The charter broker sends through a preference sheet: ten guests, two weeks, Turkey and the Dodecanese, one guest is a practising Muslim, one is coeliac, the principal wants a Michelin-level dinner somewhere with a view and does not want to be photographed. You have never been to Turkey. You have nine days.
Research Before Romance
Anyone can copy an itinerary from a magazine. Management-level research means checking whether it can actually be delivered by this vessel, in this season, for these guests.
For each destination, establish:
- Access — anchorage or berth, depth and draft, tender landing, distance and passage time.
- Season and weather — prevailing wind, swell direction, what is open in May versus August.
- Formalities — clearance, cruising permits, visas for guests and crew, pets, alcohol import.
- Supply — provisioning quality, flower supply, laundry ashore, medical facilities, fuel.
- Experience — restaurants, sites, hikes, museums, beaches, nightlife, and what they cost.
- Rules — marine parks, anchoring restrictions on seagrass, no-fly zones for drones, quiet hours.
Working with Agents
A good local agent or destination concierge is the difference between a good itinerary and an impossible one. They hold berths, clear the vessel, know which restaurant will really hold a table for twelve at 21:30, and know who to call at 02:00.
| Use an agent for | Do it yourself for |
|---|---|
| Clearance, berths, permits, port formalities | Guest preferences and the tone of the trip |
| Local transport, guides, security | The onboard timeline and service plan |
| Emergency shore support, medical | Anything the guest expects you personally to own |
Brief agents properly: numbers, dates, dietary and access needs, budget ceiling, confidentiality. Ask for options with prices, not one recommendation. Confirm everything in writing and get a cancellation policy for each booking. Remember that the captain or purser normally owns the commercial relationship with agents and the payment — coordinate, do not freelance.
Local Customs and Etiquette
Cultural error is a service failure. Research and brief the crew on:
- Dress ashore — modest dress at religious sites, covered shoulders and knees, shoes off.
- Religious observance — prayer times, Ramadan fasting hours, Sabbath, dietary law.
- Alcohol — where it is restricted, and where crew drinking ashore in uniform will cause offence.
- Photography — of people, of religious sites, of military installations.
- Tipping and bargaining norms, greeting conventions, hierarchy and who is addressed first.
Onboard Notes
- Every itinerary is a hypothesis until the captain confirms the passage plan, the berth and the weather. Never send a guest a schedule the bridge has not seen.
- Verify anything a guest may rely on. A restaurant that closed last winter, promised to a principal, is your failure, not the website's.
- Write a destination file as you go — anchorage, contacts, what worked, what did not. It is the most valuable thing you will hand to your successor.