This level of service is reflected in how the week is priced and structured, distinct from more basic charter formats that put day-to-day running of the vessel in guests' own hands. A crewed week is designed around removing that responsibility entirely, rather than reducing it partially.

Sea trial follows, and depends on suitable weather and both parties' availability, plus the vessel being in a condition to trial safely, which sometimes means addressing an issue the survey raised first. A consultant managing the process well will build contingency into the schedule here rather than assuming the first available slot will hold.

None of these questions are confrontational. A consultant working properly expects them and should answer plainly. A viewing where every question gets a clear, specific answer is a strong signal in its own right.

Finally, ask how the consultant is remunerated and by whom, so the commercial relationship is clear from the outset. A yacht sales consultancy operating on a transparent basis should have no difficulty setting this out.

Put together, a EUR 100,000 base fee charter, for example, might involve an APA in the region of EUR 30,000, superyacht management services plus VAT calculated separately on the base fee. None of these figures are fixed across every booking, since they depend on the vessel, the region and the season.

A yacht viewing is the point where a listing on paper becomes a real assessment, and the questions a buyer raises during that visit shape how well-informed the eventual decision is. A consultant accompanying the viewing should welcome direct questions rather than steering the conversation away from them.