Making a reservation for your bareboat holiday is very simple. Once you have decided which yacht you'd like to hire, and have established availability for your dates, simply request that we place an option* on the boat for you.
*Note: An option is a tentative booking which is usually held for 2 to 5 days, allowing time for you to book your flights, complete your paperwork and return your completed paperwork together with your deposit payment.
The duration of your option is dependant upon how soon your dates are coming up, and the individual charter company policies.
Once an option has been placed on the yacht:
We will send you all the necessary paperwork needed to complete your reservation. Each charter company has different requirements, but in general, the following procedures are required:
- You will be asked to sign a contract and return it to the company either by fax, or email.
- You will fill out a sailing resume which outlines your sailing and boating experience and any prior charter experience you may have. Any boating-related courses your designated captain may have taken should be noted on the form. The companies we deal with will not process any charges until your sailing resume has been approved.
- A 50% deposit is required to confirm your reservation. Your deposit must be received within 5 days of placing your option on the boat. This can be extended by an additional 2 days if necessary, provided nobody has challenged your option and that it is not a last-minute charter.
- The balance of your charter fee is due and payable 45 days prior to arrival.
Additional paperwork such as your taxi order form, crew manifest and (in some cases) other travel details may be required.
Note: Print out a few copies of your crew manifest to bring with you if you plan to
visit the U.S. Virgin Islands during your sailing vacation. Having your crew manifest neatly typed up will save you a lot of time at the various ports of entry when clearing your yacht and crew through customs and immigration.
Insurance:
A mandatory and non-refundable premium of $50.00 per day, with a maximum of $500.00, plus a refundable security deposit, will cover any damage to the boat (up to a specified limit), except in cases where intoxication or gross negligence is determined to be involved.
Security deposits range from $1,000 to $2,000 (depending upon which yacht you have selected) to cover any loss or damage of the boat, its equipment, dinghy or outboard motor. Provided the yacht is returned undamaged, with all equipment intact and accounted for, your deposit will be returned.
Most BVI based charter companies will ask you to sign a credit card pre-authorization form for the security deposit. Upon the safe and undamaged return of the yacht and its equipment, your pre-authorization form will be destroyed. No charges are processed unless the yacht has sustained damage or loss of equipment during your charter. Some companies hold the form until a diver has had the opportunity to dive under the boat to inspect the hull, keel, rudder and prop to verify that there is no underwater damage. The dive is usually done within 24 hours of returning the boat and always prior to the next charter.
Cancellation Policy
You may cancel your yacht charter subject to the following guidelines:
- Written notice must be sent to the company of your intention to cancel your reservation.
- Should you cancel 90 or more days prior to the commencement of your charter, you will receive a full refund less a $200.00 or $300.00 administration fee, depending upon which charter company you will be sailing with.
- Should you cancel 46 to 89 days prior to the commencement of your vacation a forfeiture of 50% of the charter fee will be assessed.
- Cancellation within 1 to 45 days prior to your arrival will result in forfeiture of all fees paid.
Bareboats BVI does not levy any kind of fee for our
yacht charter brokerage services in the event of a cancellation. Cancellation fees go to the charter company.