Yacht Guide



             


Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Living Onboard a Charter Yacht

When considering power yachts and sailing yachts it is realised that there are so many different models and designs of charter yachts. Consequentaly there will be so many different layouts of the cabins and living quarters on yachts along with the feel and ambiance that different designs generate. It is not possible to cover every option here so it will be better to state the basics that every yacht will have and to familiarise you with the terms that you need to know when booking your vacation to make sure you explain what you want.

What ever the yacht the following terms are the same. The largest and nicest cabin on board is the master cabin, and in most cases has an attached en suite bathroom and will have the largest bed and fittings such as closets and drawers. On larger yachts that might well be a VIP cabin which would be the next nicest cabin. The next level of cabins would be the guest cabins, with double or twin beds. The twin beds might infact be bunk beds so you must clarify this point when booking to save any disappointments later on. Bunk beds are ideal for kids but may not appeal to adults.

The beds will typically be arranged ?fore and aft? in the yacht. It might mean that you will roll around in your bed as the yacht moves in the sea but this is the best arrangement. If the sailing yacht is heeled over under sail then you will gravitate to one side of the bed. This is not uncomfortable, just different to what you are used to. The alternative arrangement is athwartships which is not so comfortable because as the ship rolls your head is one moment above the level of your feet and the next moment below them. Please keep this in mind when looking at the bed arrangement on any yacht you are thinking of chartering.

Smaller yachts mean smaller cabins and smaller cabins mean smaller beds. The size of yacht that you will charter as a bareboat charter will be at the smaller end of the market and so will have less space and features than a larger crewed charter yacht. The master cabin on a bareboat yacht will often have a three quarter size double bed with two or three sides open to access. The bed could be of a step up island design where it is raised a step up from the cabin floor. This is due to the design of the yacht as the space under the bed is used for other functions of the yacht. The island bed looks grand but can be difficult for taller people who may need to bend more to avoid touching the ceiling when steping up to get into bed.

The master cabin should have a full length closet, but possibly a half closet and adequate drawers for your clothes and possessions. In the guest cabins with bunk beds be aware the height above each bed may be restricted and more suitable for children than tall adults. The bunks will be quite narrow but you will soon get used to them and infact they will be quite comfortable if the yacht is rolling as it is easy to brace yourself. In some twin cabins such as the ?vee? cabin in the bow of the yacht the length of the bed might be restricted and a tall person will be unable to stretch out completely. This might also be the case with the bunk beds. This will not be a problem with the master bed as the bottom of the bed will be open.

The closet and draws in guest cabins will be limited in size so do not pack too many possessions. However there will be enough space if the space is managed sensibly. Some yachts have the facility to convert the dining table and couches into a bunk but it is not a good idea to hire a charter yacht with a view to this bed being used by members of the party. This is inconvenient and can cause tension with late risers or untidy guests. It might seem a good idea in the first instance to save money on your sailing vacation but you really should have a fixed bed for every guest.

Bruce Walls is an author and webmaster. You can read this article and more at YachtCharterReview

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Friday, March 21, 2008

Planning An Event On A Florida Yacht Charter

A Florida Yacht Charter is a perfect destination for your next trip. The weather is ideal for sailing all year round. Hurricane season in the summer and early fall can be unpredictable, but in the absence of a hurricane the sailing conditions are beautiful.

Companies offering charters and luxury yacht sales are abundant in Florida. The company will help you plan your trip, set your itinerary and find activities. In addition, many offer packages that include your air flight and hotel reservations. For the best possible experience, work with a reputable company that has been around for a long time.

Florida Yacht Charter Destinations

There are many locations on both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of Florida for luxury yacht charters. On the Atlantic coast, Jacksonville offers an excellent location for watching Pilot whales. Daytona and Jacksonville are great spots for a fishing charter. On the Gulf coast, Fort Myers and Clearwater offer beautiful beaches and small coastal islands to explore. The scuba diving is excellent along the entire coastline.

