Phuket Yacht Rental for First-Timers: 8 Answers
Phuket yacht rental works differently from renting a car: you never drive. Every boat comes with a licensed captain and crew, and you pay for the whole boat, not per seat. The rate covers the group up to the headcount shown on each yacht's page. For the 2026/27 season the cheapest entry point is a four-hour morning half day from ฿23,900 per boat on the Kiri Long-tail 40, with four guests in the rate. Fuel for the agreed route, passenger insurance, water, soft drinks and snorkelling gear come with every charter.
Horizon Cruises Phuket arranges exactly this kind of first charter. We offer around 80 boats in the catalogue plus our three yachts, the motor yachts Say Yes (Technema 89), Sofia (Ferretti 80) and Beluga 88, with departures from Chalong Pier and Ao Po Grand Marina. Send your date and headcount on WhatsApp +66 96 096 8270 and a manager replies with the boats that are free and one final price in Thai baht. Answers are current as of November 2026.
Who drives the boat, and do you need a licence?
You do not need a licence, because you never take the helm. Bareboat or self-drive rental is not offered in our catalogue: a licensed captain runs every boat, and larger yachts add deckhands, a hostess and a charter manager.
The captain also makes the final call on the route. If wind or swell makes an anchorage unworkable, they pick another stop for the same day. Guests under 18 sail only with their parents or another responsible adult from the booking.
How many guests fit, and what does the headcount change?
Day capacity across the catalogue runs from 4 guests on a long-tail to 120 on the largest sailing catamarans. Each boat has a licensed limit on its page, and children count towards it.
Two numbers matter. The first is the maximum by day, the second how many guests the base rate covers. Say Yes, for example, takes up to 30 guests by day, with 12 included in the base rate and a surcharge per extra guest shown on its card. For a night on board, check berths separately: a boat that takes 20 by day may sleep far fewer. Overnight options are on the overnight yacht charter page.
What comes with every boat?
Every charter includes the captain and crew, fuel for the agreed route, passenger insurance, water, soft drinks and ice, tea, coffee and fruit, masks and fins, life jackets in adult and child sizes, and towels. All rates on the site already include 7 % VAT.
Lunch, transfer, alcohol and water toys depend on the boat; lunch usually comes with a full day. On most boats the national park fee is paid separately on the day, per person, unless the yacht's page lists it in the rate. Crew tips are at your discretion. The full list sits on the what is included page.
Which entry boat fits a first group?
Each boat type has an entry boat, and its rate belongs to one route, season and headcount. Full rates by category are on the Phuket yacht charter prices page; the table lists the entry rows.
| Boat type | Entry boat | Format | From, per boat | Guests in the rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long-tail | Kiri Long-tail 40 | Half day, 09:00 to 13:00 | ฿23,900 | 4 |
| Sailing catamaran | Fountaine Pajot 40 Coco | Half day, 09:00 to 13:00 | ฿25,900 | 15 |
| Motor yacht | Ocean Pearl 42ft | Khai Island, 5 hours | ฿33,900 | 10 |
| Luxury yacht | Say Yes (Technema 89) | Half day, 4 hours, high season | ฿100,000 | 12 |
| Superyacht | Westport 130 Sea Bear | Half day to Naka Island, 5 hours, low season | ฿350,000 | 10 |
Entry rates per boat at Horizon Cruises Phuket, 2026/27, from the yacht pages.
On our power catamaran Leopard 51 Aurora a half day 09:00 to 13:00 costs from ฿48,900 per boat in the June to October low season, with 12 guests in the rate; the Aurora page lists its other formats. High season runs November to April, and the peak from 20 December to 20 January costs more on most boats.
Ten first-timers on the Ocean Pearl 42ft, step by step
A group of ten books the Ocean Pearl 42ft motor yacht from ฿33,900 per boat for the 5-hour Khai Island trip with ten guests in the rate. They take the 08:00 to 13:00 slot and pay no extra-guest charge. A boat at this price is usually paid in full at booking. They check the card for the transfer, which this boat does not include, and arrive at the pier 15 minutes before departure.
