If you've dismissed chartering a yacht as only for the very chic, the very thin and the very rich, you could be missing out on one of the great adventures of your lifetime. "The best vacation at any price" is how veteran yacht charterers of every stripe describe their experiences.

You can literally be the captain of your own destiny — and destinations! — aboard a bareboat charter if you're an experienced yachtsman, or you may charter a crewed yacht for the ultimate pampered-passenger status. Yachting could be the ideal vacation choice for families and compatible couples who want to plot their own ports of call.

Before contacting a broker to arrange your charter, you'll need to make some decisions. First and foremost is choosing a location. Major areas flush with charter bases include the Caribbean (known as the Disneyland of chartering), East and West Mediterranean, the Pacific region and the coastal U.S. Read up on likely destinations. Whether you want lively island and resort hopping, historic city ports or deserted coves will influence your decision. Within a general sailing area you may arrange ports of call in advance or follow your whims from day to day.

Prospective sailors will want to determine the most climatically favorable or less expensive time of the year for a charter. High season for each cruising ground will be the months of least rainfall and of most reliable winds and air temperatures. Naturally, high-season yacht charter will command the priciest rates and the most enthusiasts. If your pocketbook is a major determining factor, consider chartering during "shoulder" seasons when demand and prices are lower, yet weather is expected to be stable.

WHAT KIND OF YACHT?

Consider what category of yacht you fancy: a motor-yacht operated entirely by engines; a sailing yacht powered primarily by sails, with ancillary motors; or a motorsailer run primarily by motor, with ancillary sails. Each has its merits for a particular style of cruising.

The size of the yacht and the number and dimensions of cabins will determine how many passengers can be accommodated comfortably. The most common complements are parties of four to 10, with a wide range of craft available for your selection.

BAREBOAT OR CREWED?

The next decision is bareboat or crewed yacht. If you can give evidence of solid experience captaining a boat similar to the one you want to charter, you may be accepted for a bareboat charter on which it's you and your party alone with the wind and sea. For those with the desire to go-it-alone but without the required skills, you can hire a captain to help you run the boat or you may be able to sail in a flotilla of other bareboaters with slim experience. In addition to your basic charter fare, you will be responsible for fuel, provisions, crew charges and assorted other expenses.

Those who wish to be passengers only — wined, dined and waited on — can charter a crewed yacht that could run the gamut of style and ambience, from simple and cozy to drop-dead fabulous. Cuisine, service and amenities are highlights of this kind of charter. Each yacht, whether power or sail, will have its own distinct personality and will appeal to travelers seeking different types of cruise experiences.

DEGREES OF LUXURY

Some crewed yachts for charter are prized for their historical interest, some for their famous chefs, others for their high-tech sleekness, some for their luxurious appointments and a few for their romantic or roguish reputations. Rates for crewed yachts may be quoted by the week, inclusive of everything for the maximum number of passengers. In certain areas of the world, it is customary to charge a basic daily rate, with food, bar, fuel and dockage, etc., billed as extras.

If you're intrigued by the concept of sailing the seas in a privately chartered yacht, you'll be further inspired by the relatively reasonable costs. The per person rates compare more than favorably with almost any vacation tour or cruise you might choose. Bareboat charters run from as low as $200 up to about $1,200 a day. Most boats will carry from two to six passengers in double cabins. Add in your fuel, provisioning (at about $300/$350 weekly per person) and incidentals and you'll probably find that two or three couples could pay less than $1,000 per person for a week of casual sailing on a small yacht. Quite a value!

BE CAREFUL

A weekly price tag of $2,000 to $5,000 per person is a ballpark figure for your standard great crewed yacht, all-inclusive. For the fabulous and fabled yachts (chosen by the chic and rich), you could be talking more than $250,000 per week for you and your dearest friends to be treated like royalty. In all inquiries, make sure you understand what's included and what's not in a charter quote. Examine the charter agreement or contract carefully. Customary inclusions and exclusions vary widely from region to region.

There are nearly 500 bareboats and 1,000 crewed yachts worldwide that are available for charter. The folks engaged to match your expectations with an appropriate boat are called charter brokers. The most reliable ones will have personally inspected the yachts and crews in their portfolio. In the U.S. they will also likely be members of the prestigious Charter Yacht Brokers Association (CYBA), www.cyba.net, or International Yacht Council Limited, www.yachtcouncil.org, and place charterer's funds in a separate escrow or trust account until a certain number of days prior to embarking.

CHARTER RESOURCES

As chartering a yacht involves a contract and substantial financial investment as well as the fulfillment of your vacation dreams, savvy travelers will look to the most reputable and experienced international brokers to guide them through the charter process. Virtually every yacht on the planet, plus most brokers along with their special areas of expertise, are listed in a quarterly print and online guide published by Charter Index Ltd., (954) 462-7270 or www.charterindex.com, updated regularly for brokerage professionals.

For the prospective consumer charterer visit Yachting Magazine's Web site at www.yachting magazine.com offers invaluable information on the logistics and nuances of yacht charter, plus a comprehensive worldwide listing of brokers, charter bases, boats and rates. This 100-year-old magazine is the place to begin your search for organizing the ideal yachting experience. A yearly subscription of 12 monthly issues is $16.

Irene Croft Jr. of Kailua, Kona, is a travel writer and 40-year veteran globetrotter. Her column is published in this section every other week.