f you've never chartered a yacht, then you might be disappointed to learn that there are no glossy brochures for comparing yachts side-by-side in the same way that you compare cruise ships. Yacht vacations are so personalized, it's impossible to categorize them the way cruise ships are presented.

Our CharterWave Charter Planner will help you sort through your personal options. It has ten categories for you to rate each yacht you like on a scale of 1 to 10 points. Assign each category a lower point value (1-5) for yachts that are close to your needs, but not quite right, and a higher point value (6-10) for yachts that are perfectly matched to your own tastes.

After you score each yacht in all ten categories, you can compare the total scores to see which yacht might be the best for your personal vacation desires.

Start with the "sample planner" at the bottom of this page. It will give you an idea of how the planner works. Then, you can download the regular "charter planner" and rate your own boats accordingly.

An important hint: If you end up having two yachts with a tie score, go with the boat that has the highest scores in the categories of "crew" and "broker recommendation." Those two factors are usually the most significant in ensuring that your charter lives up to your dreams.