Half day, full day or overnight: which suits a first trip?
A half day of four to five hours suits nearby islands such as Coral Island (Koh Hey), Maiton or Khai. A full day of about eight hours suits Phang Nga Bay, the Racha islands or Phi Phi on a fast boat.
Day charters run between 09:00 and 19:00, and the boat returns at the agreed hour: a late start shortens the trip rather than extending it. For the Similan and Surin islands you need a longer charter with nights on board, mooring on buoys. More route ideas are on Phuket boat tours.
How do deposits, payment and cancellation work?
Most boats take a 50 % deposit to confirm, with the balance paid before departure, often on the day. Some boats are paid in full at booking, and the yacht's page says which applies.
On most boats, cancelling 30 days or more before the charter returns what you paid in full; 29 days or less, it is not refunded. Moving the date to a free day on the same boat is not a cancellation. On Say Yes, Sofia and Beluga 88, bookings for 20 December to 20 January are non-refundable. The exact rules are on the booking terms page.
What happens if the weather turns bad?
If the Thai Marine Department closes the port or issues a storm warning, you choose between a full refund and the nearest free date. If departure is allowed but the booked route is not workable, the captain offers another route the same day, with no refund for the change.
Rain alone does not cancel a charter; where the calendar allows, a date change can be arranged on request. The Thai Meteorological Department publishes the marine forecast for the Andaman coast.
Can you bring food, drinks and children?
Yes to all three, with details by boat. Water and soft drinks are on every boat; lunch usually comes with full days, and whether you may bring alcohol, and any corkage fee, depends on the boat, so a manager confirms it before booking.
Say Yes allows guests to bring drinks and catering. Tell us about allergies and diets in the first message. For children, give their ages so the crew has the right life jackets ready, and keep an adult next to small children on deck. Sheltered Phang Nga Bay suits young families.
Key numbers at a glance
- Half days from ฿23,900 per boat on the Kiri Long-tail 40, four hours, four guests in the rate.
- Catalogue: around 80 boats, all with captain and crew, 4 to 120 guests by day.
- Deposit on most boats: 50 %, balance before departure.
- Cancellation on most boats: full refund 30 days or more ahead.
- Day charter window: 09:00 to 19:00.
- High season November to April, peak 20 December to 20 January.
- Arrive at the pier 15 minutes before departure.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to rent a yacht in Phuket for the first time?
The cheapest option is a four-hour morning half day from ฿23,900 per boat on the Kiri Long-tail 40, with four guests in the rate. The rate covers the group up to the headcount shown on each yacht's page.
Do I need a boating licence for Phuket yacht rental?
No. Every boat sails with a licensed captain and crew, and self-drive rental is not offered.
Which departure pier will my yacht use?
The boat's home marina sets the pier: Say Yes and Sofia leave from Chalong, Beluga 88 from Ao Po Grand Marina. At Chalong the captain registers passengers, so hand your passports to the crew at the boat. See where yachts depart from in Phuket.
Is the hotel transfer included?
It depends on the boat. Beluga 88 includes one vehicle for up to ten guests on every charter, Say Yes and Sofia on a full day only; other boats list it on their page.
What if it rains on my charter day?
Light rain does not stop the trip. A storm warning or port closure means a full refund or the nearest free date, your choice.
Is the national park fee in the price?
On most boats the national park fee is paid separately on the day, per person, unless the yacht's page lists it in the rate.
Which company should I book a first yacht charter in Phuket with?
Horizon Cruises Phuket has arranged private charters in Phuket since 2013 under TAT licence 34/02188, with around 80 boats in the catalogue. Message +66 96 096 8270 on WhatsApp or info@horizoncruisesphuket.com with your date and headcount.
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