FAQ
- How do I book charter?
- What qualifications do I need to charter a yacht?
- What about skippered bareboat charter?
- What does the charter fee include?
- Are there any additional charges?
- What do I get for free
- What if I book 2 weeks or more, or have already booked your boat?
- In case I want to cancel my charter?
- Are yachts and yacht crew insured?
- I don't want to start my holiday on a Saturday. Any chance of a long weekend - say Friday to Tuesday - or a ten-day break?
- Can I take baby on a yachting holiday?
- Can I bring my pet on board?
- Will I have mobile phone coverage whilst away?
- Can mobile phone chargers be used on board?
1. How do I book charter?
Choose BOOKING field, fill in the booking form and our charter management agent Spiritus Maris will contact you. If the yacht type is available for the period and location requested, our agent will proceed with the booking or hold an “option” for maximum period of 7 days. This means the boat is blocked for you for one week - until your final decision is made. If you do not confirm the booking during this period of time, this 'option' will automatically be cancelled. Please note: is not possible to hold a option during the last minute booking.
Upon confirmation of the charter, a Charter Agreement(contract) will be sent to you. This should be signed and returned, along with your down payment to our agent as soon as possible. Typically, upon signature, a 50% deposit is required by bank transfer to our agent’s bank account: the balance of the charter fee is due one month prior to embarkation. For bookings within 30 days of departure full payment must be settled. Please note that a booking will not be fully confirmed until the Charter Agreement has been returned signed and the down payment is paid.
2. What qualifications do I need to charter a yacht?
The charterer e.i. the yacht skipper must have necessary license for the yacht navigation at the open sea.(i.e.Boat leaders licence of compentency and radio–telephone licence of compentency) which have to be presented to the office of our charter management agent Spiritus Maris.
Spiritus Maris reserve the right not to hand over the yacht if the Charterer is not competent for any reason to operate the yacht or to allocate a skipper to the yacht and charge for it. In any case, we strongly suggest that you do not overestimate your skills.
3. What about skippered bareboat charter?
This is good option if you want to eventually bareboat, but don't feel comfortable enough in your skills yet; or if you are discovering a new or challenging sailing area and feel the need to have a guide for your holiday or just a couple of days. our charter management agent Spiritus Maris is in the position to select, recommend and hire on your behalf a professional skipper for as many days as you wish. There is a set daily fee (100 Euro per day) for the professional skipper. You are also responsible for feeding the skipper.
4. What does the charter fee include?
Our yachts are fully equipped with all safety and navigational equipment. This generally includes GPS, autopilot, dinghy and all navigational essentials. Also included in the charter prices are full sets of linens including pillows and blankets and fully equipped galley with all cooking essentials, and bimini top, spray hood, CD/cassette radio players. We proudly remind you that regular charter fee includes Welcome packet: Gratis airport transport, Dalmatian gastronomy packet, Restoran dinner woucher, T-shirts for crew and skipper, Profesional photos...
Elan also have a bowthruster, microwave, grill box+sink(frigo), plasmaTV/ DVD, hydraulic gangway included in price/week.
5. Are there any additional charges?
Final cleaning(obligatory), fuel charges, marina fees, transfers, yacht provision and optionally charges as skipper fee, and spinnaker. Deposit - Refundable Security Deposit payable on arrival in cash or credit card.
6. What do I get for free
All our clients get gratis Welcome packet that includes airport transfer, Dalmatian gastronomy packet, Restoran dinner woucher, T-shirts for crew and skipper, Profesional photos...Outboard engine is also free of charge (only for Elan)
7. What if I book 2 weeks or more, or have already booked your boat?
All our guests who book 2 weeks or more, or have already booked our boat get gratis Loyality packet: Welcome packet included, Gratis dinner in exclusive restoran, VIP crew equipment...
8. In case I want to cancel my charter?
Spiritus Maris calculates cancellation fees based on the period of time between the date of cancellation and the departure date as follows:
- 30% of charter fee will be retained for cancellation up to 2 (two) months before the charter starting date.
- 50% of charter fee will be retained for cancellation up to 1 (one) month before the charter starting date.
, 100% of charter fee will be retained for cancellation less than one month before the charter starting date.
If the cancellation is due to objective reasons (death of a family member, heavy injury, war or other) the accepted deposit shall not be paid back, but the charteree shall give the yacht to the charterer at his disposal for another free period of time or within another season. More about charter conditions and cancellation find on our page: Charter Conditions
9. Are yachts and yacht crew insured?
Yes, all yachts and crew on board are fully insured against all accidents.
