Key booking rules (quick summary)
- Your charter contract is always with the boat’s Charter-Operator, not directly with SkipperCity.
- Placing a hold on a boat is free and binds nothing; your booking is confirmed only after the first payment is received on time and the Charter-Operator confirms the boat.
- Pay by bank transfer at the quoted price, or by card with 5 % added to cover card fees.
- A refundable security deposit is payable at check-in directly to the Charter-Operator; their optional deposit insurance lowers it, in some cases to nothing.
- Client cancellations usually mean a partial or full loss of payments, depending on when you cancel; we keep a 5 % admin fee from any refund, and refunds follow once the Charter-Operator has returned the money.
- If the boat becomes unavailable, the Charter-Operator aims to offer a replacement boat or refund.
- SkipperCity acts as an agency/intermediary and is not responsible for the technical operation of the boat.
Tip: Read the full terms below carefully before you make the first payment, and keep all email confirmations.
Booking Terms & Conditions
Last updated: 06.10.2026
SkipperCity is a trading name of Blackbird One Ltd. (“SkipperCity”, “we”, “us”, “our”). By using our website, sending an inquiry, or confirming a booking, you agree to these Booking Terms & Conditions (“Terms”).
If you do not agree with these Terms, you should not use our website or proceed with a booking.
1. Scope of our service and our role
In short: we are your yacht charter agent and intermediary.
1.1. SkipperCity provides an online and agency-mediated service to help you find and book yacht charters with independent yacht charter companies, which own or manage the boats (the “Charter-Operators”).
1.2. When you confirm a booking, you enter into a direct, legally binding charter contract with the Charter-Operator, not with SkipperCity. We act as an agent / intermediary, transmitting your booking details, assisting in communication and payment, and supporting you before, during and after the charter.
1.3. The charter itself (boat condition, check-in/out, technical issues on board, local charges, security deposit, etc.) is governed primarily by the terms & conditions of the Charter-Operator. In case of conflict between these Terms and the Charter-Operator’s terms regarding the use of the vessel, the Charter-Operator’s terms prevail.
1.4. These SkipperCity Terms regulate your use of our website and inquiry system, and our role as an agency-mediator in the booking process.
2. Use of our website
In short: use the site for real bookings only, and respect our content.
2.1. By using our website, you confirm that you are at least 18 years old and have the legal capacity to enter into binding contracts on your own behalf or on behalf of the travelling party.
2.2. You agree to use our website only for genuine charter inquiries and bookings for yourself or for another person with their explicit consent. Any speculative, false or fraudulent booking is prohibited.
2.3. All content on the website (text, photos, layouts, logos, prices as displayed, etc.) is protected by intellectual property rights. You may not copy, scrape or reuse our content for commercial purposes without our written permission.
3. Information on boats and availability
In short: boat data comes from Charter-Operators; small deviations are possible.
3.1. Information about boats (photos, equipment, layout, year of build, extras, availability, prices, discounts) is provided by the Charter-Operators through professional booking systems and/or direct cooperation.
3.2. We use reasonable care in displaying this information, but we do not guarantee that every detail is always perfectly up to date. Minor deviations which do not affect safety or essential features of the charter do not entitle you to a price reduction or cancellation.
3.3. If a particular detail is crucial for you (for example, a specific piece of equipment, cabin configuration, or pets allowed on board), you must inform us in writing before booking so we can confirm it with the Charter-Operator.
4. Booking process and confirmation
In short: a hold is free; the booking is confirmed only when the first payment is received and the operator confirms the boat.
4.1. You can book a boat online, or ask us for offers first:
- Online: you choose a boat and dates, enter your details, and confirm your email address with a code we send you (unless you are already signed in to your booking page). We then check the boat with the Charter-Operator and, if it is free, place a hold (an “option”) on it in your name.
- By enquiry: you send us an enquiry through our website or by email; we reply with boats that fit, each checked with the Charter-Operator, and place a hold on the one you choose.
4.2. A hold is free and binds neither you nor us. It lasts until the deadline the Charter-Operator sets, which is shown on your booking page and in your booking emails. If the first payment has not been made by then, the hold lapses and the boat may be booked by someone else.
4.3. Your booking is confirmed only after the first payment is received within the deadline and the Charter-Operator confirms the reservation. We email you when it does.
4.4. By placing a hold you agree to these Terms and our Privacy Policy. By making the first payment you also accept the Charter-Operator’s terms & conditions applicable to your specific booking.
