Yachts have for the longest time being considered as open only to those who can afford their luxurious nature. It is however very possible for you to enjoy a luxury yacht even if for only a few days of your holiday. With so many boat rentals available, you will definitely find a yacht that you can afford for your private or group cruise needs. There is really no better way of enjoying the waterways than in yacht and with a few helpful tips, you will be able to rent a yacht that makes all your dreams come true.

Tip 1 – Choose the right type of boat

There are different yacht charters to choose from to match your activity levels, budget and taste. You can go for a small sailing yacht or a motor yacht if you are looking for a romantic getaway for you and your partner. The same can also be suitable for a small family looking to spend an intimate time together. If you are a larger group, then a catamaran that is crewed makes a very suitable option, whereas a mega yacht is best for even larger groups made up of more than ten people. Remember yachts can also be rented for corporate getaways of the parties; whatever your needs, you will find one that works best for you.

Tip 2 – Get a fully crewed yacht

Most private and luxury yacht charters are fully-crewed meaning that you will have a captain and chef and other crew members to ensure that all your needs are met. Of course, there are people who would want to have the yacht all to themselves and hence choose to skipper themselves. But with a crewed yacht, you have all the time to sit back and relax or engage in other exciting activities on board without worrying about the boat at all.

Tip 3 – Go for a non-fixed itinerary

This can be a wonderful alternative compared to a fixed one where everything you do on the cruise is timed. When you choose a private charter yacht, you can make a loose itinerary such that you can stop whenever you want or stay longer in areas that interest you the most before moving to the next point. It is also a great way to deal with unpredictable weather because you can easily move to better places if the weather starts misbehaving. This kind of itinerary gives you flexibility that would otherwise be hard to enjoy. You will only be required to be back at the agreed time, but what you do in between is up to your preferences and agreement with your captain.

Tip 4 – Enjoy the cruise in your own style

When you charter a boat, you can choose to have an adrenaline filled adventure or a more relaxed kind of cruise for you and your partner. Most rental yachts come equipped with equipment for watersports meaning you can indulge as much as you wish if such adventure is what you are looking for. If relaxation is your thing, then find a vessel that has a therapist as part of its crew so you can enjoy a massage on the go. Some luxury yachts come with spa facilities so you can choose accordingly.

Tip # 1 Be Strict With Your Guests’ Attendance.

State it clearly on your invites that RSVPs are required and not responding by a certain deadline means they are not “in”. Once you get the required number of guests and confirm them, close your invites. Don’t confirm anyone else. As the organiser, you will get the usual “Can I still come?” routine and your tendency is to please your guests but when you organise a party on a yacht – you just can’t.

Unlike hosting in a hotel – there is simply “no space”.

Tip # 2 Go “Yacht Hopping” Before You Settle On The One

Just like you would “venue visit” when you organise an event. Organising an event on a yacht requires you to do the same except that you are doing this on water! Know your guests – are they cosy with each other? Will they enjoy “squeezing” or do they prefer slightly large spaces? What sorts of activities will you be organising on the yachts? Will you want to cruise? What are their charter fees? All these will help you decide which yacht to eventually choose.

Tip # 3 Know What You Are Getting With The Charter Fees

Really scrutinise the yachts for space constraints, what they allowed you to do or not to do on the yachts, and what goes with the charter fees e.g some yachts come with a fully equipped kitchen and some don’t. Some yachts do not include a generator when cruising – so there is no electricity and you may have to bring your own battery operated equipments when cruising.

Some yachts do not allow you to bring your food or may charge you a “loading fee” if you do. Some yachts have a barbeque pit on board and some don’t. So get to know the details and really know what you are getting with the charter fees so that there are no surprises later.

Tip # 4 Ensure Enough Food For Your Guests!

When you organise a party on a yacht, ensure that you order or stock up enough food and drinks for your guests. Remember, once you set sail, there is no way to get supplies! Some yachts provide a full dining experience with a chef on board, so you do not have to worry about lack of food – you just pay them:)

If however you are getting your own caterer make sure that you plan your meals well. If you plan to BBQ on board, ensure that all your meat and seafood are marinated in advance. Good to hire someone to barbeque for you when your guests are being entertained! Have light snacks, or finger foods as appetizer before you set sail and have staple foods like rice, pasta, baked potatoes – trust me, you get hungrier fast when you are out there cruising:)

Tip # 5 Have Music, Will Travel!

