So, you are planning your perfect charter yacht vacation and you want “Sparky” to come along and join the fun. That’s not an uncommon request. Most dog owners feel as though their pets are part of the family and leaving them behind just doesn’t feel right.

The good news is: It’s not impossible! While many charter yachts do not allow animals, there are “pet-friendly” boats in the fleet. With the right preparation, taking your beloved pooch along can be relatively hassle-free.

First, let your charter agent know you want to bring “Sparky” with you, so he or she can help you find the right yacht and ascertain whether a pet deposit is required.

If you haven’t already done so, obtain an ID tag for your pet with your contact information, and have a microchip inserted in the scruff of his or her neck. This microchip is a tiny capsule the size of a grain of rice. It contains a unique national registry number identifying and linking you to your pet.

Next, locate your state’s USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) veterinary office by visiting www.aphis.usda.gov, or ask your pet’s vet for help. The APHIS office will inform you about the entry and exit documents required by the countries you will be visiting during your charter trip – kind of a “pet passport” – as well as any vaccinations your pet may need. Start the process at least seven months before departure, since some vaccinations must be done six months prior to travel.

With a bit of research and planning, “Sparky” can stay by your side!

The question of the day is “What ‘trends’ do you see or foresee in the yacht charter business?” Like spring, I believe a buzz is in the air, judging from the sales reports we’ve heard from recent boat shows. New sales offices are sprouting in Fort Lauderdale and in other yachting capitals around the world. On the consumer front, new cars have been spotted, often a litmus test of prosperity. The stock market is soaring like weeds and reports of yacht sales are popping up everywhere. The launch of the world’s largest superyacht, the 180-meter Lürssen AZZAM, shows that “conspicuous consumption” also is alive and well.

M/Y AZZAM

I am pleased to see so many U.S. charter agents from various companies already registered and heading to Genoa for our next international gathering at the 25th MYBA Charter Show on April 29-May 3. Sixty-six yachts are on the list to appear at this show, most of which will be available for charter in the Med this summer. We are looking forward to touring them and sampling their chefs’ delicacies with you in mind.

Another ‘trend’ we are seeing is the increased number of yachts headed to the South Pacific. Is the VAT a driving factor?     

Not long after the Genoa show, many of us will head to the Newport Charter Yacht Show in Rhode Island on June 17-20. Planning for this event already is well underway and the organizers promise it will be an even better show than last year. Summer in New England, long a favorite charter destination, holds great promise again this year as numerous yachts already are committing to this fun part of the world. 

Why so much travel to destinations far and wide? To ensure your yacht is as fresh as its marketing promises, your agents frequently travel to inspect yachts and visit with crews on your behalf.  We know our yachts!

Photo by Klaus Jordan courtesy of Lurssen Yachts

We are delighted to announce a new addition to the Neptune Group Yachting charter fleet: the just-launched 125’ Hargrave 2013 GIGI II. This is the second yacht in the NGY fleet from the same owner, whose previous vessel was the 97’ Hargrave 2005 GIGI.

GIGI II

The beautifully appointed GIGI II accommodates eight guests in four king-berth staterooms (two of which can be converted to twins). Her contemporary interior design, by Shelley DiCondina of Yacht Interiors by Shelley, is a showcase for spectacular woodwork offset by elegant furnishings. The large flybridge, featuring barbecue, Jacuzzi and private sun lounge area, is another major selling point. GIGI II is available for charter in Florida and the Bahamas starting at $85,000/wk + expenses. For more information, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 954.524.7978.

 

FORT LAUDERDALE BOAT SHOW, OFF TO A SOGGY START, ENDS UP A SUCCESS

As the late-season Tropical Storm Sandy gained strength just a short distance offshore, all rallied, “The show must go on.”  Tents went up and everyone tried to put on a brave face in spite of the sparse traffic on opening day – generally reserved for VIPs – amid gale-force winds and showers. Friday’s traffic was little better, and potential customers who braved the weather seemed eager to deal. 

