BEGINNERS GUIDE TO YACHT CHARTERS

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a dramatic increase in the number of Galveston fishing yacht charters as more people seek to take to the water for private getaways they otherwise would not get going through luxury hotels or major cruises. When you are in the process of seeking your own yacht charter in the Galveston area,  make sure you contact Up Above Adventures for an indelible experience along the Gulf Coast.

Our Guide to Yacht Charters will help you understand everything that is involved in the booking process before you step foot on board any vessel. Here are a few of the things you should know.

How important is a charter broker?

A yacht charter brokerage refers to a company that charters out and manages charter yachts on behalf of a yacht owner, the principal charterer, or possibly both parties. Not every charter broker is the same, so you will have to do a little bit of research.

Certain charter brokerages will only operate regionally and thus have much smaller client databases, but many others focus only on their charter listings. Yacht owners may have to switch to another brokerage if a person later chooses to sell their yacht or have it professionally managed. 

You can protect yourself by using a well-known charter brokerage that is a member of a professionally-regulated charter body such as the Worldwide Yachting Association (formerly known as the Mediterranean Yacht Broker Association or MYBA), International Yacht Brokers Association (IYBA, formerly known as the Florida Yacht Brokers Association [FYBA]), or Charter Yacht Broker Association (CYBA).

A charter broker has the job of matching you with the proper yacht and crew before taking the lead in planning your entire experience. Professional bodies like the ones above can be a database of industry-recognized professionals. 

In many cases, the best source for determining a charter broker can be your own network. This means that you should trust the opinions of friends and family who have experience using charter brokers.

After you find what you believe is the right broker, your communication with them will be important. You will want to take the time to be as detailed as you can about your specific preferences, including your dietary requirements, things you like and dislike, and what your preferred activities would be.

How much will this cost?

While most people can expect to spend about $40,000 for a week on a yacht that is 82 feet or more and sleeps six people, Up Above Adventures offers yachts at much more reasonable prices. Our plans include all of the following:

• 4-Hour Yacht Charter for $1,500 — For a minimum of four hours, we can give you a luxury sportfishing yacht with a captain and crew. Your fuel is not included, and you can also get snorkel equipment. A near-shore trip includes sport fishing for redfish, black drum, sheep head, and shark in warm weather, as well as speckled trout. You also receive a personally planned itinerary with family, friends, or associates up to a maximum of six guests.
• 8-Hour Yacht Charter for $2,500 — For a minimum of eight hours, you can get a luxury sportfishing yacht with a captain and crew. Your fuel is not included, it is estimated at 55 gallons, and you can also get snorkel equipment. The near-shore trip includes sport fishing for redfish, black drum, sheep head, and shark in warm weather, as well as speckled trout. You also receive a personally planned itinerary with family, friends, or associates up to a maximum of six guests.
• 12-Hour Yacht Charter for $4,000 — For a minimum of 12 hours, we give you a luxury sportfishing yacht with a captain and crew. Your fuel will be estimated at 250 gallons, and you can also get snorkel equipment if you need it. This deep sea off-shore trip from May through September includes sport fishing for larger red snapper, Mahi Mahi, kingfish, ling, and sharks. You will receive a personally planned itinerary with family, friends, or associates up to a maximum of six guests.
• 36-Hour Yacht Charter for $7,200 — For a minimum of 36 hours, we give you a luxury sportfishing yacht with a captain and crew. You also get meals prepared by our chefs, and snorkel equipment if you desire. This deep-sea off-shore trip from August through March includes sport fishing for larger red snapper, Mahi Mahi, kingfish, ling, and sharks. You will receive a personally planned itinerary with family, friends, or associates up to a maximum of six guests.
• 48-Hour Yacht Charter for $9,500 — For a minimum of 48 hours, we give you a luxury sportfishing yacht with a captain and crew. Your fuel will be estimated between 700 and 800 gallons, and you also get meals prepared by our chefs and snorkel equipment if you desire. This deep sea off-shore trip from August through March includes sport fishing for larger red snapper, Mahi Mahi, kingfish, ling, and sharks. You will receive a personally planned itinerary with family, friends, or associates up to a maximum of six guests.
• Weekly Yacht Charter / Call for Price — For a minimum of seven days, we give you a luxury sportfishing yacht to the gulf coast destination of your choice with meals prepared by a chef. Your fuel will be estimated by the destination you choose and you also get snorkel equipment if you desire it. This trip is available from August through March and includes sport fishing for larger red snapper, Mahi Mahi, kingfish, ling, and sharks. You will receive a personally planned itinerary with family, friends, or associates up to a maximum of six guests.

A good rule of thumb is to budget for an extra 30 percent on top of a baseline charter figure for certain extras, as that may go into a fund that is known as Advanced Provisioning Allowance (APA). At the conclusion of the charter, it is also customary to tip your crew, and gratuity for captain and crew is not included in Up Above Adventures’s rates although fish cleaning is included at an 18 percent minimum gratuity.

• A 25 percent deposit will be required for all trips, and trips should be paid in full prior to leaving the dock. Up Above Adventures accepts all major credit cards, apps, and cash.
• Up Above Adventures offers a full refund if your trip is canceled 20 days prior to the date of the trip. Customers can reschedule up to seven days prior without losing their deposit.
• If a customer does not reschedule prior to seven days before the date of a trip, then the deposit can be forfeited. If a customer does not cancel or reschedule or show up on the date of the trip, they are still charged the full price of the trip booked.

What destinations will be ideal for first-time charterers?

Up Above Adventures is based in the magical waters of Galveston Bay all year round. Located just minutes from the Gulf of Mexico and right off the Galveston Ship Channel, Galveston Yacht Marina serves boating enthusiasts and avid anglers visiting to explore the endless gulf coast inshore and offshore fishing.

Your tour location will include all of the following:

• Corpus Christi, Texas — Corpus Christi’s beaches in the Texas Gulf Region include the Bayfront beaches, McGee Beach, and North Beach. 
• Destin, Florida — Destin is in the Florida Panhandle and offers fishing opportunities, charming shops, and many family-friendly activities, as well as public beaches.
• Galveston Island, Texas — The Galveston Bay Area has such attractions as Moody Gardens, Schlitterbahn Waterpark, the Kemah Boardwalk, and miles of beaches along the Bolivar Peninsula and Galveston Island.
• Grand Isle, Louisiana — Take advantage of beaches closest to New Orleans and Baton Rouge.
• Gulf Shores, Alabama — Explore 32 full miles of Alabama coastline.
• Mustang Island, Texas — Numerous outdoor activities await you here, such as kayaking, fishing, and swimming. You can also enjoy the island’s seaside golf course or visit restaurants, boutiques, and art galleries in Port Aransas.
• Ocean Springs, Mississippi — The Mississippi coast allows for camping, boating, hiking, fishing, and biking. You can also visit Front Beach, which is a white sand beach right next to the town’s yacht club.
• Orange Beach, Alabama — Orange Beach area has over 30 miles of white sand beaches and sea oat-covered dunes. You can also explore the 90-mile-long Civil War Trail and visit the Fort Morgan State Historic Site, which both have ties to the Battle of Mobile Bay.
• South Padre Island, Texas — A common site for many on Spring Break, this area is also a popular family vacation destination because South Padre has wide sandy beaches and sparkling blue water with several activities for kids of all ages.

Know Your Crew

In addition to finding the right yacht, another important element of a charter will be its crew. A crew will know your cruising area better than anybody else. 

The hospitality of the crew on many yachts is what makes most first-time charters repeat customers. The Up Above Adventures crew works for a daily wage and tips just like waiters and waitresses, and tips are discretionary although it is customary to tip the crew 20 percent for good service.

You should also think carefully about who else you want on board your yacht. Because yachts are designed to be intimate and exclusive, make sure you only choose people you like and can enjoy the water with for a week or more.

If you want to book your own Galveston fishing yacht charter, get in touch with Up Above Adventures. You can call (409) 761-5550 or contact us online today to find out more about our booking options.