While browsing our collection of yachts, you can pre-book your prefered yacht, specifying your requests.

As arranging for a yacht charter is still a tailor-made operation, we then will check a few points with the yacht's owner or his captain before sending you a complete quote. 
This usually takes less than 24 hours. 

Throughout the process we are at your side to discuss the selected yacht, to negociate the charter terms, determine the global cost, and assist you in deciding on locations, itineraries and other preferences you may have.

After reaching an agreement we are ready to proceed with the booking of the yacht.

Charter agreement

First we will prepare a written contract or Charter Agreement. For crewed yachts we will use the widely accepted MYBA agreement.This Charter Agreement was written by the Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association (MYBA) and is recognised by the American Yacht Charter Association. 

While at first glance, this charter agreement appears daunting, it is not as difficult as it would seem. It details the yacht, your chosen dates, the location, the cruising area and the cost. There will be 4 copies of the Charter agreement, to be signed by each party.

The 4 copies of the Charter Agreement will be sent to you, the charterer, first.  If all is in order, we will ask you to sign this Agreement and return it to us as quickly as possible. The Agreement is then sent to the Owner for counter-signature and a fully-signed copy returned to you for your files. As time matters, this procedure can eventually be preceded by the signature of a single fax version of the Charter Agreement. 

Payment

Once a fully-signed Charter Agreement is in place, you will be asked for a down payment, commonly a first instalment of 50%, to be transferred to the account shown on the Agreement..  The balance payment or second instalment, is usually due one month prior to the charter commencing.

The Preference form

You will also receive a detailed questionnaire to complete. This questionnaire relates to your travel arrangements, guest list, likes and dislikes and eventual special requirements. This information might be discussed with you in some details to ensure we gather as much information as possible. This is then sent to the Captain, as to allow him to pre-book any berths, order the right provisions and arrange the chef and crew to prepare that special birthday treat or other celebration.

Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA)

You will also be asked to send funds to cover the APA, if that is requested by the terms of your agreement. This APA is immediately sent to the Captain, in cash, in order that the yacht can purchase provisions in advance ready for your arrival. All costs incurred by the yacht which are accountable to the charterer will be deducted during the cruise and full accounts produced at the end. The Captain will, at the end of the charter, return any unused funds. Occasionally the APA is not sufficient and the Captain will keep you advised if further funds are required. All charter costs must be reconciled before you disembark from the yacht.

Non MYBA Agreements

In some cases, a Charter Agreement different from the MYBA Charter Agreement will be used.

Due to U.S. Coastguard requirements some U.S. flag yachts operate under the demise Charter Agreement.

In some parts of the Mediterranean, locally flagged yachts will elect a different Charter Agreement. These local Charter Agreements, generaly, enclose similar conditions but offer less legal security, refering to local judges in case of disagreement.  

All specific conditions of your charter are to be found in the Charter Agreement. 

In order to help you with the most accurate cost prediction, we would like to draw your attention on following items.

Charter Terms explained

Terms of the Agreement are very much bounded to the geographical area where the yacht operates.

WMT - Western Mediterranean Terms

The Charter Fee includes the charter of the yacht with all its equipment in working order, tools, stores, cleaning material and basic consumable stores for engine-room, deck and cabins, etc., the crew's wages, food and the insurance of the yacht for marine risk and third party claims and the crew for employer's liability insurance. (If the yacht is not on MYBA terms then crew food may be charged extra).

The Charterer will be charged extra, at cost to the yacht, for all other expenses. These include fuel for the yacht, fuel for the ski-boats or other tenders, food for the charterers, wines, beers, spirits and soft drinks for the Charterers, other consumable stores, berthing dues and other harbour charges away from the yacht's own berth, including pilotage fees and charges for water and/or electricity taken from the shore, laundry, telephone, fax or telex via Satcom, Radio Telephone or telex costs, hire costs of special equipment placed on board at the request of the Charterer. These are the terms generally used in a MYBA agreement.

EMT - Eastern Mediterranean Terms

The Charter Fee includes the charter of the yacht with all its equipment in working order, tools, stores, spares, etc., the crew's wages and the insurance of the yacht for marine risk and third party claims and the crew for employer's liability insurance.
The Charter Fee also includes fuel for up to five hours cruising per day (averaged throughout the charter), food for the crew, berthing dues and other harbour charges (except Corinthian Canal dues), including water and/or electricity taken from the shore. The arrangements about fuel charges sometimes vary.
The Charterer will be charged extra, at cost to the yacht, for all other expenses, These include fuel for the ski-boats or other tenders, food, wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks for the Charterers, other consumable stores, berthing and harbour expenses outside the yacht's normal cruising area, laundry, telephone, fax or telex via Satcom, Radio Telephone costs, hire costs of special equipment placed on board at the request of the Charterer.

Some yachts offer more inclusive terms.

GRK - Greek Terms

The rate quoted includes the hire of the yacht, the crew's salaries, the insurance of the yacht, the crew's food, sufficient fuel and lubricants for 4 (four) hours cruising per twenty four hours, harbour dues and pilotage within Greek waters, water & ship's laundry. Extra to the charterer's account are guests food and drink, bar, Corinth Canal dues where applicable and port taxes & harbour dues outside Greek waters.

SCT - Standard Caribbean

Terms The Charter Fee includes all expenses listed under WMT and SEMT plus all food. Some yachts also include wine and bar, excluding vintage wines and champagne.
In the Caribbean this is normally referred to as 'All inclusive' but excluding bar, communications and cruising taxes, if any. The Charterer will be charged extra for communications (use of the yacht's satellite or mobile phone), marina-type berthing, rendezvous diving, shore excursions, cruising tax, etc.

Other elements of cost

VAT

Legislation now exists in the European Union requiring all yachts operating in the national waters of the Union (in this narrow context we are interested in France, Italy, Spain and Greece) to collect Value Added Tax (VAT/TVA/IVA, etc.) on all charters at rates which vary between 4% (Greece) to 16% and 20.6% of the Charter Fee. Under EU Law this is payable by the Charterer. However, there are various interpretations from country to country.

Commercially registered yachts generally are not required to collect the tax on the charter fee and are allowed to buy tax free provisioning, if available. This of course makes out a difference when buying fuel.

Other taxes

Local taxes may also apply in certain areas outside the EC. We can provide you with the most recent information for your cruising area.

Operating expenses

These vary depending on the area you cruise and the yacht you choose. If fuel economy is important, discuss this with your us at the beginning of your selection process. There also may be some positioning or repositioning charges if your charter involves meeting or leaving the yacht in a location different from the usual operation basis of the yacht.

Harbour fees

Harbour fees usually remain a small item in the charter budget. They are higher in the Western Mediterranean

The cancellation policy will apply once booking has been confirmed and the Charter Agreement was signed by all parties.