Charter Guide
Your First Yacht Charter: A Practical Guide
Your first charter is easier to arrange than it looks, provided you approach the dates, the budget, and the preferences with a little foresight. This guide takes you calmly through each step.
In short
To plan a first charter, choose your dates and cruising ground, book three to nine months ahead for the Mediterranean summer, and budget for the charter fee plus roughly a third again for the Advance Provisioning Allowance, VAT, and a crew gratuity. Complete a preference sheet so the crew can prepare, pack lightly and soft-sided, and arrive relaxed on embarkation day.
On this page
Choosing your dates and grounds
Two decisions shape everything that follows: when you go and where. In the Mediterranean the season runs from roughly late April to early October, with July and August the warmest, busiest, and dearest months. The shoulder weeks of May, June, and September offer softer light, quieter anchorages, and gentler pricing, and many experienced charterers prefer them for exactly that reason.
Your cruising ground follows from your taste. From our base at Alicante the Balearics are the natural first choice — Ibiza, Formentera, Mallorca, and Menorca lie within comfortable reach and offer a satisfying variety of coastline, culture, and calm water. The wider Mediterranean extends from there to the French and Italian rivieras and beyond. For a first charter, a compact, well-connected ground is usually more rewarding than an ambitious dash across long stretches of open sea.
How far ahead to book
The best yachts and the most desirable weeks are reserved early. For a peak-summer week, three to nine months of lead time is comfortable; for dates around major regattas or events, a year is not unusual. Booking early buys you choice — of yacht, of crew, of exactly the week you want — rather than settling for what remains.
That said, the market moves, and cancellations and late availability do appear. If your plans firm up close to the season, it is always worth an enquiry. The one habit to avoid is assuming that a specific yacht on a specific week will simply wait for you. It rarely does. When you are ready, make an enquiry and let the search begin.
Setting a realistic budget
The single most useful thing a first-time charterer can do is budget above the headline rate. The advertised fee is the price of the yacht and crew; it is not the price of the holiday. Four elements make up the whole.
| Element | Rough scale | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Charter fee | The headline rate | Yacht, crew, vessel insurance, standard equipment |
| APA | 25–35% of the fee | Fuel, food, drink, berthing, fees |
| VAT | Varies by cruising area | Tax on the charter fee |
| Gratuity | ~5–15% of the fee | Discretionary crew tip |
Taken together, a sensible planning figure is the charter fee plus something like a third to a half again. We explain the running costs in what is included in a charter rate and the APA in detail in what "plus expenses" means. Building the extras into your expectations from the start turns them from a surprise into a plan.
The advertised fee is the price of the yacht and crew; it is not the price of the holiday.
The preference sheet
Once your charter is confirmed, the crew will send a preference sheet — a questionnaire that turns an empty week into your week. It asks about food and drink, dietary needs and allergies, favourite dishes and things to avoid, preferred wines and spirits, activity levels, sleeping arrangements, celebrations to mark, and the pace you enjoy. It is worth completing thoughtfully rather than quickly.
The chef provisions from your answers, so the more candid you are, the better the galley serves you. If you love a particular breakfast, say so. If someone in the party cannot abide shellfish, or keeps to a vegetarian or halal diet, note it plainly. If you would rather a quiet anchorage than a lively port, or the reverse, that too belongs on the sheet. Nothing here is too small; the crew's craft lies in the detail.
What to pack
Yachts reward light, soft luggage. Hard suitcases are difficult to stow, so pack into holdalls or soft bags that fold away. Beyond that, a short list covers most needs.
- Swimwear and cover-ups — more than you think, as things stay damp aboard.
- Soft-soled or deck shoes, and plenty of bare feet; dark hard soles mark the teak.
- Light layers for cooler evenings and a windproof for the passage.
- Strong sun protection, a hat, and good sunglasses.
- One smarter outfit for an evening ashore.
- Any personal medication, and reef-safe suncream where required.
Formality is rare on charter; comfort and sun sense matter far more than a full wardrobe. The crew will tell you in advance if a particular restaurant or port calls for something smarter.
Embarkation day
Embarkation is typically from the afternoon on your first day, giving the crew the morning to prepare after the previous charter. You will be met at the agreed port, welcomed aboard, and shown to your cabin. The captain will run through a short safety briefing and talk you through the week ahead — the weather, the possible itinerary, and any decisions to make together.
Redelivery, at the end, is usually in the morning of the final day. Between the two, the rhythm is yours to set with the captain's guidance. Do not feel you must fill every hour; some of the finest moments on charter are the unhurried ones at anchor. Arrive rested if you can, as the first evening aboard is one to savour rather than to organise.
Etiquette basics
Life aboard runs on a few gentle conventions, none of them difficult. Shoes off on deck protects the teak and is the near-universal custom. The crew are professionals, not staff to be stood on ceremony with, and a warm, straightforward manner makes for the best week on both sides. Let the captain make the final call on weather and safety; it is their duty and their expertise.
The gratuity, discretionary but customary, is given to the captain at the end for the crew, commonly in the region of 5 to 15 per cent of the charter fee. We cover the finer points in our guide to superyacht etiquette, and the terms you will hear along the way are set out in the glossary.
A few reassurances
First-time charterers often worry about the wrong things. You do not need to know how to sail, how to read a chart, or how to tie a line; the crew hold all of that. You will not be left to fend for yourself, nor pressed into a punishing schedule. The week bends around you, not the other way about.
What you do bring is your taste and your company. Share what you enjoy, ask when you are unsure, and let the crew do what they do best. If you would like to talk it through before committing, an enquiry costs nothing and a good broker will answer plainly. Our journal and our chartering overview are there whenever you would like to read further.
Common questions
How much should I budget beyond the charter fee?
As a planning figure, allow the charter fee plus roughly a third to a half again. That covers the Advance Provisioning Allowance at around 25 to 35 per cent of the fee, VAT according to your cruising area, and a discretionary crew gratuity of some 5 to 15 per cent. Budgeting above the headline rate keeps the extras comfortable rather than surprising.
What is a preference sheet and why does it matter?
It is a questionnaire the crew send after booking, covering food, drink, dietary needs, activities, and the pace you enjoy. The chef provisions and the crew plan from your answers, so it directly shapes your week. Complete it candidly and in detail, noting allergies and dislikes plainly. The more you share, the better the yacht is tailored to you.
What should I wear and pack?
Pack light and into soft, foldable bags rather than hard suitcases, which are awkward to stow. Bring plenty of swimwear, light layers for cooler evenings, strong sun protection, and soft-soled deck shoes. One smarter outfit covers an evening ashore. Charter life is relaxed; comfort and sun sense matter more than a large wardrobe.
Do I decide the itinerary, or does the captain?
You shape it together. You express where you would like to go and what you enjoy, and the captain advises on distances, weather, and anchorages, making the final call on anything touching safety. The itinerary stays flexible through the week, adjusting to conditions and your mood. It is a collaboration, guided by the captain's local knowledge.
When do I board and disembark?
Embarkation is usually from the afternoon of your first day, allowing the crew to prepare after the previous guests. Redelivery is normally the morning of the final day. On arrival you are welcomed aboard, shown your cabin, and given a short safety briefing before the captain talks through the week ahead with you.
Is a gratuity expected, and how much?
A crew gratuity is discretionary but customary, given to the captain at the end of the charter to share among the crew. A common range is 5 to 15 per cent of the charter fee, adjusted for the level of service you felt you received. It is a genuine part of the budget and best set aside from the outset.
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or insurance advice. To plan a charter, make an enquiry or browse the yachts.