Frequently Asked Questions
Table of Contents
- How do I reserve the yacht I am interested in?
- What do you recommend for entertainment?
- How long should my charter be?
- Should I take some motion medication?
- What is the best time of day to go out?
- When is money and paperwork due?
- What should guests bring?
- How should we dress?
- Can we bring our own food and beverages? Can we have our own caterer?
- Where do the boats depart from? Do we have to start and end at the same location?
- What will we see while out on charter?
- Will we have the yacht to ourselves or be sharing with others?
- What other logistical services (bus, limo, hotel, air) do you provide?
- What months do you operate?
- What is the US Coast Guard Certification?
1. How do I reserve the yacht I am interested in?
Once you decide on a time and date, the boat and boarding location please give us a call or send an email. If you have filled out a charter contract please send it to us as it is very important. We will then contact you with availability. There are several considerations when reserving a yacht. If you are first to reserve a specific time and date you will be in first hold spot. This will give you time to consider other issues such as food and beverage, scheduling, etc.
If someone else should come along and want the same or overlapping spot the following procedure will rule. The challenging party will sign a charter agreement and place a deposit in escrow. Once that happens the person in first hold has only 24 hours to sign and deposit on the yacht. If both the charter agreement and deposit are not accomplished within the 24 hours then the challenger gets the yacht. If you want that date you must respond in time or you will lose the time and date. Conversely if you want a spot and it has been reserved by someone else then your signed charter agreement and deposit will serve 24 hour notice to release the yacht.
If you have a long lead time getting monies to vendors then you need to be sensitive to this rule as once a signed charter agreement and deposit are on file nothing will get your time and date back. This protects the charter companies from losing business to indecisive corporate and private charter planners. It also allows serious clients the opportunity to lock in their necessary times and dates.
2. What do you recommend for entertainment?
This is one of the most asked questions and one that I feel needs some high level insight. Entertainment in a yacht is different than at a restaurant or other venue. There is so much to see and do on the yacht that entertainment often goes unused. In other cases guests gather around the entertainment and never take the time to see the sights. Three or four hours goes by very fast on a yacht. Some planners worry that their guests will get bored although I have rarely ever seen this to be the case. With some food, drink and music, the charter will find a groove and your guests will have a great time.
The question of entertainment also relates to decorations. Generally few decorations are necessary on the yachts as the yacht itself is elegant and does not need excessive decoration to become presentable. Simple floral decorations are usually sufficient unless a theme party is the attraction. If the question is on decorations or another line item I always recommend redirecting budget into food and/or beverages or more time aboard. Other extras that are keepsakes such as shirts or hats.
3. How long should my charter be?
Our yachts have a three hour minimum. Two hours is too short for most charters. However if you must do a two hour charter and you do not mind paying for three hour minimum that is your choice. The trick to any successful charter is "always leave them wanting more". Many parties just get going around three hours and by four hours many guests have danced and are ready to go home or to an "after party" party ashore. Some charters are daylong charters and usually involve a destination such as Pensacola, Fort Mc Ree or Panama City. For special charter ideas please give us a call as we have done many charters and have seen what works and what does not work well.
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4. Should I take some motion medication?
We are not doctors and can not advise your taking of medications. There is no way that I can advise you on this subject so the following is a general guideline provided as informational only. Generally people do not need to take motion medication for a yacht charter. Since the boat is underway unless you want to swim, for the entire charter circumnavigating the area it is much smoother than you might think. A good rule of thumb is; "If you get car sick as a passenger in the front seat of a car then motion sickness medication is probably advisable". Otherwise I generally recommend against it as most medications will make you drowsy and I have seen whole groups fall asleep around the boat after mixing motion sickness medication with a couple of drinks. A great homeopathic remedy is fresh ginger. Begin eating a bit about one hour before your charter and keep eating it throughout your cruise. You should be just fine. Ginger capsules are also available for the same purpose. If you feel that motion sickness medication is necessary ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
5. What is the best time of day to go out on the water?
Day or Night, that is the question. We have such a rich diversity area that our charters run from early in the morning until late at night. The time that is appropriate for your charter may not be for the next group. Do not worry about what others do but plan your charter to meet your expectations or scheduling needs. Some things to consider are travel times for people you have invites with respect to work or other possible conflicts. Remember that at some times traffic can be quite heavy. Special charters may clog some routes such as The Blue Angels, fairs or fireworks demonstrations.
The daytime is nice as it provides warmth and great views. There are other boats sailing and motoring around and the area is quite active. The evening is better suited to bar hopping and cocktailing. The bay at night is also very dramatic with fantastic lighted skyline and views. Think about what you want for your charter and if you have any questions let us know and we will help you decide by discussing the positive aspects of different times of day.
6. When is money and paperwork due?
Once you have decided on a yacht, date and time of day it is important that you lock that date for your charter. This requires a signed charter agreement and deposit. Please review question #1 for reservation details. Once your yacht is reserved you can finalize details if you need extra time. Many planners have already figured out their menu, beverage service, decorations and entertainment details at the time of signing. Others want to secure the boat and work out the details at a later date. In any case all details should be finalized two weeks before the charter except for final guest count. Final guest count is due 10 day s prior to the charter and the final guest count will determine minimum cost. Final payment is due with final guest count ten days prior. Our charter contract can be viewed here. Our cancellation fees are listed on the charter agreement and are firm policies.