For beautiful islands and clear blue water, consider sailing to the Florida Keys. This island chain boasts more bareboat charters than anywhere else in the world. If you prefer to sail a bit farther, the Bahamas are a popular destination for boats chartered in Florida.

Choosing a Florida Yacht Charter

Bareboat Charter

With a bareboat, you are renting the ship only. You are responsible to either skipper the boat or hire someone to do it for you. This charter includes no supplies or food. You will need to bring everything you need for your voyage. If you plan to skipper the boat, you will be required to show proof of your sailing experience and demonstrate your skills.

Crewed Charter

A crewed charter can range from just a captain and a cook to a full crew. This depends on the size of the boat, number or guests and length of the trip. The crew cabins are separate from the guest cabins. This is a great way to travel in luxury. The crew supplies your meals and helps plan activities.

Sailing School

Sailing schools are offered by charter companies throughout Florida. The trip will generally last between four and seven days, depending on the course you are taking. The average bareboat charter certification course lasts for five days and costs about $3000. Once certified, you can sail your own bareboat charter.

Planning an Event

A yacht is the perfect choice for a wedding, honeymoon, or corporate event. Weddings at sea offer a unique setting. The captain of the ship performs the ceremony. In most cases, you will use a crewed yacht for your wedding. You have the option of having the company cater the event or hiring your own caterer to supply the food. A representative of the company will help you plan your big day.

Consider having your next corporate event or sales meeting at sea. Charters are available for the day or for several days. Doing business at sea is relaxing and great for morale. The crew will supply meals, or you can choose to go ashore for meals. The size of the charter will depend on the number of people and duration of the trip.

Ciara McNamara releases often to the information source at http://www.luxury-yacht-charters-guide.com. She is writing on topics like florida yacht charter

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Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Visibility ETO ERP Conference to Include a Yachting Adventure

Visibility Corporation (www.visibility.com) is a leading developer and supplier of business software solutions designed for the unique needs of project-based, engineer-to-order and to-order manufacturers. Visibility's Enterprise Application solutions help midsize manufacturers of complex products operate their businesses effectively. At the 2006 users' conference there is a special treat; participants of the conference are invited for an evening cruise on a 142' luxury yacht through Fort Lauderdales' scenic Intracoastal Waterways, the Venice of America. Climb aboard the richly decorated yacht where we will have cocktails, appetizers and a sumptuous 5-star cuisine prepared for us by world class chefs. Musical entertainment will keep us energized and dancing throughout this four hour exploration.

April 5 through 7, 2006 at the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Visibility Corporation will be holding their annual users' conference titled, "Optimizing Your Technology Investment." Break out sessions including VISIBILITY.net Basics, Workflow, and Configuration will be conducted. Similarly, VISIBILITY 6 Track sessions will include Database Tuning, Optimize V6 Business Processes, and Business Intelligence. There is also an Executive Track that includes Managing Global Enterprise, Business Differentiators, and Financial Consolidation. The event is geared to both current and potential users of the ETO (Engineer-to-Order) ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) technology.

VISIBILITY.net is an integrated ERP solution and more. Offering unparalleled functionality and integrated workflow, this browser-based solution cost effectively delivers the power of .NET-based Web services for use with either a Microsoft SQL Server? or Oracle? database. Conducting business any place, any time, any where is a reality, deployable with unprecedented flexibility.

Visibility www.visibility.com Jaclyn Aldrich marketing@visibility.com 978-694-8000

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Saturday, January 19, 2008

Vacationing Aboard Mega Yacht Charters

More than your average sailboat, mega yacht charters offer all the luxury of a five star hotel, more room than most city apartments around the world, and the freedom to go where you want without having to pack and unpack at every stop. In addition, mega yacht charters come fully staffed if you so desire making this one vacation you won?t need another vacation to recover from!