Not all yachts come equipped with fantastic sound systems or piped-in music. So you may need to bring your own boom box or an ipod with speakers and a good music collection. Its nice to have music playing in the background when your guests step on the yacht. So ensure the ambience on the yacht is well taken care of with good music. Or if you have a big budget – hire live jazz musicians to play on the yacht!

Tip # 6 Be Clear With Your Itinerary

When you charter a yacht, it goes by a minimum of 4 hours charter depending on the yacht charter company. Discuss with the yacht representative on what you can do within the 4 hours. There are many things you can do when you organise a yacht party – there is the dinner cruise -you can catch the Musical Fountain or Songs From The Sea and the fireworks at Sentosa from the open sea. Or you can opt for a cruise to the southern seas where they can take you to BBQ on one of the islands. Or you can just party on the yacht at the berth and not cruise. Whichever way you choose, be clear with them on what your plans are, so that they can arrange with the skipper or the yacht’s captain prior to your event.

Tip # 7 Be Prepared For Anything!

When you organise any event, contingency plans are the norm. The same goes for organising a yacht party. For example, some of your guests may be prone to sea sickness – yes! it does happen. So make sure you have seasick pills – or pre-warn your guests to have them before getting on board. Be prepared for wet weather – in case it rains heavily, the skipper may choose not to cruise as the water is choppy so make sure that even if the yacht docked at the berth, that the yacht is big enough and the guests will still have a good time on the yacht with good food and good music. Make sure you have ice boxes filled with ice, in case the refrigerator do not work when cruising and you still need to chill your drinks. Or there could be power failure when you have a night cruise – so get ready those torches and spare batteries! In short – be prepared for anything:)

©2011 Maya Kuchit-Desjarlais, Convention Links (S) Pte Ltd

Spending vacation through water navigation offers wonderful experience. But, it is needed to get the yacht which comes with all such features and benefits which are required during navigation. And this is the place where yacht charter specialists play their significant role.

Yacht charter specialists offer numerous benefits to make one’s cruising memorable and safe. Their effective roles are:

Inspection

Most of yacht charter specialists inspect numerous yachts on daily basis. They do this with the help of experienced professionals in this regard. Moreover, they examine amenities and interface with the crew to verify the accommodation and other important feature of yachts.

Personalized assistance

They offer personalized assistance to individuals in the selection of appropriate yacht. They verify different types of services available in the vessel for clients’ satisfaction. They also consider the budgetary needs of individuals in this regard.

Helpful services

Apart from playing role in making one to select the yacht, professional yacht charter offers different kind of helpful services which includes comprehensive trip planning, attentive services, yacht selection with discounted & special rates and much more.

Latest yachts

They come with latest yachts which have features which modern individuals demand of. Such yachts can satisfy one with all features related to power, communication, navigation and entertainment as well. They inspect full spectrum of charter yachts and offer to individuals as per one’s need and desire.

Destinations

This is the fact that the selection of destination for the vacation depends on likes and dislikes of individuals. As such, charter specialists support individuals in taking right decision regarding the choice of yacht as per the destination decided by them.

Hence, it can be said that professional yacht charter specialists play a useful role in planning one’s vacation from selection of yacht to the section of destination.

Start your sailing yacht charter in Croatia here and you won’t be disappointed for sure. This wonderful city will have you mesmerized and loved up in no time. Dubrovnik is bursting at the seams with beauty, variety and a magnetism that is unique to the city. There is a wide range of high quality sailing yachts or power boats. Last not least the prices for boat rental are very competitive.

Setting sail from Dubrovnik – How to get there?

You can easily reach Dubrovnik airport, 15 km from the centre, from mostly all bigger European cities. Or make your way down the Adriatic Highway by car – all the while dreaming of your ideal Dubrovnik charter experience. This famous seaport is located on the Adriatic coast in Dalmatia, at the southern tip of Croatia. Therefore, it is the perfect starting point for a boat charter around the Croatian islands.

Which marinas in Dubrovnik are best suited for bareboat charter yachts?

Marina Gruz can host about 100 yachts of up to 55 m LOA and has several cruise ship terminals too. It lies about 4 km North-West of the Old Town. Already here you have practically everything you might need within walking distance: Shopping mall, supermarkets to get supplies for your Croatian yacht charter, banks, restaurants and bars. If need be, you can pay mostly anywhere at your convenience with Euros or Dollars – the change given back will be Croatian Kuna however. A taxi or shuttle bus will take you the short ride into town. It’s a lovely drive and you will be passing lush greenery and gorgeous villas on the way.