From the charter perspective, the show was a success with a steady stream of qualified clients requesting additional information and a chance to view the lovely yachts.  Crews were relaxed and gracious when meeting their guests and escorting them through their yachts and answering a myriad of questions. More than one plate of gourmet cookies was passed around to smiling visitors, thanks to chefs “putting their best foot forward.”

The sheer size of the show, reportedly over three million square feet – and representing more than $3 billion worth of yachts, engines and gear – still challenges visitors to see the whole thing. For many, this is a rare opportunity to see such huge yachts such as the 200-foot Benetti DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER towering above the main face dock at the Bahia Mar.

Although comments about rescheduling the show beyond hurricane season and grumpy comments about the weather in general prevailed, the clientele appeared to be of a serious nature and in a cautious buying mood.  One exhibitor chimed in, “Boating is, after all, all about weather.”

The Neptune Group Yachting Crew at the 2012 FLIBS

You could be here this holiday season...                          or in the islands on board a luxury yacht!

Now that that fall’s cooler temperatures have arrived (even here in South Florida), you know the holidays are just around the corner. Now is the time to start planning that fantastic Christmas and/or New Year’s charter vacation. Booking in October will ensure that in December, the right yacht, staffed by a terrific professional crew, will be available to make your holiday dreams come true.

If you’ve never taken a luxury yacht charter vacation over Christmas or New Year’s, you have a treat in store. The crew will decorate the yacht to brighten your spirits, and the chef will whip up fabulous seasonal treats to tempt your palate. Families who spend the holidays together on a yacht usually find it’s a wonderful way to reconnect, far from the usual distractions of shore-side life.

Best of all, most charter yachts are based in a sunny island setting over the holidays, such as St. Barths, the British Virgin Islands, or the Bahamas. You might find yourself spending New Year’s on a Jet Ski or in a lounge chair on the sundeck with a tropical drink in your hand. Your Champagne toast at midnight could take place in the Jacuzzi under a sky filled with twinkling stars. Just remember, if that’s where you want to be this December, then it’s not too soon to contact your charter agent in October!

Three fabulous motor yachts that still have charter availability over the holidays are the 154-foot (46.9-meter) Admiral OHANA, the 110-foot (33.5-meter) Broward KALEEN and the 102-foot (31-meter) Palmer Johnson BANYAN.

OHANA

 OHANA, which accommodates 10 guests in 5 well-appointed staterooms, is one of the top yachts in the charter fleet when it comes to water toys. Its tenders include a 37-foot Intrepid fishing boat with triple 300-hp outboards, a live well and even a TV! The yacht also has a 40-foot water slide, a water trampoline, four WaveRunners and a wide selection of toys to tow behind its 22-foot Novurania. OHANA’s interior, which features a beautiful beach-house décor, is also well equipped for your entertainment with WiFi, Xbox Kinect, and much, much more! OHANA is available over the holidays in the Bahamas for a rate of $130,000 per week, plus expenses.

KALEEN - Photo by Charles Datlen

If you are considering a holiday charter vacation in the Caribbean, KALEEN may be the yacht for you. This beautifully traditional motor yacht accommodates up to nine guests in four elegant staterooms, including one with a handy Pullman berth. Towing a 35-foot Intrepid fishing boat, she also is fully stocked with water and beach toys. Picture a New Year’s picnic on a deserted beach in the BVI’s! KALEEN also features fabulous on-deck entertaining spaces, including a large foredeck lounge. She is available at a charter rate of $40,000 per week, plus expenses.

BANYAN

One of the best charter values available over the holidays, BANYAN accommodates six guests in three comfortable staterooms, including a master suite with king berth and his-and-her baths. Fully refit in 2010, she features Zero Speed stabilizers and a state-of-the-art entertainment system with Blu-ray player and iPod docks. Her spacious sundeck can be set up as an open-air theater for watching movies or a football game. BANYAN is available in the Bahamas for $29,500 per week, plus expenses.

For more information on the availability and location of these and other charter yachts over the 2012/2013 holidays, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .