From Television to the Real World of Yacht Charter
Many people are first introduced to the yachting world through reality television series such as Below Deck. This often leads to common questions such as is Below Deck real, and how real is Below Deck when compared to a genuine luxury yacht charter experience?
While the show offers a fast-paced, high-drama glimpse into life on board, it presents a simplified version of the industry. Professional yachting is built on preparation, discretion, and expertise, elements that are rarely reflected in reality television.
Below Deck has sparked a great curiosity amongst the public into the reality of yachting. However, it tends to overdramatise and avoid some of the realities of the industry. In this blog, you will get the expert knowledge from us as industry professionals on some of the most common misconceptions as well as what you can expect from a real luxury yacht charter experience.
How Real Is Below Deck Compared to a Luxury Yacht Charter?
For a real-life industry and working environment to be translated into a television series, there needs to be changes to the regular practices and schedule.
This means a level of compressed timelines, heightened personalities, drama, as well as simplified processes. This is something that makes a really interesting and fun watch, but depicts the industry in a light that isn’t always the real truth.
Professional luxury yacht charters prioritise the guests’ comfort, safety and 5-star service. The experience is tailored to the people boarding the vessel and is ensured to be professional and relaxing.
The crew on board always ensure to go above and beyond to make your charter experience one of a kind, exceeding your every expectation and ensuring opulence every step of the way.
Moreover, there are no cameras on board; the crew are there to assist you and not partake in any drama that might ensue. The environment is fully professional and made to provide 5-star service at sea.
The calm, smooth, relaxing charters rarely make for dramatic television. However, they define the experience of a private luxury yacht charter.
The Yacht Crew – Training, Experience, and Professional Standards
Every person on board a luxury yacht charter must have the correct accreditation and certifications for working on board. These include certification for serving food and beverages, as well as other service or industry-specific requirements.
They also undergo continuous training and regular refresher courses in order to ensure they keep up with any new requirements and standards on board.
Moreover, every yacht charter that we organise at 212 yachts operates under strict maritime regulations. This is a guarantee for all of our clients and partners that what we offer is the highest standard of luxury and service available on the market.
Professionalism and bespoke service are available at every stage and essential for the yacht charter experience.
Of course, there might be the occasional discourse and disagreements on board, like any workplace. However, the on-screen conflict seen on Below Deck is not representative of most of the professional crews in the industry. These industry professionals operate on reputable yacht charter vessels with continuous high standards of conduct.
Guest Experience – What Real Charter Clients Can Expect
While the Below Deck experience might be enticing, we can promise you that booking a private luxury yacht charter with us will give you a totally separate experience, in all the best ways.
Charter guests are the priority. As valued guests on board, they receive attentive service, complete privacy, and personalised itineraries on every private luxury yacht charter with 212 Yachts.
Behind the scenes of a yacht charter, there is also a great deal of planning. This is to ensure preferences are anticipated long before guests step on board.
Thus, all you want and need is on board, thanks to the detailed planning. When you have found the yacht charter vessel you would like to charter, we ensure everything else is perfect. This includes sending you preference sheets, pre-charter briefings, and ensuring the captain and crew are informed of anything and everything.
The real luxury of a yacht charter is often more about what you don’t notice than the opulent amenities in themselves.
The Role of the Charter Company – What Happens Behind the Scenes
As a luxury yacht charter company, our role is to assist you in every aspect of your charter experience. From the first enquiry to stepping off the yacht, we are there to assist and exceed your expectations of luxury service.
Moreover, as MYBA Accredited yacht charter brokers, 212 Yachts have access to thousands of yachts worldwide, as well as yachts not listed publicly online. With a trusted yacht charter company representing your interests, these exclusive opportunities become available to you.
To be more specific in what a yacht charter company does, we:
- Help with yacht selections
- Itinerary planning
- Contracts and compliance
- Financial transparency
- Correspondence between client, owner and crew
All to ensure your charter runs as smoothly as possible.
Furthermore, we work closely with captains, crew, and yacht owners to ensure an optimal experience through transparent communication and open discussion.
