Charter length & rates?

You can cruise onboard Necker Belle exclusively for seven or more nights.

Caribbean
The weekly rate is US$ 110,000

Payment Terms
To secure a booking, a deposit of 50% of the total charter fee is required. The remaining 50% plus advanced provisioning allowance (APA - please see FAQ below), together with any taxes, delivery/redelivery fees and any additionally agreed charges, is payable by bank transfer one month before the charter commences. Necker Belle abides by the standard industry charter agreement, MYBA. Click here to download the document from the MYBA website or contact us to request a copy.

How many can she sleep?

We're glad you asked! In total, she can sleep up to 12 people. Necker Belle has four spacious cabins accommodating up to 8 people. At night, the saloon area can be converted into a double bed with a privacy screen for a comfy night's sleep. The remaining 2 people have the adventure of sleeping outdoors under the stars on the comfy relaxation area located on the upper deck - who wouldn't want to take advantage of the cool Caribbean sea breezes?!

Click here to view Necker Belle's floorplan.

What's included?

7 nights' accommodation, a 24-hour driver service at each port, laundry service and a fabulous crew of seven!

What's in my room?
All cabins come equipped with a safety deposit box, bottled drinking water, slippers, a luxury bathrobe, plug adapters, iPod docking station, hair dryer, SPF lip balm, Necker Belle cap, and a selection of toiletries.

Click here to download our "information for guests" document, which outlines everything you need to know about chartering Necker Belle.

What's APA?

An advance provisioning allowance (APA) covers the operating expenses of the charter such as fuel, food, port fees, harbour dues, customs, water and electricity, personal laundry, all provisions, wines, beers, spirits, soft drinks and consumables for your cruise. An APA equivalent to approximately 25% of the weekly rate is payable in addition to the weekly rate one month prior to your charter.

You're welcome to view the APA tally onboard at any time and when your cruise comes to an end, the captain will work out if you owe us, or we owe you!

What about eating & drinking onboard?

Whether you prefer formal or informal dining, fine cuisine onboard Necker Belle is a given. Dining can be outside on the aft or upper decks, themed or traditional - or a mixture of everything! We stock a fine range of wines stored in the vessel's own temperature controlled stores, top quality spirits, beers and excellent house champagne. Before you board we'll send you a preference sheet so you can let us know if you have any favourite dishes, any dietary requirements, a preferred tipple, or if you're going to be celebrating a special occasion during your cruise.

Can I bring my kids?

Sir Richard Branson designed Necker Belle to be his extended family's catamaran, so it's no surprise that children are positively welcome! We have plenty of things for the children to do: we can teach them to fish, snorkel and waterski, plus we have a variety of children's DVDs, toys, books and games onboard. And young tastebuds aren't a problem - our chef can whip up tasty kids meals and snacks at any time.

You're welcome to bring your own diapers and formula, or let us know in advance what you need and we'll make sure we have it onboard prior to your arrival.

Can I go scuba diving?

If you'd like to use the scuba diving equipment onboard, then we'll need you to have the appropriate certification.

But never fear if you don't have this, as our qualified watersports expert will be on hand to give you a half day introductory diving course, allowing you to dive down to a maximum of 12 metres.

Or perhaps you'd like to dive a little deeper - our instructor can also assist with obtaining your PADI open water dive license, taking 2-4 days.

And as a precaution, anyone who wishes to scuba dive needs to have basic swimming skills, be in good general health and 10 years of age or older.

What about tipping?

If you're over the moon about our Virgin service and the experience your friendly crew have provided, then we'd love you to leave a gratuity. As a suggestion, industry standard is 10% of the charter rate, but of course, it's entirely up to you and you're under no obligation to do so!

If we have completely 'wowed' you, you're welcome to hand an envelope to the captain at the end of your cruise, who will then divide your generosity evenly amongst the team. And just so you know, our staff get to keep 100% of all tips.

Virgin Sea Terms

Do you know your stern from your bow and your port from your starboard? Do you think a bridge is a way to cross water? Do you have any idea what you'd keep in the galley?

If you've lived and breathed the yachting world, you'll probably know all this... but never fear if you haven't - we've pulled together a quick list of all the useful boating terms you need for your cruise onboard Necker Belle!

• Yacht - Necker Belle is a yacht or more accurately, a catamaran, which means she has two side-by-side hulls for more stability
• Hull - the hull is the main body of the yacht and in the case of the catamaran there are two sections on the port and starboard sides which ride in the water
• Port - the left side of the yacht
• Starboard - the right side of the yacht
• Bow - the front of the yacht
• Stern - the back of the yacht (also know as the 'aft' section)
• Beam - the beam is the width of the yacht
• Bridge - the bridge is the area where the ship is controlled and navigated and where the Captain will sit to steer the yacht
• Nautical mile - about 1.15 land miles
• Knot - the number of nautical miles being travelled per hour. Necker Belle can travel in excess of 20 knots which is about 23 miles per hour
• Bulkhead - a wall
• Galley - the kitchen
• Deck - the floor
• Berth - a bed
• Porthole - a window
• Cabin - a room