What is a preference sheet and why does it matter?
A preference sheet is a questionnaire the yacht's crew sends before your charter, covering dietary needs and food likes and dislikes, drink preferences, allergies, activity interests and any special occasions to plan around. It matters because it's how the chef and crew prepare properly before you even board — the more specific and honest your answers, the better the week matches what you actually want.
Key facts
- The preference sheet is usually sent by the yacht a few weeks before your charter, once the booking is confirmed.
- It covers food and drink preferences and allergies, activity interests, spa or fitness requests, and any celebrations to plan for.
- Being specific rather than general — naming actual dishes you love, brands of spirits you drink — helps the crew provision precisely rather than guessing.
- It is provisioned through the APA, so detailed answers don't cost extra beyond the running-cost float you've already budgeted.
What it actually asks
A typical preference sheet covers dietary requirements and allergies, food likes and dislikes (down to specific dishes, cuisines or ingredients you love or avoid), drink preferences including specific wines, spirits or non-alcoholic choices, and any celebrations — birthdays, anniversaries — worth planning around.
It usually also asks about activity interests (diving, paddleboarding, fishing, spa treatments if the yacht offers them) and daily rhythm preferences — early risers versus late mornings, active days versus lounging — so the crew can shape the week around your group specifically.
Why detail genuinely matters here
The chef provisions before you board, often in a country where certain ingredients or brands aren't readily available locally — vague answers like 'we like Italian food' provision very differently from 'we'd love a proper carbonara and love good Amalfi lemons in everything.' Specificity is what turns a good menu into a genuinely memorable one.
The same applies to drinks: naming an actual favourite gin or champagne house means the crew can stock it in advance rather than substituting something similar once you're already aboard and it's too late to source the real thing.
When and how to fill it in
Complete it as soon as the yacht sends it — usually a few weeks before departure — since provisioning and any special requests (a particular cake, specific flowers for an anniversary) need lead time, especially in more remote cruising grounds with less choice of suppliers.
If your group's preferences change closer to the date, tell your broker or the captain directly — most crews would rather have an update than work from outdated information.
Common questions
What if I don't have strong preferences and don't know what to write?
That's fine — say so, and a good chef will plan a well-rounded, broadly appealing menu; you can always adjust once aboard. Even 'no strong preferences, but we love fresh seafood' gives the chef useful direction.
Can I update the preference sheet after I've submitted it?
Yes, especially for anything time-sensitive like a new allergy or a celebration you've just decided to add — just tell your broker or the yacht directly as soon as possible so there's time to plan for it.
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