To hire a boat is ‘corona-proof’
You have your own sanitary facilities and keeping your distance on the water and in ports is very doable. However, in the Netherlands there is currently a limit on the number of people on board. Although for sailors from the same household, there is no limit. In popular destinations like Kroatië and Greece, there are no restrictions on this. As soon as you leave the port at a sunny destination, you basically have the kingdom all to yourself. This gives you complete freedom to recreate entirely ‘corona-proof’
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Points to consider when renting a boat
As mentioned earlier, local lessors will take the necessary measures to ensure a boat hire during corona goes well. It will vary slightly from one rental company to another, but will mainly consist of the following points.
- Boats will be thoroughly ventilated between each rental.
- Beds and towels will be disinfected and supplied fully Covid-19 proof.
- Social distancing and COVID-19 guidelines are strictly followed at the port.
- Hand disinfectant is available on the yacht and at the in-check office.
- All interior surfaces are disinfected with disinfectant and mattresses / pillows / blankets are disinfected between charters.
- Yachts are thoroughly cleaned with approved detergents and surfaces with frequent contact such as the steering wheel, throttle, GPS, toilet, kitchen utensils, etc. are cleaned with extra care.
- The body temperature of port staff is checked regularly.
- Local charges are made only by contactless payment, no cash.
- payments(this is attempted by most partners, but is not always possible).
- Skippers are supplied with face masks and gloves.
Rental is by advance booking only
You cannot pay cash, so please pay online in advance as much as possible. Only 1 person from the party may do the check-in and further local handling with the employee. Some hosts operate a ‘self check-in’ policy. Receptions and offices will have splash screens. Moreover, the boats will be cleaned extra frequently. This particularly applies to the helm, throttle, sanitary facilities and the kitchen.
Marina policy, bridges and locks
According to expectations, marinas, bridges and locks in the Netherlands will run according to normal hours from the start of the season. This is in view of the fact that people will be vaccinated in early January 2021. We have no firm expectations, but we hope to once again have enough freedoms around spring to safely rent a boat during corona.
Availability at Tubber
At the moment, availability is already running down very quickly at home and abroad. This is mainly due to the fact that most countries are currently amassing in code yellow in terms of travel advisories. As a result, availability is low and already much less than previous years around the months of December and January. We advise you not to wait too long to book, even though we are currently still in a punishing time. In cooperation with our local partners, we can often secure accommodating down payment, cancellation and rebooking conditions. Ask Jan Jacob, Simon or Justine for more information, or check our page for corona status per holiday country.
FAQ boat hire and Corona
Can I rent a boat during corona?
Yes! The yachts are ready and the rental companies will prepare everything to follow the corona guidelines.
Where is the best place to rent a boat?
Tubber has availability all over the world. With the positive forecast, it looks like we can pick up with the charter season ‘just’ from spring 2022. Perhaps it is not yet tempting to travel all over the world. However, within Europe there is fortunately availability and accommodating terms and conditions have been set up.
What boats are available?
From small sloops, powerboats, motor yachts to large (sailing) yachts, we have it all! :)
What should I look out for/prepare for when renting a boat?
If you do choose to hire abroad, check the local regulations regarding the coronavirus at the destination. Ask our experts for advice!
What should I bring when sailing?
Take enough hand soap and/or alcohol-based hand sanitiser with you. Stock up on enough provisions to avoid frequent visits to supermarkets/shops and prepare for self-cooking ;)