mechanics_of_booking_a_charter-banner

Mechanics of Booking a Charter

The private yachts Regency books are individually owned and operated. These yachts receive bookings on a continual basis. Once you decide on your yacht, call us to check that the dates you wish to sail are free as there can be a last minute change in the schedule that has not been posted yet on the web site. We can reserve ANY yacht for you. Please ask us if you have heard of a yacht, but don’t see it on our site – we have a tremendous working knowledge of the yachts and their crews.

Book a Yacht

Once you know your dates are available, you are ready to reserve the yacht. A 50% deposit is required to reserve the yacht for the dates of your choice, less if you are booking more than a year in advance. Please keep in mind that a reservation cannot be confirmed until the 50% deposit has been received along with your signed booking agreement. Your deposit may be made by personal check, certified check, bank wire transfer, or your payments may be made by or charged (maximum value of $25,000) to your Visa, Master Card, or American Express card. Credit card payments require a signed authorization form.

A yacht is never reserved until you and the owner have signed the charter agreement and the charter deposit has been paid. If your charter starts within 30 days or less of your reservation date, a bank wire transfer or cash will be required. The final payment for your trip is due to the yacht 30 days before the start of your charter.

Cancellation Policy

If you have to cancel your charter, the 50% deposit is non-refundable unless the yacht is re-booked for the same dates. If we are able to rebook the dates the deposit will be refunded less any applicable cancellation fees. If only a portion of your dates is rebooked you will be refunded on a prorated basis. Frequently, your entire charter fee is non-refundable if you cancel with 30 days of your charter. We recommend purchase of trip cancellation insurance for the value of your deposit and airfare. Many companies offer this coverage. You should look for coverage that covers you if you have to cancel due to death, illness, or injury of anyone in the group or an immediate family member without pre-existing conditions penalties (in case you already have a medical condition) and extends to weather such as hurricanes as well.

Inclusive

The majority of sailing yachts and some power yachts that base in the Caribbean are offered on an ‘inclusive’ basis. This means that the rates quoted cover yacht, crew, food and beverages (house brands) as well as water sports equipment found on the yacht. Outside of the US & British Virgin Islands, yachts will always charge for beverages as the costs can vary widely. Not included are airfare, transfers, off ship excursions, and extraordinary bar and wine requests. On any charter yacht it is customary to leave a 15% gratuity for the crew scaled up or down based on service. Your crew are on call for you 24/7 and do it with a smile!

Plus All Expenses

Yachts operating in other locations often charge a base rate plus all expenses. You will be asked what food and liquor, flowers, etc. you wish and billed their cost. Generally the Advanced Provisioning Allowance (know as the APA) is estimated at 25-35% of the base rate of the charter fee. The APA is due with the final payment for the crew to prepare for your arrival. This is just like owning the yacht – you are charged the cost of all the ship’s running expenses such as dockage, fuel, water, ice, flowers, food, laundry, etc.