The Secrets to Affordable Yachting

Mega yacht excursion can run the gamut of prices. Some fully-loaded and staffed luxury yachts can cost in the hundreds of thousands of dollars for a single week. So how can the average person afford such luxury? The key is to make it a family affair, choose the right destinations, and time things to get the best rates. If you are willing to do some of the cooking, cleaning, and even sailing responsibilities yourself, you will find it even easier to afford a vacation at sea.

Most luxury motorboat vessels can accommodate dozens of people. If you have a large extended family or close friends that you enjoy travelling with then it?s easy to share the expense and make an affordable week-long trip. With six sleeping cabins, for example, you can accommodate up to six separate families. If the week?s voyage runs about $30,000 (an easy to find fare) then each family is only spending $5,000 for a week of luxury and exciting site seeing. You can hardly get into the Disney theme parks with a family of four for that!

Another way to cut costs is to choose a destination that is more contained. A trip through the Bahamas or Caribbean Islands will be more affordable than an excursion that spans the seas from one continent to another. Three or four days on this kind of cruise is easy to travel and visit many different ports representing several countries.

If you don?t hire a cook or cleaning crew, you can save on the rent as well. A trip from Miami to the Bahamas is short enough that you will not have to worry about major cleaning and can save money on housekeeping services.

The Advantages of Private Cruising

Mega yacht charters are unlike regular cruise ships. On commercial cruises there is a social element many people enjoy, but the private cruising really puts you in the captain?s chair. A professional captain does the navigating of course, but you are in charge of the destinations. You choose when you will depart and how long you will stay.

In addition to choosing the itinerary you also get to decide who will be seated next to you at dinner since a chartered cruise has only your invited guests. You can even choose the menu and select the wine, and when the day is done, you retire to a suite as luxurious as those found in the finest hotels.

Private quarters on a mega yacht charter means you won?t have to worry about lugging a suitcase from one vacation spot to the next. Your room goes with you everywhere! Most yachts of this calliper also have full sized baths, exercise facilities and several parlours for evening entertaining that never has to end.

 Charles Mohaney writes frequently for http://www.luxury-yacht-charters-guide.com/mega-yacht-charters.htm. He is working on yacht and sailing topics.

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Saturday, December 1, 2007

The Luxury of Renting Private Yacht Charters

You can relax on a private yacht and travel at your own pace, pampered all the way, for much less than what you end up paying for a crowded cruise ship. Private yacht charters are becoming increasingly popular for intimate and flexible vacations. And most yacht charters are just as attentive to your needs as any cruise ship.

The private yacht charter allows you the freedom to spontaneously change your mind and stay an extra night at your favorite island or to explore an uninhabited island close by.

Your location is the single most important point of your entire vacation. Pick a calm, protected location with many islands all within sight, with many gorgeous lagoon anchorages.

Private yacht charters are favored by honeymooners, family reunions or by close friends who want to spend their time together undisturbed. Buddies looking for an opportunity for fishing in tranquil waters, deep-sea diving, water skiing or just relax on a secluded beach can also find private yacht charter a fulfilling experience.

Generally, individuals who want to enjoy a quiet vacation prefer small motor yachts staffed by a crew. Such charters are easy on the pocket as they cost anywhere between $5,000 and $25,000 a week, depending on the size of the yacht.

Since it is a cheaper alternative, college youths can also afford to enjoy their dream vacation aboard a small boat, surrounded by the blue sea or a lagoon amidst a cluster of islands, particularly in The Bahamas, the Virgin Islands or the Mediterranean near Greece.

You have the freedom to choose a yacht, its route, anchorage and stopovers, cuisines that you would like to have for every meal, assortment of drinks and beverages and activities, such as water sports and sight-seeing on land during your vacation.

Yacht Charters Info provides detailed information about yacht charters, including Caribbean and Mediterranean yacht charters, as well as luxury, crewed, motor, private, and corporate yacht charters. Yacht Charters Info is affiliated with Business Plans by Growthink.

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