Frequently Asked Questions

The charter fee covers the cost of the yacht, crew, and onboard water toys. In the Virgin Islands, most yachts offer “all-inclusive pricing,” meaning they are priced per person. This is due to the short distances between islands, allowing for accurate fuel estimates and set rates. In other locations, prices are typically “plus expenses,” which include APA (Advanced Provisioning Allowance), VAT, and any delivery fees. 

Crew gratuity is not included but is optional and left to your discretion.

The APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance) is an additional 20-30% of the charter price for catamarans and 30-40% for motor yachts. It covers the cost of requested supplies, port and mooring charges, fuel, communications, and other extras based on your preferences for services, itineraries, food, and beverages, etc. 

The Captain will keep an accurate record of spending, and at the end of the charter, you will be refunded or asked to pay the difference if additional operating costs are incurred.

Value Added Tax (VAT) applies to charters in most Mediterranean destinations and some other locations, including the Bahamas.

Your itinerary is tailored to your preferences and is based on the weather. Your broker will suggest a route, and once onboard, the Captain will finalize the plan according to your input and current weather conditions.

You’re chartering the entire yacht, so the price is not dependent on the number of guests.

In the Mediterranean, High Season is July and August, Mid Season is June and September, and all other months are Low Season. 

In the Caribbean, High Season is during Christmas and New Year, with all other months considered Low Season.

The earlier you book, the better! Most charters are booked 3-9 months in advance. If you would like the choice of the yachts, the sooner you plan, the greater the chance of getting your preferred option! When booking in advance, we’re able to offer you the best of the best.

Once you’ve selected a yacht, we’ll place it on hold while you finalize your travel plans. You’ll then receive a contract to review. A 50% deposit of the charter fee is required at the time of booking, with the remaining 50%, plus VAT and APA, due 4-6 weeks before your charter begins.

The yacht’s price is set by the owner and management company. The quoted price will be the same as any other broker’s, with no additional commission added. Think of a charter broker like a real estate agent—you only need one broker to access all available yachts.

Typically, no. Rates are set by the owner, though some may be willing to negotiate depending on the situation. Discounts might be offered for early bookings, last-minute deals, or cancellations. We’ll highlight any specials in your personalized quote.

We always say:

• It’s impossible to predict but it doesn’t hurt to ask. 

• The best yachts don’t need to discount to get bookings. Don’t be surprised if they say no. 

• Whether or not an owner agrees to a price offer might depend on the stock market that day!

Most yachts are only bookable through a charter broker. It’s also safer to book through a broker to ensure your money is held in escrow until the charter begins. This protects you if anything goes wrong with the yacht or owner.

Of course! Prices for additional toys depend on the location and type of equipment. Note that using a jet ski in some countries requires a boat license.

At this price point, a catamaran offers more above-deck space. This would give you options for a top-of-the-line catamaran or a lower end motor yachts.

We send a tailored selection of yachts that meet your needs, prioritizing those we’ve personally inspected or had guests aboard. If you prefer comparing similar yachts, we can send additional options. If you’ve received suggestions from another broker, feel free to share them with us for an honest and professional opinion.

There are yachts we don’t send for reasons including overall maintenance, the crew, or the yacht manager’s reputation behind the scenes.

 Not all brokers maintain the high standards we do at Myst. Remember, this  is a once in a lifetime trip and cheaper isn’t always better!

We accept check, wire transfer, or ACH payments. 

Card payments are accepted only in exceptional cases and incur high transaction fees and have a $20,000 limit.

Payments are processed through QuickBooks via US banks in US Dollars with favorable exchange rates.

Alternatively, you can wire funds in euros. 

Your money is placed in an escrow account, ensuring your protection. 

For last-minute bookings (within 45 days), we only accept wire transfers.

No, you can pay in USD through U.S. banks with favorable exchange rates so that you don’t have to wire money internationally. Please check with us for the current exchange rates and how long we can lock them in for you.

• We have a Euro bank account you can wire funds to. 
• Your local bank can set up the transfer for you.
• You can use WISE for a free exchange account that takes minutes to set up. 
• We also use MoneyCorp if you want a US representative to assist you in the account of the best banks for foreign currency transfers, offering the best exchange rates.  We can refer you to our local and trusted representatives.

A KYC (Know Your Customer) check verifies your identity and ensures compliance with anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism regulations. Some yachts require background information about guests at the time of booking.

A crewed boat is not comparable to a skippered boat!

A crewed boat has a full-time, employed crew, including a captain and chef who provide customized service and creates a custom menu based on your preferences. Water toys are included.

Skippers are freelance organized by the charter company but hired by you. While they know the area, they may not be familiar with the specific yacht, and everything—including supplies and toys—must be purchased separately.

 If you have a hostess or chef, they will only prepare a simple breakfast and a light lunch /or dinner, similar to a short order cook. They prepare what you purchase but do not craft a menu for you.

*Additional water toys incur extra costs*

We highly recommend travel insurance to protect your charter investment against various unexpected situations, such as medical emergencies, trip cancellations, trip delays, lost luggage, etc.  

You can search and compare options at InsureYonder.com. We recommend “Cancel for any reason” policies, but they are the most expensive.

Crew gratuity is at your discretion but customary. 

In the Caribbean, it’s typically 15-20% of the charter fee;

In the Mediterranean, it’s 10-15%. 

Gratuity is not calculated on APA or VAT.

Check with us for customary amounts in other exotic locations.

Cash is preferred, but you can also wire the funds to the crew or pay us to wire the tip on your behalf.