About the same distance to the Old Town is the Yacht Club Orsan to the North-West of the historic centre. It has 250 moorings for vessels of a maximum length of up to 20 m. This port is also very well connected and also offers a wide range of services for yacht charterers.

Finally, the Dubrovnik ACI marina about 6 km from the city centre has 380 berths and fits yachts of up to 60 m. Here you get fantastic infrastructure for sailors. There is a shipyard with dry dock, lots of shops, a swimming pool, tennis courts and much more.

Contrary to belief it is not possible to moor up in the historic harbour of Dubrovnik. But with the above options you have plenty of possibilities to choose from.

What has Dubrovnik got to offer for après sailing?

Before going on a sailing holiday around the Croatian islands you should really pay the Old Town a visit. A tour on top of the huge, up to 6 m thick ramparts can easily mean walking on the biggest, coolest set of city walls you will ever set foot on.

´The pearl of the Adriatic´, as it is also called, is vibrant and alive with street performers, music festivals and concerts. You can shop till you drop or take the cable car far, far up the hill. Here you can savour the breathtaking view over some of the most impressive fortifications in Europe. Admire the sea of red roofs and the distant horizon over the Med full of promises for your personal dream Adriatic yacht charter. Back down with your feet firmly on the ground take in some more of the sights of the UNESCO world heritage site – there are so many to choose from. Strolling down the Stradun, Dubrovnik´s majestic main street, is just one of them. It is a pedestrian zone as is the rest of the historic centre. Maybe sample some Croatian produce as you go along or buy some funky souvenirs and have a chat with one of the local vendors.

When it’s time for sundowners you can make your way up to one of the numerous charming little chill out bars that are perched on the rocks above the sea. Listen to the hypnotic beats, relax and congratulate yourself on being there. Dream away as you watch the sun drop in the Mediterranean Sea. Your own sailing adventure is soon about to begin…

As it gets dark the ´Croatian Athens´ is transformed dramatically into a stunningly romantic backdrop for you to lose track of time. You can enjoy pristine quality seafood fresh from the catch, have a glass of wine and watch the international crowd walk past. Most visitors coming to this town for the first time will have a look of sheer wonder and joy on their faces. Dubrovnik does just that: It makes people happy to be alive and its amazingly intact walls are a sight to behold forever.

Which ones are the best day charter escapes from Dubrovnik?

Very recommendable is a day´s sailing trip around the beautiful Elaphite islands. A skipper will pick you up from Gruz harbour and take you across the clear water. There are plenty of beaches there to discover, or alternatively many beautiful churches and sights dating as far back as the 15th century. Enjoy the lovely view of the orange groves and try the local cuisine before heading back to the city.

Another option is a day trip to the Mljet National Park. This densely wooded island is said to have been the setting for Ulysses being caught in the goddess Calypso´s cave.

Korcula, also nearby, has an absolutely wonderful town worth coming to. Here you can also visit Marco Polo´s alleged birth house.

Last not least you could do an excursion to Montenegro that includes a stop in the beautiful port town of Kotor. The choice is all yours!

What is dock walking?

Dock walking is the process of walking along a dock, going up to a yacht, speaking with the crew on-board with the aim of trying to secure any of the following; day work, permanent work or to leave them with one of your CV’s.

For me this proved to be one of the most nerve wracking processes about finding a job on a super yacht…

Monday morning 0630, I wake early in anticipation of the morning ahead. I am living in a crew house with numerous other ‘wannabe’ super yacht crew, all eagerly trying to secure a job on a super yacht, all competing for the same work on a limited number of yachts. I get up early, I want to be the first in the shower (before people start to queue for the shower) and to have a shave for my first day walking the docks of Antibes. Presentation is important in this industry and my clothes are ironed and laid out the night before. I shower, shave and eat breakfast, my appetite is low as my nerves fill my stomach with a certain unease. I pack my bag with the essentials, sun cream and water, before leaving the crew house armed with a selection of recently printed CV’s and references in a neat plastic folder. I want to be the first out of the crew house and onto the dock in case I can catch any early crew out on deck.

It is a beautifully fresh morning, the salty smell of the sea lingers in the calm air that surrounds the small cobbled streets in Antibes. The sun is about to rise, the sky is clear with white aeroplane trails scarring the blue backdrop, there is a coolness in the air indicating the ever approaching autumn. Leaving the cobbled streets behind I am greeted with a vast selection of yachts moored, all overlooked by a beautiful golden fort that looks down on the harbour of Antibes, the rising sun accentuates the golden colour of the fort. As I walk along the dock side a scavenging sea scurries into a hedge dragging some left over pizza from a torn bin bag. The water is calm and the town empty, it is 0730 and the port is quiet.

