While most of the travel industry was struggling to get back on its feet, the yachting industry had a different problem during the pandemic: Serving everyone willing to rent a boat.
Like the increase in private jet travel during the pandemic, demand for charters remains “extremely strong,” said Crom Littlejohn, chief commercial officer at the yacht brokerage company. Northrop & Johnson, He said he expects interest to remain that way “for the foreseeable future”.
But these are not the same people who always travel by sea, he said.
“A large percentage of our business is charter for the first time,” Littlejohn said. “They have ski holidays … they want to try something different.”
Destinations with an increase in summer ferry bookings
- in the south of france
- Croatia
- Caribbean
- Galapagos Islands
Source: Northrop & Johnson
Insiders with CNBC share seven common mistakes newcomers make to the industry.
Mistake #1: Hard-Shell Luggage
There are many reasons to leave a hard-shell suitcase at home, Littlejohn said.
He said tough suitcases can damage the fine finishes on boats in the same way that they scrape hotel room walls.
“Things bounce and hard things can corrode surfaces,” Littlejohn said.
Military personnel carry Prince Philip’s garment bag to the Royal Yacht Britannia in Lancashire, England, in August 1989.
Tim Graham | Tim Graham Photo Library | Getty Images
Then there’s the issue of storing suitcases that don’t collapse. “You can imagine how much [luggage] Could bring ten people or 12 people on charter if they were bringing hard stuff. “It takes an extra room to store it.”
“The more soft-sided duffel bag type of luggage, the better for storing and moving the boat around,” he said.
Mistake #2: High Heels
Soft-soled shoes are more appropriate than high-heeled shoes, Littlejohn said, but “we’re going to tell you not to wear shoes over the duration of the board.”
That said, travelers are free to pack heels for land excursions, but even in the south of France — where nightlife is often a big part of charters — cobblestone streets can make casual shoes a better option, he said. .
Attendees take off their shoes before boarding a yacht on February 16, 2017 in Miami, Florida.
Scott McIntyre | Bloomberg | Getty Images
But footwear regulations may depend on the yacht owner, said Superyacht influencer Dennis Souka, who is Known as Yacht Moguli online.
If guests are unsure of the yacht’s shoe policy, they can keep an eye on boarding, Suka said. Search “pairs of shoes” [at] entrance,” he said. This means that shoes are not allowed on the boat.
As for what to pack, Suka recommends “keep it light” with clothing with a “summer vibe,” this part of the rules “which are pretty much set in stone.”
Mistake #3: Not giving way to passersby
Marcella de Kern, business consultant for the yachting company, said passengers should board passersby – the route used to board and disembark the ferry – one at a time. Monaco on the ship,
“It’s quite delicate,” she said. “If you’re on board [the] At the same time, it could break,” she said, adding that it could cause “enormous” problems in ports in Greece and Croatia, where it is particularly difficult to reach the port by ferry.
Professional soccer soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo and partner Georgina Rodriguez board a yacht on June 1, 2018 in Marbella, Spain.
Europa Press Entertainment | Europa Press | Getty Images
“Leaving the ferry has priority, so if you’re boarding and someone else is coming down, you should wait and let them get down first,” de Kern said.
Celebrities like the Kardashians have “no yacht etiquette,” she said recently, citing a video of them landing togetherOne wearing high heels from a yacht in Portofino.
Mistake #4: Not planning for extra expenses
New entrants to the industry should not spend their entire budget on charter rates.
“Then you have the rest of your expenses,” Littlejohn said. “With VAT taxes and drinks and food … with dockage and fuel, you’re going to add another 75-100% to the cost of that charter.”
According to a representative for the company, Northrop & Johnson’s weekly charters range from $32,000 to $490,000, plus expenses.
“Charters are happening in all price ranges,” he said. He recommends working with a broker who is familiar with the size and location of the boat that travelers want to book.
Without a broker, travelers new to the industry “might have to pay more for a ferry instead of getting a better one for the same price,” Suka said.
Suka said brokers can match clients with the right crew. He said this is important because passengers and crew members can spend time together for days if not weeks at a time.
“Hiring a yacht isn’t cheap, so [clients] It has to be made the best of it,” he said.
Mistake #5: Not Connecting with the Crew
Knowing the captain and crew is the best way to get top service, Suka said.
The crew will definitely give you great tips on when the yacht is docked. [on] what to do and where to do [go]”Including restaurants, coffee or other attractions because they know the area well.”
Dennis Souka, aka “The Yacht Mogul,” advises those new to charters to “feel like your own yacht.”
Source: Yacht Mogul
If all goes well, passengers can rent the same ferry again, so that’s all the more reason to establish a good relationship with the crew in the beginning, he said.
De Kern of Monaco on the ship advised passengers to greet the crew at the start of the voyage.
“Ask their names, shake their hands and show some respect for the captain on board,” she said.
Mistake #6: Scheduling too many activities
Don’t pack the day with activities, Littlejohn said.
For land excursions, he advised not to plan more than one two-hour trip inland per charter week.
“Most people spend probably half of the day riding a boat, playing with water sports … and enjoying the boat,” he said. Then the other half of the day can be spent going on excursions, take out the tender. You can go in and … explore the land and the islands.”
Then it’s back on the boat for “a wonderful evening”, he said.
Mistake #7: Waiting to Book
Littlejohn’s recommends booking “as early as possible.” Start looking anywhere from six months to a year, he said.
He said Northrop & Johnson is already making bookings for Christmas of 2023. He said it’s not unusual for larger, more expensive yachts to book early, but since the pandemic, “we’re seeing it in the mid-range as well.”
But there are still some last-minute charters available for this summer, he said.