Your Nr. 1 Decision - Your Broker Company
The best way to book your charter is with a professional
Charter Yacht Broker such as the Barrington
Hall Corporation. Having been captains in the Caribbean
for 5 years means that our staff are experts on where to
go during your vacation and how to make decision on selecting
those out-of-the-way locations. However we also like to
cover what we feel is the best one week of the year and
explain how to select dates for your vacation which has
more quality than other dates. Our personal knowledge of
each captain and crew who we present to you is vital to
the ultimate success of your adventure. Our overall knowledge
of our industry is provided to you with the aim of making
your vacation better.
Your first decision is to select the correct broker to
work with.
What is a Yacht Charter?
A yacht charter is basically a short term rental agreement.
If the agreement is for the yacht only, without crew services
or provisioning, it is called a "bareboat" charter. If the
agreement includes the services of a Captain, chef and perhaps
additional mates, it is termed a "crewed " charter. It also
may be called a "term" charter which refers to a specified
time commitment.
While on board, the general activities and movements of
the yacht are at your direction. The Captain has the last
word in all actual decisions. His first concern will be
for the safety and comfort of all the guests. The Captain's
practical knowledge of your cruising area will help you
create an itinerary unique to your party's needs.
Your crew contacts you well before the charter starts.
They discuss your food preferences, health and activities
for your stay aboard. You'll get to know them even before
you arrive and they are available to answer all your questions.
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How do we book our charter?
Generally, no matter how you book your charter, you will
find that it requires a deposit. This deposit is not refundable
and can be as high as 50% of the total fee. This means you
should be very sure of your dates and the number in your
party before you sign a contract.
The contract is carefully written to protect all parties.
If the yacht cannot perform, all funds are returned. If
the guests cancel, the deposits are forfeited. If there
is a problem during the charter, the amount would be prorated
in an equitable fashion. When you have signed and returned
the contracts, a confirmation letter would be sent. Please
check the details carefully and advise of any discrepancies.
The final payment for the charter is due forty five days
(45) before embarkation.
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How do we get there
from here?
Yacht Harmony motors the waters of the Virgin Islands and
the Bahamas. The British Virgin islands lie 1100 miles east-southeast
of Miami. The primary airport of the B.V.I. is Beef Island,
and the airport locator for travel planning is EIS. The
Beef Island airport is midsized and does not support non-stop
air service from the U.S. or Europe. Your flights will use
commuter carriers for connections to the Beef Island destination.
The largest of these carriers is American Eagle, a subsidiary
of American Airlines. Cape Air, Liat and Air Sunshine also
provide commuter flights from various Caribbean destinations.
Connecting flights to the B.V.I are usually routed through
San Juan, Puerto Rico. Many flights are available to San
Juan, and the easiest way may be to use American Airlines
and enjoy the ride. Upon arriving at the airport, take a
taxi to the yacht. Your Captain provides details before
your arrival. In most cases we will arrange for the captain
to meet you at the airport.
You can also get to the BVI by routing through nearby St.
Thomas. St. Thomas has a number of airlines offering direct
flights from many U.S. cities. Once in St. Thomas, you can
take a ferry to nearby Tortola, the main island of the BVI.
From the ferry, take a cab to the yacht.
Transfers to and from the airport/ferry can be prearranged
by your Captain. These transfers are not included in your
charter fees so you should pay & tip your driver accordingly.
Because of the distances traveled and time zones crossed,
it may be difficult to arrive in the BVI early in the day.
Your charter starts at noon and completes at noon one week
later. If your arrival is later than 4 pm, you might want
to consider a night in a hotel prior to your charter, so
you could board promptly at noon on the next day.
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What do we need for customs
& immigration?
The British Virgin Islands are a sovereign nation with
unique and independent requirements for visitors. You should
be prepared to present a valid passport when entering and
exiting the BVI. There may be small fees such as departure
taxes to be paid. Immigration officials want to know where
you are staying, how long you are staying, and may ask for
proof of a return ticket. These are not trick questions,
but please answer them carefully.
Please do not bring anything illegal such as, guns, knives,
drugs etc. A word to divers, spearguns are not allowed in
the BVI. It is unwise to bring food or commercial goods
with you.
Customs officials are generally pleasant and efficient
and are willing to go the distance to make your entry and
departure a pleasant one.
