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No banquet menu, website, e-mail or fancy brochure, can help you understand more about the yachts of New York Yacht, than a simple one-to-one conversation with any of our professional nautical event consultants. With nearly 20 years experience in creating some of the most talked-about nautical celebrations in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut, they can help you select the most suitable yacht for the type, budget and style of your upcoming event.
Selecting the Ideal Yacht
Call them boats, ferries, barges, yachts, vessels, or ships, they are extremely different in appearance, layout, features, price, size and accommodations.
Things you might want to consider before making your selection:
1. Layout - Schedule an appointment to view the yacht of your choice in person. Nothing can substitute the real thing. Photos can help, but they can also be deceiving. Bulky columns or staircases located in the middle of the dining room obstruct the view. Lack of double staircase creates unwanted bottlenecks and passenger discomfort. Narrow spiral staircases drastically restrict passengers' movement from one deck to another. Low ceilings generate an unwelcome claustrophobic filling. Most decks with plastic windows have no heating or air conditioning system and become totally unusable in extreme weather conditions. Outdoor tents become wind tunnels and create a false sense of protection against inclement weather. To learn more, contact our professional nautical event planners at New York Yacht:516-365-3333
2. Long-term Quality Maintenance - (especially significant for charters who are looking to book their date six months to two years in advance). Is the yacht you chose today going to be in the same condition six months or two years from now? As a general rule, yachts with on-board crew quarters and full time employees tend to be much better maintained than their commercial counterparts. When inspecting the yacht it is difficult to be clairvoyant. Without these and similar type of accurate facts, and insider data, it is hard - if not impossible - to look into the future and get a good sense of how the vessel will look on the date of your event. For more information, contact our nautical event planners at: New York Yacht:516-365-3333.
3. Comfortablining Deck Capacity - (This is especially significant for charterers planning formal buffet or seated affairs). When it comes to "comfortability", don't take anyone's word for it. Visit the yacht and decide for yourself. Your definition of what is "comfortable" might not be shared by some zealous boat owners or sales people whose priority is to squeeze in as many bodies as permitted by law. As a rule of thumb, portable dance floors reduce the maximum dining capacity by 20%, while buffet style events lower the dining capacity by an additional 10%.
The following realistic scenario is quite common in the yacht chartering industry: a boat certified and advertised for 149 passengers might have a maximum dining deck capacity of only 110. Upon visiting the boat, you might decide that - based on your standards - the actual comfortable capacity is no more than 90. A portable dance floor will further reduce the capacity to 70 and a buffet setup will bring it down to 60 or 50. Suddenly, a vessel you expected to be much too big for a party of 50 turns out to be your ideal yacht. On the other hand, a larger vessel usually costs more. Are you willing to go the extra mile for the sake of "comfortability"?
4. Comfortable Full Ship Capacity - (especially significant for charterers looking to maximize the yacht's capacity). U.S. Coast Guard certified capacity can easily be misleading. Visit the yacht and decide for yourself. You definition of what is "comfortable" might be quite different than that of the United States Coast Guard. Keep in mind that the U.S. Coast Guard certifies a ship's capacity based strictly on safety, not comfortability. Taking advantage of a boat's maximum capacity should only be considered with cocktail style receptions or free-style progressive buffets.
5. Work-in Galley - (especially significant for charters who demand high quality cuisine). Many charter vessels do not have full cooking capabilities. These vessels rely just on microwaves or simple portable warmers to reheat pre-cooked or frozen foods. Aboard our yachts, the food is always prepared fresh on board, on the day of the affair. When visiting a yacht, always ask to inspect the galley.
6. Physical Bars - Do you prefer a vessel with just one (1) bar, or a vessel with three (3) bars (one bar on each deck)? If you are expecting more than 150 guests we are urging you to strongly consider the later.
6. The Ship's Heads - Often overlooked by most charterers, the elegance, cleanliness, size, location and number of restrooms available on-board can impact dramatically in passengers' comfort and the overall quality of your cruise.
