A good number of yacht owners are still discounting their charter rates, especially with so many openings remaining for winter holidays in the Caribbean.

But the discounts are getting smaller. While some 40 percent to 50 percent price cuts were being negotiated in the Mediterranean this past summer, several fleet managers now say the best available is more like 15 percent off the listed base rate.

And some yacht owners aren’t negotiating at all: “It really is a boat-by-boat situation,” one charter broker told CharterWave’s editor. “Some owners are in a financial position to stick to their rates, with or without charters.”

In addition, some owners are feeling flush with potential charter business. As a broker from Rikki Davis Yachts at Churchill Yacht Partners told CharterWave’s editor: “A lot of clients thought that if they waited until the last minute, they would get the best deal, but what we have now is a flood of Christmas and New Year’s inquiries at once—which puts pricing back into the yacht owners’ corner. The more inquiries that come at once, the more hesitant they are to give a price break.”

You can enjoy true transparency when it comes to fuel expenses. Capt. Alec Cunningham of the brand-new 151-foot Delta motoryacht Katya showed CharterWave’s editor this nifty log book system for helping charter guests see how their cruising decisions affect their fuel expenses day by day. The yacht is part of the Ocean Independence charter fleet.

Also learned aboard Katya: Smart captains can block satellite television channels in kids’ cabins, and kids’ cabins only. That’s what they do aboard Katya, so that the owner’s young daughter—or any kids chartering with their parents—won’t be exposed to adult channels in their cabins.

Interesting new yachts are entering the global charter fleet. During the first day of the boat show, an International Yacht Collection broker said the 183-foot Benetti motoryacht Four Aces is now available as part of its feet. On the second day of the boat show, The Sacks Group Yachting Professionals announced the newly launched, 160-foot Christensen motoryacht Odessa as part of its charter fleet. On the third day of the boat show, Fraser Yachts Worldwide welcomed the 124-foot Benetti motoryacht Kai to its charter fleet, while that same day Robert J. Cury & Associates welcomed the 80-foot Cheoy Lee motoryacht Aquarius to its fleet for charter.

Elegant yachts can be great for fishing. The 138-foot motoryacht Mea Culpa, which is part of the Camper & Nicholsons International charter fleet and was being shown in the United States for the first time, has a true gentleman’s interior that oozes mahogany and warmth. Out on deck, though, is a veritable tuna tower. The yacht carries an incredible 68 fishing rods with assorted reels. Mea Culpa’s record catch? A 450-pound black marlin off the coast of Panama.

Some yacht owners monitor crew gratuities very seriously, because they want their crew well taken care of--or charter guests will not be welcomed back. The owner of the stunning new 161-foot Trinity motoryacht Blind Date, which is part of the charter fleet at Peter Insull's, told CharterWave's editor that a recent 2-percent gratuity for his crew from a self-described "very satisfied" charter client left him “livid.”

People eat really badly at boat shows. Vendors at last week's Fort Lauderdale event expected to sell more than 3,000 pounds of hot dogs and more than 100,000 cups of beer within four days. (It's a good thing the show includes more than five miles of dock space for walking off those calories!)