FAQ Crewed Yacht Charters
I could write a book on FAQ Crewed Yacht Charters, but I will do it in several parts instead. Welcome to Part 1.
Organizing a luxurious yacht vacation can often seem like a substantial undertaking! Don’t sweat it!
We aim to streamline every step and ensure a seamless and effortless experience for you!
I’d like to welcome you to part one, where I will focus on general information and your relationship with a Yacht Charter Broker.
Do Charter Brokers own the yachts they offer?
It will help you if you consider charter yacht brokers as travel agents specializing in yacht vacations. Most charter brokers do not “own” yachts but specialize in viewing hundreds of boats yearly in different locations, so you don’t have to. Yacht Charter Brokers are independent (such as H2O Luxury Yachts), where we have no loyalty to any make, model, or fleet, or they can work with particular yachts only.
Who owns the charter yachts?
Yachts, whether privately owned or part of a fleet, are a reflection of their owners’ vision and passion. When an owner decides to offer their yacht for charter, they are taking a significant step that requires careful planning and execution. The owner’s role in this decision-making process is crucial and their input is invaluable in preparing the yacht.
1) Which region of the world they are.
2) If they will run it themselves (more common in the smaller yachts) or hire a crew to run the boat.
3) Are they going to manage it or hire a management company to represent the yacht and handle the business side?
4) Then, charter-ready boats need websites, photography, marketing material, pricing, and a charter program. They also need the appropriate licenses, flags, and manning requirements to enable them to charter in the desired area.
5) The next step is getting the information to the brokers who sell crewed yacht charters and vacations and the online industry-specific databases.
What is a Yacht Clearinghouse?
A Yacht Clearinghouse is different from a broker, and every boat will (should) have one. The Yacht Clearinghouse’s role is to be a go-between for the boat and the broker. They also help position the yacht in the market, so it receives bookings!
In the past, boats lacked the communication technology necessary to stay connected while at sea. The yacht clearinghouse kept all the details of each ship it represented and answered questions. They also held the calendar, which is crucial so the yacht is not double-booked.
The clearinghouse also facilitates the establishment of an escrow account to hold the funds securely and ensures timely disbursement to the yacht owner.
There are many Yacht Charter Brokers but not as many Clearinghouses. They tend to be in the industry’s background, although some do have Yacht Charter Brokers working in their offices. We, as CYBA Charter Brokers, know which ones are safe and which ones to avoid.
Why do most sites seem to have the same Yacht Search Engines?
Many have the same yacht search engines, as only a few are in the industry. Each one specializes in distinct segments of the yacht industry.
These are industry-wide and different from Clearinghouses. Boats, Yachts, Clearinghouses, and Yacht Brokers subscribe to these services to have as much up-to-date and charter fee information as quickly as possible.
Virtually all yacht charter brokers and websites provide identical yachts at comparable prices.
Selecting the right broker is as crucial as choosing the perfect yacht vacation! Yacht Broker experience varies significantly, with many having zero or little knowledge of what chartering entails but more of a blind expectation of what they think boats and their crews should be able to do.
H2O Luxury Yachts is Independent, meaning we have no financial incentive to push a particular yacht over another. With over 400 weeks of crewed yacht charters in their past life, H2O team members will NOT make promises that the yacht will not be able to meet.
Why do we have fewer boats listed at H2O Luxury Yachts?
We concentrate on quality over quantity and wanting to provide the best listing service for the yachts we offer. Never fear; we have experience and book any yacht in the world.
How do the Yacht Brokers know the yachts?
In simple form, Boat Shows!
Good yacht brokers attend at least several boat shows every year. Here, we can board the yachts, meet the crew, and see if they match the online brochures.
These are typically B2B (business-to-business) events. In the US and British Virgin Islands, November is the time for them, and December is in Antigua for Caribbean Yachts. The spring and fall see many Mediterranean Boat Shows, including Greece, Barcelona, and Monaco. We take photographs and meet the crews in depth. We do not rely on glossy websites and brochures.
For example, many yachts say they have fishing on board, but when asked, many professional Captains don’t encourage fishing as they don’t want the mess on the back deck. Or, you can fish, but they will make sure you troll in an area where you won’t catch much 🙂We also have Industry Associations and a vast network of charter brokers and crews that we can count on.
What is my relationship with a yacht charter broker?
Loosely, this brings you to your part! You arrive at a website like H2O Luxury Yachts. Each Yacht Brokerage has its own set of boats that they “prefer” booking. Their yacht preference is for as many different reasons as there are yacht charter brokers!
- Some may sell any yacht charter to anyone who can sign a check.
- Others may get extra commission from various yachts, so that they will push those.
- Some represent a specific fleet; therefore, push those regardless of whether they are your perfect match.
- Yachts that come into the market recently are in unknown quantities and will offer specials or prices lower than comparable yachts to get bookings. With bookings, hopefully, come great reference letters that they can use to entice other brokers to book them
- Some are genuinely professional and try to find out what you are looking for and then match you up with your perfect yacht.
H2O promises to give you up-to-date information, facilitate the process, and guide you on the logistics of your yacht charter vacation. We are there for support until you return home, and we will follow up with you on HOW your yacht charter vacation was. Reviews also help us with future client bookings.
If you need any help with your holiday, we are still there to help you work through it with the boat or clearinghouse. Some yachts sell directly to the public at the same price you get from a broker. Their advice can be biased, as can be expected when selling their product. If you have problems with the yacht, crew, or service, you can sort it out without our experience and input.
We are independent of any yachts, and YOU are our only concern, not the yacht. Since our service is free, why wouldn’t you use a professional independent yacht broker?
Will different Yacht Brokers have different prices for yachts?
All brokers get the same commission rates from the yachts. Emailing a hundred different brokers to get the best price is not a good strategy. Brokers and yachts who do otherwise do not tend to stay in business very long. Trust your instincts, find a yacht charter broker that you feel comfortable with and want to work with, and work with them!
Who pays the commission amount to the broker, and how much is it?
The yacht pays the commission to the broker, so it costs you nothing more to go through a broker. Boats that offer a lower price than they would provide a broker are soon shut out of the industry. Sometimes, the yacht will give a discount on a week they want to sell or for repeat guests.
It’s the same with a broker. They may return a bit of their commission to repeat clients or add extras that the yacht does not cover.
The commission rate is standard throughout the industry. The yacht pays 15% to the broker on average, sometimes a bit more or less, depending on the week. It could be more if you have a Travel Agent you work with and a Yacht Charter Broker.
Let H2O Luxury Yacht Team Members help you plan to book a yacht vacation.
Contact us at 954-271-3005; Yacht Charter Brokers are standing by, and let’s get planning!