I walk towards the International Dock, the main dock home to some of the largest super yachts in the world, past the more modest yachts, which by standards at home are still very impressively sized yachts. My anxiety is growing as I approach the entrance to the main dock, my heart races faster and my fears of rejection grow with ever step closer. I pass the security barrier through an open gate looking like a school boy about to embark on his first day at school, rucksack on, clean ironed clothes and carrying my folder of CV’s; I certainly look like a novice. As I enter the International Dock I am greeted by a large yacht with the large letters spelling ‘D I L B A R’ written down the side in gleaming silver, the reflection of the water ripples glistening off the yachts hull and the front of the yacht stretching way off into the distance; my heart beat increases further and I almost try to convince myself that it is not a good day to dock walk and I will try tomorrow, as it will be easier then… I know I must continue.

Sitting on the dock it is 0735, there is no-one around bar the security guard and he looks wholly uninterested in my intentions here this morning. I sit by a flower bed that overlooks the vast stretch of yachts before me, all moored stern to (the back of the yacht facing the dock), I struggle to comprehend the change in worlds I am experiencing in just two days. Two days ago I was working in an office watching the rain falling outside on a busy road… now I sit, unemployed, admiring these incredible yachts, with the blue sea and sky around with the back drop of that old golden fort.

Slowly more dock walkers appear, some look highly seasoned dock walkers, walking with a certain confidence and heir of knowing, some I talk with politely and briefly, some people are focused purely on the yachts and walk past without so much as an acknowledgement.

It is 0745 and I decide to walk to the opposite end of the dock and begin my dock walk from the far end forward, hoping to catch crews before they are disturbed by the other dock walkers. The larger yachts are at the beginning, I anticipate these will draw the most dock-walkers attentions so I opt first for the smaller yachts (still over 60 meters in length!). As I walk to the end of the dock, the yachts start coming alive, deck crew appearing from side doors on yacht, walking down the sides of the yacht to the stern (back). I see the crews coming out, a moment I have long been anticipating, and my anxiety steps up another notch. My heart beats now to a level where I can feel the beating and the pulsing of blood around my body, a feeling I have not had since standing up to do a best man’s speech the month previously. My mouth dries and I feel sweat building below my armpits, I go to approach the first yacht, the crew member looks at me, I think I have caught his attention, I smile, before he looks down and heads up to the second deck to raise the flag at the back of the yacht, I am sure he noticed me, but my polite English disposition stops me disturbing him and I convince myself they must be fully crewed and therefore I should look elsewhere. As I walk away, I realise I have failed at the first hurdle in my search for work on a yacht.

With my disappointment building but my heart rate easing a little, I continue along the dock, determined to not succumb to fear on the next yacht, I vow this will be the only yacht I do not approach, a new beginning…

The third yacht along, someone is also putting out the flag at the back of the yacht, I approach, again the heart rate increases, but with grit and determination I call up to the chap, “are you looking for crew?” The chap looks down, smiles and informs they are fully staffed. Although a rejection I feel an enormous sense of achievement, I have overcome my fear of asking for work on one of these yachts and feel a little more equipped to start on my journey to find work on a super yacht.

That morning I managed to talk to crew on five different yachts that morning. Walking back to the crew house I feel more confident than I did on the walk out this morning and pleased I have managed to give out some CV’s. I have completed my first mornings dock walking, the start of many more docks walks now lay ahead.

My dock walking skills improved with practice, it took about a week for me to feel confident doing this and for the feelings of anxiety to disappear. The process improved with time, I became slicker at asking if they need day work or new crew, I also managed to leave more CV’s and references with yachts, even if they were not looking for crew at that time. I always tried to have a polite conversation with crews before leaving, hoping to develop some form of polite rapport, which I hoped would help me stand out from the crowd. I was surprised to find crews surprisingly helpful and welcoming to me as dock-walker. The reality is most crews on-board will have at some point endured the process of dock walking and understand it is a necessary part of finding work on a yacht, empathising with you and helping you where they can.

My dock-walking took me too many docks, Antibes, Cannes, Monaco, Nice, St Tropez, among a couple of other ones. The best I found were Antibes and Monaco though. I spent many hours walking miles of docks, handing out many CV’s and speaking politely to many crew members. At times it did become disheartening, as no leads seemed to come from my hard work. I always tried to keep positive and keep moving forward, although it was difficult at times and I knew the clock was rapidly ticking, drawing a close to the end of another season; the yachts would soon leave the Mediterranean for the Caribbean.

