Yacht Charters - Welcome to the World of Yacht Chartering

Yacht chartering is basically renting (or chartering), a boat whether it be sail or motor and travelling to various destinations. Yacht charters happen all over the world but the most popular destinations are the Mediterranean during the summer months and the Caribbean during the winter months.

There are two main kinds of charter: bareboat and crewed. Bareboat charters are when the person rents a boat and skippers it him/her selves. Depending on the location and the flag of the boat there are various qualifications required, therefore, the easier and more relaxing option is a crewed yacht charter which is what this article discusses further.

Crewed charter or typically just charter yachts, means the yacht comes with a crew. The crew on a 20 meter can be simply a captain and cook/stewardess team, whereas on a 100+ meter boat there can be upwards of 60 crew members including first officers, stewardesses, engineers, chefs, mates, deckhands, dive masters, and quite often a masseuse and helicopter pilot.

Obviously there are several factors which determine the cost of yacht charters, including the size and type of the yacht, its age, the number of crew, and the destination. Weekly charter fees range from €5,000 up to and in excess of €250,000. The charter fee generally covers only the hire of the yacht and crew, all other expenses are in addition to the charter fee. These additional expenses are covered by the Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA).

The APA is usually 30% of the charter fee and covers the cost of fuel, food, wines and liquors, dockage, communications, etc. Any APA not used is returned to the guests when they leave.

Yacht charters give you the opportunity to relax and enjoy special times with friends and family, while being pampered by a professional crew anywhere in the world you choose. It is a unique experience as it is a vacation planned for you. You have complete control on your yacht, doing what you want to do, when you want it, while enjoying magnificent new vistas each and every day rather than looking at the same view every day from a hotel room or villa. For any occasion, family vacations, romantic honeymoon cruises, or scuba diving from your own yacht you'll find a crewed charter yacht to be a great alternative.

Your professional crew takes care of every detail so you can relax. Before the charter begins, you fill out a charter preference sheet and your personal chef plans meals based on your specific requests. Your charter yacht captain is also your own guide to your chosen destination and knows where to find the most secluded beaches, the quietest anchorages or the liveliest nightlife.

Most yachts offer a variety of water sports activities onboard, depending on the size and type of yacht chartered. Scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, skiing, windsurfing and jet skiing are just a few of the "toys" you may find at your disposal. The Captain and crew are well versed in operating the equipment onboard and often can offer instruction on many levels. There is often a Divemaster aboard the yacht to take you diving in exotic locations but you must specify this while looking for a charter yacht. You can have an experienced yacht charter agent at http://www.bluewateryachting.com/luxury-yacht-charter/ help you select the right charter yacht for you.

Although the Mediterranean and Caribbean are popular yacht charter destinations, charter itineraries can be made for anywhere in the world. You can start and finish your yacht charter vacation when and where it's most convenient for you. You are able to go where you like, when you like including the popular destinations of the Adriatics(Croatia), Balearic Islands (Palma, Ibiza), Caribbean, Corsica, Greece, Indian Ocean, Italy, Sardinia, French Riviera, Turkey, the Pacific Northwest and Alaska...literally the world is your oyster. Visit the Blue Water destination pages at http://www.bluewateryachting.com/luxury-yacht-charter/destinations.php to get a better idea of what each location has to offer to the yacht charterer.