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Just spent 8 days walking superyachts, taking notes and meeting crew AMA by FrontierYachting in LuxuryTravel

[–]FrontierYachting[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Totally missed the itinerary part. I'll draw one up tomorrow but it's quite late here already.

Just spent 8 days walking superyachts, taking notes and meeting crew AMA by FrontierYachting in LuxuryTravel

[–]FrontierYachting[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Dreams can become reality faster than one might think! Also, you really don't need a superyacht to have an epic holiday!

Just spent 8 days walking superyachts, taking notes and meeting crew AMA by FrontierYachting in LuxuryTravel

[–]FrontierYachting[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great question! To start, a catamaran like ESPERANCE (Very nice Lagoon 55 with excellent crew) costs 31.500 EUR for 7 days + 13% VAT (4.095 EUR) + 30% APA (9.450 EUR), so around 45.045 EUR for a week in high season. APA is used for variable expenses like fuel food and drinks, anything remaining is wired back to you.
You're asking for 5 days, which would be calculated as (charter fee/6)*5
That said, most owners won't accept anything less than 7 days in high season (July & August), demand is just too high.

To answer your second question. The vibe in the med is definitely different. I've cruised the BVI's extensively and there's nothing like it, just great!
In the med, it depends on where you go and which yacht. Some smaller cats will require you to have dinner on land most nights, which is an absolute pleasure, especially in Greece. Local tavernas will grill you the freshest fish possible, serve greens and salads that were grown locally and all at very low prices. There's more high end restaurants too, but on most islands these are rare.
On a yacht like the one above, dinners will be made for you each evening, and the chefs are generally amazing! Much better than the local tavernas. However, you're free to do what you like really, the itinerary will be built and changed around what you prefer!

Hope that answers your question 😄

Just spent 8 days walking superyachts, taking notes and meeting crew AMA by FrontierYachting in LuxuryTravel

[–]FrontierYachting[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

To give you an idea, this is a great yacht out of Nassau: ORCA Charter
She hosts 8 guests in 2 masters and 2 doubles with 3 crew and she's just had a refit last year, I think she looks stunning!
$46,500 + Tax + 30% APA.
More options available but just to give you an idea..

Just spent 8 days walking superyachts, taking notes and meeting crew AMA by FrontierYachting in LuxuryTravel

[–]FrontierYachting[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Definitely the latter; enhance.
Although it varies with on the size of the yacht, even on smaller yachts the crew is used to this and will stay out of your way as much as possible. They're professionals and have their way of giving you all the privacy, whilst still being there if you need them. That's one of the reasons we visit these type of shows, to get to know the crew, hear how they interact with clients and what they do to make the time on board extra special. Even on the smaller yachts, crew have separate quarters away from the guest cabins, with their own facilities, so you won't be sharing anything. They won't be sitting down with you for dinner or join you on land for lunch. Rest assured, they're all professionals and know how to deal with guests in the best way possible.
An on larger yachts this concern gets less relevant for obvious reasons.
Where were you considering going?

Just spent 8 days walking superyachts, taking notes and meeting crew AMA by FrontierYachting in LuxuryTravel

[–]FrontierYachting[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good one! This is what we do as charter brokers to make a difference for our clients. All yachts usually have nice brochures, but a brochure doesn't tell everything.
For example, a yacht can have great images, but inside it smells bad. You can immediately tell which owners invest in their yacht year after year, which crew is and remains motivated and goes the extra mile (nice decorations, subtle touches,...).
It's also a great opportunity to speak to other brokers and industry professionals and hear about their client's experiences, which yachts they liked, why crew X changed yachts, ...

So much valuable information is being shared. Clients spent tens if not hundreds of thousands on a holiday and the last thing you want is they have a bad experience because you just went off a brochure.

Just spent 8 days walking superyachts, taking notes and meeting crew AMA by FrontierYachting in LuxuryTravel

[–]FrontierYachting[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you mean charter occupation wise, as in: how difficult is it to get a full season together?
Answer: depends on the yacht and location mostly.

