Il Miglio Blue: FAQ for Boat Charters in Sicily

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FAQ - The Staff of Il Miglio Blue has years of experience in planning boat charters in Sicily. Some common questions and answers are listed below. Please contact us if you have any other questions.

Q: How do I rent a boat?
A: Contact us with your request, which should include the following information:

Type of boat: Sailboat, Catamaran, RIB, Gulet, or Motor yacht
Crew: bareboat or with skipper and/or hostess
Number of guest, cabins, wc
Dates requested
Destination: Aeolian, Aegadian, Ustica, or Malta

It is often useful to indicate your ideal budget; look at the boat details on the website to see the price ranges and remember that the highest prices will be in August. If you are interested in an economic charter we recommend May-June or September-October.

We will send you an offer of all the boats available for your request, here is one example:

_________________________________________
Sailboat: Oceanis Clipper 393, year: 2004, 3 cab, 2 wc
Base: Milazzo

Period: 12-19 July 2008 (7 days)
Price: 2,400 euros

Extras (to pay at the embarkation):
Sheets and towels: 14 euros / person
Outboard Motor: 100 euros / week
Final cleaning: 80 euros
Security Deposit: 1,500 euros

Included in the price: tender, mooring in Milazzo
Not included in the price: airport transfer, fuel, mooring outside the base marina, provisions
_________________________________________

Select the boat that interests you and place an option, which will reserve the boat without obligation for 3-7 days. If you need more time, just ask, and we can usually extend the option for a few more days.

You can confirm the booking prior to the expiration of the option. We will send you an order confirmation and ask for 1) a 50% down payment (bank wire-transfer) within 30 days from the moment of the confirmation and 2) the following data to complete the contract, which will be sent to you for signing:

Name, Family name
Place and date of birth
Residence
2 Identification documents (Passport, Driver Licence, Sailing License, etc)

If you choose to book last minute, keep in mind that if the charter is within 30 days from the booking, we require a 100% down payment (bank wire-transfer) at the moment of the booking.

Once we have the down payment and the signed contract we will be in frequent contact with you to assist in the pre-cruise preparation. Within 30 days of the embarkation we will need to have:

An accurate crew list
Confirmation of the EXTRAS (sheets, airport transfer, etc.)
The 2nd payment

We can coordinate a minibus transfer from the airport to your base of departure. The Yachts in Sicily are normally rented with embarkation Saturday afternoon and disembarkation Saturday morning, with a cleaning of approximately 2-4 hours per yacht between charters. The base manager will try his/her best to get you into your yacht prior to the scheduled check-in time.

The check-in: if you are renting bareboat expect to spend about an hour with the base manager going over the inventory and working-check lists of the yacht, and discussing possible itineraries. If you are renting the boat with skipper you can expect a shorter check-in.

During the check-in you will be required to confirm the yacht is in order, sign an original of the contract, leave a security deposit, and pay for any extras requested.

A refundable security deposit is required for all yacht rentals in Sicily. The boats are insured. However, the insurance covers damages only in excess of a predetermined amount, which is the refundable security deposit. This deposit is to be paid at the embarkation by cash, check, or Credit Card (not all the boats accept CC). If the boat returns without problems, the entire security deposit will be immediately refunded. However, if the boat returns with damages or loss of equipment the security deposit will not be immediately returned to the client. The damages will be evaluated, and if they are less than the amount of the deposit the difference will be refunded to the client.

The price of the yacht rental includes the following:

Insured Yacht rental (+ tax), equipment, full tank gas, fuel, water
Tender
Mooring the first and last night

The price does not include provisions, mooring during the charter, and the following extras:

Sheets and towels (10-20 euros per person)
Outboard Motor (100-130 euros / week)
Final Cleaning (80-130 euros)
Skipper (910-1000 euros / week)
Hostess (900 euros / week)
Extra sails
Provisioning Service
Airport Shuttle Transfer

These extras are to be paid at the embarkation in cash or by check. In some yachts the sheets and towels and the outboard motor may be included. We will specify what is and isn't included when we make the original boat offer. The final cleaning is mandatory for all yachts, and the price varies depending on the yacht size.

If you choose to charter with a skipper and/or hostess keep in mind that you will be responsible for their meals. We can coordinate a provisioning service and airport shuttle transfers at an additional cost.

