Bareboat Charter Key West
1. Determine when you want to go on a Key West Bareboat Charter
Knowing when you plan to travel helps determine the cruising grounds you should be considering. Prices, availability and particularly weather, can all vary depending on the time of year and can play an important part in choosing a Key West Yacht Bareboat Charter destination.
2. Determine what type of Bareboat Charter in Key West
Is this a family holiday, quiet romantic getaway, a couple’s or singles trip, etc.? This will determine what type of boat and crew would be suitable, and what islands to visit or activities to plan for on a Key West yacht Bareboat Charter
3. Determine where you want to go on your Bareboat Charter Key West
Yacht charters are available around the globe with The Caribbean and Key West being the most popular. After hurricane, Irma and Maria’s devastation in the Caribbean more potential bareboat yacht charter customers are looking to Key West. The Dry Tortugas and Fort Jefferson remains the most popular destination from Key West for a Bareboat Charter. https://www.nps.gov/drto/index.htm
4. Determine your Key West Bareboat Charter budget.
Price plays a part in most people’s yacht charter. Our staff will help you maximize your budget and may in fact help you get more yacht than you thought possible for a Key West Yacht Bareboat Charter.
5. Determine what style of charter fits your Bareboat Charter Key West.
There are 3 types of a Boat Charter in Key West:
– A Crewed Yacht Charter:
Your yacht comes with a permanent captain and cook. Price includes all meals and often house wines and open bar. Meals are prepared to your taste (to a very high standard) from individual preferences given to the cook before the charter. You choose the day’s activities and the itinerary, on a day to day basis. Yachts tend to be more luxurious and have more ‘toys’ (kayaks, waterskis, A/C, entertainment centers, etc) than a bareboat charter. The cost per person can be close to or less than the cost on a crowded cruise ship. Matching your party to a suitable crew is an important part of our service. Blue Ocean Yacht Charters currently does not offer Crewed Yacht Charters.
– Bareboat Yacht Charter Key West:
Sail the boat yourself. The principal charterer needs to have skippering experience on a yacht close to the size you are chartering. Equipment standards and reliability can vary considerably, even within a company. It is a mistake to choose a boat purely by price and the cheapest boat is not always the best value.
You can also charter through a bareboat company and add a captain (and cook). This is the ideal way to bareboat charter in Key West. Let us help you find a captain that is familiar with the boat and sit back and relax. Most captains will allow experienced sailors to operate the yacht on their own under the supervision of the captain. Typically boat owners will allow a lower deposit if a bareboat charter customer hires a captain that is familiar with the boat.
Now that you’ve decided the boat charter Key West, the fun really begins. There are so many yachts for you to choose from. Which one is right for you? Our staff knows each and every one of them, and once we know your desires for a dream yacht charter, Blue Ocean Yacht Charters will handle Step 6 for you.
6. Research & narrow your Boat Charter Key West choices.
Our staff will make suggestions and help you narrow down your private boat charter choices. We will do this based on your requirements and our personal knowledge of each boat and cruising ground.
7. Interview the prospective crews and recent charterers.
For a crewed charter, we feel the selection of the crew is actually more important than the boat. A good crew can make up for a mediocre boat but the opposite is not true. We maintain relationships with all yachts and closely monitor feedback from our recent charterers, so we are in an excellent position to find the perfect match for you and your guests.
For bareboat charters, the condition of the boat and the back up services provided by the company are very important as well.
8. Once you’ve decided, inspect the current condition of the yacht.
Any boat and /or crew can look good in a brochure or website. Some are immaculate and some are maintenance nightmares. 3 years of bareboat chartering can cause the same wear as 10-15 years of private use, but with a crewed yacht, maintenance is more important than age. We have inspected every boat you are chartering and can describe its current condition in Key West for a bareboat charter.
9. Arrange the other details.
You’ll need hotel reservations, provisioning options, customs and passport requirements, itineraries, airline tickets, etc… We can recommend and/or handle all of this for you and because of our volume discounts, can probably save you money by bundling your airfare with your Key West yacht charter.
10. And finally…step on board.
Put on your sunglasses, take off your sandals, relax, unwind and enjoy on a private boat charter in Key West. You’ll be remembering this vacation for a lifetime. For real peace of mind, let us do it for you. https://blueoceanyachtcharters.com/our-yachts/
Have a fun bareboat charter and be safe.
“Charter Booker!”
(Charter Booker, manages Blue Ocean Yacht Charters in Key West and writes many of the company’s blogs. Having experience both on the water and off the water helping customers experience the best possible yacht charter for many years. Charter Booker carries American Sailing Association certifications and has extensive knowledge of boat safety and regulations. Call 305-923-4152 and ask for “Charter Booker” when booking your next yacht charter with Blue Ocean Yacht Charters in Key West, Florida.)