How do I book a charter Please visit our "Packages" tab or click any "Book Now" button on our website. For special requests please feel free to contact us via email or phone.
What is a "Bareboat" charter Per the United States Coast Guard (USCG), a bareboat charter is an agreement where the Charterer (client) has use of a vessel for a period of time and is temporarily considered the owner. The Charterer is responsible for the the vessel, their guests, hiring their own Crew, and for supplying their own food & beverage. Please note that the Charterer may either operate the vessel (if credentialed) or may hire their own Captain/Crew. A bareboat chartered vessel may NOT carry more than 12 passengers.
How do I find a captain After booking we will provide you with a list of Captains approved by our team that are familiar with our vessels. Alternatively, Charterer’s are welcome to provide their own credentialed Captain.
How much does a captain cost and do I tip Captain's typically command $75-120 per hour before gratuity. It is customary to leave a gratuity to your hired Captain/Crew for 15-20% of the total charter price (not to be confused with the Captain's hourly rate). Payment & gratuity can be provided directly to your hired Captain.
What should I bring We suggest that all parties to bring: -Bottled Water -Ice -Beverages & Snacks -Sunscreen -Sunglasses -Bathing suit & towel (if swimming) Onboard we provide a, refrigerator/freezer, and bathroom for guests to use.
Where are you docked We are docked at 31st Street Harbor, Dock H at 3155 S Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, IL.
Is there parking available Yes, 31st Street Harbors offers plentiful parking options for guests. Please visit the "Where to Find Us" section on our Home page to view parking options.
Are infants, children, or pets allowed on board We do allow children and pets! Please note that children do count towards the capacity total. Both children ages 13 years or younger and pets are required to wear a life jacket at all times. For babies and infants, we highly encourage parents to bring their own infant sized life jackets. If guests would like to use our infant sized life jackets, please let us know in advance so that our team may put them on board prior to guest arrival. We ask our guests who are bringing pets to please provide their own life vest as we will not be able to provide pet life jackets.
What amenities are included Our yacht is equipped with a bluetooth sound system, kitchen, restroom, and refrigerator/freezer on board. Additonal add ons can be purchased at charter checkout, such as lily pads and floaties.
Can we bring our own food and alcohol Yes, all guests are welcome to provide their own food and beverages, including alcohol. Onboard we provide a complimentary cooler, refrigerator, and well-equipped kitchen for you to use. We suggest avoiding glass containers and staining liquids (like red wine, cranberry juice, etc) as they can damage the upholstery and boat interiors may result in a damage fee. Each vessel's stove is disconnected for safety and fire prevention reasons and that, consequently, cooking inside the cabins is not possible. Microwave use is available on each vessel while docked and plugged into shore power. Microwave power cannot be guaranteed while the boat is underway or anchored.
Is there a cooler or refrigerator on board Yes, our boats provide a cooler and on-board refrigerator/freezer for your use.
Do you offer food and beverge catering While we are not able to provide food and beverage directly to our clients, we do have suggestions for third party vendors.
Can we play our own music Yes, all of our vessels are equipped with premium bluetooth sound systems.
Can we bring our own decorations Prior to your charter date, ACE Yachting requires that guests submit a list of all decoration items for written approval. Items such as glitter, confetti, feathered boas, or open flame items (fireworks, sparklers, and candles) are not allowed. Items such as balloons and flowers are always welcome. Please note that depending on the timing of other bookings, we cannot always guarantee that guests can arrive early and set up decorations prior to your charter start time.
Can we go swimming Yes, we do allow guests to go swimming! For your own safety, please note that captains may not allow swimming after sunset or if water conditions are unfavorable.