With over a decade of experience in the industry, we have long-term relationships with many yacht owners as well as yacht crew, meaning we most often have insider knowledge of the people involved.
This means that your charter is not a one-off booking, but a booking with a trusted partner and someone we have already established a collaborative relationship with, as well as completed successful charters with.
Are Yacht Charter Costs Realistic on Below Deck?
When watching the opulence of the yacht charter industry on television, it is easy to wonder what the costs are when chartering.
Many of the guests on Below Deck get a discounted offer to appear on television. Therefore, the costs, service and tip do not reflect the industry standards well. This means they sometimes simplify the pricing for storytelling, making the actual breakdown of costs diffuse.
Real luxury yacht charter rentals include a base charter fee, APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance), which is usually between 35-40% of the charter fee, as well as VAT, which depends on the cruising region (ex. 20% in France). Depending on the charter, itinerary, etc., you might also be subject to additional delivery fees, berth fees, etc. However, these fees are usually calculated and predicted in your APA. Note that since APA is a predicted fee, there may be some left over or a negative balance after the charter is finished. This means that depending on the balance, after the charter, you might be reimbursed for the excess APA or required to pay an additional fee.
Pricing is something which needs to be discussed before the charter and therefore calls for the need of transparency between you, the crew and your broker. Professional luxury chartering is about clarity and transparency, not unwanted surprises.
Why Shows Like Below Deck Still Have a Place
While Below Deck often portrays the yachting industry in a negative light, it has significantly increased global awareness and interest in yachting, introducing new audiences who may not have previously considered it. Thus, establishing a new role for the yacht brokers, to guide expectations, educate responsibly as well as uphold industry standards. We are a luxury yacht charter company that is a part of the real world beyond the screen, and therefore need to inform people accordingly.
Considering a Yacht Charter? What Matters Most
Now that you know about the differences between the television show Below Deck and the real life industry, are you interested in a real-life luxury yacht charter experience? With us, you can choose experience over drama and work with professionals who understand destinations, prioritise safety and value discretion.
A well-planned charter feels effortless when it is expertly managed by experienced yacht charter professionals.
If you’re curious what a real luxury yacht charter feels like, we’re happy to guide you. Contact us at info@212-yachts.com for more information and a bespoke consultation from a MYBA Accredited yacht charter company.
Respecting the Craft of Professional Yachting
Below Deck offers entertainment and a great segue into the reality of the yachting industry. However, it does not reflect the full extent of the real yachting industry. Understanding how real Below Deck actually is versus the reality of professional yacht chartering allows guests to approach the experience with the right expectations.
Professional yacht chartering is built on expertise, teamwork and respect. Meaning, understanding the difference between the reality TV show Below Deck and what actually happens on deck will greatly heighten your experience on board.
FAQs on Below Deck vs Real Yacht Charters:
- How real is Below Deck?
- Below Deck is filmed on real yachts with real crew members, but the experience is heavily edited for entertainment. Timelines, guest behaviour, crew interactions, and pricing are often altered to create drama, meaning it does not accurately reflect a real luxury yacht charter.
- How does real yacht chartering work?
- A real yacht charter is usually done through a broker which organises all details, preferences and paperwork. Then on board you will receive a 5 star service with a crew and captain catering to all your wants and needs professionally without drama.
- What should first-time charter guests know?
- A first time charter guest should know that the real experience on board a yacht charter is much more luxurious, bespoke and exclusive than what is seen on Below Deck.
- Do yacht crews behave like on TV?
- No. Yacht crews are trained industry professionals that do not cause or stir drama on board. They are there to ensure optimal service, bespoke experience and luxury at its finest.
- Why are charter costs different in real life?
- Charter costs are different due to it not being televised. On below deck, the production company stands for a part of the costs therefore the guests pay a bit less.
- Who plans everything behind the scenes?
- Behind the scenes a broker plans and organises everything for your luxury private yacht charter experience. The broker is in contact with the captain, crew, and any other actors who might be important for your charter, to ensure optimal communication and that everything turns out perfectly.
