The way you fill out your preference sheet can make or break your charter vacation

When it comes to personalized cruising vacations, it’s tough to beat yacht charter. And the key to ensuring that your yacht’s crew provides everything you desire is taking the time to fill out a preference sheet before you even step onboard.

If you’ve never chartered before, then the term “preference sheet” may be new to you. Preference sheets come in various formats, but in general, they are survey questions that you answer to help your yacht’s crew cook what you like, serve you in the way you desire, and help customize every aspect of your charter vacation to your personal wishes.

Usually, your charter broker will send you a preference sheet and may even help to guide you in completing it before sending it to the yacht’s crew. Some preference sheets ask you to list the tastes and wishes of every guest in your charter party, while in other cases, each guest will be asked to fill out an individual preference sheet.

The types of questions you can expect to answer on a preference sheet include:

• Do you prefer large or small breakfasts? 

• Are there any food allergies in your charter party?

• Are any of your guests vegetarians?

• What non-alcoholic beverages do you enjoy during the day?

• What types of wine and liquor do you prefer?

• Are there any special occasions, like birthdays, taking place during your charter?

• Are there any medical conditions, like diabetes, the chef needs to know about?

You get the idea. Most preference sheets focus heavily on food, as the yacht’s chef will use your preference sheet to stock the galley with everything you want before you get onboard. Some charter brokers use more extensive preference sheets that ask questions about your sleeping habits, exercise regimens, and details as precise as whether you will be bringing your own hair dryer or would like to use the yacht’s.

Again, all of these questions are designed to help the crew prepare to serve you in exactly the manner you desire. Remember: Yachts are smaller than hotels or cruise ships. They cannot store everything in the world onboard. They have to rely on you to tell them what you want, so they can go out and get it before you arrive.

The most common complaint that yacht crew and charter brokers alike have about charter guests is that they fail to fill out preference sheets honestly and completely. Many guests, for instance, will write “I’ll eat anything!” on their preference sheet, then step onboard the yacht and tell the chef that they don’t like fish. This, of course, can be a challenge for a yacht chef, especially in an off-the-beaten-course destination where fresh beef may be hard to find.

It’s important to be honest when filling out your preference sheet. If you like to sleep till noon on vacation, say so—thus alerting the crew to leave you alone in your cabin until lunchtime. If you’re picky about the kinds of wine you want to drink, list the labels that you like on your preference sheet. If you want to surprise your spouse with a gourmet anniversary dinner onboard one night, then say so on your preference sheet so the crew can buy the necessary decorations and food before leaving the dock.

Preference sheets may seem like an unusually personal inquisition in terms of vacation planning, but they are the absolute key to ensuring your yacht charter vacation will be customized. Don’t be shy when filling them out.

Ask for exactly what you want, and rest assured that you will get it.--Kim Kavin