Yacht charter, planned properly
Luxury yacht charter, planned beyond the deck.
A superyacht charter buys an extraordinary platform and a crew. What it doesn't automatically buy is a week worth remembering. Tailyr plans the week first, excursions, experiences and expeditions, then briefs the broker and helps you book the right yacht.
Tell Tailyr the week, not just the yacht
Most charters are specified like hotel rooms: dates, yacht, area, cabins. Tailyr starts with the people and the days.
Three layers of a charter that goes beyond the deck
Excursions
A half-day or a day off the boat: a dive with a marine conservationist, a guided walk through a village the cruise ships never reach, a day with a local fisherman ending in lunch cooked from the catch.
Experiences
Access and arrangements ashore: a private after-hours visit to an art collection, a perfumery workshop, a family-run vineyard, a cooking lesson with a local chef.
Expeditions
The week itself, built around a destination: glaciers and wildlife in Alaska, fjords and fly-fishing in Patagonia, or the Galápagos with naturalist guides, subject to strict rules.
Experiences are priced separately from the base rate, so ask for them to be included in your proposal. Not every week needs to go beyond the deck. Sometimes the lounger is the point, and the aim is only to make it a choice. Read the full piece: Beyond the deck: what a £200,000 yacht charter should include.
Watch: beyond the deck in 55 seconds
A short film on what a charter can be when it is planned around the people aboard. There is a scene-by-scene description on the film page.
Tailyr has partnered with a brokerage associated with the Leading Yacht Brokers Association (LYBRA). Tailyr is not a broker: the brokerage contracts the yacht and crew, and Tailyr briefs it on the week you want.
How booking through Tailyr works
- Say what you want. Tailyr talks through the week with you in conversation. No forms, no browsing.
- Get a brief. Your answers become a brief covering the experiences you want and where lead time makes early planning essential.
- Book through Tailyr. The brief goes with the booking. The broker contracts the yacht and crew and runs the logistics, and your details are shared only with your permission.
What a crewed charter costs, honestly
The weekly rate is only the start. Here is how a typical bill is built. These are typical figures, not quotes.
| Item | What it covers | Typical guide |
|---|---|---|
| Base rate | The yacht and crew for the week | Quoted weekly, varies widely by size and season |
| APA | Fuel, food, drink, marina fees | Commonly a quarter to a third of the base rate in the Mediterranean |
| Gratuity | Discretionary thank-you to the crew | Customary, often 10 to 15 per cent |
| VAT and local taxes | Depends where you cruise | Varies, so ask before you sign |
| Experiences and excursions | Guides, access, permits, private arrangements | Priced separately, so ask for them in the proposal |
Questions to ask before you sign a charter contract
- What exactly does the base rate include, and what is paid from the APA?
- How will unspent APA be accounted for and returned?
- What is the cancellation and weather policy?
- Which experiences are confirmed, and which are subject to permits or availability?
- What are the crew's dietary, water-sport and tender capabilities for our group?
- Is the yacht insured for the cruising area, and who holds the contract?
Thinking about the technology? See Sunreef and the sun-powered superyacht.
Private, from the first message
Permission first
Introductions are made only with your permission. Nobody receives your details unless you agree.
Deleted once handed over
Once your details are passed to a specialist, Tailyr deletes your identifying information from its network.
Made for offices too
Private offices, family offices and PAs can brief Tailyr on a principal's behalf. See Tailyr for private offices.
Yacht charter questions, answered
How much does a luxury yacht charter cost?
A crewed charter is priced as a weekly base rate for the yacht and crew, and it is not the whole bill. Fuel, food, drink and marina fees are normally paid from an advance provisioning allowance, commonly a quarter to a third of the base rate in the Mediterranean, and a crew gratuity of 10 to 15 per cent is customary. VAT depends on where you cruise. Ask for a line-by-line estimate before you sign. These are typical figures, not quotes.
What does 'beyond the deck' mean?
It means planning the charter around what you will do, not just the yacht you will sleep on. That covers excursions (a day off the boat), experiences (access and private arrangements ashore) and expeditions (a week built around a destination). Tailyr turns what you want into a brief for the broker, so the week is designed rather than improvised.
How do I book a yacht charter through Tailyr?
Tell Tailyr about the week you want: who is aboard, where and when, what everyone loves and what must stay private. Tailyr discusses the options with you and turns the answers into a brief. You book the charter through Tailyr, and the brief goes with it. The broker still contracts the yacht and crew.
What is an APA on a yacht charter?
APA stands for advance provisioning allowance. It is a sum paid on top of the base rate to cover fuel, food, drink, marina and other running costs during the week. Unspent funds are normally returned, and the crew should account for what was spent.
When is the best time to charter a yacht?
The Mediterranean season generally runs from late spring to early autumn, and the Caribbean from winter into spring. The right window depends on where you want to go and what you want to do, and the most sought-after weeks and yachts are booked well ahead.
How far ahead do I need to plan experiences and expeditions?
Earlier than most people expect. Remote destinations can require permits and local guides, and some approvals take months. Even a private evening in a gallery or a table at the right restaurant has to be asked for in advance. That is why a clear brief matters.
Can I charter a solar-powered or low-emission yacht?
Some builders now offer yachts with significant solar capacity, and interest is growing. Availability for charter is limited, so say what matters to you and Tailyr will look for what fits. Our article on a solar-powered superyacht explains where the technology is heading.
Is Tailyr a yacht charter broker?
No. Tailyr is an introduction service that helps you work out the week you want and briefs the broker. Tailyr has partnered with a brokerage associated with the Leading Yacht Brokers Association (LYBRA). The broker contracts the yacht and crew and runs the logistics, and suppliers are independent businesses responsible for their own contracts and aftercare.
Is my charter enquiry private?
Yes. Tailyr is private by design. Introductions are made only with your permission, and once your details are passed to a specialist Tailyr deletes your identifying information from its network. The conversation without identifying details is kept for 12 months.
Plan the week, then book the yacht
Tell Tailyr what you want from the week. It turns that into a brief, and you book the charter through Tailyr.
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Also from Tailyr
Costs, availability and rules vary by yacht, season and destination. Check the details before you sign, and take professional advice on contracts. Tailyr is an introduction service. Nothing is bought or sold on Tailyr, and suppliers are independent businesses responsible for their own listings, sales, payment and aftercare. Tailyr does not give financial, legal or tax advice. Results are generated automatically, so verify details with the supplier. Available in the UK to adults aged 18 and over. Brand names are used only to describe what buyers ask for and imply no affiliation.