Charter Guide

First-time yacht charter — what to expect on board

Everything a first-time charter guest should know before boarding — how the preparation actually works, what happens on day one, the natural rhythm of a week aboard, and the small pieces of etiquette that let the whole experience run smoothly.

In short

Days aboard are swimwear, linen and light layers; evenings are smart-casual (dresses often, jackets rarely); one dressier outfit for a shore dinner is enough. Soft-soled shoes for on-board use — no heels on teak decks.

Last reviewed 3 September 2026 · By the concierge desk, Luxury Yacht Charter Monaco · Monaco

Before the charter — the preference sheet

Six to eight weeks before boarding, the captain and chief stewardess send a preference sheet. This is the single most important document in the whole preparation. Answer in detail: food likes and dislikes for every guest, allergies (with severity), preferred proteins and vegetables, cuisines you love and cuisines you don't, wine and spirit preferences, coffee and tea preferences, breakfast style, birthday and special-occasion dates, any dietary protocol (vegan, keto, fasting-windows), water toys you want out and ones you don't, itinerary preferences, and the shape of the days you'd like — quiet mornings and long dinners, or full-tempo days and early nights. The chef and crew build the whole week around what you write here. A first-time guest often under-shares; the veteran shares generously.

Packing for a yacht

Soft-sided luggage only — hard cases don't stow well in cabin lockers. Bring less than you think. Days aboard are lived in swimwear, linen and light layers; evenings are smart-casual (jackets rarely, dresses often); one dressier outfit for a shore dinner is enough. Bring soft-soled shoes for on-board use; heels are typically not worn on teak decks. A hat, high-SPF sunscreen and a light windbreaker for evening cruises are more useful than most of what people over-pack. Prescription medication for the whole week — pharmacies at sea are not a thing.

Getting to the yacht

Most Monaco charters board at Port Hercule. Guests arriving into Nice Côte d'Azur are transferred by car (35–45 minutes) or by helicopter with Monacair (7 minutes). Your concierge coordinates the transfer end-to-end — the driver knows the exact berth, the crew is waiting, and luggage moves aboard while you settle in. If you're arriving by private aviation, the transfer is met on the tarmac and the timing is set to match the yacht's readiness — you never wait for the yacht, and the yacht is never rushed for you.

Boarding — the first hour

The chief stewardess welcomes you on board with a glass of champagne, walks you to your cabin, and gives you a full yacht tour — where everything is, how the cabin controls work, where you'll eat, where the tender boards. The captain introduces himself and briefs on the initial itinerary and the day's weather. This first hour is not rushed. Luggage is stowed while you take a moment on the aft deck. Lunch is often ready within the first hour if you've boarded around midday.

The rhythm of a week

Days on board follow a natural rhythm that shapes itself around the guests within the first 48 hours. A typical day: unhurried breakfast on the aft deck between 08:00 and 10:00; morning cruise or morning at anchor with the water toys; lunch aboard around 13:00 (often the longest and most convivial meal of the day); afternoon at anchor, a walk ashore, or a beach-club stop; sunset aperitifs on the sundeck; dinner around 20:30 either aboard or ashore. Nothing is enforced. Some days are quiet, some are busy, and the crew reads which is which.

Meals and the chef

Meals can be as formal or informal as you want. Breakfast is à la carte and unhurried. Lunch is often a plated three-course meal on the aft deck. Dinner is more structured on evenings aboard, with the chef's menu tailored to the day's mood and any provisioning from an ashore-morning market. Every menu can be adjusted the same day if you'd like something specific — the chief stewardess is the point of contact and treats every request as normal. Wine service is handled by the chief stewardess or, on larger yachts, by a dedicated sommelier.

Itinerary — daily discussion with the captain

The captain sits with the guests each evening (or over morning coffee) to talk through the following day — proposed route, anchorages, weather outlook, timing of any restaurant bookings ashore. You have the final say within what the weather and the yacht allow. Long passages already booked into the schedule are firmer; coastal itineraries flex easily. If a specific anchorage matters to you, mention it during preference-sheet stage so the captain plans the week around it.

Etiquette on board

Shoes off (or soft-soled shoes only) on interior soles. Ask the crew before boarding the tender or moving between decks in an unusual way — not for permission, but so they know where you are. Let the chief stewardess know your ashore plans so tender pickups are ready and the chef knows how many are aboard for the next meal. If you want a private moment, ask — every yacht has a way of quietly clearing a deck. Photography of crew is fine on request, but don't post crew photos publicly without asking.

Ashore — how tender runs work

The tender is your commuter for anything not reachable by the yacht itself. Runs to a beach-club lunch, to a village for dinner, or to a market in the morning are all handled by the crew. Tell the chief stewardess when you want to go, when you want to be picked up, and let the crew know if plans change (a short call to the yacht's tender radio is fine, or a message to the stewardess). Tenders don't wait indefinitely at the quay in busy ports, so a rough pickup window helps.

Communications and Wi-Fi

Every modern superyacht has Wi-Fi throughout — sometimes via satellite (slower, capped in remote areas) and sometimes via 4G/5G (fast within coastal range). If bandwidth-heavy use matters to you (video calls, streaming, uploads), mention it during preference-sheet stage so the captain confirms the yacht's package is sufficient. On some quieter charters, guests ask for Wi-Fi to be reduced to specific hours — this is easy to arrange.

The end — reconciliation and gratuities

The last morning, the captain reconciles APA with receipts and returns any unused balance in cash or by transfer within a few days. Gratuities (5–15% of the base fee, at your discretion) are handed to the captain in cash or arranged by bank transfer. A short note to the crew is always appreciated. Your concierge follows up in the days after to debrief and to plan the next charter — if you liked this one, plan the next one now, because the good yachts book out early.

Frequently asked questions

What do we wear on a yacht?+

How much luggage can we bring?+

Soft bags only; hard cases don't stow well. Most cabins comfortably hold one soft bag per guest for a week. The crew asks for a rough count in advance so cabin allocation is settled before boarding.

Can we bring children?+

Yes — most yachts we recommend welcome families. Sleeping-guest limits (typically twelve) apply. For young children, mention it during preference-sheet stage so the crew arranges child-friendly water toys, safety netting and appropriate food.

Are we expected to tip the crew?+

Gratuities are customary but discretionary — 5–15% of the base fee, with 10% a fair default for a well-run week. They're paid to the captain on the last morning and distributed across the crew.

By the concierge desk · Monaco

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