How to Charter a Yacht in Los Angeles: A Complete Guide
Chartering a yacht in Los Angeles is one of the best ways to enjoy Southern California from the water. Whether you're planning a birthday, celebration, corporate outing, sunset cruise, or simply want to spend a few hours on the ocean, a private yacht charter gives you the freedom to enjoy the day your way.
For many Los Angeles yacht charters, Marina del Rey is the ideal starting point. Located just south of Santa Monica and North of LAX, Marina del Rey provides easy access to the Pacific Ocean and several popular Southern California destinations.
If you've never chartered a yacht before, you probably have a few questions. How much does it cost? How many people can you bring? Do you need a captain? What should you bring?
Here's everything you need to know before booking a yacht charter in Los Angeles.
What Is a Yacht Charter?
A yacht charter is a private boat rental where you and your guests have the yacht to yourselves for a specific period of time. Depending on the yacht and charter company, you may be able to customize your experience around what you want to do. You might spend the afternoon cruising along the coast, watch the sunset from the water, anchor and swim, or simply relax and enjoy the boat with friends and family. Unlike a large group tour, a private charter gives you a more personal experience with your own group.
How Much Does It Cost to Charter a Yacht in Los Angeles?
The cost of a yacht charter can vary considerably depending on several factors, including:
The size and type of yacht
Number of guests
Length of the charter
Date and time
Catering and additional services
Smaller boats may be available for shorter trips, while larger luxury yachts can cost significantly more.
When comparing charter prices, make sure you understand what is included in the quoted price. Some companies include the captain and fuel, while others may charge these separately. For a private yacht charter, it's also worth considering the experience and professionalism of the captain—not just the hourly rate.
Many charter companies will advertise charter pricing at an hourly rate without stating there’s often a minimum charter duration making the price seem much lower than it actually is. Typically, most yacht charters have a minimum of 3-4 hours. Pricing varies depending on the yacht and size, but most smaller yachts will be over 500$ and often leaning closer to 1000$
How Many People Can You Bring?
The number of guests you can bring depends on the yacht size, charter requirements, and coast guard regulations. Different vessels have different legal passenger limits, and those limits should never be exceeded. Your charter company should be able to tell you the maximum number of guests permitted on the specific yacht you're booking.
Typically, most private yacht charters will have a maximum of 12 passengers allowed. However, depending on the vessell, some will have a maximum of 6 passengers. When you inquire about a charter, give the captain or charter company your exact group size. That makes it much easier to recommend an appropriate yacht, not only to satisfy vessel and coast guard capacity limits, but also to ensure your party has enough space to safely move about and enjoy your charter!
Do You Need a Captain?
For most private yacht charters, yes—you'll have a professional captain operating the yacht.
A captain does much more than simply drive the boat. The captain is responsible for safely operating the vessel, navigating, monitoring weather and sea conditions, managing docking and anchoring, and helping ensure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable experience.
Having a professional captain also means you don't have to spend your charter worrying about navigation, traffic, docking, or operating the yacht. You can relax and enjoy the day with your guests!
How Long Can You Charter a Yacht?
Charters are commonly offered in several different time periods depending on the yacht and operator. Typically, most day yacht charters are 3-4 hours long, but also may run up to 8 hours. Many people ask: what is a good duration? From experience, 3 hours is not sufficient for an enjoyable time out on the water. The experience is rushed and often feels like you boarded and then unboarded.
A good charter duration for day trips is 4 hours. This gives everyone enough time to enjoy the day and not feel rushed. Remember, it often takes at least 30 mins to hit the ocean coming out of most harbors!
Can you extend your time during the charter? Often times yes, however this may not always be the case. Sometimes yachts are chartered back-to back, and the crew and captain need time to reset for the next group coming aboard. Make sure to check with your charter company or captain on the day of the charter to see if this could be a possibility if desired.
Multi-day charters are also possible on many yachts. and can span up to a few days to a week. Check with your captain and charter company for availability.
Where Can You Go From Marina del Rey?
Marina del Rey is one of the most convenient places to start a yacht charter in Los Angeles. From Marina del Rey, you can cruise along the Southern California coastline and depending on your itinerary, conditions, and the amount of time available, explore areas around:
Santa Monica
Venice Beach
Playa del Rey
Manhattan Beach
Redondo Beach
Palos Verdes
Malibu
Some trips are simply about getting out on the ocean and enjoying the coastline. Others may be planned around a specific destination or activity.. Your captain can help determine what makes sense based on your charter duration, yacht, weather, and sea conditions.
What Should You Bring on a Yacht Charter?
One of the best things about a private yacht charter is that you don't need to overpack. For most trips, consider bringing:
Sunscreen
Sunglasses
A hat
Light layers or a jacket
Food and drinks
A towel if you're planning to swim
Phone chargers
Phone battery banks (if everyone's using the outlets!)
Sea-sickness patches or medication (just in case)
Shoes are a common topic for charters. Most shoes are acceptable, with sandals and flat white sole bottoms being common and acceptable. Black-sole shoes are not allowed as they often scuff and damage the deck and interior flooring. Heels and similar shoes should be left at home.
What Happens on the Day of the Charter?
Before your trip, you'll receive instructions about where to park and meet, what time to arrive, and contact information for your captain. Once everyone arrives, your captain will get you settled aboard and go over any important safety information.
From there, it's time to enjoy the water! Your captain will handle the navigation and operation of the yacht while you and your guests can focus on enjoying the experience. Depending on your itinerary, your day might include cruising the coastline, listening to music, enjoying food and drinks, taking photos, swimming, or watching the sunset.
The exact itinerary can depend on the yacht, weather, sea conditions, and the amount of time you've booked.
How Far in Advance Should You Book?
For weekends, holidays, summer dates, and special events, it's generally a good idea to book as early as possible, typically at least 1 week prior.
If you're planning a birthday, bachelor or bachelorette party, corporate event, or other special occasion, booking ahead gives you more options when it comes to yacht selection and scheduling. It also allows the charter company and captain more time to prepare the vessel to ensure a fun exciting day on the water!
Last-minute trips can sometimes be accommodated depending on availability, but your options may be more limited. Charter requests made the day prior or day of are often not able to be accommodated.
Why Charter With a Professional Captain?
The captain has a major impact on your charter experience. A professional captain brings knowledge of the local waters, navigation, weather, boat handling, docking, anchoring, and safety. The right captain allows you to get the most out of your experience safely. Knowing where to go, how to operate smoothly, expertise for any emergencies that arise, and much more are all reasons why choosing the right captain matters.
At Noah's Yacht Services, our goal is to provide professional, reliable, and quality captain services so our charter guests have a memorable and relaxing experience.
Ready to Charter a Yacht in Los Angeles?
If you're looking for a private yacht charter or professional captain in Marina del Rey, Los Angeles, Newport Beach, or throughout Southern California, Noah's Yacht Services can help you plan your day on the water.
Whether you're looking for a private captain, charter support, yacht delivery, or owner instruction, we provide professional USCG-licensed captains tailored to your needs.
Ready to get on the water? Contact Noah's Yacht Services to discuss your next yacht charter. | 310-433-5599 | info@noahsyachtservices.com