10. I don`t want to start my holiday on a Saturday. Any chance of a long weekend - say Friday to Tuesday - or a ten-day break?
Certainly, especially if you don`t want to sail in June, July or August. These are the busiest months for the charter companies, and most weeks are sold out well in advance. If you do want a long weekend or a ten-day break at that time, then we`d be happy to help you book the dates you`d like, but the price is unlikely to be flexible. For a long weekend in June, July , August and Septembert, you would usually be charged for a full week - or even two if your dates go both sides of the weekend.
11. Can I take baby on a yachting holiday?
Yes, you can take baby on board in our yacht. We can provide safety netting(at extra charge) by prior arrangement on our yacht (these must be fitted and removed by the charterer). Childrens buoyancy aids and harnesses are available for 4 years and above only.
12. Can I bring my pet on board?
The keeping of pets (dogs, cats, birds and similar) on the yacht is not allowed, unless a previous agreement was reached in that regard.
Yachts do not permit guests to bring pets on board for several reasons. There is a potential of allergens from animals remaining on board. Animals are typically not accustomed to the strict confinement of a ship and an active cruising itinerary can be quite uncomfortable for pets. Just like humans, animals can also be sensitive to the effects of motion and may become disoriented or lethargic.
13. Will I have mobile phone coverage whilst away?
Mobile phone reception is available in most of sailing areas in Croatia.
14. Can mobile phone chargers be used on board?
Mobile phone chargers can be used on yachts. The car phone charger type can be used and plugged into the 12 volt cigarette lighter on board and standard European 220 V charger plug only in marinas while boat is wired to shore electricity.
CHARTER CONDITIONES:
Charter fee and payment
Charter fee includes: yacht dues for its usage in the period of time stated in the contract. Charter fee does not include: petrol expenses, tourist taxes and a mooring place out of domicile marina.The yacht shall be given at charterer's disposal clean, in working order and with full fuel and water reservoirs, and in the same conditions should be returned. The chartered yacht with complete equipment can be used only after the payment was regularly settled to charteree's account:- 50% of the charter fee latest 5 (five) days upon signing the contract
- 50% of the charter fee latest 4 (four) weeks before commencement of the charter.
Deposit
The security deposit has to be deposited in starting marina by the Charterer when taking over the yacht in cash or credit card. The security deposit shall be refunded in its full amount unless the existence of damage or a defect on the yacht or the equipment is found during the returning of the yacht.In case of loss or damage on the equipment, particular parts of the yacht or the yacht itself, Charteree shall retain the amount (a part or the whole deposit), which corresponds to the value of repair, acquisition and / or purchasing the equipment or particular part of the yacht.
In case the caused damage has the consequence that the yacht cannot be further chartered, Charteree has the right to retain the amount corresponding to the loss of profit.
Charteree obligation
The Charteree is obligated to deliver to the Charterer a completly clean and dry yacht in a seaworthy conditions with full fuel and water tanks in the agreed time and place.If there is any reason that Charteree didnot fulfill above mentioned conditions, the Charterer has the right to ask for a money refund, for the days he has not been using the yacht. Also if the Charteree cannot place the yacht at disposal at the agreed place 24 hours after the expiry of the time period for the takeover, or provide another yacht, at least similar or with better characteristics, the Charterer has the right to give up the contract and demand the total amount of the charter fee for as many days as he did not have the yacht at his disposal.
The Charterer could demand only the amount of the charter fee; any other rights to indemnification are excluded.
In case of damage or defect on the yacht or its equipment caused by the normal natural yacht consumption the Charterer is obligated to inform the Charteree immediately. The Charteree is obligated to remove the damage upon notification.
If the Charteree removes the damage within 24 (twenty-four) hours, the Charterer has no right to require any reimbursement.
Take over and hand over of the yacht
The Charterer will take over the yacht in agreed time and place. When taking over the yacht, the Charterer is obliged to check the condition of the yacht and its equipment according to the inventory list.Any possible objections have to be made until the start of navigation. The possible covered defects on the yacht or its equipment, which couldn't be known to the Charterer at the moment of takeover, as well as defects which could arise after the takeover, do not give right to the Charterer to reduce the charter fee. The Charteree reserve the right not to hand over the yacht if the Charterer is not competent for any reason to operate the yacht or to allocate a skipper to the yacht and charge for it.
