Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions

What is a crewed yacht charter?
A crewed charter is a yachting vacation where a permanent crew will be taking care of you throughout the week as opposed to you sailing the yacht yourself. The crew will ensure that you have an excellent holiday, planning a custom itinerary and menu for the food and drinks on board to your preferences. Depending on the size of the boat you choose, it may just be a Captain and a Chef, however as you move up the scale, your yacht may also have a stewardess, deckhand and engineer on board!
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No sailing experience is required for Above Deck crewed yacht charters. Your yacht comes with a professional crew including a fully licensed captain and chef who handle all sailing, navigation, anchoring, and meal preparation. The captain takes full responsibility for the yacht’s operation and your safety while you relax and enjoy the experience. Many of our clients are first-time charterers seeking luxury sailing without operational responsibility.
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You can book a yacht charter in sailing charters all across the globe! Our most popular destinations are in the Caribbean and in the Mediterranean. Take a look at our Destinations page to learn more about where you can take your next sailing adventure! Our most popular destinations include:


Caribbean Destinations:

– British Virgin Islands

– US Virgin Islands

– Bahamas

– St. Martin and St. Barths

– The Grenadines


Mediterranean Destinations:

– Greece

– Croatia

– Italy


Want to explore somewhere not listed? Get in touch and we can use our industry network and expertise to make it happen!

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All our destinations have connections from all major transport hubs. Please use Skyscanner or Google Flights to find the best deals to your destination. Get in touch with us if you’d like assistance finding the best route to your yacht.


Depending on your passport you may need a Visa to travel to certain destinations so please check.

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Your Chef / First Mate on the yacht cooks all of the meals on board for you and your group. If you have booked a full-board charter, they will cook 3 meals a day during the week. They will also keep all common areas, including bathrooms, clean and tidy throughout the week. They will also provision the boat at the beginning of the week according to your preference sheet. Trust us, there is nothing like having an epic breakfast to wake up to every morning!

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Customized itineraries are one of Above Deck’s specialties, with your captain and crew creating the perfect route based on your interests, activity level, group preferences, and weather conditions. Sample customizations include snorkeling spots tailored to experience levels, and quiet anchorages for families versus social bays for groups. Your captain has extensive local knowledge and will suggest hidden gems while avoiding crowds. The itinerary remains flexible throughout your charter, with final routing decisions resting with the captain for safety considerations.
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We recommend using soft, collapsible luggage only because hard suitcases are difficult to store on yachts. Usually a medium size bag will suffice. Essential items include swimsuits, shorts, lightweight shirts, light sweater for evenings, comfortable sandals, sun hat, and sunglasses. Sunscreen is typically provided on board. Remember you’ll be in swimwear most of the day with casual dress codes even for shore dinners.
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All our charter yachts have the necessary safety equipment to meet all the legal and safety compliant requirements for Lifejackets, First Aid, Radios & Comms, GPS navigation, Dinghy, Life raft, Fire detection and Firefighting, and other safety equipment.
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Most of our boats are equipped with excellent Wifi and work almost everywhere you go. The signal strength is usually strong enough for checking emails, phone and video calling, and surfing the internet. There is also 4G phone signal in most destinations.
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Yes, all yachts have power on board for you to use to charge your devices. Yachts will have USB plugs on board and wall sockets. The type of socket will depend on your destination. Yachts in Europe typically have 220V outlets while yachts in the Caribbean typically have US 110V outlets. Most yachts have the possibility to connect your device to the sound system via bluetooth or Aux cable.
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You are welcome to bring a hairdryer, straightener, or other hot hair tools on your charter. However, please check with the Captain first to ensure they are compatible with the yacht’s electrical system. Please also note that most of our yachts already have hairdryers on board for your convenience.
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If you are not a strong swimmer, that is okay! Please inform your Captain and crew if you are uncomfortable in the water. Our boats are equipped with lots of floating toys such a noodles so you can enjoy the water with everyone else. You may even be able to float in a lifejacket if you require!
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Seasickness is rarely an issue on Above Deck charters because we specialize in catamarans, which provide exceptional stability, and our destinations, like the British Virgin Islands and Saronic Gulf in Greece, feature very protected waters. If you do suffer from motion sickness, we suggest bringing some medication and we are happy to suggest remedies. Some of our past guests have gotten over their fear of seasickness forever while on their charter!
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Children are welcome on most charters. We provide family-friendly yachts and crews experienced in hosting younger guests. Please inform us of the children’s ages in advance so we can prepare suitable safety equipment, activities, and meal options.
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Water sports equipment like snorkeling gear, Stand up Paddle boards, floating mats & floaties, fishing gear are always included in our charters. Some yachts also have additional water toys including kayaks, Sea scooters & SeaBobs, E-Foil boards, towable tubes, wakeboards, water skis.