However, the hard work, persistence and patience eventually paid off. I got day work on a couple of yachts which built my experience on my CV, making me much me more employable.

Without realising it my dock walking days were coming to an end as I approached one yacht not long after it had docked one late afternoon. The normal routine of asking for work followed with polite pleasantries, I handed the crew member my CV, He asked about my qualifications and seemed disappointed I did not have my yacht masters qualification, he goes on to inform me the Captain only employs deck crew that have this qualification. I left with disappointment as the yacht had an interesting itinerary and the crew seemed really friendly on-board. The following morning walking the dock I passed the same yacht that I had handed my CV to the afternoon before, the crew member called me over and offered me some day work. This progressed from one days’ worth of work, to a weeks’ worth of work, which lead onto a trial period, which lead onto permanent work and all this from that one fateful day of speaking and handing that one CV to that person.

It is such an incredible feeling, achieving a job a super yacht, completely off your own back from the hours of dock walking. Working on that yacht as I moved all possessions on-board, as I went from dock walker to full time crew member was a day that filled me with great pride. Coming from an office job some two months earlier and now stepping on-board to start a new life working on one of the top charter super yachts in the world was a lovely moment in my life.

Looking back, the dock walking was the most nerve wracking part of the job finding process. But it did get notably easier with time and practice, you just have to overcome that fear of asking that first yacht.

As humans I feel we need to get more comfortable at embracing fear and uncertainty, for it is often the things that make us feel uncomfortable, fearful or nervous that can lead to some of the most exciting changes and opportunities in your life…

… you never know, that one decision you make, that one conversation or person you meet could change the direction of your life or career and take your life on a whole new exciting adventure.

When you think of cruising on a yacht you probably picture a millionaire smoking a cigar and drinking from a champagne glass. Too many Hollywood movies have built that image for us, and well, that picture isn’t far from the truth, but good news is, you don’t have to burn a hole through your bank account to book a yacht. In fact, if done the right way, renting a yacht can be affordable and a lot of fun. You might even consider doing it almost every weekend.

With so many companies offering so many options to choose from, booking a yacht can be confusing and even frustrating sometimes. While most yacht rental companies offer similar rates and services, you may want to do a bit of homework while choosing the right yacht rental. After all, you and your loved ones don’t want to have a bad experience at any cost.

Before you decide on the yacht rental company, there are some basic things you need to consider such as the reputation of the company, how experienced the management is, and the customer reviews etc. You may even want to check if the yacht charter has an experienced and trained crew. Here are a few quick pointers and things to consider before you book a yacht.

What’s the headcount?

The first thing to consider is the number of people that will be on-board the yacht for this party or sight-seeing tour. Based on that you can choose the type of yacht you want to rent. You can choose a Luxury Yacht that has a capacity of up to 30 people if it’s a small or mid-sized group. Yacht rental companies offers 35 to 150 feet yachts with professional and trained crew on-board to cater to a group of up to 30 guests. If you have more than 30 people, you could consider a bigger boat.

Define the purpose

Is this a fishing trip, or a birthday party? Renting a Sport Fishing Boat will give you a great fishing experience, as compared to a luxury yacht which is more suited for birthday and weekend parties. A Sport Fishing Boat will be smaller compared to a Luxury Yacht, and have a capacity of up to 8 guests. It is important to ensure that the yacht rental service you book gives you fishing equipment and bait on-board.

Do you have a budget in mind?

Have you and your companions decided on a budget already? Based on that and the number of people, you will be able to decide on the yacht charter for this occasion. If budget isn’t much of a constraint for your group, then renting a House Boat can give you a very memorable experience. These boats are usually about 90 feet long, and can accommodate up to 120 guests. House Boats that can enhance your yacht party with on-board features like a Barbecue Grill, Music, an equipped kitchen and air conditioned indoor and outdoor area for your guests.

Crew

Recollect having a bad experience at a hotel because of unprofessional staff? This is why it is extremely important to have experienced and trained crew on board. The crew should be professional and give good service. Apart from service, the safety of your guests should be a top priority and cannot be compromised under any circumstance. It is also important to check if the yacht hire company has a valid licence to run the business of yacht rental. Yacht rental companies offers yachts with professional and trained crew, to give you the experience of a lifetime while cruising.

Once you decided the who’s and the what’s, it is time to gather everybody to experience breath-taking views of the Arabian waters and enjoy this fun and addictive adventure.