Question 1

How much does an expedition charter cost?

Accepted Answer

More than a comparable Mediterranean charter, and for concrete reasons. The yachts are specialist and scarce, the crews are larger and more expert, the regions carry permit, park and guide fees, and simply operating somewhere remote, fuel, provisioning, logistics, costs more. Ranges vary widely by region and yacht, from strong mid-size expedition yachts to full superyacht expedition platforms with helicopters and submersibles, so a single figure would mislead. The right way to price it is against a specific region, season and group. Tell us where you want to go and roughly what standard of ...

Question 2

Do we need permits or park fees for an expedition charter?

Accepted Answer

Often yes, and it is a real part of expedition planning rather than an afterthought. The Galapagos requires a national park entry fee, a transit control card and operating permits, all administered tightly. Antarctica operates under formal authorizations tied to the yacht's flag state and IAATO membership. Many other regions, from Indonesia's Raja Ampat to marine parks in the Pacific, levy cruising or conservation fees. These are legitimate costs that fund the protection of exactly what you are coming to see, and they sit outside the charter fee. We identify every applicable fee and permit ...

Question 3

Can we get a discount on an expedition charter?

Accepted Answer

Rarely, and it is worth being honest about why. At the expedition tier the constraint is supply, not demand: there are very few yachts able to reach these waters, the seasons are short, and permits cap how many operate. That combination leaves little room for discounting, unlike a Mediterranean market flush with boats. Where we add value is not shaving the rate; it is making sure you are on the right yacht, at the right time, with the right expedition setup, so the trip actually delivers. A cheaper unsuitable boat in Antarctica is no bargain. Occasionally a repositioning or a gap in a yacht...

Question 4

Why are expedition charter prices shown without taxes and APA?

Accepted Answer

Because the extras vary enormously by destination, so building them in would make every price wrong for someone. Unlike a single-country Med charter with one VAT rate, an expedition charter carries region-specific costs: Galapagos national park and permit fees, cruising fees, mandatory naturalist guides, Antarctic authorizations, and long-haul fuel. The APA is your spendable budget for fuel, provisioning and running costs, refunded where unspent, and it runs higher in remote regions for obvious reasons. None of it is a hidden markup; it is the real cost of operating somewhere remote. What w...

Question 5

When is the final payment due, and how does the APA work on an expedition charter?

Accepted Answer

The balance of your charter fee plus the APA are due about six weeks before departure; your agreement shows the exact date. The APA, your onboard budget for fuel, provisioning and running costs, tends to sit at the higher end of the usual 25 to 40% on expedition charters, because remote regions carry real extra costs: long fuel legs, park and permit fees, local guides, and provisioning flown to far-flung ports. The captain accounts for it all and refunds the unspent balance. We go through those numbers carefully with you, because remote-region expenses are exactly where a knowledgeable brok...

Question 6

Are food, drinks and fuel included on an expedition charter?

Accepted Answer

It varies, and on an expedition charter the honest answer is that more sits in the running budget than on a Med week. The charter fee covers the yacht and crew; food, drinks, fuel and the region's park and permit fees are generally paid from the APA, your onboard budget, with the unspent part refunded. Fuel in particular is a bigger line here: remote regions mean long legs and no cheap top-ups, so it weighs more in the APA than it would in the Mediterranean. Some expedition packages, especially in the Galapagos, bundle more into one price, including guides and park access, so we always conf...

Question 7

Does using a charter broker cost me anything?

Accepted Answer

No. Our service is free to you. We are paid a commission from the yacht's side, and the charter fee is the same whether you book through us or go direct. There is no markup for using a broker. In expedition charter the value of a good broker is unusually high, because the pitfalls are real: the wrong yacht for the ice, a season that misses the wildlife, a permit not secured, a region misjudged. We know which vessels genuinely perform in these waters and which just market themselves that way. The one thing we ask: work with one broker. Sending the same rare-yacht inquiry to several just conf...

Question 8

How do payments work for an expedition charter?

Accepted Answer

The standard structure: 50% of the charter fee is due when you sign the charter agreement, and the remaining 50% plus the APA is due about six weeks before departure. Because expedition charters are booked so far ahead, a staged split (for example 25/25/50) is more common here than elsewhere, and we arrange it where the owner agrees. Payment is by bank transfer, the industry standard for amounts this size. Every deadline is laid out in the agreement, so the money side holds no surprises. What differs on an expedition charter is what sits alongside the fee: permits, park fees and guide costs...

Question 9

Do we need travel and cancellation insurance for an expedition charter?

Accepted Answer

More than on any other charter, yes. For expedition travel we consider comprehensive insurance essential rather than optional, and good operators often require proof of it. You want cancellation and curtailment cover to protect a large fee committed far in advance, and, critically, medical and evacuation cover that extends to genuinely remote regions. Standard travel policies often exclude polar regions or remote evacuation, so the detail matters: check the geographic limits and the evacuation cover specifically. We can point you toward specialist providers who understand expedition travel....

