CHARTER TIPS

10 KEY QUESTIONS

HOW TO CHARTER

Whether you are new to yachting or a seasoned adventurer, Imperial’s expertise in the charter industry enables it to create and oversee a broad range of fuss-free yacht charter experiences. Its specialist teams are well equipped to answer any queries you might have but for those starting out, these ten basic questions are a good place to begin.

1 HOW DO I BOOK A CHARTER YACHT? Call the Imperial team and you will be assigned a charter broker – a specialist who will listen to your requirements, from destination and timings to interests and special requests. A recommended yacht and itinerary will then be presented to you on the basis of this conversation.

2 CAN THE ITINERARY BE TAILORED TO REFLECT MY TASTES? Absolutely. Tell Imperial about the ages, tastes and profiles of those involved, because an itinerary can be designed to encompass everything from cultural tours, sporting events and active pursuits, to lazy days ashore or long, undisturbed evenings at anchor.

3 CAN I TAKE MY OWN STAFF? That depends on whether there is adequate capacity to accommodate extra personnel. If so, you can certainly take your own staff but if not, Imperial is always able to organise first-class staff on your behalf.

4 CAN I TAKE THE KIDS? It’s fine to take children on-board and if you talk to your broker in advance it may even be permissible to take the family pet. The yacht, destination, crew and itinerary can also be orchestrated to suit your needs, with family-friendly catering, destinations and pursuits all built into the plan.

5 DOES IMPERIAL OFFER CORPORATE CHARTERS? Yes. Whether you book a charter yacht for client entertainment or staff reward, it makes a fresh and invigorating change from the norm. It can be the perfect hideaway for discreet business negotiations – and with some vessels capable of accommodating dozens of people at a time, there are very few venues that can match it for an upmarket conference.

6 IS A CORPORATE CHARTER SIMILAR TO A HOLIDAY CHARTER? Yes. Like a holiday, you can specify the venue and the duration; you can organise it around a specific high-profile event such as the Cannes Film Festival; and you can benefit from the same comprehensive level of staffing as a luxury charter, with all service and catering provided.

7 CAN I SELECT A SPECIFIC CREW? The crew tends to come with the yacht, so repeat charter customers will often specify a particular vessel in order to be certain of a reunion. However, if this is your first charter, tell your broker what kind of crew you favour. From relaxed and outgoing to slick and formal, a yacht can then be selected to match your preference.

8 HOW SHOULD I CONDUCT MYSELF? Just relax. There are no prescriptive expectations. Dress in whatever way makes you feel comfortable and behave in whatever way enables you to enjoy your charter to the utmost. Your crew will always be rigorously professional and entirely discreet.

9 ARE THERE ANY HIDDEN COSTS? In addition to the basic charter cost, there is usually an Advanced Provisioning Allowance (APA) of around 25%. This enables the crew to stock up on fuel and food in accordance with the input of your charter broker. Any funds left over will be returned to you.

10 WHAT ABOUT TIPPING? The timing and scale of any tips are of course at your discretion. However, the average is around 10% of the charter value and this can be paid at the end of your voyage, either directly to the Captain or indirectly via your broker.