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Bahamas Yacht Charters by Sneed Charters

BIG NAUTI Yacht Charters
Sneed Yacht Charters.

(800) 581-7130 / (561)459-5316
CREW PROFILES

TitleNameNationBornLicenses
CaptainHeiko Franken 0 RYA 200T Offshore, STCW, Free Dive Instructor, Dive Master
Chef/MateRebecca Wu 0 RYA 200T Offshore, STCW. Scuba Instructor,
Number of Crew: 2Languages: English

Crew Profiles:
MEET YOUR CREW:
Captain: Heiko Franken
Chef: Rebecca Wu

Heiko, born and raised in Germany, is an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore. He left his job in IT management in 2014 to begin his dream to travel. Initially intending to be away for about a year, he soon realized that going back to an office-based job did not feel right for him anymore. Since then he has travelled throughout South and Central America, Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa and Australia. During this time he visited 30+ countries, speed-hiked the Camino de Santiago, hiked up 5000m high mountains, learned to speak Spanish, went scuba and freediving around the world and had many more beautiful experiences above and below the water. He is a Freediving Instructor and PADI Divemaster. Heiko loves to be out in the blue of the ocean and enjoys sharing his passions as a guide by creating safe and unique experiences.

Rebecca was born and raised in New York City but has lived all around the world since 2004. After graduating from NYU in 2002 with B.A. in Economics & Psychology, Rebecca worked in the financial services industry in New York and Hong Kong. A trip to Australia in 2005 changed her life - she learned to scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef and fell completely in love with scuba diving. Two years later, she left the concrete jungle and trading floor for real jungles and sea floors. She spent two months diving her way around the Philippines, three months on a marine conservation expedition in Madagascar and four months completing her Divemaster internship in Malaysia. Afterwards, life took an unexpected turn and she found herself living in Sweden for a year, where she discovered her love for sailing and life afloat. Still holding onto her dream to teach scuba and share the underwater world with others, she put her plans for sailing to the Caribbean on hold to become a PADI Instructor in 2009. She has worked in Thailand, Hawaii and Indonesia for more than a decade in nearly every facet of the scuba diving industry, from guiding and instructing to dive center and resort management to working on a liveaboard. She loves life in the tropics, surrounded by water, nature and wildlife and thrives on sharing her passions with her guests.

Heiko and Rebecca met in Utila, Honduras while they were doing their Master Freediver course in 2015. After several years of working in different countries and flying across oceans to see each other, they decided to create a life together in 2020. Their mutual love for the ocean, travel and exploration led them to obtain their RYA Yachtmaster Offshore qualifications together in Gibraltar in 2020, sailing thousands of miles along the coasts of Spain, Portugal and Morocco, dodging the infamous orcas along the way. Shortly afterwards, they crewed their first yacht together in the USVI and have been flourishing as team ever since.

They are passionate about providing a highly professional level of service in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere while creating the most memorable experiences for their guests. They love getting to know you and tailoring each charter to your preferences and desires, allowing you to kick back, relax and enjoy. With a deep love and respect for the natural world, they maintain a strong focus on environmentally aware hospitality and best practices to ensure minimal impact on the environment.

The food is a big part of your experience on board and you can expect to be well taken care of by this food loving duo. Rebecca is a self-taught chef with a passion for gastronomy and the culinary arts. Her cuisine is primarily Mediterranean and Southeast Asian and is full of fresh ingredients and bright flavors. She draws a great deal of inspiration from her multi-cultural upbringing as well as nearly two decades spent living and traveling all around the world. You’ll also find Heiko in the galley baking authentic German-style bread or creating swoon-worthy desserts that will surely satisfy your sweet tooth. They are happy to cater to a variety of dietary requirements and in particular, specialize in vegetarian and vegan cuisine.

Heiko and Rebecca are back for their fourth charter season in the Virgin Islands after three successful seasons running a total of 47 charters. This dynamic couple is excited to be on Big Nauti for 2023/24 and look forward to welcoming you aboard, showing you the wonders of the Virgin Islands and creating memories to last a lifetime!


Sneed Yacht Charters.

Bahamas Motor Yacht Charter

for more information.

We are happy to help you.

FAQ

We’ll be pleased to assist you in deciding which activities suit your personality and interests the best. Your crew and captain are experts. They are familiar with the locale and the greatest things to do. They can give advice on where to go fishing, diving, or snorkeling. They are aware of the locations of the remotest beaches. They can give advice on the top boutiques, eateries, or nightclubs.

We’ll provide you a food choice survey to fill out so we can figure out what kinds of meals you and your visitors would like to eat while you’re away. Along with your preferences, the form will ask about any dietary requirements, medical restrictions, or food allergies that any members of your party may have. Prior to your departure, you will also get the chance to ask any questions of a crew member. The team will next make your favorite cocktails and fresh, gourmet meals for the rest of the voyage.

Running costs are not included in the rates given for motor yacht charters and must be paid separately. Catamarans for sailing must be all-inclusive. The costs are determined by the number of people and cover all meals, drinks (including the typical ship’s bar), fuel, ice, and aquatic activities. Taxes, dockage fees, and communication expenses must all be paid individually.

Food, alcohol, fuel, dockage, port fees, and any other costs associated with the charter are considered running costs.
Typically, the operating costs represent 35% of the base charter fee. A 35% Advanced Provisioning Allowance (APA) will be paid in advance of your departure, giving the crew time to stock the yacht. A detailed breakdown of all costs will be provided to you at the conclusion of the charter. If there is still a balance, you will get a refund; however, if expenses are higher than the APA, you will have to pay the outstanding balance before disembarking.

Florida’s tax ranges from 6-7%, depending on the port of embarkation, while the Bahamian tax is 14%. The charter cost also includes tax.

What to anticipate if you have to cancel your vacation is covered in your charter agreement. To protect yourself in the event that unavoidable circumstances force you to cancel your trip, we advise buying cancellation insurance.

luxury yacht rental is made to meet all of your requirements for the entirety of your journey. The skipper and crew will do everything possible to meet and exceed your expectations. The captain’s first priority, however, is the security of his crew and the boat. He has the last say on anything that could affect the safety of passengers.

Yes. Although not required, leaving a tip is encouraged, especially if your yacht rental experience left you feeling especially satisfied. At the completion of your charter, you should give the captain a 15% gratuity.

Once you’ve decided on a yacht, we’ll place an “option” on it, securing it for 48 hours while you finish the paperwork. Then, a yacht charter agreement must be read and signed. We are happy to answer any queries you may have and thoroughly explain the terms. You must send your completed contract together with a deposit for the charter.

50% of the charter cost is required as a down payment; however, if there are less than 30 days to departure, the whole amount is due. The deposit is made via bank wire transfer and is kept in an escrow account by the principal agent of the yacht until just before the charter date. You have secured the yacht once we get your signed contract and down payment.

We’ll start collaborating with you to customize your charter. Your food and exercise preference survey will be delivered to you. We’ll set up a phone call for you and the crew. We will assist you in planning all charter-related details, including transportation in a limousine and flights.

If you are renting a motor boat, the APA funds and the remaining balance of the charter are due 30 days before the start of your trip.

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