Question 10

Is there a minimum length for an expedition charter?

Accepted Answer

Expedition charters tend to run longer than a Mediterranean week, because the regions demand it. Galapagos itineraries are typically 4 to 8 days, shaped by park route rules. Antarctica, the Arctic and the remote Pacific usually want 10 to 14 days or more once you account for the crossings and the distance between highlights. Day charters and single-night trips, common on the Riviera, are not really an expedition concept: the whole value is in reaching places that take time to get to. Tell us the region and how long you have, and we will tell you honestly what is worth doing in the time, rat...

Question 11

What happens if weather affects an expedition charter?

Accepted Answer

Flexibility is built into every expedition itinerary. In remote and polar regions the weather, and in Antarctica the ice, genuinely dictates the day, so plans are drawn in pencil: the captain and expedition leader adjust landings, routes and anchorages constantly to find the best and safest conditions. This is normal and expected, not a failure of planning. A landing swapped for a better bay, or a crossing timed for a calmer window, is the expedition working as it should. On safety questions the captain's decision is always final, which matters far more in these waters than in a sheltered c...

Question 12

How far in advance should we book an expedition yacht charter?

Accepted Answer

Far earlier than a Mediterranean charter: 12 to 18 months for Antarctica and Galapagos, and often more for the best expedition yachts. The reason is scarcity on every axis at once. Very few yachts are built or permitted for these waters, the operating seasons are short, and places like Galapagos and Antarctica are permit-controlled, so the supply simply does not stretch to last-minute demand. Warmer exotic regions, the South Pacific, Indonesia, the Red Sea, Thailand, are a little more forgiving, but the standout boats still book a year out. If a specific season or yacht matters to you, trea...

Question 13

Do you have professional insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes. DMA Yachting carries professional indemnity insurance up to EUR 500,000 with ITIC, the International Transport Intermediaries Club, the specialist insurer for yacht brokers and other transport intermediaries. This matters even more in expedition charter, where the sums committed are large and booked far in advance. Before you send a deposit to any broker for a remote, high-value trip, check that they are insured, reachable and properly accredited. We are happy to be checked. This covers our work as your broker. Comprehensive travel and cancellation insurance for you as the guest is sep...

Question 14

Is it too early to inquire about an expedition charter?

Accepted Answer

No, and for expedition charter early is not just fine, it is necessary. The best Antarctica and Galapagos yachts and dates are secured 12 to 18 months ahead because permits and short seasons cap supply. Inquiring early is often the difference between the trip you want and whatever is left. Even if your plans are not final, an early conversation lets us hold options, explain the season tradeoffs, and flag which regions suit your dates and group. Tell us the region you are dreaming about and a rough window, and we will tell you honestly how far ahead you need to move. See how far ahead to book.

Question 15

What happens after I send an expedition charter inquiry?

Accepted Answer

First, a real conversation, more than a quote. Expedition planning starts with what you want to see and do, and when, because region and season drive everything. From there we shortlist the yachts genuinely capable of that trip, which in these waters is a short, carefully chosen list rather than a long one. Once you choose, we handle the charter agreement, the staged payments, and then the detailed planning that expeditions need: permits, park fees, guides, flights to the gateway, and the day-by-day route with its built-in flexibility. It is a longer, more consultative process than a Med bo...

Question 16

How is an exotic or expedition charter different from a Mediterranean one?

Accepted Answer

They are almost different products. A Mediterranean charter is about coastline, beach clubs, ports and easy sun; an expedition charter is about reaching places few people ever see, and the wildlife, ice and landscapes there. That changes everything downstream. Expedition yachts are built for range, ice or remoteness rather than marina glamour; trips run longer; permits, park fees and expert guides are part of the deal; and booking happens 12 to 18 months out rather than months. The onboard focus shifts from the beach club to the zodiac, the dive deck and the naturalist's briefing. If you ha...

Question 17

What makes a yacht suitable for polar or expedition waters?

Accepted Answer

Real capability, not just the label. For polar waters an expedition yacht needs an ice-strengthened or ice-class hull, ample fuel range for regions with no refuelling, robust tenders or zodiacs for landings, heating and enclosed spaces, and a captain and crew genuinely experienced in ice and remoteness. In warmer remote regions the emphasis shifts to range, watermakers, dive infrastructure and self-sufficiency, since help and supplies can be days away. The common thread is autonomy: the yacht must be able to look after itself far from support. Plenty of yachts market themselves as expeditio...

Question 18

What is a tandem charter, and does it work for expeditions?