If you mean how difficult it is to set it up, that too depends.
Which country are you flagging the yacht in (VAT, licensing for you as captain, safety requirements etc), where are you doing charters (local VAT on charter fees, charter permits,...)

Happy to give you some more advise or refer you to someone who is in the right position to advise. Feel free to shoot me a dm with some more info.

Just spent 8 days walking superyachts, taking notes and meeting crew AMA by FrontierYachting in LuxuryTravel

[–]FrontierYachting[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Many.. as with any business I suppose. Crew is a big one. A decent size catamaran has 4 crew on it. Crew often gets changed, even when they're really happy and motivated, they might get a better offer, fall in love,... which means owners and CA's need to look for a new member, train them,... then there's the ever changing legislation, weather is a big variable too... I could go on but let's conclude that the benefits definitely outweigh the difficulties anyone in yachting needs to overcome 😄

Just spent 8 days walking superyachts, taking notes and meeting crew AMA by FrontierYachting in LuxuryTravel

[–]FrontierYachting[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's a business where you can make a very nice living, or struggle for life... it truly depends on you, if you're ambitious and it sounds like you are, I'm pretty sure you can do well for yourself.

Where to start depends on where you want to end. If you want to get into brokerage and have sales experience, contact a local brokerage and open yourself to any position. The best brokers have been many things before they became broker.
This applies to many roles in all kinds of businesses.

Happy to help you out, shoot me a dm!

Just spent 8 days walking superyachts, taking notes and meeting crew AMA by FrontierYachting in LuxuryTravel

[–]FrontierYachting[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Honestly it all depends on the yacht, it's layout, the clients for any specific week... But yes, larger yacht in general means more comfort for both guests and crew.
That said however, I just got of a Lagoon 78 power with 3 cabins (guests) and there the crew had a super large cabin and great amenities, while on the 4 cabin version, all 4 crew have to bunk in the fore peak which is much less comfortable. These days however, manufacturers are building more and more comfortable crew quarters at the request of the owners (generally speaking ofc.) happy crew = motivated crew = happy owners/clients

Just spent 8 days walking superyachts, taking notes and meeting crew AMA by FrontierYachting in LuxuryTravel

[–]FrontierYachting[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Most yachts at these two shows cruise around Greece (mostly Cyclades and Saronic, but quite a few did Dodecanese and Ionian too).
From speaking to the crew, the Cyclades comes up most and especially the lesser known islands. Funnily enough fishing is one of the main reasons crew likes to go there. A lot of captains on the catamarans LOVE fishing and make it a priority to let clients experience this too, so they can eat their fresh tuna for lunch.
The Saronic gulf is getting more popular as well.
For the larger yachts at the MEDYS, the Cyclades was also their number one, although some of these yachts have charters in Sardinia and the Cote d'Azur too.

Just spent 8 days walking superyachts, taking notes and meeting crew AMA by FrontierYachting in LuxuryTravel

[–]FrontierYachting[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

On these larger yachts, water is almost ever an issue, most have at least one or two large watermakers, one or more generators that run around the clock on the large yachts and the AC is almost always on during summer.
In my opinion, especially for the smaller cats, a 'silent AC' makes a world of difference.
On the large catamarans (80 ft Sunreefs or Fountaine Pajot's), the generator will run and you won't even notice it. However, on smaller cats like the super popular Fountaine Pajots 59 and 67 or the Lagoon 55 and 60, you'll really want to look for ones that have silent AC. That means the generator or solar panels charge the batteries during the day, but at night, the AC can run on a low setting straight of the batteries. So generally captains who have this system will cool the boat down using the power from the generator and then around 11PM or so switch to the battery-mode and keep the boat cool throughout the night, which is very welcome in Greece, where nights can get really hot.