4.5. All booking communication is done by email (and occasionally phone/WhatsApp as support), and your booking page shows the current state of your booking. The latest written email confirmation always prevails as evidence of what was agreed.
5. Prices, fees and currency
In short: know what’s included in the charter price and what isn’t.
5.1. Charter prices shown on our website and in our offers usually include:
- Use of the vessel for the agreed charter period,
- Standard equipment according to the inventory list,
- Basic services of the charter base (check-in / check-out),
- The services the Charter-Operator makes compulsory and payable in advance, which are listed in your quote,
- VAT, if and as applicable at the time of booking.
5.2. Prices usually do not include (unless explicitly stated as “included”):
- Fuel, marina/port/anchor fees,
- Tourist taxes, national park fees,
- Charges the Charter-Operator collects at the base,
- Food and beverages, provisioning,
- Crew (skipper, cook), unless you add our skipper or cook to your booking or the boat’s price already includes the Charter-Operator’s crew,
- Optional extras (outboard engine, gennaker, early check-in, one-way fees, transfers, etc.).
5.3. We reserve the right to correct obvious price mistakes (for example, technical or input errors) even after a booking has been initiated. In such a case, you may accept the corrected price or cancel the booking with a full refund of any amounts paid.
5.4. Our commission for agency services is normally included in the charter price and is paid by the Charter-Operator; you do not pay an additional booking fee to SkipperCity. What you do pay us on top of the charter price is shown before you pay: the card surcharge if you pay by card (6.2), and our skipper or cook if you add them (7.2).
6. Payments
In short: pay by bank transfer at the quoted price or by card with 5 % added, and keep to the deadlines on your booking page.
6.1. Payment deadlines and instalments (e.g. 50% on booking, 50% 4–6 weeks before charter) follow the Charter-Operator’s payment plan and are shown on your booking page and in your booking emails. You may pay any instalment early, or the whole amount at once.
6.2. You can pay:
- By bank transfer, at the quoted price, to the account given in your booking emails and on our Company and Banking Details page, or
- By card, on the secure payment page of our payment provider Stripe. Card payments carry a surcharge of 5 % of the amount paid, to cover card fees; the card price is shown before you pay.
6.3. Bank transfers are accepted in euros only. You are responsible for all bank transfer costs, including your bank’s outgoing fees and any intermediary bank fees (send the transfer with charges “OUR”). If the amount received is lower than the amount due, you must pay the difference.
6.4. If a transfer for the first payment is on its way when the hold’s deadline arrives, send us the bank’s payment confirmation before the deadline, so we can ask the Charter-Operator to confirm the reservation. The Charter-Operator decides whether to do so.
6.5. If payments are not received in full and on time, the Charter-Operator and/or SkipperCity may cancel the booking without refund of already paid amounts, applying the relevant cancellation policy.
7. Extras, skipper and crew
In short: book extras early; your skipper’s licence is checked at check-in.
7.1. Optional extras and services (e.g. outboard engine, Wi-Fi, early check-in, one-way fee) are chosen on the boat page or at checkout, or requested in writing before the charter, and are subject to availability and the Charter-Operator’s confirmation.
7.2. If you want a professional skipper or cook, you can add ours to your booking. They are booked by the whole charter week, at the price shown on the boat page and at checkout, and their fee is paid to SkipperCity together with your charter payments. Our skipper’s food on board is provided by the guests: the skipper usually eats with you, or receives a food allowance. Our cook provides half board for the guests, charged per guest at the price shown. Our skipper and cook each need a cabin of their own, so we offer them only on bareboat charters where the boat has room for your party and the crew. A skipper or crew that the Charter-Operator itself provides or makes compulsory is priced according to the Charter-Operator’s valid price list.
7.3. If you do not book a professional skipper, the Charter-Operator checks your skipper’s licence and VHF/SRC certificate at check-in; you may send us copies beforehand and we will look at them for you. If the Charter-Operator does not accept your license, you will be required to hire a professional skipper at your cost.
7.4. For certain boats or high-value yachts, the Charter-Operator may require a mandatory professional crew regardless of your licenses.
8. Crew list, documents and visas
In short: send all required crew details and documents on time.
8.1. You must provide a complete and correct crew list and required personal documents (passports/IDs) within the deadline specified by the Charter-Operator. Licences are checked at check-in (7.3, 12.1) and need not be sent in advance.
