The summer cruise season is once again upon us. Time for cruise lovers everywhere to choose their yearly cruise vacation. Or, for you cruise first-timers, to decide to finally take the plunge and go on your first cruise.

For first-timers and seasoned pros alike, most people assume that in order to sail the world’s oceans and rivers you have to sign up with one of the major cruise lines. While cruising with one of the majors is the most common way to sail, there are other options available, such as chartering a private yacht.

Before the money alarm bells start going off in your head, it might help to know that in some cases a privately-chartered yacht might make financial sense, particularly if you have a larger group of people who will split the cost of the charter. And, charters vary widely in price. For example, you can charter a yacht cruising Florida and the Bahamas in the winter and New England in the summer from $15,500 per week for 6 people. That comes out to just over $2,500 per person. Of course, there are pricier yachts you can charter for $385,000 per week for 12 guests and a crew of 13. A yacht like that comes equipped with fishing equipment, snorkeling equipment, water skis, 3 waverunners, kneeboards, 2 kayaks, gym and a Jacuzzi. Again, prices vary widely. You may be amazed at what you’d find in your price range. Some private yacht charters also offer cheaper deals if you agree to cook your own food rather than have a chef onboard.

Benefits of Private Yacht Charter over Major Cruise Line

Privacy:

On a major cruise you have lots of company. Over 2,000 passengers on many cruises. With a private yacht charter it can be just you and under a dozen other people, often times just your friends and family. Besides you and the other passengers, the only other individuals onboard would be the yacht crew or staff. This might not only include a captain and other onboard hands, but it may also include a maid or a private chef.

Perfect for Small Gatherings:

Private yachts are ideal for small business parties, casual business meetings, romantic getaways, honeymoons, weddings, and even family vacations. It’s hard to hold a business meeting on a large cruise ship with all the noise and activity going on around you. And, a private yacht charter allows you the opportunity to get closer to your loved ones without other people getting in the way.

Activities:

You may be able to go swimming, scuba diving or snorkeling right off the yacht. Jumping off the ship and into the ocean is not something that’s encouraged on a major cruise ship. Neither is fishing. But, on your own private chartered yacht, that is also an activity you, your family and friends can enjoy.

Health Considerations:

Every year it seems there’s news of some outbreak of something on a major cruise ship. With all the people aboard, it’s much easier for infections to be spread around, no matter how hard the crew tries to keep everything clean and disinfected. With the small number of people on a private chartered yacht, you have less chance of coming in contact with pathogens.

Benefits of a Major Cruise Line over a Private Chartered Yacht

Cost:

While you can find a private yacht charter that won’t break the bank, a vacation with a major cruise line is still probably cheaper, even for an ocean-view balcony room. And, if you book early enough, you’re often offered an upgrade when your cruise date nears.

Activities:

A major cruise ship offers an incredible amount of activities, such as movies, dancing, yoga, exercise classes. Many have onboard casinos and numerous swimming pools. If you’re bored reading or watching the scenery, there’s always an activity scheduled.

Escape:

While taking a vacation on a yacht with 8 other people sounds nice, you may not be able to escape these same people during the day on a private yacht. On a major cruise there are so many activities that people can go off and do their own thing without always bumping into each other.

When deciding between a major cruise ship and private chartered yacht it helps to sort out what you really want on your vacation. Do you want the opportunity to see beautiful scenery at a minimal cost, or are privacy and being catered to an important consideration for you?

Should you decide to look into chartering a private yacht, you might wish to go through a yacht charter agent who has knowledge of the different companies offering chartered yachts. Choose an agent who is a member of one of the yacht broker’s associations, such as the AYCA, the American Yacht Charter Association, or CYBA, the Charter Yacht Brokers Association.

