Vacations are supposed to be a time to get away from things and have some fun. How you choose to spend the time you have for your vacation might be different from other people, but if you are the adventurous type, maybe sailing to a destination on a chartered yacht is the vacation of a lifetime for you. Before you put on your deck shoes and cast off, there are some things you may want to consider about taking a vacation aboard a yacht.
Sailing Experience
If you are considering chartering a yacht, you need to consider your experience with sailing. If you have a lot of experience, you may want to rent a yacht and sail it yourself, but if you don't have a lot of knowledge about boats and how to operate them, charter one that has a crew and let them do all the work while you enjoy the sun and salt air from the deck.
Most charter companies are not going to let you take out a yacht without you being an experienced sailor. Be prepared to prove your level of training with some documentation if you are considering taking the boat out without a crew. You will have to check with the charter company to see what documentation they need.
Destinations and Ports of Call
When you head out on the water for your vacation, be sure to bring your passport and identification with you. As long as you are at sea, you do not need the passport, but if you decide to pull in to a port along the way, you will need your passport if it is outside the US.
You can often take a trip that has you wandering from one port to another, or you can plan to cruise to one location and then home again after the vacation is over. The charter company can work with you to set up berthing or dock locations along your trip if needed, and they can also tell you which ports will require your passport to enter.
Size of the Yacht
If you are going alone or with one other person, you could take a small yacht and be very comfortable. But if you are considering a family vacation or are sharing the charter with friends or other people, you may want to consider a larger yacht. Typically, you can determine the size of yacht to charter by the number of beds you need to have available for people on board.
Contact a local yacht charter company for more information.