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Tell me about the crew.
Your crew are professionals dedicated to your perfect vacation.
In the course of the week they wear many hats. They are
there to serve you and guide you safely and comfortably
through your charter. They also can be a great source of
fun.
Chartering is an intimate setting and you would find the
crew in tune to your personalities. If you view your crew
as service staff, they do that masterfully. If you rely
on them for guidance and entertainment, you will have a
great time. If you include them in the personality of your
week, you would certainly find new friends. It's all up
to you.
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What about the weather?
It doesn't matter matter where you're from, the weather
in the Virgin Islands is better. The coolest of winter days
might be in the upper 70's; while the hottest of summer
days would be in the upper eighties. The key to Virgin Islands'
weather is that you're in the tradewinds and you're surrounded
by clear, warm water. The water temps vary from the upper
70's to mid 80's and temper all weather in the tropics.
Your only likely problem that is weather related will be
sunburn. Squalls when they occur are soon past. Okay, so
much for the chamber of commerce weather report. Here is
the real world:
It can rain, it can be too windy, and ,yes, there are such
things as hurricanes. Your Captain keeps a constant watch
of developing weather and will alter the itinerary accordingly.
Hurricanes are very rarely an issue. The yachts do not sail
from August 15th thru October 15th. Historically, 90% of
all Caribbean hurricanes occur in this season. Honestly,
it is rare to have the weather impact your enjoyment of
your charter.
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Should we dine out?
Yes! Now don't get suspicious. We aren't cost cutting.
The cuisine on board for your yacht is excellent. Your chef
has planned for your every need, your every snack, your
every beverage and certainly, your every meal. The reason
to dine out is to explore and enjoy the unique ambiance
of the islands.
If you choose to dine out, yes, you pay the bill, but it
will be worth it. Most guests find a lunch and a dinner
ashore provide a variation to your week that you will enjoy.
The point is that you enjoy the islands.
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What about shopping?
Shopping can be your whole day or just a diversion. It's
up to you. The treasures ashore run the whole spectrum,
from trinkets and t-shirts to diamonds. So let's get down
to basics. The Virgin Islands use the good old American
dollar as their currency. If your dollars are running short,
credit cards are accepted for almost everything. If cash
is really a problem, a trusty A.T.M. is never far away.
Checks, however, don't work too well.
If you shop a lot, keep your receipts. You will need to
declare values when returning thru U.S. customs. There are
restrictions on the quantities of liquors you can bring
back and don't even think about returning with Cuban cigars...
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What if there is an emergency
back home?
Your Captain will give all the contact information you
will need for your office, family and friends to find you
in an emergency. You will never be out of contact during
your stay aboard. You may be unavailable but voicemails
and e-mails will be waiting for you when you get back from
scuba diving. The contact numbers your Captain provides
are for true emergencies. If you need closer contact with
friends, office or relatives, bring your cell phone and
set up a personal contact number for the duration of your
stay.
If you need to return home in an emergency, your Captain
will be able to assist you in travel plans. You can usually
be at an airport in a few hours. Unfortunately, no refunds
will be made by the yachts if a health emergency cuts your
charter short. Again, you might consider travel insurance
if this is a concern.
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Should we tip the crew?
Yes. A straight answer to a sensitive question, but let's
explain...
Tips are never mandatory. Gratuities are made as an appreciation
of excellent service. We are confident that your crew will
exceed your expectations. If this is not the case, there
is absolutely no reason for a gratuity.
After your stay aboard, you will realize that your crew
are more than hardworking, more than just personable, more
than professional. Their only additional benefit from their
exceptional service is the gratuity.
We suggest you consider a gratuity of 10-20% of the total
charter fee.
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What other expenses should
we expect?
Its always hard to guess how much real cash to bring You
are certain to need cash for transfers to and from the airport
or ferry. Cabs in the islands are not a bargain. You may
be grouped with other riders and take a circuitous route.
Even so, $10 or more per person for each cab ride can put
a dent in your cash quickly. You can expect a departure
tax, usually $5 per person at the airport. Other adventures
ashore are at your discretion. Some may accept credit cards,
some not. There are a few ways to incur extra charges on
your yacht. They include special requests for food or beverages,
requests for overnight dockage in marinas, and a few extra
costs for scuba instruction.
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