The world’s wealthiest audiences have long used super yachts as a way of combining ultimately private and utmost luxury holidays, but a new emerging upper class market has seen it become increasingly popular with those looking to embark on the hedonistic voyage of a bespoke vacation on a luxury yacht. Unlike the restrictions of a cruise ship set itinerary or the inconvenience of busy hotels and restaurants, luxury yacht charter offer a sense of freedom and flexibility that is truly unrivalled and tailored to the needs and desires of you and your guests.
If you have the skills you can skipper your own charter yacht, known as a bareboat charter, or you can opt for a professional crew to take you wherever you desire with a crewed charter. Either way you are assured of creating an unforgettable experience immersing yourself in relaxing breathtaking views and endless activities, all enveloped by the vitality of life at sea.
Just like chartering a jet or a helicopter, chartering a yacht is easy. There are many websites setup specifically for this purpose. An easy to navigate boat charter website that I use is Simpson Yacht Charter’s, www.simpsonyachtcharter.com. Here you can charter a sail boat, a catamaran, motor yacht or superyacht in Thailand, Myanmar, Viet Nam, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Pole, Mediterranean or even the Caribbean and French Polynesia.
The process of chartering a yacht is pretty straightforward and starts with you paying a 50% deposit upon booking confirmation once you have decided on the size and type of boat you want as well as where you want to go and for how many days. 60 days prior to your Charter you need to pay the balance. In case of “last minute bookings” which is considered less than 40 days before the Charter then 100% payment is charged at charter confirmation.
Insurance is included in the charter rate which covers the yacht and 3rd party liabilities. When chartering out of Phuket you will also have “passenger insurance”, which is mandatory by Thai law for charter operators. On top of that, a security deposit is collected upon check in, similar to the arrangement when you check in to a hotel. This deposit amount is to cover the deductible amount of the yacht’s insurance package, in case of any damages caused by the charterer.
If you want to skipper the boat yourself then you will need to present a valid boat driving license and a sailing resume to prove your boat handling capability. For those who simply want a relaxing holiday without having to lift a finger, you’ll want a crewed yacht providing top-notch luxurious service.
According to Simpson Yacht Charter brokers, day charters are just as popular as multi day charter. When chartering for the day, fuel for 3-4 hours of engine run time is normally included. If you prefer a destination that is further afield then the charter cost will be higher.
If you would like a day charter from Phuket on a sailing catamaran you could go to Phang Nga Bay and with a motor yacht you could go to further to destinations such as Krabi / Koh Hong, Koh Phi Phi, or Koh Racha. With a day charter out of Pattaya you could check out the islands of Koh Larn and Koh Kram Noi.
The Most popular boat type and size for day charter’s on the lower end are usually catamarans and these come in several sizes 40-77ft and higher end charters are usually larger motor yachts over 50ft, up to big superyachts.
Simpson provides an onboard Thai menu, snacks and fruits, as well as soft drinks and local beers with their day charters. For overnight charters (bareboat), you can choose to do provisioning yourself or have Simpson handle the provisioning for you.
For overnight charters with a crew, you provide the menu and cash in advance and the crew will purchase your preferred food & beverages and have them onboard upon your arrival.
According to Simpson, the most popular type of boat for multi day charter are the Lagoon sailing Catamarans and the most popular size is 40 to 45 feet as they can do both bareboat and crewed charter. More exclusive would be 50ft+ yachts.
A lot of us have taken a tour boat to Koh Phi Phi and other Thai islands but experiencing them from your private yacht adds a whole new luxurious dimension to the adventure.
A sample four-day charter from Phuket will see you leaving Ao Po Marina on Day 1 heading to Phang Nga Bay. You’ll want to cross through the heart of the bay to the Pan Yi fishing village. This incredible sea village island consists of buildings atop stilts, complete with homes, shops, schools, a mosque and even a market. After exploring Pan Yi you’ll want to visit the North end of Phang Nga Bay where you will find the James Bond Island which was made famous in the Bond film “The Man with the Golden Gun.” Phang Nga Bay is gorgeous and one of the natural wonders of the world.
Day 2 would see you heading south to Krabi and the beach at Ao Nang Bay. Here you will find many resorts, shops, restaurants and lots of nightlife. Just to the South is the world famous Railey Beach, protected from road access by rock walls on either side, you can enjoy kayaking or rock climbing. Further South you’ll find excellent diving and snorkelling.
Day 3 of your yachting adventure could take you to Koh Phi Phi with spectacular cliffs rising vertically out of the clear blue sea. Idyllic tropical beaches and lagoons surrounded by rock walls is what has made Phi Phi Islands famous all over the world. You can snorkel in warm turquoise water in secluded bays and see the famous Maya Bay or other surrounding bays. In the evening you can eat and relax on the Yacht or head ashore and enjoy the restaurants and nightlife of the island.
Day 4 you’ll set sail for the numerous small islands off the east coast of Phuket that can be explored on your final day. It will be temptation to see them all but you will have to make a choice. Maybe do some snorkelling at Coral Island, or feeding the fish from the beach at Khai Nok. You often see dolphins and occasionally whales in this area so always keep your camera handy to capture unforgettable moments of your cruise around Phuket.
There is no better way to relax and enjoy time with family and friends than on a beautiful yacht in the incredible waters of Asia. Simpson Yacht Charter offers a multitude of Charter Itineraries lasting from 1 to 15 days in Thailand as well as Charters around the world.
Simpson Yacht Charter Limited
Ao Po Grand Marina Unit 199/112 Moo 6 T. Paklok,
A. Thalang Phuket 83110
+66 76 317 305 (Office)
+66 93 327 0447 (Mobile)
+66 76 317 306 (Fax)
enquiry@simpsonyachtcharter.com
www.simpsonyachtcharter.com