Words: Freddie Church
Getting yourself an invitation onboard somebody else’s yacht, or indeed owning or chartering your own, is something that every gentleman should aspire to. It’s also one of the best ways to spend your holiday. However, it’s important to remember that yachts present an entirely different social environment than anywhere else, and every gentleman should know how to act correctly – even in this scenario. So, if you’re lucky enough to be setting sail this summer, here is everything you need to know about behaving onboard well enough to guarantee yourself another invite next year…
Treat the yacht as you would your own home
It can sometimes be difficult to relax when you’re in unfamiliar surroundings. But you’re on a yacht, so you need to try and ease your way into it. The crew (and your friends) want you to be as comfortable as possible, and you’ll only fully appreciate how amazing the experience is until you totally relax. So make like you’re at home, just a much, much better one.
Give the crew your full respect
Treat them as you would highly valued employees because each of them from the captain to the stewardess, has an extremely busy and hectic job. From making sure the ship is in good working order and there is enough food and drink on board, to making sure that your holiday is exceeding each and every expectation. The team works hard, so give them the respect they deserve.
Make sure you plan any party in advance
Being able to entertain guests in grand style is one of the major plus points of having your own yacht, so why wouldn’t you want to share it with a few friends? The golden rule of throwing a party on board: making sure you let the crew know what you’re planning in advance. This is crucial and means that you’ll have plenty of food and drink to see the night through in style, rather than expecting them to sort everything out at the last minute. Having a party where you have to stop half way through because the champagne ran out is just poor form, gentlemen.
Allow the crew enough time to get the yacht looking ship shape
While yachts are lavish floating pleasure palaces, they inevitably still need to be kept clean. So give the crew a chance to make sure the beds are made and everything is working smoothly, either take the time to explore which ever exotic port you find yourself in or just leave the crew to it while you top up the tan on the upper deck.
Make sure you know what the smoking policy is onboard
Smoking in the cabins of most yachts is not allowed, but if there are then ask your broker about smoking facilities first. A thoughtful guest will enjoy their evening cigar on the stern or downwind side of the yacht so the smoke dissipates without inconveniencing anyone else.
(Photo: Shutterstock)
Make sure you bring suitable luggage
Yachts don’t tend to have an enormous amount of storage space. So while your hard-sided suitcase might look great and be eminently useful in a myriad of situations, here might not be it. So, make sure you bring suitable soft luggage that is easily stored in the limited space you have.
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