Accepted Answer

A tandem charter is one trip spread across two yachts that travel together, sharing a route and coordinating anchorages under a lead captain. It is a way to keep a large group together when no single boat fits. In expedition charter it comes up less often, because so much of the experience favours a single intimate vessel and because landing-party rules can limit how a big combined group operates ashore. But for a large family or private group set on a particular region, two coordinated yachts can be the answer. Tell us the group size and region and we will say honestly whether one larger e...

Question 19

Can we do a bareboat expedition charter?

Accepted Answer

No, and for good reasons. Expedition charters are fully crewed and guided, never bareboat. In the Galapagos, national park rules require a permit and a certified naturalist guide for every shore landing, so a self-skippered charter is simply not allowed. Antarctica operates under strict authorizations that assume a professional operation. Beyond the rules, these are demanding waters, ice, remoteness, big tides, limited rescue, that call for experienced captains and, often, a dedicated expedition team. The value of the trip lives in that expertise. So the question is really which crewed expe...

Question 20

Can we bring an extra child beyond the guest count?

Accepted Answer

Usually not. Every yacht has licensed limits for guests set by its registration and insurance, and expedition regions add another layer: park rules and safety planning cap how many people can land or dive at once. So the number is firm, even for children. Expedition travel with children is wonderful in the right setting, the Galapagos and Norway especially, but it needs a yacht sized and equipped for the real group. The fix is choosing the right boat from the start, not stretching one. Tell us the true headcount, including the little ones and their ages, and we shortlist expedition yachts t...

Question 21

Can we charter for more than 12 guests on an expedition?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes on one yacht, but it needs the right vessel. Many purpose-built expedition yachts are deliberately intimate, 8 to 12 guests, because zodiac landings and guided groups work best small, and some regions cap landing party sizes. That said, the expedition and small-ship world does include larger vessels that carry more. For a big private group we either find one of those larger expedition yachts, or, where it suits the region, arrange two vessels travelling together. The right answer depends heavily on the destination and its rules. Tell us your headcount and region early, because gue...

Question 22

Is an expedition charter safe, and what about medical support in remote areas?

Accepted Answer

Yes, when done properly, and doing it properly is the whole point of chartering a real expedition yacht rather than improvising. These vessels run to serious standards: captains and crews experienced in ice, tides and remoteness, satellite communications, careful weather and route planning, and defined medical and evacuation protocols. Remoteness is the honest reality, help can be far away, so it is planned for rather than wished away: onboard medical kit and trained crew, coordination with regional rescue and, for demanding regions, guidance on travel and medical insurance that covers remo...

Question 23

What should we pack for an expedition charter?

Accepted Answer

It depends entirely on where you are going, and the yacht will send a detailed, region-specific packing list once you book. As a guide: polar and Arctic trips need warm technical layers, a waterproof shell, gloves, hat and sturdy waterproof boots for wet zodiac landings, plus good binoculars and a proper camera. Tropical expeditions, the Galapagos, Indonesia, the Red Sea, flip the list: reef-safe sunscreen, light quick-dry clothing, a hat, and your own dive computer or mask if you have them. Bring any personal medication, including seasickness tablets for open crossings. Soft bags travel be...

Question 24

What activities are there on an expedition charter?

Accepted Answer

Expedition yachts are adventure platforms, not just floating hotels. The core activities are zodiac landings to reach shorelines and wildlife, guided hikes and nature walks, world-class diving and snorkeling, sea kayaking, and paddleboarding in sheltered spots. In the Galapagos and the Pacific that means snorkeling alongside turtles, rays and sea lions. The most serious expedition yachts go further, carrying helicopters for heli-hiking and aerial sightseeing, and even submersibles for deep dives, opening up terrain no other charter can reach. Which activities are available depends on the ya...

Question 25

Are there naturalists or expedition guides on board?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and in some regions it is the law. The Galapagos requires a certified naturalist guide for every shore excursion, so one is always aboard or assigned. Antarctic and Arctic charters carry expedition teams that can include naturalists, ornithologists, historians, glaciologists and dive leaders. Their value is enormous. They read the wildlife, lead the zodiac landings and hikes, run the safety briefings, and turn a glimpse of a penguin colony or a manta aggregation into something you understand and remember. On the best expeditions the guide is as important as the yacht. Tell us how exper...

Question 26

How responsible and sustainable are expedition charters?

Accepted Answer

Done well, they are among the more responsible ways to see these places, and this clientele rightly cares. The permits and park fees that expedition charters pay directly fund the conservation of the Galapagos, Antarctica and other protected regions. Frameworks like IAATO in Antarctica and national park rules elsewhere strictly limit group sizes, landing sites and wildlife distances. The best operators go further: careful waste and fuel management, no-touch wildlife protocols, support for local communities and science, and crews who treat low impact as a point of pride. It is not impact-fre...

