The author John ‘Mac’ McDonald, Owner of Mega Yacht Services,
originally hails from Newport, Rhode Island. He spent his early years
sailing lasers, 420s and 470s which initiated a life long passion for sailing and the ocean/water sports. A career in finance pulled him away from the water for an extended period and he spent 18 years working on the Chicago and New York options exchanges. It was during this time that his burgeoning interest in food and wine led him to start exploring
investment opportunities in this sector. In 2015 he took the plunge and purchased Mega Yacht Services, a business established in St. Maarten 16 years previously. His business acumen and experience on Wall Street
provides him with a unique understanding of what high net worth
individuals want and expect from a service provider in this market. Mega Yacht Services is now entering a new chapter as John drives the
company’s expansion into Europe.
There’s a big world to explore and with all the charter options
available to you, both by air and sea, the world is getting smaller every day. There’s no time like the present to break out a map and pick a place to see next. If private yacht charter is new to you, there are a few things you’ll want to consider before booking your super yacht charter. There is a yacht for everyone. Start with the basics, and let the luxuries take care of themselves.
1. Plan Your Destinations
Do you want to marvel in the uncharted, natural treasures of the
Bahamas or Virgin Islands from your own remote white sand beach? Maybe you want to spend some time exploring the culture and night life at your favorite Caribbean ports. Perhaps you prefer to stay stateside and head down to the Florida Keys or chart a course to Greece for the history and food? There’s a big world to see. Luckily you have more than one season to see it all. Consider the time of year you would like to travel in order to match up with the best weather.
2. Consider Your Budget
3. Be Mindful of Your Guests
Discuss your guests’ needs and wants with your charter company. They will want to know how many people you’ll be bringing and where they are coming from. If there are going to be children on the trip, make sure you relay their ages and any special requests for
entertainment on board or at sea, as well as any special dietary
restrictions or preferences. If you are bringing pets, you’ll want to communicate this information as well to set expectations with your charter company. This information affects everything from the
provisioning to the schedule you set, so know who you’re traveling with and what their needs are when you start your planning.
4. Stay in Range
The nautical range and duration of the trip is high on the list once the guest count has been decided upon. You’ll want a company that is well versed in logistics planning, a company who is able to
implement contingency plans if travel gets interrupted.
5. Determine Your Vacation Duration
The size of your boat, distance you’re looking to cover, and whether you need to pick people up on the way, can affect your port
selection. Some people just want to get to their destination while others prefer to travel without time constraints. Communicating your travel style will help your charter company plan an itinerary that works for you.
Once you’ve decided these five things, the right charter company can make vacation planning basically plug and play. The right
company will listen to the client’s needs and wants and help them to understand the difference between the two. Knowing this
information will help your charter company put you into the ideal yacht that checks all the “need” boxes and as many of the “want” boxes as possible, within the given budget.