Charter Basics guides
How a charter works: contracts, provisioning, licenses, and documents.
A charter is a contract, not a purchase
Chartering works differently from nearly any other travel booking. For crewed yachts you sign a MYBA or Mediterranean Yachting Association agreement with the owner via a broker; for bareboats you sign the fleet operator's own rental conditions. Both define liability, cancellation windows, and how the security deposit or APA is handled.
The practical consequence is that the contract, not the brochure, decides what your week costs. Every number in the quote — base rate, APA, VAT, delivery fee, crew tip — should appear in the agreement with the same wording the operator used in the email.
The paperwork you need
- Passport valid six months beyond travel; the fleet needs the full guest list before sailing.
- Licence: for bareboat charter, most operators accept an ICC, RYA Day Skipper or higher, or ASA 104; some markets accept a signed experience statement.
- Signed contract and payment schedule (typically 50% deposit, 50% due 30–60 days out for crewed).
- VAT registration and manifest details where the country requires them (Croatia and Greece are the usual ones).
- Insurance certificate or waiver purchase confirmation, if the base requires it before boarding.
The 12-week booking timeline
| When | What happens | What you should have in writing |
|---|---|---|
| 12–9 months out | Choose destination and season; shortlist hulls or fleets | Availability holds, not bookings |
| 9–6 months out | Sign the charter agreement; pay the deposit | Contract, cancellation terms, APA percentage |
| 60 days out | Balance due; preference sheet for crewed charters | Invoice showing VAT separately |
| 30 days out | Flights, transfers, dietary and allergy list | Embarkation time and marina address |
| 14 days out | Provisioning order (bareboat); skipper briefing | Provisioning list and cost estimate |
| 7 days out | Weather check; route plan; insurance confirmations | Cruising area and named-storm clause |
| Boarding day | Handover, inventory check, deposit hold | Signed inventory and inspection report |
What goes wrong at handover
Most disputes that reach a broker start on the first afternoon, not at sea. Three habits prevent nearly all of them: photograph the inventory as you check it, note pre-existing damage on the form rather than pointing at it, and confirm the return inspection time before you leave the dock.
On crewed charters, the equivalent moment is the preference sheet: dietary needs, allergies, alcohol preferences and the one or two things the group actually cares about. A crew that knows on day one delivers a different week from a crew that finds out on day three.
The week itself
A routine: board Saturday afternoon, sail short hops mid-morning to secure anchorages, provision once from a pre-order list — often done by the base staff — and clear out the following Saturday. In crewed charters the team plans meals around preferences collected weeks in advance, and the captain will usually propose a route on the first evening that you can adjust the next morning.
Two timing rules matter more than they look. Anchorages fill early in high season, so the mid-morning departure is not laziness — it is how you get a spot. And the last night should be spent within an hour of the base: a late return because of weather is the most common reason a deposit reconciliation starts badly.
Related: the charter contract explained, APA and provisioning, embarkation day, and the cost hub for what each line item should say.
Can I charter without any sailing licence?
Yes, on a crewed or skippered charter where a professional skipper is aboard — roughly $1,200–$2,000/week on smaller yachts. Bareboat requires documented competence.
How early should I book?
Crewed superyachts: 6–12 months out for high season. Bareboats: 3–6 months. Late deals exist, but the fleet depth in any high-demand destination is thin by then.
What deposit is normal?
Crewed: 50% on signing, balance 30–60 days before boarding. Bareboat: 30–50% depending on the fleet, plus the refundable security deposit held at handover.
Documents that change by country
Three documents are not universal. A cruising permit is required in Croatia, Greece, Montenegro and Thailand, and the operator usually arranges it — confirm the fee is inside the quote. A transit log is standard in Croatia and lists every guest; changes after issue carry a charge. A sailing licence is checked at the base in Greece and Italy more strictly than in the Caribbean, where a signed experience statement often suffices.
Ask for the document list with the contract, not with the boarding instructions. A missing permit discovered at check-in is the one delay that cannot be solved by leaving earlier.
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