Expedition Yacht - Charter Market??

Hi there,

There are mini-cruise-ships that operate such a service, mostly those working the Arctic or Antarctic. Many have the amenities and services of mega yachts, BUT, since it is a per passenger charge, it is cheaper than a mega yacht, because you are not paying for privacy or able to choose other passengers!

Many charter yachts will go where you want them to go if you will pay the charge! People choose them over cruise ships just for the sake of privacy, open itinerary that changes according to their mood, seclusion as desired and so on. That your project, in my opinion, can not accomplish, and you can check the mini cruisers and compare them to private yacht charters.

Cheers,

Alf

Generally the expedition yachts in most places don't do well as charters. They're not sexy looking like the large motoryachts, aren't fast enough since the charterers are only on board for a week. etc etc....

Without knowing the times of year of your suggested cruise, I feel you're missing out of one of world's greatest areas...the inside passage from the Seattle area then up through the San Juan and Canadian Gulf Islands, all the way up to Alaska. Even if you didn't do the whole route, the islands straddling the 49-th, and the "inside passage", as the name implies, is great for guests not comfortable with the action of ocean passages. Cheers, Richard.

It is one of the most beautiful parts of the world, which is why you find a thriving charter market up here (well, actually that area is well south of me) I'm not sure how many make journeys up and down, rather than picking a hope port and poking around, but there are independent charter boats and some associated with hotels/resorts/travel packages. I think it's a less well known market in part because it's just a much smaller market (folks from down south are advised to bring their winter gear in the summer, even though I'm roasting in t-shirt and shorts there are people who need a down jacket). Also it's less sexy (rich men want their trophy wives to be next to naked, and trophy wives typically come from places where they can show of their stuff, being next to naked). An Alaskan harbor will have a handful of charter yachts, typically for sport fishing, and then a whole fleet of commercial fishing boats and working boats. Also it doesn't get a whole lot of space in the yachting press, who just pulled in the Ft. Lauderdale or Gibraltar is easy to cover and interesting, who just pulled into Sitka is going to be a pain to observe and report.

Well, OPCN...if you're in Alaska but seems haven't experienced the middle of the Inside Passage, it is there! The charter yachts, expedition and otherwise, frequent these waters, May thru Sept. (okay, July/August preferred), many based in Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. Given the right party and the right vessel, I could plan a month-long itinerary and never get beyond Prince Rupert with very few duplicate nautical miles in a round trip. Plus, include anchorages of sublime beauty, privacy and modestly warm/swimable waters. Let the fish killers do their sport(?)...I fish with (trading) a case of beer or bottle of spirits to local commercial fisher-folks. Cheers, Richard.

I'm from Alaska, born and raised. I've never been down the inside passage though. I stick to the railbelt and kodiak.

That might change the game from the current fiction of a "guest" on a charter yacht to that of a small passenger vessel owned by a company that sells tickets for a berth on a voyage. As soon as the "yacht" category is left behind the licensing, manning, and operating rules change dramatically. There aren't many areas a "yacht" carrying "guests" can operate and remain in compliance with the rules that allow commercial use.

Maybe a legal expert who knows the charter laws can chime in but I don't think multiple independent entities (passengers) can each charter the same yacht at the same time.

Hi,

While 6 -8 crew might be able to provide the top end care that "proper luxury" suggests at 110 ft that will certainly not be the case on a 150 ft vessel.