Charter Boat Etiquette When Traveling With Friends

To strengthen the bond between you and your friends, you should consider going on a charter for your next vacation. Going on a charter is a sure way to create unforgettable memories. Choosing to go on a yacht trip is magical.

When planning for a charter holiday, everyone must be on the same team. If you are going as an individual, the task of planning your charter is less complicated because it's just you. So, you can decide what time to leave, drinks and places you want to visit. But when you are planning with a company, especially friends, everyone has a say in the decision. So, before you start thinking everything is settled on your next charter holiday, first, you must ensure everyone gets the message about the purpose of going on a yacht trip.

Here are some important tips for planning a successful charter vacation with your friends.

Luxury cruise or bareboat adventure

As stated earlier, this is a joint trip with friends, so you must all agree on the vacation model. For example, do you all want a luxury cruise or a bareboat adventure? By clearly stating this aspect before you embark on the vacation is sacrosanct. While some people want to go wild, partying and sailing every day and enjoy raising sails, others simply want a vacation where they can stand on the deck all day with a drink in their hands.

So, if you don't want to create a spoiler where everyone returns disgusted, you all need to sit down and plan the vacation where everyone understands its aims and objectives.

1) Plan on the location

When planning for a charter vacation, you must choose the location that will make everyone happy. The world is open for you to pick any area of your choice. You can decide to sail across Europe or a visit to the Caribbean! What should determine your choice of location should be based on the objective of the vacation.

2) Get firm commitment from everyone

Imagine a situation where you have made a plan, surfed the internet for the best cruise company, and chose a location, only to find out some of your friends are backing out. You will definitely lose your temper, and if care is not taken, it will affect your friendship. So, before going far with the whole plan, make sure there is a commitment among all parties to the vacation. Once there is a dissenting voice, it is advisable you put on hold the plan rather than going ahead to plan a vacation that will never come to reality.

3) Have a budget

A budget simply means your expected expenses and your expected expenditure. Going on a charter vacation is achievable provided you have planned properly. You should make necessary provisions for a yacht charter, food, and other related expenses to the trip. Having a budget for your chatter vacation puts you in an excellent position to prepare for uncertainties that may arise before or during the holiday.

Furthermore, it is advisable to make provision for miscellaneous against understated costs.

4) Throw an orientation party before the big day

Before the big day, organize an orientation party to get everyone prepared and excited. You should use the occasion to give accurate details of the upcoming event. While some people have experience on a chatter vacation, some don't. So, the orientation party is the best platform to explain the scope of the trip, what to bring along, costs, boat, cabin measurement, and the party's theme.

What to pack when going on a charter boat holiday

Packing for a charter boat holiday is not unlike any other holiday. While some consider it enjoyable, others may find it stressful, particularly if they are new to the charter experience.

There are certain things to consider when packing for a charter holiday. These include:

• The type of vacation: this is an important factor to consider. Knowing the trip or vacation you are going for helps you know what to pack for the trip. The type of vacation includes business trips, fishing trips, and romantic trips.
• The type of yacht: this does not influence much, but it is ideal to know the type of yacht you will be boarding. This helps to know the kind of crowd or amount of people to expect on the charter trip.
• Location: this factor enables you to know what to pack and how to pack it. If the charter is located in a cold zone, you will know to pack thick clothing and blankets. Likewise, you will know to take light clothing if it is located in a hot temperate region.
• Bearings: it is important to know the trail the yacht intends to follow. This allows you to know the kind of documents to take along to avoid running into any trouble

After considering the above factors, the following tips and guides should prove helpful when packing for your charter trip:

1. Pack in a soft, mid-sized bag: this is handy because it helps you pack only what is needed and not excess load. This is also influenced by the fact that most rooms in yachts do not have space for many loads. Carrying soft mid-sized baggage makes it easy and convenient for storing your belongings.
2. Pack your Travel and international documents: if the yacht charter will be sailing abroad, this means the yacht will cross different borders. It is advisable to pack international documents like an international passport, VISA, travel tickets, cash, and credit cards. All these documents can help avoid trouble when crossing country borders.
3. Pack versatile footwear: having the right footwear for the right occasion helps make your trip enjoyable. Another reason is that most yachts have rules that restrict the kind of shoes to be worn while onboard. Also, having various footwear helps adapt to the changing scenes from sandy shore to sundecks to pools.
4. Pack only needed clothing: this is a vacation, and it does not require any sophisticated dressing. Just simple and casual clothing will help you enjoy your trip. Ensure to bring a light sweater and blanket to provide warmth from the cold sea breeze at night.
5. Medications: this does not apply to everyone, but only to those with one health problem or the other. When packing for a charter, ensure to carry all your medications, and before embarking on the trip, please check in with your doctor to know if you are permitted to take the trip. This is important because the medication available on yachts is mostly first aid while waiting for a doctor to arrive.
6. Pack a swimsuit

Final thoughts

Get started with these tips, and you will be ready to go on the trip of a lifetime with those people that matter a lot to you.