If you are interested in SCUBA diving during your charter, some yachts have a crew member is who is a certified Divemaster or Dive Instructor and you can dive directly from the yacht. Others partner with a local diver operator. If you aren’t dive certified, you can try diving with a trained instructor. If you are SCUBA certified, you can go on a guided dive with a Divemaster.

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How far in advance should I book my yacht charter?

We recommend booking at least 6 months in advance for the best yacht selection and preferred dates. The earlier you book, the more availability and flexibility you will have, as some of our best yachts are booked 12 months in advance.

For peak seasons, like Christmas and New Years in the Caribbean and July and August in the Mediterranean, we recommend booking 9-12 months in advance. We also can help you make last-minute bookings but we may have limited availability.

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Your charter price includes the yacht, professional crew, all meals prepared by your chef, air-conditioned accommodations, the ship’s bar, fuel, water toys, and snorkeling equipment. If you have specific preferences, we can arrange premium beverages at an additional cost, but we’re only talking about very top-shelf items.

Costs not included in the price are transportation to/from the yacht, off-yacht excursions, premium beverage requests, crew gratuity, and tax (applicable only in certain destinations).

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We have access to yachts ranging from 46 – 200+ feet, accommodating 6-12+ guests across the globe. All our yachts, regardless of their size, maintain Above Deck’s commitment to exceptional on board experiences, safety standards, and personalized service. The yachts we offer typically fall into one of five categories:


Budget Friendly

Yacht Size: 46ft – 52ft

Typical Price Range: $18,000-$32,000 per week

Maximum Number of Guests: 6-8 guests

Crew: 2 Person (Captain and Chef / First Mate)

Amenities: You’ll enjoy essential amenities including full air conditioning, standard water toys like paddleboards and snorkeling gear, and comfortable accommodations with quality linens.

Service Style: The service style is friendly and professional with the crew handling all sailing, cooking three meals daily, and basic housekeeping while maintaining a relaxed, approachable atmosphere.


Mid Market

Yacht Size: 54ft – 59ft

Typical Price Range: $28,000-$45,000 per week,

Maximum Number of Guests: 8-10 guests

Crew: 2 Person (Captain and Chef / First Mate)

Amenities: Enhanced amenities include upgraded water toys (often including sea scooters or E-Foils), and more spacious living and lounge areas with designer interiors.

Service Style: The service elevates to include more sophisticated meal presentation, enhanced bar service with quality spirits, and crew trained in hospitality service with attention to guest preferences and comfort.


High End

Yacht Size: 60ft – 70ft

Typical Price Range: $35,000-$75,000 per week

Maximum Number of Guests: 8-10 guests

Crew: 3 Person (Captain, Chef, & Stewardess / Deckhand)

Amenities: Luxury amenities include extensive water toy collections, premium interior amenities, elegant furnishings, and often have unique features like jacuzzis or outdoor bars.

Service Style: Service style becomes more refined with gourmet meal preparation, professional table service, premium bar selections, turndown service, and crew trained in fine hospitality with anticipatory service.


Ultimate Luxury

Yacht Size: 70ft – 90ft

Typical Price Range: $55,000-$100,000

Maximum Number of Guests: 8-10 guests

Crew: 4 Person (Captain, Chef, Stewardess, & Deckhand)

Amenities: Exceptional luxury amenities feature jacuzzis, extensive water toy selections, inflatable lounge areas, professional galley equipment, luxury furnishings, and spa-quality bathrooms.

Service Style: The service reaches resort-level standards with chef-prepared gourmet cuisine, formal dining service, extensive wine programs, daily housekeeping, and white-glove hospitality rivaling five-star hotels.