Question 27

Does the crew stay on board during the charter?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The captain, chef, interior crew and any expedition team live aboard in their own crew quarters, separate from the guest cabins, for the whole trip. A yacht listed with 5 guest cabins genuinely sleeps 10 guests; the crew and guides occupy none of them. On an expedition that live-aboard team is central: they run the tenders and zodiacs for shore landings, lead the dives and hikes, cook through long remote days, and hold the local and safety knowledge that makes the trip work. It is a larger, more specialist crew than a typical Med charter, and it is a big part of what you are paying for...

Question 28

Will we get seasick on an expedition charter or crossing the Drake Passage?

Accepted Answer

It depends entirely on the region. Most expedition cruising happens in sheltered waters: the Galapagos channels, Norway's fjords, Indonesian straits and Pacific lagoons are generally calm, with short hops and nights at anchor. The real exception is the Drake Passage, the roughly two-day open-ocean crossing between South America and Antarctica, which can be genuinely rough. It is a rite of passage rather than a dealbreaker: larger yachts with stabilizers ride it far better, captains time the window, and modern seasickness medication handles most of it. Some itineraries even fly guests across...

Question 29

Can we scuba dive on an expedition charter?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and diving is often the whole point. Exotica's regions include the finest dive destinations on earth: Raja Ampat in Indonesia for peak marine biodiversity, the Galapagos for hammerheads and marine iguanas, the Red Sea for reefs and wrecks, and French Polynesia for shark and manta action. Some of these yachts are dedicated dive platforms with compressors, nitrox, tenders and dive guides aboard; others arrange guided diving through local operators. Certification and logging requirements vary by region, and a few sites suit experienced divers only, so we match the yacht and route to your ...

Question 30

What crew is on board an expedition charter?

Accepted Answer

More than a standard charter. On top of the captain, chef and interior crew, expedition yachts frequently carry a dedicated expedition team: naturalist guides, dive instructors, and in polar regions specialists such as historians, ornithologists or glaciologists who lead landings and briefings. In some regions this is mandatory: the Galapagos requires a certified naturalist guide, and Antarctic operations run detailed IAATO briefings. In others it is what separates a good expedition from a great one, the difference between seeing wildlife and understanding it. Tell us how hands-on and exper...

Question 31

What wildlife will we see on an expedition charter?

Accepted Answer

It is the whole reason to go, and it is region-specific. Antarctica delivers penguins in the tens of thousands, seals, and humpback and orca whales. The Galapagos means giant tortoises, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies and hammerhead schools. Indonesia's Raja Ampat and Komodo bring reef life, mantas and the famous dragons. The Red Sea has reefs and seasonal whale sharks; Norway has orcas and sea eagles; French Polynesia has sharks and humpbacks. Season matters as much as place: the same region shows different wildlife month to month, which is why we plan around the sightings you most wan...

Question 32

Can we charter a yacht in any exotic region we want?

Accepted Answer

Almost anywhere on our map is possible, but the honest picture is that each region has a finite, sometimes tiny, list of suitable yachts and a specific season. The Mediterranean has thousands of boats; Antarctica has a handful, and each is spoken for early. So the real conversation is not whether a region is available in the abstract, but which actual yachts can go there, when, and whether one fits your group and dates. Part of our job is telling you when an ambition is easy, when it needs flexibility, and when it needs booking a long way out. Tell us where you dream of going and we will ma...

Question 33

How do we get to remote expedition regions?

Accepted Answer

Getting there is part of the expedition, and it needs real coordination. Most regions have a gateway: Ushuaia for Antarctica, Baltra or San Cristobal for the Galapagos (via mainland Ecuador), Sorong for Raja Ampat, Papeete for French Polynesia, Tromso or Longyearbyen for the high Arctic. From the gateway there is often a further charter flight, ferry or transfer to meet the yacht. We plan the whole chain with you: which international flights connect, where an overnight makes sense, and how the final leg to the yacht works, including any weight limits on small aircraft. Book long-haul flight...

Question 34

When is the best time for an expedition charter?

Accepted Answer

Unlike a Mediterranean summer, season on an expedition charter is the whole decision, and it is different for every region. Antarctica runs roughly November to March, the austral summer, with early season for pristine ice and late season for the most whales. The Arctic and Norway are a summer window of long daylight. The tropics, Indonesia, French Polynesia, the Red Sea, each have their own dry and wet rhythms. Galapagos is a good example of how much the month shapes the trip: December to May brings warmer water, calmer seas and active land wildlife, ideal for families and snorkelers, while...

FAQ

Ask our expedition brokers to explain

Costs and payments

Booking and contract

Choosing your yacht

Life on board

Where and when

Tell us the week you have in mind.