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Full Ship Charter: How to Charter an Entire Cruise Ship

Charter an entire cruise ship for a corporate event, incentive or private group. QPS Marine Ships arranges full ship charters worldwide. Rates on request.

A full ship charter gives your group an entire cruise ship for a voyage or a set period. There are no other passengers on board, and the crew, hotel team and itinerary all work to your program. QPS Marine Ships is an independent, licensed and bonded shipbroker. We arrange full ship charters worldwide, so we can look across many owners and operators for the ship that fits your group, rather than offering a single cruise line's fleet.

Featured luxury full ship charter: VidantaWorld's Elegant is a 152.5 m mega yacht rebuilt 2017–2024 for 162 guests in all suites, with a 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio, sailing European itineraries in 2027. QPS Marine Ships is the owner's exclusive full ship charter agent.

What is a full ship charter?

In a full ship charter, one company, organization or private client books the whole passenger ship, fully crewed and operated, for agreed dates. The owner or operator runs the ship, the hotel and the catering. You supply the guests and decide how the time on board is used. It is also called a private cruise ship charter or a cruise ship buyout.

This page is about passenger ships. A full charter of a cargo ship is a different business, and we do not arrange cargo charters.

How it compares with other options

Every contract is negotiated, so treat this as a general guide.

  • Other passengers on board – Group booking on a cruise: Yes; Full ship charter: No; Bareboat or time charter: Depends on the operator

  • Who runs the ship – Group booking on a cruise: Cruise line; Full ship charter: Owner or operator; Bareboat or time charter: Bareboat: you. Time charter: the owner runs the ship, and you direct its use

  • Control of itinerary – Group booking on a cruise: None; Full ship charter: Agreed with the operator, subject to the ship and ports; Bareboat or time charter: Yours, within the contract

  • Control of program and branding – Group booking on a cruise: Limited; Full ship charter: Extensive; Bareboat or time charter: Yours

  • Typical length – Group booking on a cruise: One scheduled cruise; Full ship charter: Days to weeks; Bareboat or time charter: Weeks to years

  • Best for – Group booking on a cruise: Groups too small to fill a ship; Full ship charter: Events, incentives and private groups; Bareboat or time charter: Cruise operators and long-term projects

For the longer-term contracts, see cruise ship charter and lease and bareboat vs. time charter.

Who charters an entire cruise ship?

  • Corporations: incentive voyages, leadership retreats, sales meetings, product launches and brand events.

  • Incentive and event agencies: planners producing a program for a client who wants one venue and one audience.

  • Associations and affinity groups: conferences, member voyages, and themed sailings around music, sport, food or wine.

  • Private clients and families: weddings, milestone anniversaries, reunions and invitation-only voyages.

  • Major event organizers: a berthed ship used as guest or staff accommodation. See cruise ships for event accommodation.

How a full ship charter works

  1. Send your requirements. Tell us your dates, region, number of guests, purpose and any budget you have set. Our questionnaire covers what owners need to quote.

  2. We match ships. We review listed and off-market ships and report what is suitable and available. Some details are shared only after a non-disclosure agreement.

  3. You receive a proposal. The owner or operator prices your specific dates, itinerary and inclusions.

  4. Inspect and refine. Where possible, you visit the ship and settle the itinerary, menus, entertainment and shore programs.

  5. Sign the charter agreement. This sets the payment schedule, security, cancellation terms and what is included.

  6. Plan and sail. The operator and your team work through the details up to embarkation.

What drives the price of a full ship charter

Charter rates are on request, because every charter has its own terms. We can quote once we have your full requirements. The main factors are:

  • Ship: its size, age, standard and the crew it needs.

  • Dates and season: demand in your region, and what the ship would otherwise be earning.

  • Length and itinerary: days at sea, distance, port fees and fuel.

  • Positioning: the cost of bringing the ship to your embarkation port and returning it.

  • Inclusions: food, beverages, entertainment, shore excursions, gratuities and any special production.

