Frequently Asked Questions
Q) How should I choose?
No banquet menu, website, e-mail or fancy brochure, can help you understand more about the yachts of East Coast Yacht Cruises than a simple one-to-one conversation with any of our sales event and cruise coordinators. With over 25 years experience in creating some of the most talked-about nautical celebrations in the New York City metro area, Long Island, New Jersey, and Connecticut they can help you select the most suitable private, luxury yacht for the type, budget and style of your upcoming event.
Q) What do I actually call these ships?
Call them boats, ferries, barges, yachts, vessels, or ships, they are extremely different in appearance, layout, features, price, size and accommodations.
Q) What things should I consider before making a selection?
- 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 East Coast Yacht Cruises, Inc, call toll free 800.278.7178
- 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 East Coast Yacht Cruises, Inc toll free 800.278.7178.
- Comfortable Dining Deck Capacity - (This is especially significant for charterers planning formal buffet or seated affairs). When it comes to "comfort", 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 may 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 "comfort"? - 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 on comfort. Taking advantage of a boat's maximum capacity should only be considered with cocktail style receptions or free-style progressive buffets.
- 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.
- 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 urge you to strongly consider the latter.
- The Ship's Heads (restroom facilities) - 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.
- East Coast Yacht Cruises, Inc. 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, the East Coast Yacht Cruises, Inc. 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, 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.
Q) What should I know about 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.
Q) Can I view the yachts?
Making an appointment and visiting the yachts in person, is the first, and most important step you can make towards choosing the ideal yacht. Moreover, inspecting the yacht under the professional guidance of our nautical event planners will help you maximize your understanding of every detail. Our yachts can be viewed by appointment 7 days a week, based on availability. To schedule an appointment, please contact East Coast Yacht Cruises, Inc toll free 800.278.7178
Q) How do I select the menu?
Whether 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: East Coast Yacht Cruises, Inc toll free 800.278.7178
Q) What type of service should I choose?
Whether 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, East Coast Yacht Cruises, Inc toll free 800.278.7178
Q) May I place a "hold" on a yacht?
You can place a temporary "verbal hold" for a specific yacht, time and date, with no money down and no obligations. The "verbal hold" will automatically expire within two (1) week. 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, East Coast Yacht Cruises, Inc toll free 800.278.7178
Q) How do I check for 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 50% - 60% 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. Call for your date East Coast Yacht Cruises, Inc toll free 800.278.7178
Q) How do I book a yacht?
To secure a specific yacht, date and time, you will be required to sign our yacht charter agreement and pay a non-refundable deposit. The amount of the deposit varies from yacht to yacht. The balance of all fees is required 25 business days prior to your charter. Payments can be made by personal or company check, money order, wire transfer. Credit cards and cash are not accepted forms of payment. To book a specific yacht, date and time, call East Coast Yacht Cruises, Inc toll free 800.278.7178
Q) How do I pay a gratuity to the staff?
Gratuities are always appreciated, and never expected. We encourage our clients that if you feel the extra service that you received warrants a gratuity that you place that gratuity into an envelope with the East Coast Yacht Cruises Coordinators name, and an envelope for the yacht's Maitr'ed, and one for the DJ/Band and present them on the day of your event.