The staff of Il Miglio Blue is always available to offer assistance during your charter. If equipment breaks down during the charter we will immediately send a mechanic to resolve the problem.

You will be required to return to the base marina the evening prior to your disembarkation (exceptions possible by request). The boat should be returned in working order, with a full tank of fuel. Extra fees are generally applied if the boat is returned exceptionally dirty, or without a full tank of fuel. The official check-out will be either the evening prior to the disembarkation or at the moment of the disembarkation. Expect to spend about 30 minutes with the base manager at the check-out. If there are no problems the security deposit will be refunded.

If you need to cancel you vacation the following apply:

• Cancellations more than 30 days prior the embarkation: 50% down payment retained.
• Cancellations within 30 days of the embarkation: 100% payment retained.
  

Q: What type of boat should I rent?
A: There are many ways to explore the waters of Sicily, by sailboat, catamaran, RIB, Turkish Gulet, or by Motoryacht. Which type of yacht is best for you depends on how you want to spend you vacation and with whom you are travelling.

Sailboats are recommended for those with sailing experience and those interested in learning how to sail. The Aeolian Islands are famous for their winds, and a sailboat rental can be an exciting experience. Luxury sailboats are available with private WCs for each cabin, separate crew cabins, air conditioning and generator.

Catamarans are recommended for those new to sailing, families, and large groups. CATs have larger living areas and more deck area. They are more stable than sailing boats, and don't heel during navigation nor rock when at anchor. Larger CATs have private WCs for each cabin, and separate crew cabins, and are equipped with air conditioning and generator

RIBs, or Rigid Inflatable boats, are ideal for those interested in diving or sleeping in hotels and spending the day out on the water.

Turkish Gulets are perfect for multiple families or large groups interested in being together in one yacht. Each cabin has a private bathroom, the crew sleep in separate crew quarters, and there is ample living space and deck area. The Gulets are rented with Captain, hostess, and sailor and you can expect spectacular Sicilian Cuisine. Luxury Gulets are equipped with air conditioning and generators.

Motoryachts are fast, luxurious, and offer 5 star service with Captain and Hostess.

Q: When is the best period to rent a boat in Sicily?
A: The charter season in Sicily starts around Easter and ends in November. The boat prices are divided into three seasons: low, medium, high.

Low season: March, April, May, October, November

We recommend visiting Sicily during the low season (spring and fall) because you will pay much less for the boat rental and the anchorages and marinas will be quiet and more economical. The daily temperatures (min-max) range from 11-18°C in March to 16-22°C in May, and 18-23°C in October to 14-19°C in November. The highest precipitation is recorded in the fall (more than 90mm/month) followed by the spring (about 60mm/month). Water temperatures is less than 20°C, with the exception of October, where the water is still warm enough for comfortable swimming.

Medium season: June, July, September

Yacht prices are still affordable in this season, yet expect to pay more for marinas and there will be other boats and tourists. Daily average temperatures will be above 20°C. July has the lowest average precipitation (5mm/month), less than August. Temperatures occasionally rise above 40°C when the winds arrive from the South. These southerly winds, called "Scirocco", are hot, dry, loaded with desert dust and ash from Etna, and can cause unstable rainy weather. Water temperature is above 20°C.

High season: August

Most Italians take the entire month of August for Holiday. Prices are expensive for everything, and everywhere is very crowded. In addition, it is hot and the weather is unstable. Temperatures occasionally rise above 40°C during "Scirocco" winds. Water temperature is above 25°C.

Q: Do I need to have a sailing license?
A: If you are interested in renting bareboat you will need to provide a photocopy of a valid sailing license at the time of the booking.

Q: Is it okay to have small children onboard?
A: Il Miglio Blue is a strong supporter of children onboard. Our staff has seen children as young as 2 years old enjoy a boating holiday. However, not all skippered yachts allow children. If you are planning to cruise with children please let us know during your initial request.

Q: What is the best way to travel to Sicily?
Sicily has two international airports, one in Palermo and the other in Catania. and a national airport in Trapani. We recommend flying into Palermo or Trapani if you are embarking on the west coast of Sicily at any of the following bases: Marsala, Trapani, Palermo, or Cefalù. We recommend flying into the Catania Airport for all other bases of embarkation. Another national airport is located at Reggio Calabria, pefect for those embarking in Calabria.

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