Superyacht

Yacht Size: 100ft+

Typical Price Range: $100,000+ per week

Maximum Number of Guests: 8-12+ guests

Crew: 4 – 12+ Person (Captain, Chef, Multiple Stewardesses, & Deckhands)

Amenities: Amenities include multiple deck levels, jacuzzis, gyms, advanced entertainment systems, beach clubs, and often stabilizers for smooth cruising.

Service Style: Service style is ultra-luxury with Michelin-quality cuisine, sommelier-selected wines, 24/7 cabin service, dedicated stewardess assignments per guest, and crew trained to the highest superyacht standards providing seamless, invisible service.



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You can make your charter fit your designed budget by looking at more budget friendly vessels, shorten the length of the trip to less than the typical 7 nights, or ask for a half-board option, meaning that some dinners and lunches during the week will be on shore at your expense instead of on the yacht. We are happy to work with you to make sure the trip fits your budget – please inquire for more details.
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Most of our yacht accommodate 4-10 people, however, there are some exceptions.


If you are looking to plan a trip for a large group 10+ people, such as a family reunion, corporate retreat, or even a wedding, we can book multiple yachts that travel together in tandem. Everyone receives the same high level of service and accommodation, while chartering stunning yachts. In Croatia and Greece, we have some bigger boats for up to 30 people and there are some exceptions that go up to 50+.

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Most charters run for 7 nights, however, some of our boats will accept charters that last a minimum of 4 nights. Please enquire if this is something you’re interested in doing and we will do our best to accommodate.
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Depending on the type of yacht and the cruising area you choose, there may be some extra costs incurred, however, Above Deck will ensure you get a breakdown of these extra costs BEFORE you make a decision. Generally, the Caribbean yachts are all inclusive and the Mediterranean yachts are plus expenses.

In the Mediterranean, all boats charge VAT (Usually 13%). Some boats have included it in their price and some charge it on top of their fee. This is made clear on the rates page.

Once we have your enquiry, we will fully break down the calculated costs of your charter. See the example below.

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We make sure you will be well looked after and your crew will be some of the best in the industry! They do work very hard and are expected to be on duty 24/7. Thus, it is customary to tip in the industry, however it is completely up to you how much.

We suggest the following:

Mediterranean: 5-15%

Caribbean: 15-20%

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Above Deck does not charge clients for our services. The owners of the yachts pay Above Deck a percentage of their charter fee for bringing you to their boat. The list price is the same whether or not you go directly to the owner or go through any charter broker.
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You can pay for your charter with ACH or Wire payment methods. Please inquire about using a credit card for payment. We accept USD, EURO and GBP. If you are paying for your charter in a currency other than that payable to the yacht, we can exchange it for you at the exchange rate provided by our bank. We will be fully transparent with you regarding this rate and will make sure you are happy with it going ahead. Our bank (Wise) does offer extremely competitive exchange rates.

Any funds for your charter will remain in our Client Escrow account until all parties have signed the charter contract and the payment dates have elapsed.

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The difference between Full Board and Half Board options is that Full board would include all meals during your charter (i.e. 3 meals a day), whereas half-board would include all breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 3 dinners on the yacht for a 7 night charter. The rest of the meals will have to be eaten ashore at your own expense. Some yachts also offer a Local Fare option, which is halfway between Full Board and Half Board. Please inquire to learn more about the options your preferred yacht supports.
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An Advanced Provisioning Allowance (APA) is funds used to cover all expenses during the charter, including food, drinks, alcohol, fuel, dockage, etc.) This is typically 20% – 30% of the charter fee is commonly used with European charters and superyacht charters.

Once the charter is complete, you are refunded any amount unused at the end of the trip. Yachts use an APA because it allows for full customization of your on board experience. As an example, if you eat at local Greek restaurants for lunches and a few dinners, then the chef will provision less food and board, and more of the APA funds will be refunded back to you.

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We strongly recommend that you have your own travel insurance for your charter. We will look after you as best we can and hold public liability insurance. As well as this, all our skippers are insured for any damages they may cause. Not all insurance policies cover you and your possessions during a sailing holiday. You must check with your insurer before your departure date.
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Booking your yacht charter with Above Deck is done in 3 easy steps! Take a look at our How it Works page to learn more!
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