GOING PRIVATE Rent a cruise ship

Posted on 02/26/2016

The cruise line industry is catering to a new demographic; the ultra-wealthy passengers who are dismissing luxury yachts for being too small. It turns out that renting a cruise ship will not only allow larger parties to travel, but the rental itself is considerably less expensive (per guest).

It is of course the smaller cruise ships that are suitable for rental and it is Crystal Cruise Line that has the appropriate inventory. Crystal purchased the Esprit, which holds 62 guests, for the purpose of renting. Most luxury yachts top out at thirty-something guests.Chartering a private yacht can cost in the region of US $600,000 ($812,000) before food, drink, taxes, entertainment, fuel, and gratuities a week.Crystal’s Esprit reportedly costs US $500,000 ($676,000 CAD) a week all inclusive. That is a windfall for the cruise line which wouldn’t see the same profit by catering to the general public.Windstar’s Star Breeze was rented for the 2015 Monaco Grand Prix, where the 212 passenger vessel was moored in a private berth for guests to come and go at their leisure.Leasing a cruise ship is not without its disadvantages.  Bookings have to be made two years in advance so as not to conflict with a scheduled sailing.Large ships cannot negotiate narrow passages so have limits as to where they can anchor.Finally, the services one might have come to expect on a yacht will not be achieved on a cruise ship, and guests will not have access to the same water sports.