Guide to Understanding Types of Boat Charters

If you’re planning a trip to the Caribbean and are interested in hitting the ocean by boat, then one of the first things you need to decide is what sort of boat and what sort of excursion are you looking for.

For many, the issue is that there are several different options available from crewed charters to bareboat charters. The question is, for the beginner what does each of these various types of yacht charter consist of?

Here at Chillout Charters, we are here to help you navigate the waters of the different types of boat charters available, so you can book the exact type of boat and vacation that you are looking for.

By exploring these options, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of how to choose the vessel and service that best aligns with your aspirations, ensuring a memorable sea voyage.

So, no matter whether you’re coming to the BVI or USVI for a trip or heading to Europe to check the sights of Italy, Croatia, Greece, Spain, or across the Mediterranean to Turkey, you’ll find this FAQ useful for explaining the different types of boat charters available.

Bareboat Charters in the Caribbean

One of the first phrases you’ll come across when looking for a yacht charter is a bareboat charter, but what exactly does this mean?

A bareboat charter is when you rent a boat without the inclusion of a captain, crew, or provisions. You just get the boat and are let loose on the ocean with the charter destination (mostly) under your control. Typically, when people talk about bareboat charters, they are often referencing classic yachts or sailing yachts but in reality, this can also include catamaran charters, powerboats, power catamarans, and motor yachts. The type of yacht or boat isn’t the key point, instead, it is the fact that you are hiring a vessel that will be captained, navigated, and crewed by you and your fellow vacationers.

A bareboat charter is often the ultimate experience for those individuals who like to go it alone, and it allows for a highly personalized sailing experience.

Since the renter of the vessel is responsible for the insurance, general maintenance (fuel if required), and provisioning of the boat (more of this later), the freedom comes with a fair amount of responsibility. With this in mind, this is not a good option for a beginner or for those who are not trained and confident in their skills and abilities.

As you may imagine charter boat companies will not normally hand over a yacht to someone who is inexperienced and most (if not all) will require a level of training and qualifications by the person hiring the vessel.

Depending on the country you are going to, you should check out the individual requirements such as whether you will need a specific license or not. In the British Virgin Islands and the US Virgin Islands, you do not need a licence, but you do need a sailing resume, which is a summary of your experience sailing that also details the types of vessels you are competent to handle. For example, if you are experienced with mono hull vessels but not catamarans then you may be restricted to a certain type of sailboat that you can rent. In short, the charter company is unlikely let you set sail in a vessel that you do not have the ability to sail safely.

With this in mind, bareboat charters are suited for experienced sailors who understand how to sail, navigate, and deal with the weather. There are plenty of benefits to bareboat charters, you are mostly free to go where you want when you want. This means you can avoid the popular destinations that crewed charters might take you to and instead seek out something unique and far away from the crowds.

The downside to a bareboat charter is that the responsibility of the boat, passengers, and trip will rest on your shoulders, and this can add a level of unwanted stress on a vacation, which is not always preferable when you just want to relax and let someone else take the strain.

Also, as the name ‘bareboat charter’ suggests all you get is the boat. All the provisions that you need for your trip will need to be fulfilled by you. However, some services will provision a vessel for you and those looking to hire a boat can sometimes get basic provisioning included in the package.

Yacht Provisioning in the BVI

If you’re renting a bareboat charter, then typically you’ll need to provision the boat. What is provisioning? It is all the things that you’ll need on the boat to survive, from food and water to toiletries. Most bareboat charters come ‘bare’, with no provisions. So, this is something you’ll need to plan for and deal with yourself.

The good news is that there are plenty of websites that will give you a list of the basic provisions you’ll need for your trip based on the number of days your voyage is expected to take. Even more handy is that there are specialist companies out there that will provide you with all the provisions that you need so that you do not necessarily have to do a lot of work, instead you can let someone else do the hard part. This comes with a premium but is worth it if you are short on time and want to avoid having to shop yourself.

Aside from bareboat charters when it comes to other charter types you may come across the word provisioning, and often this is about whether the provisions on your trip are going to be included or not. Often a trip or charter type might state that provisions are an additional cost on-board. So, ensure you know whether food and drinks are included in the charter costs.