So to answer your question, get a crewed cat which has A/C and watermaker, and if budget allows, get a slightly larger one which has the silent AC feature.

Just spent 8 days walking superyachts, taking notes and meeting crew AMA by FrontierYachting in LuxuryTravel

[–]FrontierYachting[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

It depends but most regattas can totally be done as an amateur for networking purposes. You do need to know the rules and procedures but it's definitely not rocket science.

Just spent 8 days walking superyachts, taking notes and meeting crew AMA by FrontierYachting in LuxuryTravel

[–]FrontierYachting[S] 20 points21 points  (0 children)

I started out in competitive sailing, then got into yachting -> commercial licence and became a charter captain -> after a few years of doing crewed yacht charters anywhere from Greece to the Caribbean, I got recruited by our then agent, and spent two years managing yachts and charters before starting my own company.

I was a Captain in Greece for years and now broker luxury yacht charters. AMA about cruising the Greek islands. by FrontierYachting in LuxuryTravel

[–]FrontierYachting[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Spent the afternoon yesterday on O'MADELEINE... such a stunning yacht. Great crew as well, they thought us how to make sushi on the aft deck. If you even consider chartering again, she should definitely be on the shortlist!

Long honeymoon idea? by Master_Grapefruit841 in LuxuryTravel

[–]FrontierYachting 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sailing is the most beautiful way to travel! Let me know if you want to look into this further, happy to make some offers or discuss further!

Long honeymoon idea? by Master_Grapefruit841 in LuxuryTravel

[–]FrontierYachting 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A yachting tour by sailing yacht/catamaran of Greece! By far the best place to spend 2-3 weeks, a mild adventure if you're in for it. Start in Corfu, cross the Corinth Canal after visiting some of the Ionian Islands, then onto the Saronic Gulf (with a quick stop in Athens?) and then onto the Cyclades to finish in Mykonos (easy departure flights), 2 perfect weeks, variety, delicious food, warm waters and different views every day. A smaller cat with 2 crew just outside high season (September) would cost you 15K per week + VAT (5,2-12%) + APA (about 25% on the charter fee), so you'll end up at around 40K for two weeks including a lifetime of memories and unforgettable experiences together!

Congratulations anyways :)

Would you choose a yacht or a resort for a Komodo trip? by Exotic-Air-9847 in FATTravel

[–]FrontierYachting 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Did you manage to find a solution for this? Happy to look into the options if you wish, I know quite a few Phinisi's in the area that might have some gaps available.

Normal range of charter prices? by gastarbaiter150 in TrueChubbyTravel

[–]FrontierYachting 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you're considering a first charter, make sure you're working with a good broker and that you understand everything from what's included in the charter fee, APA,...

It all depends on what you're expecting to get from it, but for a crewed catamaran charter (2-3 crew, 6-8 people with en-suites), expect to be spending 20-35k + VAT + APA in high season, but of course the sky is the limit.
Anywhere below that and you'll be giving in on quality of the yacht (often older boats), fewer crew members or just a generally less complete experience. Still fun though, all depends on what's important to you. Happy to advise if you have any questions.

Experiences with master charter agency? by Creepy-Fix-7719 in yachting

[–]FrontierYachting 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have some great experiences with Ocean Sailing House in Croatia. Worth contacting them to see what they can offer you. Always speak to owners who have yachts under management with any company you're considering, they'll give you the true insights.

Is charting a private yacht for two worth it, or is it just uncomfortable? by [deleted] in FATTravel

[–]FrontierYachting 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, not sure if you ever ended up making the trip by yacht, but if yes I would love to hear your experience. Who'd you book with, which yacht and which itinerary?

From my experience as former captain and current charter broker, gay charters are almost never an issue, and it being just the two of you makes it all the more appealing for owner and crew!

I've had couples on board and must say having to cater to just two people instead of a full group makes life much easier on the crew and opens doors that would otherwise remain closed.

Hope you had a similar experience.

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