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7. What should guests bring?
There are a few items that guests should bring and a few they should not bring. First the thinks that are not allowed onboard. These include the usual suspects and a few others including; firearms, fireworks, drugs, alcohol, glitter, confetti, rice (use birdseed for weddings), no open flame devices such as alcohol lamps, oil candles, wax candles, kerosene lanterns, etc.
Items to remember to bring include; camera, sunscreen, hat, jacket, comfortable shoes, ID (you may get carded at the bar), any medications necessary, cell phone if you need to communicate with shore.
8. How should we dress?
Dress up or dress down. The choice is completely yours. The yacht works well in any charter. We have done charters where the dress code has ranged from black tie to shorts and flip-flops. Remember, you are at the beach and on the water. Dress appropriately for the season. If you are going in the water, some of our yachts have heated fresh water showers on the swim platform. You may choose to dress however is appropriate for you. Generally suggested dress in the invitation to your guests and our office is notified so we can include all your wishes to brief the yacht crew on the specifics of your charter.
9. Can we bring our own food and beverages? Can we have our own caterer?
The answer to this question is almost always yes. We can provision for your charter with anything you would like within reason. We would suggest simple finger foods like sushi, deli platter, appetizer assortment, etc. Destin and the surrounding area has many restaurants that are accessible by boat. If you'd like to stop for a meal ashore or alternatively, we can can order on the phone and have carry out provided to the boat. We suggest The Lucky Snapper as they are most amiable to this program. Keep in mind that these are small yachts and most people are happy with beverages and snacks. However, this is ultimately up to our guests.
10. Where do the yachts depart from? Do we have to start and end at the same dock?
We can start and end your charter anywhere between Sandestin, Florida and Orange Beach, Alabama. A delivery fee will apply outside of Fort Walton Beach Brook Bridge Marina. Charters generally begin and end at the same point but do not have to do so. When charters end at a different spot than they begin special consideration must be given to transporting your guests back to their cars or other transportation. We can arrange all transportation, please ask ahead of time. We recommend AAAA Express Transportation Service 1-877-723-2525. They have clean, late model, small passenger vans for a group up to 15 people. Some charters have begun in Destin and ended in Pensacola or Orange Beach with bus service to return. Others begin in Sandestin and end in Navarre beach. Other ideas can work but need to be cleared with our office to determine extra docking and delivery fee.
If you start at a yacht's home port and end somewhere else there will be a delivery fee
11. What will we see while out on charter?
There is so much to see while out on the Choctowachee Bay, Santa Rosa Sound and Destin Harbor. I have been out hundreds and hundreds of times and never tire of the different sights. You will see many points of interest depending on your boat's route and the captain's efforts to keep you and your guests comfortable by choosing the calmest areas to cruise. Sights around the area include;
Destin Harbor, Gulf of Mexico, Crab Island,
You may see pelicans, dolphins, manta ray, manatees, porpoises, seagulls, ducks of all kinds, a great variety of coastal birds including blue and white herons. We can take you to a private beach in the Santa Rosa Sound where you are the only person around with the exception of the Gulf Coast wildlife. The water is clean, clear, very warm and inviting.
You may see sailboats, racing boats, fishing boats, ferry boats, ocean racers, US Coast Guard boats, row boats, kayaks, Hawaiian outrigger canoes and other boats.
12. Will we have the yacht to ourselves or be sharing with others?
You will have the yacht to yourself. The determination of your charter characteristics will be determined by your ideas of what is right for your group and your budget. We are happy to assist you with these decisions and look forward to helping you plan your charter.
13. What other logistical services (bus, limo, hotel, air) do you provide?
We can help you plan many aspects of your charter in addition to the yaching portion. Please use contact us for our additional services.
14. What months do you operate?
We operate all year long. Our charters go rain or shine. Most boats have sufficient indoor space for rain and those that do not will reschedule as noted on the charter agreement for those special circumstances.
15. What is the US Coast Guard Certification?
It is the law that boats that carry passengers for hire have a US Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection . There are a few exceptions to this rule such as a six-pack and a demise charter. The number of passengers any boat can carry is determined by the Coast Guard after a stability test. This number has no bearing on comfort but relies solely on stability measurements. Some boats may be certified for many more guests than can comfortably fit on a particular boat. Our strength is advising our clients how many guests can comfortably fit on any boat depending on your charter criteria.
A six-pack charter is a charter on an uninspected vessel that carries up to six guests plus crew. An uninspected vessel can be any size but has not gone through the US Coast Guard inspection process which is quite laborious and expensive. The uninspected vessel is not necessarily unsafe but has not officially met all the Coast Guard requirements and passed the rigorous inspection.
A demise charter can accommodate up to 12 guests plus the crew that you hire directly. In a demise charter you rent the boat with no crew and you supply the crew. Most companies doing demise charters will supply you with a list of qualified crew including captains and ask that you use their list. Any crew not on that list must first be checked out and included on the boat owners insurance. The demise charter allows a six-pack charter operator to charter to groups of up to 12 guests while staying within US Coast Guard guidelines.
Guest count includes adults, children, toddlers, infants and newborns equally. Also included in guest count are vessel crew. Most boats will have a guest count that reads for example; 49 guests plus 3 crew. This vessel would be limited by law to a maximum of 49 individuals plus 3 crew. The US Coast Guard is very strict about this and we will not bend these rules and risk losing our permit to operate.
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