Questions

Yes. On our Tampa Bay yachts, every price includes the captain, crew and fuel. You approve your own captain from our approved list, and the captain introduces himself before the day.

Every yacht in the fleet carries a maximum of 13 people in total: you, as the person chartering, plus up to 12 guests. Some yachts take fewer; the 32' Saxdor takes 9 and the 38' Sea Ray and the 44' Fountaine Pajot take 10. Everyone aboard counts, including children and infants, and it is a legal limit rather than a house rule, so nobody at the office can make an exception.

Most charters run four to eight hours. Four hours suits a sunset cruise or a swim stop close to home. Six to eight hours gives time for Egmont Key or Anna Maria, lunch at anchor and the ride home in the evening light. Each yacht's page shows her starting price for the shortest charter she runs.

Prices on each yacht's page are starting points for the shortest charter, with captain, crew and fuel included. The office confirms the real figure in a written quote for your date and hours. Our guide on yacht charter cost on Tampa Bay walks through what moves the number.

Accept the quote and place the deposit of five hundred dollars. It is a flat amount on every yacht, not a percentage. The date is not held until the deposit is paid, and you confirm the charter terms at that point.

Seven days before the charter. If you book inside seven days, the whole amount is paid at booking. If the balance is not paid by the due date, the charter may be cancelled and the deposit kept.

By card, or by bank transfer or Zelle. Bank transfer and Zelle carry no fee; cards carry a 3% processing fee. Refunds go back to the original payment method.

Cancel 30 days or more before and everything you have paid comes back. Between 14 and 29 days, a full refund less 10% of the charter price. Between 7 and 13 days, half the charter price. Inside 7 days there is no refund, though we may offer one reschedule as a courtesy. A rescheduled charter keeps the terms of its original date. The full wording is in the charter terms.

Weather is the captain's call, made on the day, and it is always a safety call. If the captain, the yacht's owner or the office cancels for unsafe weather, a mechanical problem or any reason that is not yours, you choose between a new date and 100% of your payments back. Refunds reach you within 10 business days.

Most of the fleet meets guests at Maximo Marina in south St. Petersburg. The 42' Aquila meets at MarineMax on Gulfport Boulevard, the 36' Aquila at the Belleair Boat Ramp, and the 44' Fountaine Pajot, the 45' Sea Ray and the 50' Prestige at Westshore Yacht Club in Tampa. The 48' Formula sails from Safe Harbor Pier 77 on Anna Maria. The office sends the exact meeting point, parking and the captain's number before the day.

Fifteen minutes before your start time, with coolers packed and everyone together. Your charter begins at the time booked, so a late arrival shortens the day rather than extending it; the yacht and crew are often booked again after you.

Sunscreen, a hat, a swimsuit and a towel, a light layer for the ride home, your drinks and food in a cooler, and a playlist. Soft-soled shoes or bare feet on deck. Our guide on what to bring on a yacht charter has the full list, and the office sends a short one before the day.

Yes, always. Most groups pack a cooler with drinks, ice, water and snacks, and some bring a cake or a charcuterie board. Ice and bottled water are aboard. If you would like more, a private chef, catering or a mixologist can be arranged and quoted separately. One thing to know: red wine, glitter, confetti and anything else that stains need agreeing with the captain first.

Alcohol is welcome for guests of legal drinking age, at the captain's discretion. The captain may pause service or end the day if drinking makes the boat unsafe. Illegal drugs of any kind end the charter at once, without refund.

Yes, and it is the best part of most days. The captain chooses the anchorage for the tide, the wind and the group, and nobody enters the water until the captain says so. Shell Key, Egmont Key and the sandbars off Pass-a-Grille are the usual stops from St. Petersburg.

Yes. Tell us the ages in your enquiry and the office confirms for the yacht and the day. Children count toward the guest limit, must be supervised at all times, and wear life jackets when the captain asks. Calm, protected routes are chosen for younger guests.

Please ask when you enquire. It depends on the yacht and her owner, and the office confirms for the boat you choose.

Only where the captain permits. Most owners ask that nobody smokes inside or on the decks, and the captain will show you where it is allowed, if anywhere.

Only where it has been arranged in advance. Handling bait and catch aboard a charter yacht needs the owner's agreement, so mention it in your enquiry rather than on the day.

Light, boat-friendly décor is welcome: banners, tied-down balloons, a cake and candles. Share the plan when you book. Confetti and glitter stay ashore, and anything that might stain needs agreeing first. Through Curated Connections we can arrange florals and décor for you.

Only if you say so. After booking you choose, on your own booking page, whether Well Played may photograph your charter for its own marketing. If you decline, the crew and any photographer leave you out. You can also bring your own photographer, who counts as a guest.

No. Gratuity for the captain and crew is at your discretion; 15 to 20% of the charter price is customary, and most guests hand it to the captain at the end of the day or add it when they settle the balance.

You are responsible for damage caused by you or your guests beyond ordinary wear. Tell the captain straight away if anything is broken or spilled; a quick word on the day is always cheaper than a surprise afterwards.

Our yachts leave from private marinas where people live and eat a few feet from the docks. Cover-ups and footwear on the docks, music packed away until you are clear of the dock, park where directed and take your trash with you. One difficult afternoon can cost us a berth we have spent years earning.

Yes. The Miami yachts are chartered through our brokerage partner, and Well Played arranges the day and confirms what each price covers. See Miami yacht charter.

Yes. Owners list their yacht on the fleet, the office handles the enquiries, quotes and deposits, and Well Played acts as owner's representative on charter days. Start on yacht charter management.