Charter Guide
How to charter a yacht — the full process
From first enquiry to first morning on board — the full process, unhurried and explained plainly. What a good concierge does at each step, what the client is asked for, and where the pitfalls sit for a first-time charter.
In short
For regular summer weeks (June, July, August, September), three to six months ahead is comfortable. For event weeks (Monaco Grand Prix, Cannes Film Festival, Monaco Yacht Show) or specific high-demand yachts, nine to twelve months is realistic. Last-minute charters (four to six weeks out) are possible in shoulder season.
Last reviewed 3 September 2026 · By the concierge desk, Luxury Yacht Charter Monaco · Monaco
1. The initial enquiry
Share your dates, guest count, embarkation port, rough itinerary, and — if you have it — a rough budget. This can be a short call, a form on our site, or an exchange of emails. The concierge is not looking for a perfect brief on day one; they're looking for enough to shortlist properly. If dates are still moving, share the two or three windows that would work; if the guest count is variable, share the range. Precise briefs come later, once yachts are on the table.
2. The shortlist
Within 48–72 hours (24 hours for event weeks with tight availability), your concierge sends a curated shortlist of two to four specific yachts, each with photography, layouts, sample menus, indicative pricing (base fee, APA, VAT), a note on the captain and chef, and a paragraph on why this yacht suits your brief. This is not a mail-out of every available yacht — it is a real shortlist, chosen for you. If any of the yachts don't fit, say so; the shortlist adjusts.
3. Review and adjust
Look at the yachts carefully. Photographs first, then the layouts (where do the guests sleep, where does the family cluster, is the beach club important, is a covered dining space important). Ask for detail — full specification, tender lineup, water toys, chef bio, previous charter references. Ask about the captain's approach to itinerary flexibility. Ask what a typical day looks like on this yacht. Every question you have now is a question you don't have to ask on board.
4. Contract — the MYBA charter agreement
The chosen yacht's central agent issues the charter agreement. The industry standard is the MYBA charter agreement (Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association), a well-established framework covering payment schedule, cancellation, force majeure, insurance, jurisdiction and dispute resolution. Your concierge walks through the specific clauses that matter — cancellation windows, weather-day handling, guest-count changes, VAT treatment — and negotiates on your behalf where terms are unusual. Payment is typically 50% at signature, 50% one month before boarding, with APA transferred alongside the second instalment.
5. Preference sheet and pre-charter planning
Six to eight weeks before boarding, the captain and chef send a preference sheet — food, drink, allergies, birthdays, dietary preferences, seat preferences at dinner, itinerary priorities, water-toy priorities, any special-occasion requests. Reply in genuine detail. The more you share, the better the preparation. Alongside the preference sheet, your concierge builds the itinerary outline with the captain, arranges the airport transfer, confirms any restaurant bookings ashore, and coordinates any pre- or post-charter accommodation.
6. The KYC and financial admin
The yacht's central agent completes KYC on the client (standard identity documents, proof of address, in some cases proof of funds) as part of the contracting stage. This is a one-time process at engagement and is handled electronically. Payment flows to the yacht's central agent's client escrow account, not to the concierge and not directly to the yacht — this is one of the reasons the MYBA framework and a legitimate central agent matter.
7. Boarding day
The chief stewardess welcomes you on board, shows you your cabin and the yacht, and introduces the crew. Take your time — the boarding is not a rushed transaction. Champagne and a light lunch are typical while luggage is stowed and cabins are set up. The captain briefs on the initial itinerary and any weather-driven adjustments. By dinner on day one, the rhythm of the week is already visible.
8. On board
Days on board follow a natural rhythm. Meals can be as formal or informal as you want. The itinerary is discussed daily with the captain and adjusted for weather, guest energy and any restaurant bookings ashore. The chief stewardess is the point of contact for anything not going through the captain — cabin requests, spa bookings, ashore transport, extra provisioning. Your concierge remains reachable throughout — for anything from a restaurant tweak to a helicopter transfer to a birthday cake that suddenly needs to be a different flavour.
9. Disembarkation and reconciliation
The morning of disembarkation, the captain reconciles APA with receipts and returns any unused balance in cash on board or by bank 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 transfer. Luggage is transferred to your onward transport. A short debrief with the concierge in the days after the charter closes the loop — what worked, what would you change, and what shape does the next charter take.
Common pitfalls to avoid
First-time charter clients most often stumble on three things: over-optimising the itinerary (leave room for the captain to adjust for weather); under-briefing on food and dietary needs (the chef will exceed expectations only if he knows what those expectations are); and treating APA as a suspicious cost rather than a working fund (it is your money, held for your use, returned unused). A concierge who explains all three before you sign is a good sign.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should we book a yacht charter?+
For regular summer weeks (June, July, August, September), three to six months ahead is comfortable. For event weeks (Monaco Grand Prix, Cannes Film Festival, Monaco Yacht Show) or specific high-demand yachts, nine to twelve months is realistic. Last-minute charters (four to six weeks out) are possible in shoulder season.
Do I need a broker, or can I book directly with the yacht?+
Charter yachts are represented by a central agent (the broker holding exclusive rights to book the yacht); the client works with a retail broker or concierge who accesses the central agent's stock. Booking 'directly with the yacht' isn't really a thing in this industry — the central agent is the gate for every charter.
What information do I need to share for a proper quote?+
Dates (exact or windowed), guest count (adults and children), embarkation port, rough itinerary, and any absolute requirements (a specific chef, a beach club, a stabiliser system for a family member prone to seasickness). Budget helps a lot but is not essential on day one.
Can we change the itinerary once we're aboard?+
Yes — the itinerary is discussed daily with the captain and flexes for weather, guest energy and last-minute wishes. Long passages already booked into the schedule (Monaco to Sardinia, for example) are firmer because of fuel and dockage arrangements; coastal itineraries flex easily.
Related pages
By the concierge desk · Monaco
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