  • Payment and security: the deposit schedule and the financial guarantees an owner requires.

For more detail, read how much it costs to charter a cruise ship.

Ships for full ship charter, by group size

Availability for a full ship charter depends on each ship's schedule and owner, so please confirm with us first. Charter rates on request. Many more ships are available off-market.

Up to 200 guests: luxury yacht and small ship charters

See also expedition and small cruise ship charter.

200 to 700 guests

1,500 guests and above

What to consider before you charter

  • Book early. Ships are committed well ahead, so contact us as far in advance as you can. Popular dates go first.

  • Choose by real capacity. Lower-berth and maximum capacity differ. Choose the ship your group will fill and be comfortable on.

  • Check the ports. Length, draft and berth availability decide where a ship can call, and whether guests must go ashore by tender.

  • Check the flag and certificates. These can affect where a ship may trade, and whether it may carry passengers between ports in one country.

  • Read the cancellation terms. Full ship charters carry large commitments, so understand the payment schedule and what happens if plans change.

  • Consider a smaller ship. A ship your group fills costs less and feels better than a larger ship with empty decks.

Why charter through QPS Marine Ships

  • Experience at the top of the industry. Capt. Ken Caine was President of Windstar Cruises at the line's inception.

  • High-profile projects. QPS has supplied a passenger support vessel for the King of Saudi Arabia's Maldives trip, and vessels for film, television commercials and the Netflix series The Romanoffs.

  • Access beyond one fleet. We work with shipowners and brokers worldwide, including ships that are not publicly listed.

  • Licensed and bonded. QPS Marine Ships is a licensed and bonded brokerage and a member of IYBA.

Frequently asked questions

What is a full ship charter?

A full ship charter is the booking of an entire passenger ship, fully crewed and operated, for one group on agreed dates. The operator runs the ship and hotel, and the charterer supplies the guests and decides how the time on board is used.

How much does it cost to charter an entire cruise ship?

Charter rates are on request. The price depends on the ship, dates, length, itinerary, positioning and inclusions. Send us your requirements and we will obtain a proposal.

How many guests do we need?

There is no fixed number, but the ship should suit your group. Listed ships range from 100 to more than 2,800 passengers, and a smaller or luxury ship is often the better choice for a group of 100 to 200.

How far in advance should we book?

As far in advance as possible. Larger ships and peak dates are committed early, and a planned event needs time for itinerary, port and program arrangements.

Can we choose the itinerary?

Usually, within limits. Itineraries are agreed with the operator and depend on the ship's schedule, positioning, port availability and certificates.

Is a full ship charter the same as a bareboat charter?

No. In a full ship charter, the owner or operator runs the ship for you. In a bareboat charter, the charterer takes over the ship and is responsible for the crew and operations, which suits cruise operators rather than event groups.

Is a full ship charter the same as a yacht charter?

They work in a similar way: one group has private use of the whole vessel and its crew. The main difference is size. A yacht charter usually means a much smaller vessel, while the ships listed here take from about 100 to more than 2,800 guests. VidantaWorld's Elegant, a 152.5 m mega yacht for up to 162 guests, is a good choice for a group that wants the feel of a private yacht on a larger scale.

Can a cruise ship be chartered for a corporate event?

Yes. Corporate groups charter ships for incentive voyages, meetings, product launches and retreats, because one ship provides the accommodation, meals, meeting space and entertainment in a single private venue.

Next step

Send us your dates, region, number of guests and purpose. We will reply with suitable ships, including off-market options, and our charter questionnaire.

Capt. Ken Caine, Managing Broker – +1-516-647-5129 (mobile/WhatsApp), sales@qpsships.com
Jeff Garcia, Managing Broker, Mediterranean Sea Area – +1-954-296-9066, Jeffgarcia@qpsships.com
VidantaWorld's Elegant charters – vidantaworldscharter@qpsships.com, +1 954 361 6661
Office: 4000 Island Blvd, Suite 1506, Aventura, FL 33160

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