Daniel AsmusYacht charter broker, DMA Yachting
The standard structure is simple: 50% of the charter fee is due when you sign the charter agreement, and the remaining 50%, together with the APA and the 14% Bahamas charter tax, is due about six weeks before you step aboard.
If you book far in advance, roughly a year or more, we can often arrange a split of 25% on signing, 25% at the halfway point, and the balance six weeks out. That depends on the owner agreeing, so ask your broker before counting on it.
Payment is by bank transfer. That is the industry standard for good reason, and it is why we always confirm account details with you directly. If you are wondering about credit cards, we explain the tradeoffs here: can I pay for my charter with a credit card?
Every deadline and amount is laid out in the charter agreement before you sign, so there are no surprises on timing.