, gullet, and classic (built between the 1920s and 1970s). The most common charter option is the motor yacht, followed by the sailing yacht.
Salamander Voyages – Destination
Remote and harder-to-reach destinations cost more than locations that already have an established yachting industry. If you plan to visit the Galapagos islands anytime soon, you should expect to pay a premium.
Salamander Voyages – Duration of the trip
Many companies allow a minimum stay of five days, while the average yacht charter is one week. And don’t expect the prices to go down the longer you stay. Three weeks is three times the price of one week, and is often not discounted.
Salamander Voyages – Charter rate
There are two categories of yacht charter rates to consider:
(a) All inclusive charter: As suggested by the name, this charter rate covers all the expenses; from the drinks, food, the crew, and access to all water sports equipment. Make sure to confirm what the all inclusive service offers as some do cover mooring or docking fees.
(b) Separated charge: With this option, you pay the base fee to charter the yacht, and every other expense you might incur on the trip is covered through an ‘Advanced Provisioning Allowance’ (APA). The APA is paid in full before you come on board and is usually a third of the base fee. The APA ensures a personalized experience as the guests can fill in a form of their likes and dislikes.
Salamander Voyages – So, how affordable is it really?
There is no one answer to this question. How much you spend on a yacht charter depends on your tastes and the level of luxury you want on your trip. While there is no option we can call cheap, one thing is sure. A yacht cruise is on ours and many other people’s bucket list. So if you can afford it, by all means, don’t miss out on this experience.
Another dream destination awaits