our yacht charter faq or the good yacht etiquette is appreciated by everyone, and will make for a better yacht charter experience for all. A yacht is a completely different environment compared to anywhere else and carries with it its own set of rules and guidelines. We put together this guide to include some DOs and DON’Ts while on board. Even if you have chartered a yacht before, bear in mind that every charter yacht is different so its worth taking a quick read.
The Captain and Crew are there for two main reasons: to ensure your safety and to have the yacht charter run as smoothly as possible. The Captain and Crew with Sea Friends are full time employed professionals in this industry (other charter yachts may have owner-operators or rely on part time crew), and are intimately familiar with the yacht, local waterways, weather conditions, etc. The safety of all aboard the yacht is always the top priority of Captain and Crew. Besides safety, the Captain and Crew will do their utmost for guests to feel at home and to have a pleasurable experience, but not at the risk of safety. Whenever safety and regulations are concerned, it’s always best to follow the Captain’s advice.
Typically the size of the yacht determines the size of the crew. Sea Friends will usually have one Captain and one Crew on board; in some situations there may be 2 Crew. The Captain must be PPCDL or equivalently qualified (i.e. licensed to pilot pleasure craft), and is the master of the vessel; all Crew members report to him. The Captain holds overall responsibility over the boat, its passengers, the course taken, ensuring that the Crew do their job and that everyone onboard is safe at all times.
Before your charter commences, the sales team would plan with you to fix the itinerary. For package charters to the southern islands, the general area is fixed, but we may offer a few options depending on the type of charter you are looking for, whether it be a quiet family charter, or a fun celebration with your friends. For custom itineraries the exact route and activities must be mutually agreed upon before the charter is confirmed. Check with the sales team for further details.
Generally yes; however we would request for red wine not to be consumed on board since it stains easily and is later extremely hard to remove from fiberglass and other surfaces.
Captain and Crew are trained to keep an eye out for guests, but as a good practice, if you plan on leaving the yacht and going for a swim or trying out one of the water toys, it is always best to inform someone in your party as well as a member of staff. Once out on the water it is important to stay within line of sight of the yacht so that Captain and Crew can know where you are and keep an eye out.
Most of water toys provided are self-explanatory and easy to use. If guests need help on the kayak or stand up paddle board, our friendly staff will be happy to provide some basic instruction. Guests should always wear your lifejacket while on the water toys, and should never be on water toys after drinking alcohol. An accident may result in injuries and will definitely spoil the fun.
Smoking onboard our yacht is restricted for safety reasons.
Sea Friends is licensed to carry 14 people, i.e. a maximum of 12 passengers after accounting for Captain and Crew. However, during this time of Covid-19, MPA regulations currently restrict group sizes to 5 passengers excluding Captain and Crew. Government regulations are subject to change from time to time so this number could go up or down in the future.
As much as we want to give you the freedom in adding decorations and a personal touch to your special occasion, the MPA doesn't allow balloons of any type to be brought to the yacht.