8.2. You are responsible for the accuracy of all provided personal data, obtaining visas and other travel documents, and complying with local entry, customs and health regulations. Any costs or consequences arising from missing or incorrect documents are your sole responsibility.
9. Security deposit and insurance
In short: you pay a security deposit at check-in, which deposit insurance can lower, in some cases to nothing; separate travel insurance is strongly recommended.
9.1. Before taking over the boat, you must pay a refundable security deposit directly to the Charter-Operator, usually by credit card pre-authorisation or in cash, in the amount specified in the price list, unless deposit insurance has lowered it (9.5).
9.2. The deposit covers potential damages to the boat, equipment loss, late return, or non-compliance with the Charter-Operator’s rules. If no such issues occur, the deposit is normally refunded in full after check-out.
9.3. In the event of damage, groundings, rule violations or gross negligence, the Charter-Operator may retain part or all of the deposit, and in serious cases claim additional compensation beyond the deposit.
9.4. Boats are usually covered by yacht insurance with deductible. This insurance typically does not cover your personal belongings or travel/health issues. We strongly recommend separate travel insurance and skipper liability insurance for all crew members.
9.5. Where the Charter-Operator offers deposit insurance (a damage waiver), it is a non-refundable charge that lowers the security deposit, in some cases to nothing. What it does not cover is set by the Charter-Operator’s own terms.
10. Cancellations and changes by the client
In short: cancelling later usually means higher cancellation fees.
10.1. If you need to cancel a booked charter, you must inform us in writing immediately — by email, or with the "Request cancellation" button on your booking page. The date on which we receive your written cancellation is the basis for calculating the cancellation fee.
10.2. Unless your Pro-forma Invoice or Charter-Operator terms state otherwise, typical industry cancellation rules are (two months counted as 60 days, one month as 30):
- Cancellation more than 2 months before charter: up to 50% of charter price,
- Cancellation between 1–2 months before charter: typically 50% of charter price,
- Cancellation less than 1 month before charter, no-show or early departure: 100% of charter price (no refund).
10.3. If a skipper or cook has been booked and later cancelled by you, their fee may still be payable according to the same cancellation percentages, even if the boat booking itself remains. Provisioning (food) we arranged is refunded in full until it has been bought.
10.4. Change requests (e.g. new dates, different boat, different base) are treated as booking modifications and depend on availability and Charter-Operator approval. Major changes may be treated as cancellation plus new booking.
10.5. When you cancel, SkipperCity keeps an administration fee of 5 % of the booking total, deducted from any refund. The 5 % card processing fee on card payments is not refunded, and any bank charges for sending a refund are deducted from it.
10.6. Amounts already paid on to the Charter-Operator are refunded only as far as its terms return them, and only once it has returned them to us. We then refund you the same way you paid where possible — to the card, or by bank transfer — and send you the amount line by line.
11. Cancellations and changes by the Charter-Operator
In short: if the operator cancels, they aim to offer a replacement or refund.
11.1. If the Charter-Operator must cancel your booking due to reasons such as serious damage to the boat in a previous charter, technical issues, or other justified circumstances, they will normally offer:
- A replacement boat of similar size and standard, if available, or
- A refund of amounts paid for the boat, according to their terms.
11.2. SkipperCity will assist you as your agent in communicating with the Charter-Operator and in trying to secure a fair solution. However, SkipperCity is not the owner or operator of the boat and is not responsible for operational failures of the Charter-Operator.
11.3. Events such as natural disasters, war, strikes, pandemics, government restrictions or other force majeure circumstances are handled according to the Charter-Operator’s policies and prevailing law.
12. Check-in, check-out and use of the vessel
In short: carefully check the boat at hand-over and respect return times.
12.1. At check-in, you (and your skipper, if applicable) must present original licenses and identification documents, review and sign the inventory list and hand-over protocol, and familiarise yourselves with the boat, safety equipment and local rules.
12.2. By signing the hand-over protocol, you confirm that the boat and its equipment are in agreed condition. Later complaints about items already documented as OK may not be accepted, except for hidden defects.
12.3. At check-out, the Charter-Operator will inspect the boat, equipment and fuel level. Missing fuel, damages or equipment losses may be charged from your deposit and/or on the spot.
12.4. You must return the boat at the agreed time and base. Late return or returning the boat to a different base without agreement may generate additional fees and compensation for the next charter.
13. Client responsibilities on board
In short: you are responsible for safe and lawful use of the boat.
