Below you will find a long list of questions that we get all the time. Hopefully, they'll be of help to all who have booked their sailing holidays with us, as well as those contemplating doing so!
If you have questions not answered here, just send us an email!
What
can you offer?
Are you more expensive than booking direct?
Why book with Salty Seas?
Sailing holidays; only for the rich?
Is this a suitable type of holiday for children?
What are the requirements for chartering bareboat?
If we charter with a skipper, what kind of skipper are
we likely to get?
Can we use the services of a skipper for the first couple
of days only?
How do we book?
Can you help us book the flight as well?
Can we book a hotel through your company?
How is our holiday investment protected?
From
where can I obtain weather forecasts?
Should I report back to base during the sail?
How about expenses incurred while we are sailing?
I have a problem with the engine/sails/electric equipment
and cannot sail on. What now?
I am at sea and in need of assitance. What do I do?
Salty Seas Yacht Charter Ltd. offers sailing holidays bareboat and with skipper or full crew wherever the sun shines. That includes numerous bases in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, French Polynesia, the Seychelles, and Australia. We also arrange combinations of sailing holidays and sailing courses, assist with participation in many regattas, and take care of special arrangements for corporate clients, sailing clubs, etc.
Are
you more expensive than booking direct?
No. All major charter companies rely on a network of agents both for marketing and customer service. Few accept direct bookings, and if they do, their prices are the same. If you had seen the booking center of a charter company, you'd also have seen why this must be so: Often 3-4 persons are responsible for booking the entire fleet of 200-500 yachts. That does not leave much time to provide customer service!
That is our job. We are here to advise you on the choice of yachts and destinations, availability, and of course prices. As independent agents our obligation is not to any particular charter company, but to find the best possible solution for you, our client. Making sure you don't pay more than necessary if of course part of this, and our special offers page is only one way of ensuring this. However, quality is always our primary concern: While we have yachts to offer most clients, it is fair to say that our strenght is in providing newer, well equipped quality yachts at reasonable rates, and not in rock bottom prices on old and worn out yachts.
Why
book with Salty Seas Yacht Charter Ltd.?
Salty Seas went dot.com long before it became fashionable, back in the ancient age of 1995. That means we were among the very first pioneers of yacht chartering on the Internet. Since then, we have stayed with the Internet strategy, as we consider this the perfect channel for providing our clients with information on sailing holidays. However, contrary to most dot.coms, we have run at a profit since day 1, and our rapid growth has been in revenue (charters booked), not in expectations...
From the beginning, we have considered the world our home market, rather than concentraring on our own country. After all, the Internet is without boundaries, fast and secure financial services are readily available, and the nature of our business is in itself international: Sailing holidays world wide. Fortunately, our clients have proved our theory right, and we continue to receive bookings from all corners of the world, though the USA, Canada and Western Europe naturally account for the major share.
However, this is history. The reasons for booking your sailing holiday with us today include our experience from years of dealing with international clients, in-depth knowledge of the destinations, a high level of customer service, financial security through our travel guarantee fund membership, access to the combined fleets of large charter companies world wide, a high quality profile, and reasonable rates!
Sailing holidays; only for the rich?
It is a misconception that yacht chartering is only for the wealthy. In reality, we have solutions for almost any budget. While sailing has always been a favorite pasttime of the wealthy - and we do of course provide luxury level charters also - the vast majority of our clients are people with a normal income level. If they have something in common, it is their taste for adventure!
It this a suitable type of holiday for children?
Most definitely! We have ourselves sailed with children from 7 months of age and upwards, and have had clients sailing with even younger ones. Parents often have three worries: Safety, seasickness, and that the children will become bored. Our experience tells us the are never bored, seasickness is rarely a problem and can be dealt with in different way, and with the necessary safety precautions, few things are safer than sailing. But please do ask for our recommendation for destinations, suitable yachts, etc. We will help make this a worry free experience for parents and children alike.
What are the requirements for chartering bareboat?
You do not need to hold a sailing certificate or license, but must be able to document the necessary experience to safely handle a bareboat yacht. A sailing license/serticifate can of course be useful for this, but upon confirmation of your booking, we'll send you a self declarence to fill in and return, and issue the necessary documents based on this.
If we charter with a skipper, what kind of skipper are we likely to get?
The competent, friendly and English speaking kind! Not only will he make sure you get safely from port to port, but he'll be your guide to best best places to visit, and if you'd like, your personal sailing instructor!
Can we use the services of a skipper for the first couple of days only?
Of course! For those who can sail but feel a little "rusty" this is a great - and safe - way to begin your holidays.
We will help you find the right yacht for you, where and when you want it. The booking itself can be done by email, fax or phone. Either way, we'll send you the booking confirmation and other documents right away.
Can you help us book the flight as well?
