Reference
Yacht Charter Glossary
Plain-English definitions for the terms you’ll see when booking a private yacht charter. Each definition includes how it applies at Altamar Charters specifically.
- Yacht charter
- Private rental of a yacht with crew, fuel, and basic services included. At Altamar Charters the 4-hour base price in Cancún starts at $10,000 MXN; in Miami at $800 USD.
- Wikidata reference ↗
- Catamaran
- Vessel with two parallel hulls. More stable than a monohull, ideal for larger groups (15-25 guests) and snorkeling. Altamar fleet includes Lagoon, Bali, and Fontaine Pajot.
- Wikidata reference ↗
- Motor yacht
- Yacht powered by engine (not sail). Premium brands in the Altamar fleet: Sunseeker, Azimut, Pershing, Princess.
- Wikidata reference ↗
- Sport yacht
- Smaller, faster motor yacht (40-55 ft) optimized for day trips. Examples: Pershing 50, Sunseeker Manhattan 60.
- Mega-yacht
- Yacht 80 ft or larger. Altamar’s Cancún fleet includes 80-100 ft options with 4-5 cabins, ideal for private events up to 25 guests.
- Crewed charter
- Charter with professional crew included: captain, first mate, and depending on size, sailor and hostess. Every Altamar charter is crewed (we don’t offer bareboat).
- Bareboat charter
- Charter without crew — you skipper the yacht yourself. Requires a boating license and verified experience. Altamar does NOT offer bareboat for safety reasons.
- Marina
- Port facility where yachts are docked. Altamar operates from: Marina Cancún, Puerto Cancún, Marina Puerto Aventuras, Marina Caleta (Cozumel), Miami River Marina, Sea Isle Marina, Bayside Marina.
- Wikidata reference ↗
- USCG-licensed captain
- Captain certified by the United States Coast Guard. Required to commercially operate yachts in U.S. waters. Altamar’s entire Miami fleet runs with USCG-licensed captains.
- Wikidata reference ↗
- Knots
- Unit of nautical speed — 1 knot = 1.151 mph. A typical cruise yacht runs between 15-25 knots (17-29 mph).
- Wikidata reference ↗
- Dock fee
- Marina fee for dock use. Sometimes charged per person at certain Cancún marinas (~$50-100 MXN per person). Altamar bundles it into the quote to avoid surprises.
- Deposit (50%)
- Upfront payment to lock in the booking. Altamar requires 50% of the total at reservation via card or bank transfer. The remaining 50% is paid on charter day at the marina.
- Itinerary
- Charter route. Customizable within the contracted window (4, 6, or 8 hours). Typical routes: Isla Mujeres + El Meco (Cancún), Star Island + Stiltsville (Miami), Palancar + El Cielo (Cozumel).
- Snorkel gear
- Gear included at no cost on every Altamar charter: mask, snorkel, fins. For large groups we ask to confirm sizes in advance.
- High season
- December–April in the Mexican Caribbean (dry season) and December–May in Miami. Prices can rise 15-25% and availability tightens — book 2-4 weeks in advance.
Still have questions?
Quotes via WhatsApp typically come back within an hour.
Open WhatsAppAbout Altamar →