What does it mean to charter a yacht?

Chartering a yacht means renting a boat with crew (or alone) for a defined period, usually a week. The model maps to a vacation rental but on water: the guest gets exclusive use of the yacht for the charter period, sets the itinerary inside legal sailing limits, decides the menu, and brings whoever they invite. Crewed charters bundle a captain, chef, and stewardess in the price. Bareboat charters skip the crew — the guest skippers themselves. The yacht returns to the owner at the end; the charter doesn’t transfer any ownership. Costs run $15,000–$500,000+ per week depending on yacht class and destination. The MYBA contract governs every legitimate crewed charter and locks in deposit, payment, and cancellation terms. First-time charter guide defines the model in full.