7. Nautical Event Coordinator (Cruise Director) - (especially significant for charterers who know and believe that behind any successful show, there is always a good director). Most charterers rely on the Maitre d' to direct the entire event. What most charterers do not realize is that the Maitre d', whose primary role is to manage all catering related functions from table setting to preparation, presentation and service of food and beverages, has no time to coordinate other activities. By contrast, a nautical coordinator's mission is to handle the complexity of bringing all the diverse elements of a nautical gala together. Your coordinator (Cruise Director) will supervise all deliveries, musicians' setup, decorations and valet parking; will oversee boarding, departure, crew members, coat check and bathroom attendants; will synchronize timing and itinerary between the Captain, Maitre d', Speakers, Photographers and Entertainers; and will orchestrate a multitude of multi-level outdoor/indoor activities ranging from wedding ceremonies and the grand entrance, to meetings, gambling, fireworks, dancing, and announcements. Our professional event coordinators' attention to detail and nearly 20 years experience in creating flawless nautical celebrations ensures perfection from the initial concept through to the execution of the event.
Understanding Space
If you are planning to hold a wedding ceremony, a Las Vegas Night with casino tables, a product introduction party with promotional displays, a meeting followed by dinner, a fundraising auction, a bar-mitzvah with various entertainers and children games, a fashion show, or other similar activities that might require additional space, our nautical event planners will be happy to suggest the most appropriate yacht based on the number of guests expected to attend, the type of activity you are planning, and the estimated additional space required. Once booked, you can no longer switch yachts at a later date.
Viewing the Yachts
Making an appointment and visiting the yachts in person, is the first, and most important step you ca make towards choosing the ideal yacht. Moreover, inspecting the yacht under the professional guidance of our nautical event planners will help you maximize you understanding of every detail. Our yachts can be viewed by appointment Monday - Saturday based on availability. To schedule an appointment, please contact New York Yacht:516-365-3333.
Selecting a Menu
Weather you are planning a luncheon, brunch or dinner cruises, a corporate outing or a wedding reception, there are various menu selections to choose from: A-La-Carte Menus, Banquet Menus, Prix-Fixe Menus and Customized Menus. To help you select the most suitable menu for the type, budget and style of your upcoming event, call our nautical event planners: New York Yacht 516-365-3333.
Selecting a Type of Service
Weather you choose to have a cocktail style, buffet, formal buffet of formal sit-down service, the decision should be made prior to selecting the yacht. Buffet tables can substantially reduce the size of certain vessels' dining deck capacity, while with Formal Sit-Down events, some vessels can not provide table-side choice of entrees on the day of the affair. If these and similar details are important to you, please call our nautical event planners: New York Yacht: 516-365-3333.
Placing a Hold
You can place a temporary hold for a specific yacht, time and date, with no money down and no obligations. The hold will automatically expire within two (2) weeks. Should another client require to book the same yacht, date and time you are holding, you will be given a 24-hour notice with the chance of the first refusal. To place a hold, call New York Yacht: 516-365-3333.
Availability
Check for available dates often. As a rule of thumb, by January 1st of each year, all weekend dates for the current year are 60% - 70% sold out. Brides, travel agents, hotel concierge, tourist group leaders, meeting planners, and convention managers are strongly advised to book our yachts at least twelve (12) to eighteen (18) months in advance. Luncheon cruises and mid-week dates begin selling out four (4) to six (6) months in advance.
Booking the Date
To secure a specific yacht, date and time, you will be required to sign our charter and catering agreements and pay a non-refundable charter fee deposit. The amount of the deposit varies from yacht to yacht and could range between $3,000 and $10,000. The balance of all fees is required 30 days prior to charter. Payments can be made by cash, personal or company check, money order, wire transfer, or credit card (Visa, Master Card, Discover, or American Express). All prices reflect a 5% discount for payment by check, cash or money order. Please review our policy on credit card charges. To book a specific yacht, date and time, call New York Yacht: 516-365-3333.