13.1. In addition to all obligations in the Charter-Operator’s terms, you agree to:
- Respect all maritime and local laws,
- Operate the boat safely and prudently,
- Not sail in prohibited areas or in conditions beyond boat and crew capability,
- Avoid sailing under the influence of alcohol or drugs,
- Respect quiet hours and neighbours in marinas and anchorages,
- Keep the number of people on board within the allowed maximum and as per crew list,
- Not use the boat for commercial activities without explicit written permission,
- Immediately inform the Charter-Operator and/or SkipperCity of any serious incident, damage or loss.
13.2. As the contracting party, you are responsible both for your own behaviour and for the behaviour of all guests on board.
14. Complaints and assistance
In short: report issues immediately and keep written evidence.
14.1. Any technical problem or complaint during the charter must be reported immediately to the Charter-Operator’s base, so they can try to resolve it in a reasonable time.
14.2. If the issue cannot be solved on the spot, you should request a written confirmation of the complaint at check-out and keep all relevant documentation (photos, reports, invoices).
14.3. If you wish to submit a formal complaint after the charter, you must send it in writing (with evidence) within the deadline set by the Charter-Operator’s terms.
14.4. If you file the complaint via SkipperCity, we will mediate between you and the Charter-Operator and support you in finding a fair solution, but we cannot guarantee a specific outcome.
15. Liability of SkipperCity
In short: we are an intermediary and our liability is limited.
15.1. SkipperCity is not a boat owner nor a Charter-Operator. Our responsibility is limited to our agency and platform services: presenting offers, transmitting bookings, communicating information and assisting you before, during and after the charter.
15.2. To the maximum extent permitted by law, SkipperCity and its owners, employees and representatives are not liable for:
- Operational performance of the boat and services of the Charter-Operator,
- Inaccurate or incomplete information provided by the Charter-Operator,
- Any injury, damage, loss, delay or additional cost caused by the acts or omissions of Charter-Operators, crews, marinas or other third parties,
- Force majeure events beyond our control.
15.3. If SkipperCity is found liable for a direct loss arising from our own error, our total aggregated liability is limited to the total agency commission or, at most, to the total charter price you paid for the specific booking in question, excluding additional travel and arrangement costs, unless mandatory law requires otherwise.
15.4. We are in no case liable for indirect or consequential damages, including loss of profit, loss of enjoyment, or additional travel/accommodation expenses, except where such limitation is prohibited by mandatory law.
16. Intellectual property
In short: our website content is protected.
16.1. The SkipperCity website, its structure, design, text, photos and underlying software are protected by intellectual property laws.
16.2. You may not copy, modify, distribute, transfer, display, reproduce, publish or create derivative works from our content without our explicit written permission, except for limited personal, non-commercial use related to planning your charter.
17. Personal data and privacy
In short: we share only the data needed to process your booking.
17.1. To process your inquiry and booking, we must collect and share some of your personal data (e.g. contact details, crew list, license copies) with the relevant Charter-Operators (through the charter booking system they use) and, where necessary, with authorities or the service providers named in our Privacy Policy.
17.2. Details about how we collect, process and protect your personal data are described in our Privacy Policy, which forms an integral part of these Terms.
18. Governing law and jurisdiction
In short: Gibraltar law applies, with the consumer protections of the country where you live.
18.1. These Terms and our agency services are governed by the laws of Gibraltar, where Blackbird One Ltd. is registered. If you are a consumer, this choice does not deprive you of the protection of the mandatory consumer laws of the country where you live.
18.2. Parties will strive to resolve any dispute amicably. If this is not possible, the courts of Gibraltar shall have jurisdiction. If you are a consumer, you may also bring proceedings in the courts of the country where you live, where mandatory consumer protection rules allow it.
19. Changes to these Terms
In short: we may update these Terms; the version at the time of booking applies.
19.1. We may update these Terms from time to time. The version published on our website at the moment of your booking applies to your booking.
19.2. We will always show the current version and effective date on this page. In case of significant changes affecting existing bookings, we will notify affected customers by email where reasonably possible.
20. Relationship to Blackbird One General Terms
In short: this is the readable front layer; Blackbird One terms still apply.
20.1. These SkipperCity Booking Terms are designed to be shorter and more user-friendly and to align with industry practices.
20.2. For more detailed provisions regarding yacht charter (including security deposit rules, client responsibilities at sea, damages, complaints, etc.), please also consult the General Booking Terms and Conditions of Blackbird One Ltd., which form part of the contractual framework of your booking. Where they differ from these Terms, these Terms prevail.