After we chat about how you would like your trip customized, we will document the key points in a Charter Agreement sent for signature via Docusign.  The Charter Agreement is a binding commitment of the vessel and its crew. Upon execution, the Charterer assumes full responsibility for the total contract value. 

Click to see an Example charter agreement

As all payments are non-refundable, we strongly advise that principals or their management teams mitigate financial risk through specialized high-limit trip insurance that can cover 100% of the charter's risk.   We have pre-arranged with MHG Insurance and Yonder Travel Insurance to be two world-class options for Marquis Charterers.  

Marquis Charters is a 'by the book' operation.  Our captains are USCG Licensed for vessels this size or larger, operating on the coast or inland.  Our captains and crew are enrolled in and comply with an independent random drug testing program operated by the Maritime Consortium, which is the same program often used by larger, commercial passenger vessels.  On any charter, any crew member who handles your alcohol is RBS Certified by the State of California.  The same goes for food with food handling certification of crew.  Our chefs are fully certified professional chefs who also operate their own certified prep kitchens on shore.  Last but certainly not least is privacy.  You can find our full PRIVACY POLICY here.

We can take all forms of credit card, EFT and cash payments and have started taking Crypto payments.  

All Marquis Charters commitments are finalized upon receipt of a signed charter agreement and initial deposit are required to secure the vessel’s calendar.

   25% of the charter fee  is paid at contract signing;

   50% of the charter fee is paid at 30 days prior to commencement;

   25% of the charter fee is paid at 14 days prior to commencement.

   For demise charters, the payment milestones on your Advanced Provisioning will be defined in your Yacht Services agreement depending on the nature of the services being funded by APA.

At 7 days prior to your booking, your damage deposit is paid.

If we have agreed to anything different than the above, our agreed terms, will be documented in the contract that we sign for the Charter.

Special Events/Holidays Demand:  On Special Event Days such Airshow, NYE, July 4, BottleRock/LaOnda, SailGP, Rolex Big Boat Series, Super Bowl, FIFA, America's Cup, Opening Day on the Bay, Parades and holidays such as Valentines Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc all bookings are paid 100% when booked.

See our Cancellation and Rescheduling policies.

A signed charter contract is required for all bookings and the actual and full cancellation details will be included in the contract.  If they differ from what's listed here, the contract prevails.  

In keeping with global luxury yacht charter practices, there are no refunds for cancellations, no-shows, or early terminations, regardless of the cause. This includes, but is not limited to, medical emergencies, travel disruptions, or changes in personal itineraries.  We strongly advise clients take advantage of luxury yacht-charter experienced trip cancellation insurance products to protect themselves from financial loss in the event that they need to cancel.  We have arranged for the following partners to provide clients with insurance to protect their investment:  MHG Insurance or Yonder Travel Insurance.

Marquis Charters does support rescheduling of a charter booking if requested in advance subject to a pricing adjustment if a 'regular' charter is rescheduled to a Special Event/Holiday booking.  Special Event and Holiday bookings may not be rescheduled.  Rescheduling must be re-booked within six months and be completed within 9 months, subject to availability.  Cancellations made less than 24 hours from departure can not be rescheduled, except under extreme circumstances solely at our discretion.

Refusing to commence a charter due to denied boarding of too many humans or unapproved pets is considered a same day cancelled charter.  Arriving more than 2 hours late is considered a cancellation.

In the event that environmental conditions prevent safe passage, the Captain will offer the charterer the option to proceed as a "Dockside Charter" at the vessel’s berth.  Under these circumstances, the charter is considered performed in full, and no credits or refunds will be issued.  If in the Captain's discretion the Dockside Charter is also unsafe to perform, or the charterer refuses that option, then the charter will have become interrupted by an act force majeur.

We strongly advise that principals or their management teams mitigate financial risk through specialized high-limit trip insurance that can cover 100% of the charter's risk.   We have pre-arranged with MHG Insurance and Yonder Travel Insurance to be two world-class options for Marquis Charterers.  

Included in your agreement is a damage deposit in the event of damage caused by you or your guests.  But no worries, if you don't throw a chair through a window, throw our fancy dinnerware overboard, pour red wine on our carpets or carve your initials into our gelcoat, your deposit will be released the day after your charter.  

You may also obtain Charterer Liability insurance from our insurance partners MHG and Yonder.