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BEING A
GOOD GUEST
Charter Chat
BY SUZANNA CHAMBERS
We’re all aware of the harsh adage that
guests and fish are similar in the fact
that both go off after three days. And
when those guests happen to be on
board a yacht, no matter how luxurious, there’s the
potential for the whiff of discontentment to smell even
more potent.
But the encouraging news is that it doesn’t have to be
this way. Some charter guests are so charming (and
their tips so huge) that crew and brokers are genuinely
delighted when they book again. Yacht Essentials
spoke to a number of global charter companies
and crew to find out what they considered to be the
perfect guest.
Chief stewardess Kate has been in the yachting industry
for more than 25 years. A highly experienced
stewardess, she has quite literally “seen it all.”
“I’ve had all sorts of guests, and if you really want the
truth, well, the ideal guest is the one that cancels,” she
said with a smile. “Of course, I’m not being serious. I
wouldn’t be in the industry if that’s what I really thought.
“I’ve had some fantastic guests, but I’ve also had some
very obnoxious ones. When it comes down to it, it’s all
about the individual people.”
Kate, who has worked on charters across the world, said
it was almost possible to split guests into two camps:
guests with old money, and guests with new dollars to
spend. And, unfortunately, many of those with recently
acquired wealth tend to think of themselves as pretty
big fish, which means they are more likely to go off at
a faster rate.
“If they’ve had money for all their life, then they’re used
to good service. They know what to expect but are appreciative
at the same time. But the ‘nouveau riche’ are
often more demanding. It’s new turf for them, and they
don’t know when to stop.
“What we like are people who are real and civil. Being
civil doesn’t cost anything, and because someone has
asked you to do something in a pleasant manner, then
you want to please them and do as much as you can to
make their charter a massively enjoyable experience.”
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