Skippered Charters in the BVI

A skippered charter involves renting a yacht or a boat where a professional skipper manages the sailing. This is often a great charter experience because vacationers do not have to worry about sailing the boat themselves.

Often, you can still visit the places where you want to go, and at the times you wish to travel at, with the skipper being there at hand to sail the boat.

In other cases, a skippered charter is more formal and the skippers themselves will plan the route and destination. Sometimes the passengers on the boat may be expected to take the role of the crew (depending on the size of the boat) and are under the command of the skipper.

When planning a skippered charter, it is good to understand what type of skippered charter you are signing up for. Not all vacationers want to be a part of the crew, so you’ll need to keep this in mind. In other cases, it can be fun getting involved in sailing the boat and can be a good learning experience that springboards a person into taking a formal qualification or learning more about sailing.

For many, a smaller boat that can be sailed by the skipper alone is a very convenient way for vacationers to enjoy the freedom of sailing on the open seas without any of the responsibilities of having to sail and navigate the vessel. Skippers who are local to a particular area will also bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the vessel and can often add to the vacation.

There are perhaps some downsides to a skippered charter. The first is that on a smaller boat, you’ll need to spend time with the skipper, so it will end up being a more formal arrangement. The second is the cost, as you are having to pay for an individual to sail the boat. This is an added expense when compared to a bareboat charter.

If you’re a beginner or an inexperienced sailor, then a skippered charter is a great way to enjoy the ocean and the sailing without any of the stress associated with bareboat charters. This means that you will be free to relax and enjoy your trip safely in the knowledge that a professional is taking care of the vessel.

Crewed Charters

A step up from a skippered charter is a fully crewed yacht charter. These kinds of charters are fully staffed with a captain and a professional crew who deal with all the sailing and ship operations. From super yachts to smaller ships, this type of charter offers vacationers the very best hands-off experience although they do tend to come with a fairly big price tag attached to them.

All the same, crewed charters offer the highest level of luxury and are popular with individuals, families, and groups who want an all-inclusive experience. These are the very best sailing yacht charters for those who just want to relax and unwind and let someone else deal with all the problems.

Technically, a crewed charter could consist of a single-day trip but often it covers a more involved excursion spanning multiple days and destinations.

If you’re looking for a yacht charter vacation and do not want to lift a finger, then this kind of private yacht charter is what you’re looking for. On a larger yacht, the ship staff may likely also include a chef who will cook all your meals for you.

If you can’t stretch to a luxury yacht charter where you are the only guests on board, another option is to check out something called cabin charters (also known as by-the-cabin-charter). These are similar tours with a fully crewed yacht, but instead of having the boat to yourself, you will share it with other guests. It can be fun to get to know strangers when on holidays and sometimes firm friendships can be made over a glass or two of wine. However, cabin charters aren’t to everyone’s taste and if you prefer to go it alone with just loved ones then it might be something to avoid.

Another drawback is that there will be a little less privacy, you’ll have to share facilities such as water toys and conveniences, and the food may not precisely be to your taste since the chef will have to cater to differing wants and needs. On the plus side, these types of charters are much more cost-effective. Ultimately, if you enjoy cruise ships, then a crewed charter on a smaller vessel or even a mega yacht might be a great option.

Power Boat Charters in the BVI

At Chillout Charters we operate skippered charters using a fleet of powerboats. We run a range of different half-day and full-day tours around the BVI And USVI alongside other services such as a water taxi between the islands and different locations in the Virgin Islands. Even if you’re coming to the Caribbean for a bareboat charter or a sailing vacation our day trips and services might still come in useful to you.

Often, many of our guests come to the islands by yacht or even cruise ship and are looking to see the sights that the islands have to offer. The quickest and easiest way around the islands is by powerboat. So, if you’re in the mood for sightseeing, snorkeling, or scuba we can quickly and easily take you and your party to all the best spots. Then, after your excursion is over you can return to your yacht to then sail on to your next destination whether that is the Bahamas, St Lucia or further afield.

Combining a bareboat charter with a Chillout Charters trip is a fantastic way to get the best of both worlds, the freedom to sail where you want, and the ability to quickly see all the best spots in the BVI by powerboat. Talk to us today about your requirements as we often accommodate custom trips and specific requests.