My friends and I went on a cruise a couple of years ago and felt very safe and content on board the enormous cruise ship. We would like to try something a bit different next summer and go on a yacht charter but I’m worried these smaller boats will not be as safe. Are there strict guidelines and regulations they must adhere to before they are able to offer yacht charters to the public?

Editorial Team

No superyacht can cruise anywhere if she is not safe and has not been approved for such activity.

Like aircrafts that carry passengers and crew members, the range of safety regulations is very stringent. Captains must provide all relevant inspection certificates, and insurance companies will not cover a yacht that is not 100% safe. This goes for the crew members too, as they must all be qualified for safety procedures and be able to operate the vessel under any circumstances — they regularly train, and their skills are checked too.

Last but not least, it is important to remember that the size of the vessel has nothing to do with her capacity to be safe, and some smaller vessels will handle rough seas better than bigger ones, as most accidents at sea result from human errors. In any case, the Captain, who is the one and only decision-maker, will always choose the safer option of staying in safe harbour rather than attempting a dangerous crossing, even if that makes the charter guests unhappy.