Big Discounts on Quality Charter Yachts
href="http://www.charterwave.com/find-a-broker/reputable-brokers.html" target="_blank">reputable charter broker
Two well-regarded motoryachts with experienced charter captains announced big discounts this week, one for Bahamas charters this spring and the other for Mediterranean charters this summer.
First is the 145-foot Heesen motoryacht At Last, which is part of the charter fleet at Churchill Yacht Partners. (That's her master cabin in the photo at right.) Now under the command of Capt. Herb Magney, who formerly ran the 125-foot Palmer Johnson motoryacht Milk and Honey, At Last is in the Bahamas and is attempting to secure more charter bookings before the end of May.
To that end, the Churchill team tells me that At Last is now offering eight days for the price of seven, which is a $125,000 base rate. Or, you can get 14 days for the price of 10, which is a $187,500 base rate. Or, you can choose 21 days for the price of 14, which is a $250,000 base rate.
You read that last line correctly: You can get an entire week of charter for free aboard At Last in the Bahamas if you book two weeks at the advertised base rate.
Meanwhile, charter broker Michael Sawyer of Infinity Yacht Charters tells me that management company Camper and Nicholsons International just notified brokers about a serious price cut on the 139-foot Feadship motoryacht Never Enough, whose longtime charter 
captain, Chris Young, previously ran the 118-foot Trinity motoryacht Time for Us.
Never Enough (that's her main salon in the photograph at right) has most recently been advertised with a lowest weekly base rate of $190,000. She now is being offered at a base rate of $150,000 for charters this summer in the Mediterranean.
That's a discount of about 20 percent.
What strikes me about these offers is not just their financial scope, but that they are for high-quality motoryachts with well-known captains, as opposed to lackluster boats with unknown crew that would be expected to have to offer discounts in the current economic climate. At Last just completed a two-year refit in 2009 and is being promoted as "virtually new," while Never Enough received high praise for her condition just four months ago at the Antigua Charter Yacht Show. (My own review, based on the tour that I took of Never Enough in December, includes the phrase "looks practically new.")
So these two newly announced, sizable discounts are arguably for good yachts with good captains in good locations at good times of year. That, to me, represents not just good deals, but also good value for your charter dollar.
Any reputable charter broker can help you take advantage and secure a booking aboard either yacht.
Editor's Note: Infinity Yacht Charters is a sponsor of CharterWave, where this blog originates.
