Charter Guide
Superyacht Etiquette: A Quiet Guide
Etiquette aboard a yacht is really just consideration made specific to a small floating world where crew, guests and a beautiful, delicate vessel share close quarters. None of it is difficult, and most of it becomes second nature within a day. This is a quiet guide rather than a list of rules.
In short
Yacht etiquette comes down to care for the vessel and respect for the crew. Remove outdoor shoes on deck, keep to agreed guest numbers, follow the captain on safety, be mindful of crew hours and privacy, and be discreet with photography. Treat the yacht as a cherished home lent to you, and everything else follows naturally.
On this page
Shoes and deck care
The first and most enduring custom is shoes off on deck. Fine teak decking is soft, costly and easily marked, and hard soles, heels and gravel carried from ashore do it real harm. Most yachts ask guests to go barefoot or to wear soft, pale-soled deck shoes, and a basket or shoe store is usually set out near the passerelle. The crew will guide you gently on the first day, and the habit quickly becomes a pleasure rather than an imposition.
Beyond shoes, a little awareness protects the yacht and everyone's enjoyment. Sun creams and self-tanning lotions can stain upholstery and decking, so it is worth using a towel on cushions and rinsing after swimming. Red wine, dark berries and the like are best enjoyed with a steadying hand at sea. None of this calls for anxiety; the crew are there to manage it, and a relaxed guest who simply keeps these things in mind is exactly what they hope for.
Crew hours and privacy
The crew work long days to make yours effortless, and a thoughtful guest gives them room to rest. Late nights are part of chartering and entirely welcome, but keeping the crew on duty until dawn every night, when the evening could gently close, is a kindness worth remembering. If you know you would like a very late night, mention it early so the watch can be arranged without exhausting the whole team.
Crew privacy matters too. Crew quarters and the galley in service are their spaces, much as the guest areas are yours. There is no need to venture into them, and a well-run yacht keeps the two worlds comfortably separate. Treating the crew as the skilled professionals they are, warmly but without imposing on their own space and time, is the heart of good manners aboard. Our guide to the crew and service explains their roles and rhythm in more detail.
Guest conduct and numbers
Guest numbers are not merely a matter of comfort; they are set by the yacht's certification. Most charter yachts are limited to twelve guests while under way, a long-standing convention in the industry, and cabins impose their own limit for sleeping aboard. Day guests joining at anchor are usually possible with notice, but the captain must know in advance so that safety equipment and paperwork are in order. It is never a detail to spring on the day.
As for conduct, the yacht simply asks for the same consideration you would show as a guest in someone's home. Enjoy yourselves fully, and be mindful of the vessel, the crew and one another. A charter is at its best when high spirits and good care sit easily together. If you are planning your party, our guide on how to charter a yacht covers numbers and cabins in practical terms.
Treat the yacht as a cherished home lent to you for a week, and the rest of the etiquette looks after itself.
Smoking and pets
Smoking aboard is a matter of the individual yacht's policy, and many restrict it to open exterior decks, away from interiors, tenders and fuelling. It is worth asking before you board so there is no awkwardness, and always following the crew's guidance on where and when, particularly near the yacht's fuel and systems. Discarding anything overboard is never done, on a yacht or at anchor in beautiful waters.
Pets divide yachts sharply. Some welcome a well-behaved dog, others do not permit animals at all, given the risk to interiors and the complications of moving between countries with their own import rules. If you hope to bring a pet, raise it at the enquiry stage rather than assuming, and be ready to arrange the necessary paperwork. You can note any such request when you make an enquiry, and we will confirm what a given yacht allows.
The captain, itinerary and safety
The itinerary is a conversation between you and the captain, shaped by your wishes and by the sea. Share early what you most hope for, whether quiet anchorages, lively harbours or long days swimming, and let the captain weave it into a plan that can flex with wind and weather. Flexibility is the friend of a good charter; the finest days are often the unplanned ones the captain suggests when conditions turn favourable.
On safety, the captain's word is final, and following it graciously is both good manners and good sense. A briefing at the start covers life jackets, tenders and swimming, and it is worth giving it your attention even on the most relaxed yacht. If the captain moves the yacht for shelter or delays a departure, it is always in your interest. Trusting that judgement, and asking rather than insisting, keeps everyone safe and the mood easy.
Ashore and in marinas
A yacht is watched more than its guests may realise, especially in a busy marina where crews, other owners and onlookers share close quarters. Coming and going quietly, keeping music at a considerate level at the berth, and being courteous to neighbouring yachts all reflect well on you and on the vessel. The crew handle lines and fenders; guests need only step ashore with the same easy manners they would show anywhere.
Ashore, the crew will often arrange tables, transport and excursions, and a little notice helps them secure the best. Punctuality for a booked restaurant or a tender pickup is appreciated, since the crew coordinate timings around you. In the Balearics and along the Spanish coast the marinas are sociable, elegant places, and moving through them with quiet good grace is part of the pleasure. Our notes on the Balearics give a feel for the region's harbours.
Discretion and photography
Discretion runs both ways. The crew are the soul of discretion about their guests, and guests, in turn, are wise to be thoughtful about the yacht, its owner and its whereabouts. Photographs for your own memories are a joy and entirely expected; sharing images that reveal a private yacht's name, an owner's home port, or the movements of others aboard is best avoided. A moment's thought before posting protects everyone's privacy, including your own.
If members of your party are sensitive about images, a quiet word at the outset lets the crew and your fellow guests take care. This is simply the courtesy of a small, shared world, and it costs nothing to observe.
Children aboard
Children are welcome on most charters and often love them, but a yacht is a working vessel with open decks and deep water close at hand. A little vigilance keeps the joy safe. Agree with the captain and crew where children may roam freely, ensure young ones wear life jackets on deck and in tenders as advised, and let the crew know their ages and needs in advance so cabins and meals can be prepared.
Small kindnesses with children aboard
- Tell the crew ages, allergies and any equipment needed
- Keep an adult's eye on younger children near the water
- Follow the crew's guidance on life jackets
- Agree quiet hours so the whole yacht rests
- Let children enjoy the water toys under supervision
Handled thoughtfully, a family charter is among the most rewarding of all. For more on planning meals and cabins for children, see our guide to provisioning and the preference sheet, browse the fleet, or read further in the journal.
Common questions
Do I really have to take my shoes off?
On deck, yes, as a rule. Fine teak decking marks easily, so most yachts ask for bare feet or soft pale-soled deck shoes. A basket is usually set out near the passerelle, and the habit quickly becomes second nature.
How many guests can we have aboard?
Most charter yachts are limited to twelve guests while under way, set by certification, with cabins limiting how many sleep aboard. Day guests at anchor are often possible with notice, but the captain must know in advance for safety and paperwork.
Can we smoke on board?
It depends on the yacht. Many restrict smoking to open exterior decks, away from interiors and fuelling. Ask before you board, follow the crew's guidance on where, and never discard anything overboard.
Are pets allowed?
Some yachts welcome a well-behaved dog, others do not permit animals at all. Raise it at the enquiry stage rather than assuming, and be prepared to arrange the paperwork for moving a pet between countries.
How much should I defer to the captain?
Share your wishes freely and shape the itinerary together, but on safety and seamanship the captain's word is final. If the yacht moves for shelter or a departure is delayed, it is in your interest. Asking rather than insisting keeps everyone safe.
Is it rude to take photographs?
Not at all for your own memories. Simply avoid sharing images that reveal a private yacht's name, home port or the movements of others aboard. A moment's thought before posting protects everyone's privacy, including your own.
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or insurance advice. To plan a charter, make an enquiry or browse the yachts.