Finding the Caribbean Holiday that's Right for You: Part 4 - Freelance Charter (Crewed or Skippered)

Yacht Ibis - St Kitts

Freelance yacht charter gives those with a modest holiday budget the option of chartering a yacht directly from the owner or captain.  Prices start at around $4,000 for the boat for a week, or $1,000 per person, plus some additional expenses (see later).  Boats, Captains and/or Crew vary significantly in what they offer to guests and you can choose to be as hands on as you like on this type of sailing vacation.

Who Is It For?

Freelance yacht charters are ideal for those with a reasonable holiday budget and looking for a holiday a little more out of the ordinary. It is ideal for a group of friends clubbing together, or a family holidaying together, and some boats also offer 'per cabin' or 'per person' bookings which make them a great option for single travellers. No prior experience of sailing or boating is needed, but if you're looking to get involved with sailing the boat, this is generally welcomed.

Relaxing on Deck

What You Can Expect On Board

As with luxury crewed charter, the levels of comfort and service vary according to the size of the boat and the crew with a freelance yacht charter.  You can expect a fairly high level of home comforts on board, and boat sizes tend to range from 38 to 50 feet; monohulls and catamarans, motor and sail.  Depending on the size of the boat, you may have to share toilet facilities, and perhaps a cabin.

Crewed Charter

Very often you will find that the boat is run by the owner and his/her wife/husband who work as a Captain & Mate/Chef team to ensure you have an enjoyable holiday. This option is more like staying in a floating guest house, with the boat cleaning and much of the catering taken care of.  Many freelance chefs are as fantastic cooks and take great pride in the meals they provide for you.

Skippered Charter

You will also find Skippered Charters within the Freelance bracket.  The skipper is responsible for sailing the boat from place to place, whilst you and your fellow guests look after yourselves on board.  Expect to do your own cooking and housekeeping and to cater for the Captain, too!  This option is more akin to staying in a self catering villa.

Yacht Ibis

Ibis is primarily a Skippered Charter boat offering berths on a 'per person' basis, although it is possible to book the whole boat for your group or family.  The Captain is involved in most aspects of sailing and running the boat, although it's expected that guests pitch in and everyone works and plays together.  Breakfasts, lunches and the occasional dinner are provided and the cuisine is healthy and of a high standard.

Morpion, Petit St Vincent, the Grenadines

Where You Can Cruise

Freelance Charter Yachts operate in all areas of the Caribbean (and the world).  Decide on the area you would like to sail in and look for a suitable boat operating in this region.  As a general guide, most yachts operating in the Caribbean sail in the Northerly part only outside the Hurricane Season (November to June).  During the summer months they are obliged to take their boats out of the danger zone (for insurance purposes) and this means sailing in the Southern Caribbean, around Grenada, Trinidad or Venezuela.  Bear this in mind when considering where you'd like to sail.

Depending on the type of boat (sail or power) your cruising range can be from 100 to several hundred miles a day.  Your  Captain will recommend a sailing itinerary to fit with your dreams & schedule.

What's Included*

• Captain or Captain & Mate team
• Use of on-board facilities
• Berthing costs (check the contract)
• Fuel (this may be excluded for motor yachts)
• Some meals (check the contract)

What's Not Included*

• Provisioning – food and drink costs
• Fuel (this may be included if the yacht doesn’t make long voyages)
• Other costs such as island tours and travel to and from the boat
• Gratuity - a minimum of 10% of the cost of the charter fee is customary

Estimated Cost Per Head*

Freelance charter boats are more likely to accept bookings per cabin or per person; typical costs per week are as follows:


Charter = 1,250
Food & Drink = 250
Travelling = 100
Gratuity (15%) = 180

TOTAL = US $1,780

Other Points to Note

You will be encouraged to participate in sailing the boat and in the sailing lifestyle.  If you're travelling alone, you should bear in mind that you'll be sharing a relatively small space with a new group of friends.

How to Book

Bookings for freelance yacht charters tend to be made directly with the owner or Captain. Most have their own website, although some don't and rely solely on word of mouth. When evaluating a boat, remember that every freelance charter boat offers a different experience for guests; this is very much shaped by the boat itself and the Captain and/or crew running it.

Examples of Freelance Boats offering this type of holiday include:

Yacht Ibis
Micamale Yacht Charter
Yates Yachts (agency)

* = Actual costs & inclusions/exclusions depends on your charter contract


Not what you're looking for?  See also:

Luxury Crewed Charter
Flotilla Holiday
Bareboat Charter
Sailing School Holiday

Yacht Ibis offers adventure sailing holidays with relaxed tuition for singles, couples or groups & families of up to 5 people.  You can book a single berth or the whole boat and your Captain, Samantha Bartlett can teach the RYA syllabus to Day Skipper Level or ASA to Basic Coastal Cruising standards.