Your Nr. 1 Decision -
Your Broker Company
The best way to book your charter on a luxury
yacht 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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