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7 Essential Things to Know Before Chartering a Yacht

This is it! You’re finally planning that bucket-list dream holiday — chartering a yacht across the seas.

It’s bound to be an unforgettable trip, so you want to make sure you plan it well and make the most of it. After all, it’s not every day you get to sail the ocean with your close friends and family.

Ready to get planning for the holiday of a lifetime? Read on to learn the seven essential things to know before chartering a yacht. Happy holidays!

1. What Type of Yacht Rental Do You Want?

The major difference between yacht rentals is that you usually choose between a sailboat or a motorboat.

While both options offer similar facilities and luxuries, motor yachts tend to be bigger and more luxurious. Think of them as like huge villas that sail across the water. They’re also the more popular option of the two.

Sailboats, on the other hand, are more difficult to maintain. If it’s windy — the boat is going to tilt!

However, for true sailors, this is part of the experience. They love the experience of sailing a boat even in rocky conditions.

However even if you’re a seasoned sailor, it’s a wise idea to bring along an experienced yacht captain to help pilot the vessel. That way, you can make sure the trip goes smooth sailing and you can have some time to relax and enjoy the experience!

2. Where Do You Want to Cruise?

Choosing where to embark on your yacht charter is one of the first questions to consider. You also need to decide what sort of destination experience you’re looking for too.

Do you want to be in an isolated bay without any other yachts? Or would you prefer to be in the thick of it, surrounded by other vessels? And most importantly — which country do you want to experience your yacht charter in?

After all, cruising around Dubai in the sunshine is going to be a different experience to sailing around the chilly waters of the Norwegian Sea.

3. What’s Your Budget?

While chartering a super-yacht is going to be undoubtedly pricey, there are boats for all types of budgets so be sure to have a look at all the options.

Larger and more advanced yachts will, of course, be more expensive than smaller or older vessels.

Remember to also factor in other charges when planning your trip. You’ll need to add on roughly 25 percent more to cover food, alcohol, fuel, and port charges that must be paid before you leave the dock.

In a lot of cases, you might find that you want to spend longer on your yacht and run over time. After all, who wouldn’t? So, if you think there’s a chance of that happening you might want to budget some more.

Whether you can run over time does depend on the crew and company you book with, however.

4. What to Bring?

Just as you would pack for any other nautical journey, there are some essentials you’ll need to bring along. These include the basics for spending time in the sun and sea like sunscreen, cover-ups, jackets, and bathing suits.

Luckily as yachts are a lot larger than your standard boat, you’ll have more room to bring extras. However, try to avoid bringing bulky hard-top suitcases as they’re hard to move around the cabin. A large duffel bag would be an ideal option instead.

Consider bringing a long-sleeve tee shirt or a sweater to cover up in case it gets chilly up on deck during the evening. Don’t forget to bring some fun items too — board games are a great way to get everyone together following a day sunbathing and swimming.

5. What Type of Activities Do You Like?

Chartering a boat with a group is all about having fun — so make sure you plan some activities around your trip.

A great idea is to rent a few jet skis that can easily be attached to the back of the boat. Once you’ve found that perfect spot for chilling and swimming, the adventurers can zoom around and let loose!

A lot of people enjoy a fishing trip when they charter a yacht too. With a larger yacht, you can even grill your catch of the day up on board!

The possibility of fun and frolics on your chartered yacht are endless — simply share your ideas with the company and crew you’ve booked through to see if they could work.

6. What Type of Crew Do You Want?

The crew you welcome on board can make or break a boat charter trip, so it’s important to ask about the crew and their style when booking your yacht.

Are you looking for informal and relaxed or highly professional and smartly dressed?

You can have the best yacht in the world, but if you don’t click with the on-board team it can drastically affect your experience. So, be sure to choose wisely.

7. What Do You Want to Eat?

Whether you arrange to have your own chef on board, or whether you shop for your own grocery items, you need to make a meal plan ahead of your trip. After all, food is a big part of a yachting holiday!

If you’re having a chef on-board, be sure to meet them to learn of their expertise and capabilities. You’ll also want to specify the foods you prefer and any timings and special preparations.

Alternatively, you may want to dine out instead of on-board. Whatever you decide, make sure it’s planned ahead otherwise you and your group may end up going hungry. Not what you want on a dream trip!

Chartering a Yacht — Are You Ready?

Whether you’re spending a short afternoon out at sea or you’ve planned the ultimate month-long vacation, nothing beats chartering a yacht with your nearest and dearest.

If you’re still in the midst of planning a yacht charter in Dubai, consider your trip with us at Cozmo Yachts. We offer a range of luxury yachts to suit different budgets from the smaller eight-person boat to larger vessels that can accommodate up to 150 people.

Just imagine sailing around in the sun as you admire the world-famous skyline of the iconic Dubai coastline — simply dreamy!