Step 1: decide what the day is for
A birthday, a bachelorette, a proposal, a team outing or a sunset with friends each lead to different choices — time of day, length, decoration, food. Name the occasion first and the rest follows. The planner starts with exactly that question: the event type, then the group size.
Step 2: count the guests honestly
There are 13 yachts, from 40 to 110 feet, carrying 12 to 75 guests. Enter adults and children separately; the planner only offers yachts that take the whole group, cheapest first, and marks the one with the least spare room. Up to 20 children can come on one booking, within the yacht's capacity. If the number may grow, book for the number you are sure of and tell us the likely ceiling in the request.
Step 3: pick the date and the time
The earliest date you can choose is two days out. As general guidance, a week or two of notice gives a wider choice of yacht, especially for weekend evenings. Charters start between 09:00 and 20:00 and are back by 23:00; the minimum is 2 hours, and 3 hours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Mornings suit swimming and children, late afternoons suit sunset, evenings suit the lit skyline — our guide to the best time for a yacht trip goes through each.
Two dates are priced on request rather than at the standard rate: 31 December and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend of 3–6 December 2026.
Step 4: choose the yacht
Prices are per hour for the whole yacht, from AED 700 per hour — so the shortest charter starts from AED 1,400 — and the number of guests does not change the rate. Beyond capacity and price, look at the layout in each yacht's photos: a dining saloon for a seated meal, a wide lounge deck for a standing party, shade for a hot afternoon. The prices page lists every yacht's hourly rate side by side.
Step 5: add only the extras that matter
Extras are added in four categories, each priced on its own line. Decoration from AED 280 — balloon setups, light-up letters, a "Will You Marry Me?" neon sign — set up before you board. Food from AED 135 per guest, pre-ordered while you plan. Photo and video from AED 800 per hour. Water activities from AED 450, daylight only, and the yacht slide needs a charter of at least 4 hours.
Anything you want to bring yourself — decoration, a cake, a playlist — goes in the special-requests field. The operator confirms what is allowed on that yacht, and the captain has the final word on the day.
Step 6: send the request — it is not yet a booking
The planner shows the estimated total before you send anything, and no payment is taken on this website. Sending the request does not book the yacht: we check the date with the operator first and then confirm availability in writing, on the channel you chose. The confirmation carries a reference (BPD-XXXXXX) that ties every later message to your booking.
Step 7: confirm and pay the deposit
A 50% deposit secures the confirmed date; the balance is due 48 hours before departure. A card payment link carries a 5% processing fee; a bank transfer costs nothing from our side. You can cancel or move the date free of charge up to 96 hours (4 days) before departure, with a full refund within 7 business days. Between 96 and 48 hours, 50% of the charter is charged and anything already ordered — food, beverages, personalised items — is not refundable. Inside 48 hours, or a no-show, there is no refund.
Step 8: brief your guests
Send your guests three things: the meeting point and parking details from your confirmation — departures are from the Dubai Marina / Dubai Harbour area, and the exact pier is set per booking, so never send an old address — the time to arrive, and the ID rule. Every guest needs a valid Emirates ID or an original passport — copies are not accepted. Add that there are no shoes on board, and that children under 12 must wear a life jacket, provided on board.
Step 9: the day itself
Boarding opens 10 minutes before departure — please arrive 20 minutes early for parking and check-in. The coast guard decides by 09:00 whether yachts sail that day; if no permit is issued, you choose a full refund or a free reschedule, and if a permit is issued but the sea is rough, the captain may keep to sheltered water, which is not grounds for cancellation. Personal belongings cannot be left on the yacht after the charter, so the last job is a quick look round before you step off.
If anything in this list is still open, send it on WhatsApp — the Dubai planning team answers within 2 hours between 09:00 and 22:00 Dubai time.