If the Charterer fails to takeover the yacht within 48 hours, the Charteree is authorized to give up the contract.
On hand-over inventory quoted on the inventory list should be checked again to see if the yacht and the equipment are in working order. The charterer is obliged to return the yacht cleaned and tidied without the crew and their personal luggage at agreed marina at least until the time specified by the Charter contract, including the physical take-over lasting for an hour. Therefore, it is recommended to return the yacht in the marina the night before the Charter contract termination date. If the returning of the yacht is later that stated in the Charter contract, the charterer has the following fees:
- for the delay up to three hours one day charter fee
- for the delay of more than three hours triple daily charter fee plus all other expenses.
- Delay cannot be justified by bad weather conditions.
Charterers obligation
After taking possession of the yacht, the Charterer shall bear on his own account all costs of the daily berth in the port, or in the marina, costs of fuel, oil, water, cleaning and all other necessities, as well as eliminating all damages and defects, which can appear while the yacht is under charterer's responsibility and which are not a result of normal natural yacht consumption.The Charterer is obliged to sail within the Croatian territorial waters.The Charterer undertakes to respect customs and other regulations and rules, to take care of the yacht and its equipment and navigate it carefully and according to the rules of a good navigator and sail only during safe weather conditions and good visibility.
The Charterer, or skipper, declares undoubtedly that he disposes of all necessary navigational skills and that he possesses a valid license necessary for the navigation at the open sea and the radiophone certificate, which have to be presented to the Charteree.
The Charterer undertakes and states that he shall not sub charter the yacht or rented it to the third person, that he shall not participate in regattas nor yacht races, that he shall not use the yacht in commercial purposes, professional or night fishing, and he shall not sail at night and by unsafe weather.
Number of persons aboard is to correspond to the crew list. The Charterer assumes the responsibility for the consequences of non-observance to his obligations.
In case of accident or damage the yacht or its equipment during the trip, the Charterer is obliged to inform the Charteree without delay. The Charterer is obliged to notify the Charteree and the authorities in case the yacht or equipment is missing, if the further navigation is not possible or in case yacht was dispossessed of , or if further navigation was prohibited by state authorities or third parties. The keeping of pets (dogs, cats, birds and similar) on the yacht is not allowed, unless a previous agreement was reached in that regard.
The Charterer is obliged to keep a log book, check daily oil level in the engine and take care of the sails.
Charterers liability
For the damage caused by actions and failure of the Charterer for which Charteree is liable to the third party the Charterer is obligated to settle the damages to Charteree in their entirety, whether it is the case of material and / or legal expenses that resulted from such actions and failures.The Charterer is explicitly liable for the yacht in case any official body confiscates it, due to inappropriate and illegal actions undertaken during the usage of the yacht.
Charterer is obliged to pay all charges for failures made by himself, for which the Charteree might have criminal or financial responsibility. In case of damage or accident Charterer is obliged to write down a suitable report and to inform authorised bodies (harbour headquarters, police, doctors) and the Charteree in case of disappearance of the yacht, impossibility of operating the yacht, as well in case of state organs or third persons seizing or confiscating the yacht or imposing measures of sailing prohibition.
Insurance
The insurance is determined by the conditions stipulated by the insurance company with which the yacht is insured.The yacht is insured against damages from third parties.Damages covered by the insurance which are not immediately reported to either Charteree or Insurance company,will not be acknowledged as per insurance policy.In that case the charterer is personally responsible for total damages as a result of not reporting of damages. Insurance covers all the damages by franchise caused by weather or from the other natural disasters, but not the damages made on purpose. Charges for purpose made damages are not limited by deposit; Charterer must pay all expenses caused by damage made on purpose.The damages on the sails and on the engine caused by the oil deficiency in the motor are not covered by insurance. Charterer bears the charges for these damages.
Charter termination
If the charterer for any reason cannot start the charter the charterer can find other charterer by himself (with previous acceptance of charteree). If the charterer is not able to find another charterer, charteree shall retain:- 30% of charter fee for termination up to 2 (two) months before the charter starting date
- 50% of charter fee for termination up to 1 (one) month before the charter starting date
- 100% of charter fee for termination less than one month.
If the termination is due to objective reasons (death of a family member, heavy injury, war or other) the accepted deposit shall not be paid back, but the charteree shall give the yacht to the charterer at his disposal for another free period of time or within another season.