charter a yacht in Monaco
The crew is one of the most important aspects to consider when booking a charter yacht, as they are the people in charge of your entire experience onboard. They live onboard in their own crew quarters and are normally made up of a captain, personal chef, stewards, engineer, sometimes fitness/sport or dive instructor and deckhands. The amount of crew required will depend on the size of your yacht, but as a guideline most luxury charters have at least a skipper, a sailor, and 2 or more stewards/hostesses.
Often, your charter a yacht in Monaco broker will send you a preference sheet which is your opportunity to make the crew aware of any specific requirements that you may have for your charter. From sleeping arrangements, to your favourite dessert, this form will help the crew create an amazing vacation for you.
Do not enter the crew areas without being invited to do so. Much like a restaurant kitchen, a yacht galley is a workspace and entry is only allowed when the crew are at work. It is also not appropriate to help yourself to snacks from the crew quarters – much like an airport lounge, these are for the crew’s use only and are meant as a reward for their hard work.
Can I bring my own crew onboard a charter a yacht in Monaco?
The captain is your first port of call on board, so please do not hesitate to speak with them with any queries or problems that you have whilst onboard. Their job is to ensure that everything runs smoothly and they are always happy to adjust the itinerary to meet your requests – as long as it’s safe. Do not disregard the captain’s advice – he is often the best source of information about the local area as he will have sailed or cruised the destination many times over and knows all the hidden stunning spots, the best restaurants and beaches.
It’s important to remember that the exclusive concierge service are not babysitters, so if you bring children onboard it’s best to bring your own nanny who can be accommodated in one of the spare cabins. Yachts do usually stock a range of water toys and games for children, but don’t expect the crew to spend all their time looking after them.
It’s customary to tip the crew 5-15% of the charter fee at the end of your trip, based on their level of service. If you feel the crew have gone above and beyond it’s certainly nice to give them a little extra at the end of your stay – but don’t forget that gratuities are not included in your APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance). If you have any questions on tipping, ask your charter broker. It’s best to be honest about what you would like to tip and avoid going overboard. This is not only against the law but it can impact on future charters and make crew members unhappy. If they are unhappy, it is likely they will be less than helpful during your charter.