With the cruising industry in tatters and the desire for remote travel greater than ever, chartering a yacht can sound appealing.
But what does it cost? And will rates decrease during the coronavirus pandemic?
Yachting has long been the terrain of the ultra-wealthy — and yes, some charter prices are akin to a down payment on a house. But for others, charters can be cheaper than a week on a cruise ship for a family of four.
First things first: What exactly is a yacht?
Understanding what makes a boat a yacht isn’t as simple as it sounds.
“This is a never-ending discussion,” said Daniel Ziriakus, president and chief operating officer of Northrup & Johnson, a luxury charter and superyacht broker headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. “In the 80s, a 100-plus-foot vessel was considered a top-of-the-market superyacht, stretching yacht engineering to its max capacity. Today, a yacht this size is considered to be on the ‘smaller’ side.”
While there’s no universal agreement, a “yacht”…