Commercial cruises are fine, but for a really delightful experience wouldn’t it be better to be able to relax on a private yacht? And wouldn’t is be great to travel at your own pace rather than be rushed to get back on the cruise liner before its sails away? Hard as it may be to believe, many people actually pay more for a trip aboard an overcrowded cruise ship. Why not discover the ultimate way to cruise in style, your ultimate luxury cruise? That’ where yachts charters are making their marks. They are becoming increasingly popular. Why? Because they make it possible for discerning travellers to enjoy an intimate as well as flexible vacation. Add to that the fact that they staff pampers you to your heart’s delight, and you may never go on a “regular” cruise again. With Private Yacht Charters you are in complete control of your itinerary. With private yacht charters you can change your mind and stay that extra night on your favorite island or do whatever else you please. This would never be possible on a commercial cruise line… you would simply miss the boat, literally and figuratively.

Private Yachts Are The First Choice Of Honeymooners

Many honeymooners prefer the private yacht charter as do families who wish to have a reunion or wish to spend time together without the crowds, the hustle and bustle of large cruise liners. Most of all, when you choose a yacht charter with crew, you can be sure that your every whim will be catered to. Also, the private yacht charter captain acts also as a personal guide who can lead you to the most secluded beaches or the quietest anchorages to suit your individual tastes and preferences.

Though most cruise lines offer luxury in their cruise plans, there are some that push the limits and are often referred to as Luxury Cruise Lines. You’ll find much more than what is available on the typical cruise line offerings. For one thing, you can expect a memorable experience that is far above and beyond standard luxury concepts. Some of the notable luxury lines worth mentioning are Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, Silversea Cruises, and Windstar Cruises.

The well trained staff aim to please, and they are good at it. You will receive service amazing service aboard these luxury cruise liners is amazing. There offer more staff, more exotic itineraries and more all-inclusive services than you would ever imagine. You can expect almost telepathic service because crew and staff are trained to anticipate the guest’s every whim and fancy while providing courteous and quick service. The luxury cruise ships are generally smaller than mainstream liners and typically cater to fewer than one hundred and fifty to just under four hundred guests. If there is one exception to the rule, it would be Crystal Cruises. It has three ships with a capacity of around nine hundred guests. Still, this is significantly less than what you would find on the crowded decks of the mainstream cruise lines.

Luxury cruise ships display high priced art, delicate china, rare woods as well as the finest fabrics and best in leather on board their liners and have expansive wine cellars as well as relatively bigger accommodation to provide the best of the best. These luxury cruises do not come cheap. You can expect to pay anywhere between three hundred dollars to two thousand dollars per person per day, depending on the ship you choose, the length of cruise as well as type of accommodation and destination you choose.

Cunard cruise line also offers much in the way of luxury cruises. It typifies the best in luxury cruises and offers relaxation with a level of pampering that makes them the first choice for the demanding traveler. With such amazing ships like the Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth 2 and the soon to be completed Queen Victoria, you can expect their luxury cruises to be a unique experience, unmatched by any other ship in the world. The Queen Elizabeth 2 is renowned for catering to millionaires, royalty as well as celebrities and you will be transported to exotic destinations while indulging yourself in the ultimate in luxury aboard these famous ships.

The primary attraction of luxury cruises is the fact that they offer lots of fun, adventure and freedom and integrate it all seamlessly with a liberal supply of indulgent service, pampering and unequalled luxury that you can enjoy for the entire duration of the cruise. Regent Seven Seas Cruises is unique in luxury cruises in that it is the first cruise line to provide all-suite, all-balcony ships and is first also when it comes to providing Le Cordon Bleu restaurants at sea. In addition, it provides an all-inclusive value that includes gratuities, non-alcoholic beverages, and wines at dinner as well as an in-suite bar without having to pay extra for it.

For those that wish to experience a floating country club, the Oceania is a luxury liner that lays emphasis on excellence in cuisine, and is an entry-level luxury line whose ships travel to unique cruise destinations and have distinctive stateroom amenities as well as. The Silversea is the elite of the elite mid-sized all-suite ship whose privileged guests are served unparalleled cuisine with sophistication and intimacy. These luxury liners cater to anyone who desires the finer things of life”… love, laughter and untold luxury!