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Special Summer 2010 Pricing
Dear Luxury Yachter,
You may have read about CEO Expeditions’ unprecedented offer to provide expense only mega yacht charters to promote the amazing San Juan Islands last season. Well, we are doing it again!
Since no one has waived charter fees like this before, there have been many questions regarding the details.
To begin with, let’s review what’s included in these seven day, six night all-inclusive adventures - a detailed itinerary is on our website.
First there is the food. It’s the finest, prepared by your own private gourmet chef; he’ll even cook up your fish you caught this morning – nothing better than that. Our wines are premium, many from award winning regional wineries we work with. We add to your experience by working with island bakeries, farms, confectioners, ranchers, and fishermen.
The amenities are extensive including sophisticated multi-media systems, four kayaks per vessel, two tenders each and hot tubs. We’ve brought in an extra large tender for shuttling around, fishing, crabbing, or shrimping, and even provide the use of a 30’ Whaler when available to our guests.
Our experienced crew is the finest - some of them have been with us for nearly a decade. Just read the reviews.
There are outside excursions such as private fishing guides, mopeds, bikes, farmers markets, whale watching, oyster gardens, etc. Dockside, there is an extensive spa, as well as a golf course nearby. Plus, wonderful shops and galleries – these islands abound with artists.
Finally, for a bit of nightlife, the Hotel De Haro, has great music on the veranda in the bar at night…you’ll make some new friends here. And don’t miss the flag ceremony at sunset with the ritual firing of the old cannon celebrating the “Pig” war the U.S. had on this island with the British – there’s some real history here!
As to pricing, many have asked how we can offer such all inclusive prices; starting at only $27,500 a week for the 100’ Katania and $39,500 per week for the 120’ Kayana (normally up to $105,000 per week). The answer has to do with not only our extraordinary operating leverage, but how we set price points for number of guests and cruise days covered in the fees.
We own these mega yachts outright; refit, maintain, market, crew, and provision with our own staff, which are part of the area’s largest local luxury hospitality organization (www.whidbeyretreats.com). That provides huge savings.
Both yachts are docked at the heart of the San Juan’s in Roche Harbor, an utterly charming hideaway, serviced by the largest island ferry system in America and floatplanes that land right at our dock. This provides savings we can pass on to you as we don’t have the thousands in extra expenses associated with positioning the vessels for each charter.
We also save by being dockside, as we don’t incur the expense of being at anchor, under our own generator power, with full crew required for 24-hour watch.
Also, by basing in one central location like this, with both yachts together, we can give you greater service, more exploration options, and more amenities, all at a lower cost:
1. We supplement with shore based staff/support, which is less expensive than live-aboard crew, and provides a greater range of services. It also helps island employment - one of our goals.
2. We can leverage the staff of both yachts together, so we don’t need duplicate specialist such as naturalists, kayak leaders, fishing experts, etc.
3. With this base camp, we are able to bring in a greater range of tenders and assist vessels. It’s much easier, faster, and considerably less expensive to shuttle you to a nearby island for a picnic or hike than to use the large yachts, which burn over 50 gallons of fuel every hour!
As to the number of guests and cruise days covered in our fees, our newsletter states that our prices are based on “standard guest load and basic cruise time,” and that “if you have more guests or want more cruise days, you just pay to cover extra crew, supplies and fuel”. Thus, we obviously aren’t pricing at maximum capacity, but what our average load we’ve experienced over the past 10 years of chartering - 5 on the Katania and 8 on the Kayana. We set our price points at this level rather than a maximum load which would unfairly charge those guests who don’t need the full capacity of these luxury yachts.
We base cruise days on our experience of what is actually needed to explore this unique inland archipelago. Nestled inside of the Puget Sound between two mountain ranges, these islands are very close together, in calm inland waters; each reached by ferries, shuttles or our own tenders. Therefore the use of these big yachts to do all exploring is unnecessary, which saves you a great deal of money. There are three days cruising including the dinner cruise and two full days underway, which should be plenty. But, if you want more, you can have them, no problem.
To further cut costs, we alternate cruise days on the boats in order to leverage engineering and deck staff – those savings are passed on to you. The Katania and Kayana head out to cruise the islands on different days, unless they have been chartered by one large group.
So, here are the answers to the top questions:
1. The Katania’s $27,500 per week covers all inclusive expenses for up to 5 guests.
2. The Kayana’s $39,500 per week covers all inclusive expenses for up to 8 people.
3. Additional guests are chargeable at $2950 per week, all inclusive for either yacht.
4. Maximum capacity of the Katania is 6 guests at 3+ staterooms, and the Kayana is 12 with 6+ staterooms.
5. Crew on the Katania is 4, the Kayana is 5 or more depending on guest load.
6. The charter is for 7 days/6 nights, fixed itinerary, charged at 7 days.
7. Arrival is Sunday at 3 pm, departure Saturday noon.
8. 4 days of cruising is included – including 3 nights at anchor.
9. There is no charge for use of the tenders or other amenities.
10. Charters of less than a week are available in June, after Labor Day, and with last minute cancellations.
11. Washington State sales tax is chargeable on a portion of the fee.
12. Payment is 50% up front, 50% 30 days before charter by check, visa/mastercard or wire transfer.
13. Children are the same price – they actually require more crew attention for safety reasons
14. Special dietary conditions can be accommodated.
15. Booking is first come, first serve – we can’t reserve spots without a 10% refundable deposit.
With the press we have been receiving we are booking fast, so please contact us today to reserve your mega yacht adventure.
For booking, contact us at (425) 460-4100 for a CEO Agent Partner near you .
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