What should a family-office yacht charter due-diligence checklist contain?

Before shortlist approval

• Yacht identity, flag, length and tonnage are recorded consistently.
• Proposed dates, embarkation, disembarkation and countries are fixed enough for a meaningful regulatory review.
• The full guest party has been checked against permitted capacity.
• Priority anchorages and shore access have been assessed by the captain.
• Each quote distinguishes base fee, taxes, permits, estimated expenses and optional spending.

Before contract and deposit

• The manager identifies the commercial permissions needed for the itinerary.
• Existing permissions are evidenced; outstanding applications have an owner and deadline.
• The tax calculation specifies its base, rates and collecting party.
• Annual yacht costs are distinguished from incremental trip costs.
• The agreement addresses missing permissions, material itinerary changes and new charges.
• Any material insurance assumption has a written answer.
• Payment instructions are independently verified through a previously established contact channel.

Before final payment and departure

• Required approvals and transaction filings are complete or appropriately confirmed.
• Certificate validity extends through the charter, or an evidenced renewal plan is accepted.
• Guest entry requirements have been rechecked.
• The captain has reconfirmed the itinerary against current local restrictions.
• The organiser knows which costs remain estimates and who can authorise additional spending.

Recommended decision record: give every material item a status—documented, supplier-stated, awaiting specialist confirmation, or unresolved. Record the evidence date and the person responsible for closing the issue. A confident sales statement should not silently become a documented fact.