We have clients from all corners of the world, and believe that we serve you better by concentrating on the core of our business. Those who try to do everything rarely succeed in doing anything well... Thus, we recommend that for flights, you contact one or several of your local (discount) travel agents, who are in the best position to book the cheapest and/or most suitable flights from your location.
Can we book a hotel through your company?
Yes, we work with local hotels at all our destinations, and will be happy to help you and your party with accommodations before or after your sailing holiday.
How is our holiday investment protected?
Salty Seas Yacht Charter Ltd. is fully bonded under EU/EEC regulations through the state travel guarantee fund.
Yes.
Yes.
Does the yacht have all the equipment needed to prepare meals on board?
Yes.
You will receive a booking confirmation from Salty Seas with all the details of your charter, including payment. Normally, 25% to 50% of the charter is payable upon confirmation, and the rest either one month prior to embarkation, or at embarkation time on the base. Policies vary between the different companies we represent.
What forms of payment are accepted?
Salty Seas accepts payments through VISA, Mastercard/Eurocard and Amex credit/debit cards, as well as regular bank transfer and PayPal. For payments at the base, we accept cash in many currencies, travel checks, banker's checks, but not credit cards or personal checks.
Contrary to most charter companies, Salty Seas accepts payments through VISA, Mastercard/Eurocard and Amex credit/debit cards, as well as regular bank transfer and PayPal. For payments at the base, we accept cash in many currencies, travel checks, banker's checks, but not credit cards or personal checks.
What type of electricity is there on board the yacht?
All yachts world wide have 12 V systems. Generators providing higher voltage is only common on larger, fully crewed yachts. Shore power is not common, since it is rarely supported at local marinas or ports.
How about using mobile phones?
In the Mediterranean area the GSM 900/1800 system is well developed. At other destinations, the system and signal availability varies, so feel free to enquire about the area you are going to sail in.
Are there life vests and other safety equipment on board?
All yachts chartered through Salty Seas are very well equipped with regard to safety equipment. This includes approved safety vests, harnesses, life raft, VHF, radar reflector, lighted buoys, distress signals, fire extinguishers, and much more.
How about safety equipment for children?
Since children come in all shapes and sizes, we recommend that you bring suitable life vests. However, there are also childrens vests in the yachts or at the bases, so please let us know the number you require, and the size (weight) of the children.
Does my travel insurance cover sailing holidays?
Sailing holidays are, quite correctly, not considered high risk by the insurance companies, and do not require any special insurance arrangement beyond your ordinary travel insurance. However, if you are going to participate in a regatta, you should check with your insurance company whether such activities are also covered.
Is there anything special I need to bring?
This may sound strange, but the most common problems on sailing holidays are related to what many come for: The Sun! Please do bring (and wear!) adequate protecion for eyes and skin. As for sunscreen, while sailing you should use twice the factor you would on a holiday ashore, due to the reflection for the water surface and the fact that the breeze will make it very easy to get sunburn without even noticing.
As for other equipment, avid snorklers might bring their own gear (though there are at least one set on board each yacht). Also, though there are towels onboard for regular use, you may want to bring some large beach towels for sunbathing.
A Musto Ocean Gore-Tex gear is a little over the top on most sailing holidays. The skipper and co-skipper might want to bring some light water and wind-tight gear in case it should get a little rough - just so you stay dry and comfortable if it takes a little time to reach port.
From where can I obtain weather forecasts?
This depends on the area you are sailing in. Usually you will find this information in the material we have sent you, and/or you should ask at the base. Of course, you can always call the base for weather forecasts also, but usually there are regular broadcasts on radio and VHF.
Should I report back to base during the sail?
Most charter companies appreciate you calling once or twice a week, if only to confirm that everything is OK. Of course, if you encounter any problems related to the yacht or its operation, you should always call.
How about expenses incurred while we are sailing?
If you find that anything is missing or need to be replaced, please contact the charter company before purchasing. They may very well have a local contact that can help you. If you do purchase something which you want to get reimbursed, remember to get a receipt.
I have a problem with the engine/sails/electric equipment and cannot sail on. What now?
This shouldn't happen on any sailing holiday, but unfortunately, on rare occassions, it does. Please contact either the charter company or Salty Seas as soon as possible, so that the problem can be taken care of in an expedient manner and you'll back in holiday mode in as short a time as possible. If these problems are not caused by yourselves, you may be entitled to compensation, either in the form of a refund or free sailing time - on this holiday or a later one.
I am at sea and in need of assistance. What do I do?
The safety of crew and yacht is your first priority, so if necessary use the VHF on channel 16 to ask for assistance. However, if at all possible, try to contact the base of the charter company or Salty Seas. Here you will find experienced sailors who know how to handle an emergency.
Please send us some comments! We love raves, and are blessed with a large majority of satisfied clients. However, there are occassions where we do not succeed 100%, and since we are constantly working to improve our services and those of our partners, we need to hear from you in this case also. We are ourselves avid sailors, dedicated and in love with our work. We want to do the very best job we can, so we listen to you!